The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-11-22
CONGRESS.
Summary Of Proceedings.
HT 4..z..... NJ z..r-..


SENATE-At the expiration ofthe morn
ing hour Mr. Davis West Virginia. call
ed up the resolution recently submitted
by him providing for committee to in.
quire into the discrepancies in the books
and accounts ofthe Treasury Department
and made a speech thereon.
The Senate Finance Committee to-day
considered the bill for the reconciliation
of silver, but arrived at no conclusion.
Mr.. Cameron, of Wisconsin, introduced
bill fixing the salaries of Judges of Dis
triCt Courts Of the United States, Refer
red.
Mr.. Ingalls, introduced bill repeating
the act authorizing the coinage Of twenty
cent silver pieces, Referred.
Mr.. Armstrong presented a petition
from the business men of Kansas City in
favor of an amendment to the bank
rupt law and its repeal Referred.
On motion of Mr.. Ingalls, it was order
ed that when the Senate adjourn to-day
it be to meet on Monday next.
HoUsE-Mr. Swami reported bill ell
alive to the Paris Exposition 1t accepts
the invitation from France to take part
in the exposition, and appropriates $780,
600.
Mr., Cox, of New York offered substi-
tute appropriating $4,000. All referred.
Committees we're then called, on for re-
ports of a private nature.
Mr.. Waddell reported bill directing
the Secretary of the Treasury to pay in
full to the small contractors in the South
ern states the amounts due under their
respective contracts for 1859, 1860 and
1861 out of the appropriation of 1915, 900,
made by Congress March Sd, 1877. Re.
ferred. -......
Mr. Davis, of West Virginia, called up
resolution lbmitted by him on the 18Th
ofOCtober last providing for the appoint.
ment of a specia. committee of five sen.
ators to induire into the alleged discrep.
ancies in the books and accounts Of the
Treasury Department. .a
Mr.. Morrill, submitted the following as
a substitute for the resolution of Mr.
Davis:
Resolved, That committee of three be
appointed to investigate the finances, re-
ports, books and accounts of the Treasu.
ry Department, particularly the reports
from 1869 to 1872 inclusive, to ascertain
whether or not any actual differences or
Discrepancies exist, and, also, whether or
not any alterations in accounts and fig
ures have been made, and report the fact
to the Senate, and that said committee
have the powerto employ astenographer
as clerk who shall be paid ont ofthe con-
tingent fund of the Senate on vouchers
approved by the committee.
Mr.. Davis spoke at length and in clos
ing said; Facts and figures all taken from
official reports clearly establish, first, that
differences. changes, and alterations in
vOlving millions of dollars have been
madein the annual finance reports, after
being officially made to Congress; second,
that ex Secretary Brist0w and the FL
nance Committee admit that they were
made between the years 1869 and 1871,
without explanation and without author
ity, and the reasonc for making them
ought to be known; third, that the annual
finance reports to Congress substantially
agree up tn and including the year 1858,
and from 1871 to the present, as to the
public debt and expenditures and receipts
of the Government, but between these
years they differ widely; fourth, that in
1870 the Register of the Treasury was di-
reeted to restate the public bebt and ex-
penditures from the year 1885 to l870,ac'
cording to a statement sent him from the
Secretary's Office, and not according to
data or books in his Office; fifth, that be-
tween the years 1869 and 1871 the Secre-
new tables, stating and remodeling the
public debt and expenditures of the gov
ernment, first appeared in the finance re-
port'which makes these changes and al
terations,s and increase the public debt and
expenditures more than Sl00,000,000.
Pending discussion the Senate adjourn
ed.
HoUsE-Mr. Mills offered resolution
directing the Military Committee to en-
quire into the strength of the cavalry and
infantry regiments of the army, how
many regiments are employed upon the