The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-15
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

WASHINGTON, Dec Ia 1877.
MT SINGLETON, OF Mississippi. presented tho report
OF the Conference Committee on tho Deficiency Ap-
preparation bill. He explained that the amount OF
difference between the two houses SILL OOo and
the Committee of Conference on tho part OF the
House had yielded s102, 900 10 tho demands or tho
Senate Committee
Mr.. EDES (deml OF H. said that the House had
yielded crything to the demands OF the Senate and
the committee had yielded tho balance, and he there
fore. moved 10 lay the report on the table.
The SPEAKER ruled That tho motion was not in
order.
Mr.. ATKINS, (deml OF Tom, defended tho action OF
the committee. There were, no said some things in
the report that he did believe n but IL was tho
best that the committee could DO The Approprutiops
Committee was not responsible Tor the enormou
amount appropriated by tho BILL The House had
taken the responsibility OF swelling tho amount by
putting in an appropriation OF 5000, 900 for inland
mail service, which was not q deficiency.
The discussion was further continued by Mcssrs.
Baker Of Indiana, Atkins oil Tennessee, Singleton
OF Mississippi Blount Of Georgia, Hale OF Maine, and
others.
Finally the discussion was closed and the report OF
the conference committee was agreed to without the
yeas and nays Tho bill now goes to the President Tor
his signature.
Az the end OF the morning hour tho House pro-
ceedod 10 consider business on the Speakers table,
and several bills and communications were appropri-
ately referred.
the PARIS EXPOSITION BILL.
When the Paris Exposition bill was reached Mr.
WooD, ldem.) Of n. T., moved that tho House concur
In the Senate amendments.
Mr. Cox. ldem) OF n. r., made the point OF order
that 1t was not IN order 10 consider that bill pri
bill day.
The SPEAKER overruled the point OF order the
ground ihnt Inc House, deciding to go 10 business
on The Speakers table, had determined against phi
vato bills and II was the Speakers duty 10 lay all the
business on his table before the House.
The Senate amendments were then concurred In
yeas ia nays So
The Senate amendment to the bill relative to
voi:s TO promote the navigation OF the Mississippi
RIVER was then taken up and referred.
AT i've O'CLOCK there was movement on the repub-
lican side Of the House Tor an Adjournment and an
opposition TO It on the democratic sde growing out
OF the desire 10 have reported and acted to-day
resolution looking 10 general Investigation OF the
departments. The yeas ana nays were called u
motion TO adjourn and that motion voted down
by o strict party division
THE INVESTIGATIONS
The business the Speakers table having been
sumed and disposed OF, Mr. Wood, oil New York,
Chairman OF the Committee on WAYS and Means rose
aud sent 10 tho Clerks desk RESOLUTION which he
moved the previous question
MIR. Butler, Of Massachusetts; Mr.. Hale, Of Maine,
and other republican members Immediately rose to
make points OF order to the effect that the Committee
on Ways and Means had no right to report ~ any
time. The speaker decided that under the rule tho
Committee on Ways and Means could report At any
time Tor commitment
Mr.. CoSGER, OF Michigan, moved to 90 into commit
tee Of the Whole on the private calendar.
Tho SPEAKER entertained Mr. CoDger's motion as
one having precedence on Fridays.
Mr. WOOD insisted IN having his resolution read, and
after some parliamentary disputauon on that point
the Speaker directed IL TO be read.
IL nstrucB the several committees having In charge
matters relating to Indian AFFAIRS military AFFAIRS post
Offices public lands, &C., to inquire any errors
abuses or frauds in the admin tration OF the laws
affecting such branches OF the pubic service, with
power to send Tor persons and papers, SIT during the
recess, &c
order thai tho Committee on Ways and Means had
right 10 report even for commitment, except mat
tiers relating to the revenue
The SPEAKER overruled tho point OF order particu-
larry as the resolution did propose to inquire into
frauds committed on the revenue
Mr.. HALE, OF Name, suggested that tho clause for
sending Tor persons ana papers should be omitted
and then there would be objection TO the resolution
Mr.. MORRISON, tdem.) OF liL-Then there would DO
nothing lei.
Mr.. GARFIELD remarked that there would have been
perfect unanimity In tho Committee ON Ways and
Means IN favor Of reporting the resolution II that
clause authorizing the sending Tor persons and papers
had been omitted
would be 10 render Il entirely imperative. SO Tar
the coming three or iour weeks are concerned II
would act AZ an ontiro veto OF the whole purpose.
Mr. HALE, OF Name, SAID that here objection
to the committees going on under their ordinary
10 giving them tho extraordinary powers proposed.
II the committees OF tho House were TO start out
with propositions TO nose around and harass tho ad
mnstration II might as well be understood at once
MI YkArKs, tdeml OF n. C.-What Is the other side
OF the House afraid Off
Mr. TOWNSEND, (rcp.) of N. we arc afraid that
tho result OF your Investigations may be TO elect q
republican President 1850 Just your investiga
tions last Congress resulted IN eccting democratic
President In 1876
Mr.. HALF do object to the most thorough and
sweeping Investigations by these committees with
their ordinary powers but the experience oil tho last
Congress- as 10 the effect giving these extra powers
10 committees, the things which they did ana which
they sought 10 do. beyond what should have been
DONE taught mo lesson so that Will never consent
TO .ivlbg such extraordinary powers TO committees
Ny opposition to II Is not Tor the purpose stopping
lair, open, square nvesti gait ons-n0t in the least
Mr. YArEs-For the same reason that makes the
gentleman afraid oil these investigations desire, aud
tho country desires, to have them.
After long discussions OF points OF order the ques
tion down first, to Mr. Congcrs motion to 20
into committee OF the whole on the private calendar
Holding that motion IN reserve as a strong backing
tor dalory motions the republicans At li.pasI six
r. NJ, commenced their Ibustering tactics with =
motion by Mr.. Page. Of California, Tor adjourn
ment, on which the yeas ana nays were ordered /;
then motion by Mr.. Halo, OF Maine. to reconsider
vote ordering the yeas and nays; then motion by
Mr. Butler, of Massachusetts,, to lay tho motion to
reconsider on the table.
1t was this latter motion that the Grst vote was
taken by yeas and nays The republicans, under tho
lead OF Mr.. Butler, declined voting, show the
absence OF quorum, wnen, under the rule, moth ng
Is order but a motion Tor call Of the House and
motion to adjourn
After several votes were taken by yeas and nays
the House, Al twenty minutes past seven y. NJ, ad-
journcd.
BROOKLYN'S PUSTMA STER
h,,et ~