The New York herald., 1877-11-17

changes aud alterations and increases the public debt
ana expenditures more than 500 o00 900.
MI EEck tdem.l OF KY, submitted the following a.
an amendment 10 the substitute.
not the public interest would DO promoted by division Of
the Treasury Department. distinct departments
d the and hold them ansi ordered By law
y as collected and ssS
Of .sS sy %y rpo 90 s c
RsxAaKs or Mr. BECK
M BECK said II the Irregularities complained Of
did exist he hoped the committee would determin
upon tne best method OF remedyng them. He be-
lieved the Treasury Department was SO large that no
man al the head thereof however anxious he might
De TO promote tho public interest," could understand
VI .nat WAS gong on IN that department. Experience
on The Committee OF Ways aud Means OF the other
House OF Congress- OF many years convinced that
the secretary VI The Treasury could not understand all
the business Of his department. Frequently when
that committee summoned the Secretary before Il 10
explain matters he hsd stated that he only understood
the matter az subordinate officers reported IL HIM
One oihccr would hnd he would have all he could do
collect the revenue another would Ind ne ho
could do TO attend to It's Distribution Business was
carried on In that manner by private corporationa
Even statesmen did NOT collect The money; some
one else attended 10 that He hoped select com
mittee, appointed, II not one oil tho
committees OF the Senate would look into the subject
Mr. EAToS dem. Of Conn, said there was a CON-
mittse Of the Senate TO examine the several branches
member and the Senator from New York (AIr. Conk-
ling) was another. That committee had considered
Mr.. BECK said he not aware oil that fact and
therefore withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. MORRILL,, 81 Vermont, referred 10 the report
made IN 1876 by Mr. sherman, OF Ohio, the chairman
OF the senate Finance COMMITTEE, and by Mr. Herman,
OF New York, meuibsr OF tina. committee, and
argued that all allegations by the senator from West
Virginia lMr. Davis were satisfactorily explained in
that report he tMr MorrlD nad the slightest OBJ
jection to tho fullest examination, but there no
use OF having large committee with several clerks
The senator IRON West Virginia himself could 80 10
charges There had been unwarrauted
alteration made on any book OF the department He
made bret explanation oil tho manner OF bo0kkecp-
ing, &c, and said sometimes warrants issued IN one
year paid after the close oi the year, and there
shown Tho Senator from West Virginia could 90 10
the iroasury Department, aud not only the Sec
reary but every clerk In the department
would be at his service TO explain anything
in the Treasury accounts which lie did not
understand. small committee could make
the Investigation asked Tor just well large one
and he would not OBJECT to the Senator iMr Davis
beng made chairman OF that committee. The present
Secretary OF the Treasury would afford him every
facility and give him ali the clerks necessary 10 explain
the accounts u
sMr THURMAN, (dem.) OF Ohio said this subject was
not TO him. though recollection OF the report
submitted IN 1876 by his colleague at tho time Mr.
Sherman who was then Chatrna an OF the Senate Com
mittce on Finance, and Tho Senator from New York
was not viva, Ous hs was quite sure
crepancies, although his colleague (Mr. Sherman),
having been Chairman Of the Finance Committee ior
financial transactions OF the government When this
question before the Senate two ago the Sem
ator from Massachusetts Mr Boutwell endeavored to
explain the discrepan cies well as the Cnairman OF
the Finance Commitlee (Nr. Sherman) but there was
a marked difference in their explanations. This mat
ter did need explanation, as had never boon clearly
explained. and he hoped tue investigation now asked
Tor would DO ordered. Ne moved TO amend tho rcsou
ton OF Mr. Davis to provide that tue
authorized by should not expire with tho end
present session. Agreed TO. khN 44# Ns
Mr.. DAWES, (rep.) OF Mass, denied that there had
ID of Do
Dartmeu and argued that tho whole subject had been
fully explained heretofore.
Mr.. M0RRlLL, oI Vermont, said. partisan he did
not take the slightest interest IN this question: but he
did feel that the honor Of tho country was som0
what Involved on account OF system Of bookkeeping
He had not the slightest apprehension that the IN
vestigation1 would develop any fraud ny either u
republican or democrat who ever presided over the
Treasury Department aH tfA
Mr.. HEREroRD. (dem.) OF W. Va, also quoted at
length from hnance reports, 10 show that dscrcpan
did exist ana SAID would not do to say they
wore brought about by detective bookkeeping Such
answer might be satisfactory to some PERSONS but
u was not satisfactory TO large number OF Senators
nor TO tho American people.
After some further discussion Mr.. MORRILL, SAID no
would oppose tho resolution Of tho senator from
West Virginia lMr. Davisl providing he would strike
out tho preamble charging positively that alterations
had been made, &c, and would limit the iorce to DO
employed by the committee to ono stenogrnphor aud
one clerk.
Mr. DAVIS in,ima,ed that he would SO amend tho
Pending tho discussion the Senate ut three O'Clock
adjourned until Monday next ca
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
as WAsHIsoroS, Nov. 10. 1877.
Mr. SWAMI, (ren) Of Nd, Chairman OF the Commit
tee Foreign Affairs, reported bill relative TO tho
Paris Exposition. Referred to the committee Of the
whole. The bill accepts The invitation received from
the Republic OF France to part in the Exposition
and appropriates $780, deray expenses incurred
In SO dong.
Mr.. Cox, (dcm.) OF N Y, offered a substitute, ap.
propriating $50, 600, which was also referred.
THIS being Friday the committees were called for
reports OF a private nature
Mr. wApDELL, (dem) OF N c., Chairman of tho
Committee oil Post Oices and Post Roads, reported
bill directing the Secretary of the Treasury to pay IN
iuil TO tho last mail contractors in the Southern
Slaos the amounts due under their respective con-
for tho years 6061, out OF the appropra.
tion Of $4,000 made by the act OF Congress, ap-
proved March g. 1871. Referred to the committee oI
the whole tfA tHN
Bills were passed relieving the political disabilities
OF John Green Sr., OF Alabama; 4. E. Shepherd oi
Virginia; q. B. OIiver and John 7. Tucker, OF Ala
bama, and Charles W. Field, OF Maryland
STRENGTH ARMY
Mr.. MILLS. (dem.j OF Texas, offered q resolution q
directing the Military Committee to inquire into tho
strength Of tho cavalry aud infantry regiments oil the
army, how many regiments are employed on the
Texas frontier the character OF the troops employed
there, the military management OF the frontier and
what additionsl force IL necessary to protect tho
people OF Texas from Mexican raiders
Mr. BANNING tdcm of Quo, offered as a substitute
a resolution directing Tho hitary Committee to In
qure into the strength OF tho army on July sepem-
aud November l. 1871 and into the cxpcdency Of
reducing and consolidating the army, and giving tho
com mtIce power to send Tor persons and papers
The SPEAKER ruled out the substitute, and Ar. Mills
resolution adopted.
DEFICIENCY BILL.
Mr. SINGLETON, (desn.) of MisE from tho Appropri-
ations Committee, reported deficiency bill which 20
gave notice he would call up tomorrow Tne bn ap-
proprlales the following itells:-
For the payment Of judgments OF the Court OF
Claims ............ 1904, 800
Library OF Congress- Observation-Disclosures. - 500
Treasury epartment (varIous items. 123, 900
Post ONCE Department (saaries). .......... 6SI GSI
Other items IL 4v2
Executive ONCE icon u pgencics) ........... 1000
House OF Representatives (varivus iteInsl H. 3Jl
Supreme Court (pr ntng). $4,000
Expenses OF payment oi bounty moacy, &c.. 1O,U00
Total sum appropriated. 81 SOC, 623
The Post Office itcn Is n reappropriation