The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-21

information pertaining thereto can b
obtained on application 10 the Second Az
sistant Postmaster General.
| Mr.. Hale offered an amendment pro
vidiDg that no sub.letting Of contract
should be permitted, and whenever suct
sub.letting did occur the contract shoulC
be considered as terminated.
Mr.. Money, Of Mississippi, though
Mr.. Hale's amendment was step in th,
right direction, and II II went further th,
department would soon pay ia expenses
he instanced the case Of steamboat mai
contractor, who testified before the Post,
office Committee this morning. Thi
man had received four contracts withou
bids under advertisement and had sub
letted every one; his pay from the gov
ernment on one route being $4,000 ant
that which be paid the actual mail car
rier being only some Sl5, 900 and this wa
q specimen OF the way in which the peo
Pile were robbed in connection with the
mail contracts.
After further discussion Mr.. Hale'i
amendment was adopted, and the bill Al
amended was passed.
The House went into Committee Of tht
Whole, Mr.. Hunter, OF Virginia, in the
Chair, aud resumed consideration OF the
deficiency bill.
Several items for the payment ol
small sums due for labor at the New
York, Portsmouth and League 1sland
Navy Yards having been reached, Mr.
Coz, Of New York, inquired where the
blame lay for the non.payment Of labor.
ers and mechanics ut New York.
Mr.. Foster, 4 member Of the Appro'
priation Committee, replied to Cox. he
confessed himself hardly able 10 answer
the question, why these laborers had not
been paid before, but the committee pro-
posed to have them paid now. That gen.
tleman (Cox) had proclaimed to the
House a few days ago that he was the
leader ot economy in measures which had
passed the House. He (Foster) would,
therefore, inform the gentleman's labor
ing men that he (Cox) was as much as
any one 10 blame for the failure 10 pay
these men before. He had not seen The
gen,leman's delightful counienance in the
room OF the Appropriation Committee
urging these claims.
Mr.. Cox-I sent the letter there.
Mr.. Foster-The gentleman's colleague
(Chiltenden) did come before the commit
lee, and did plead eloquently for his labor.
| ingmen, but we did NOT hear anything from
the gentleman (Cox). Hecontents himself
with writing cold letter to the committee,
why did he not come before the commit
tee and plead for his friends?
Mr.. Cox-l was there, bat you were
not present.
Mr. Foster-Itis q pretty piece Of DEM
agoguery for . gentleman TO speak TO the
galleries and to the record 10 show that be
is working for the laboting men, but why
did he not come before the Committee on
Appropriations like his colleague (Chit,
tendenj and tell US the necessity fol- max.
iug these appropriations instead Of coming
before the House and making demago 81
cal appeals to the people of New York
Laughter. Why does he claim TO be the
leader OF the House in economy, and then
come here and complain Of the appropri-
ations not being made?
Mr.. Cox-When spoke Of leading in
the matters OF economy, ! referred TO GER
tain matters only connected with pay and
back pay. Economy does not cut down
wages OF men honestly earned.
Mr.. Whitthorne, OF the Committee on
Naval Affairs expressed his belief that ii
would be shown as the result OF the in
yestigation now going on, that the
money which was properly due the me-
chanics and iaborers ut The navy yards
had gone to enrich the contractors, and he
should not be surprised il some Of these
contractors were among the constituents
OF the gentleman from New York Cox
Mr.. Cox-I do not represent them.
Mr.. Whitthorne-The money which
was due 10 these laborers and mechanics
was appropriated by Congress, but was
misused and diverted by the last Admin.
istration.
Reference having been made In the
course OF the discussion to the refusal OF
appropriations for public buildings, Mr..
O'Neill said the people did not object TO
having their money expended Ii they
could see what 1t was expended for; ii it
had not been for the agitation Of the
money question by Congress many Of
those who are now out of employment
would have been employed; it would
have been better for the people II Con.
gress had not been in session at all.
Another means Of keeping up the agita-
ton had been the attempt Of Congress TO
revise the tariff; that had done more than
anything else to stop the industries OF
the country; II It had not been for that
revision there would have been millions
and hundreds Of millions isvested which
now remained idle; he had always been
| in favor Of legislators who earned their
bread by the sweat Of their brows, but
the Democrats were ambitious Of getting
up tariff-a Democratic tariff. God
save the mark.
Mr.. Wright said that It was part Of
wisdom to let the tariff alone.
Mr.. sayler-The new tariff increases
the revenue.
Mr.. Wright replied that the gentleman
did not know what he was talking about.
He thought that II a test could be taken
majority Of the House would vote for q
resolution declaring it unwise and out Of
place TO interfere with the tariff.
Mr.. O'Neill-Do / understand my col
League to say, aud l hope not, that i'm
mediately on the tariff bill coming into
the House he will move to lay II on the
table?
Mr.. wright-How can tell until 1
know the sex OF the bantlipg. It may be
such . thing as | want.
Mr.. o'Neill repeated the question, 10
which Mr.. Wright replied that be might
have made such q remark in converse
tion, and II he did he would repeat 1t
now.
Mr.. Fort offered an amendment making
Il unlawful for the Secretary Of the Treas
ury to destroy, 10 cancel or retire any
more q. s. Treasury notes, but Mr.. Hew.
1T, Of New York, making point Of or
der the amendment was ruled not in
order.
After few unimportant changes The
committee rose and reported the bill to
the House aud II was passed.
The House then proceeded to the con-
sideration Of the bill providing perma.
uent form Of government for the District
| Of Columbia, as II 10 Committee Of the
Whole, Mr.. Hale In the chair. Alter
discussion the matter went over without