Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-09
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Second Session.

..
The credentials of A. H. Garland, senator from
Arkansas, for six years, were filed.
Mr.. West from appropriations reported back
post office appropriation bill with various amend.
ments and ordered printed.
The chairman laid before the senate the bill in.
formally laid aside yesterday, to amend the Pa
cihc railroad acts, so as to provide sinking fund
fer the liquidation of the Indebtedness due the
government by the Pacific railroad companies in
order that it should come up as unfinished busi-
ness to morrow.
The senate at 445 went into executive session.
and when the doors were reopened took a recess
until ten O'Clock tomorrow.
House.
Mr.. Hale of Maine rose to a privileged ques.
ton, and read a letter which had been addressed
to him by Wells and Anderson of the Louisiana
returning board, complaining Of their quarters
Wells was sick on account Of the poisoned air
Hale offered resolution that Wells be removed
to well lighted and ventilated room.
Mr.. Cox called attention to the fact that it was
very same cell in which republican congress had
ncarcerated Steward.
Messrs. McCrary and Wilson spoke in favor OF
the resolution.
The latter said it was abhorrent to the feelings
of the American people that the House should
treat with cruelty an old man, over seventy years
of age, because he had stood up for what he knew
was right.
The Speaker said the witnesses were not in his
charge, but that as he had charge of the rooms
he had ordered the prisoners to be transferred to
the room Of the committee on education but that
the committee had objected and the Sargeaut-at-
Arms had no power to do anything but remove
them once more to their former quarters.
Mr. Wood did not wish the House to be regard
ed by the country as doing an inhuman action
but he thought before acting on the resolution
the House should require certificate from some
doctor stating that the health OF the prisoners
would be impaired or endangered by their con-
tiaement In that particular room. That had been
the custom always in case where the prisoners
complained of their accommodations.
Mr.. Couger of Michigan thought there could
be no pretence of right or justice the side of
any party which should perpetrate such cruelty
as to contne prisoners in \ room in which their
health had been undermined, simply because they
refused to produce certain papers which it was
not in their power to produce. mere statement
of that to the common American mind would pro-
duce a conviction that an Infamous wrong was
done by this House, and no one would attempt
to Justify such conduct which reminded one OF the
days of the thumb screws and inquistion.
Mr.. Clymer of Pennsylvania on behalf of the
sergeant-at-arms, said that officer had done all in
his power for the purpose of rendering the prison
ers comfortable. The room they occupied was
well heated, well lighted, and well ventilated. /,
was the room which had been used for the same
purpose by the preceding congresses. They were
allowed to have conversations with their friends.
Mr.. Cougher-Many members have sought &C
cess to them and have been denied.
The Speaker explained that by calling attention
10 the fact that the revelation which placed the
fact that the resolution which placed the recusaut
witnesses in the custody of the Sergeant at Arms.
directed that they should be held in close custody
MIR. Banks thought that when the House adopt
ed the resolution,lt had not intended an inquisi-
ton should be established which should compe
persons to disclose what they did not desire t
disclose. He also wished to call attention to the
fact that the prisoners had not been kept in lose
custody, as the resolution directed, but had beer
taken before a committee of the House. and com
PEELED to give testimony without the order of tn,
House, allowing them to be brought out of Gus
tody.
Mr.. Sparks of Ill. stated that all the time prison
ers had been before the committee, they had beef
in charge of the Sergeant at Arms.
| Mr.. Banks replied that when witness was ties
| tifying before a committee he was free man
| After some further discussion the resolution wa
referred, yeas las, nays 80.
Mr.. Carr asked leave to offer a resolution recit
ing that the electoral commission has refused l.
60 behind the returns, and admit the testimon
taken IN the Southern States by the House com
mittecs, and directing that the members of the
Louisiana returning board be released from tn
custody of the Sergeant at Arms.
Eden, Bland, and others, objected.
The House then went into Committee Of tn
Whole an the deficiency appropriation BILL MI
Eden of ILL.,, in the chair.
| MT. roster mhde formal amendment In orde
to correct the statement made day or two az
by Randall, that the majority of the House ha
last year reduced the expenditures of the Gov
thirty million dollars. 1t had reduced the ex
penditures actually about twenty three million
from which must be substracted six million whic
would be expended this year in Difference, leayn
about Sl7 900 900 reduction.
MIR. Randall compared the appropriation mad
by the forty third Congress and those made b.
the forty-fourth Congress. In the two sessions o
the forty third Congress there had been appropri
ated 500 900 600. In the first session of the AIT
Congress there had been appropriated $l4S, 900.
OOO The probabilities were that this year the sp