The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-17


i aud make the. State q. stencil in the nostrils
OF the world. sss
Following The same line OF debate, Sen
fator Bayard said there was something un'
i American In this secret nquisitiou. ii. the
charges made were true, be hoped exposure
would follow, and punishment follow
Iexposure. III the charges were untrue, he
hoped the punishment would fall upon those
who placed them on foot.
Mr.. Merrfmon, OF North Carolina, said be
had an experience two years qgo Oh, an In.
Yestigating committee in the South, and he
! could not conceive OF a better plan TO en-.
courage perjury than by having closed
doors. He bad seen day after day the rank
not there to defend themselves. The secret
investigations were againss the principles of
eternal justice and wrong TO the American
fpeople. go
Mr.. Ransom, Of North Carolina, said for
sever, long years he had set bere and heard
his people abused; but his deity was to bear
it. Now, when 1t was proposed to indict
them, they would meet the accusers half
way and say, Turn on the lights; see it
ALL" God forbid that it should go out to
the balance OF mankind, and 60 down the
stream OF time forever, that this American
Senate declared that an investigation should
not be made in the light OF day. [Applause
in the gallery.]
Following this was the vote on the second
amendment; which, as stated In the regu-
lar report, was rejected.
ro,..rGTsp, rorr-,ss.Ts,spss Sass7n,
WASHINGTON, December 18, 1873.
SENATE.
Mr.. Beck. OF Kentucky, submitted reso-
luton that the Secretary Of the Treasury be
directed and required to appear before the
Senate in person on Wednesday next, at l
O'Clock P. NJ, TO inform the Senate what
reason, if any, he has for failing to answer
the resolution Of the Senate Of the Sd OF
December, 1878, in regard to the amount OF
silver coin received for RESPONSIBILITIES, and
whether he has applied it, or any part Of it,
| to the payment oI interest on the bonds and
| notes OF the United States; and IL not so
applied, TO state the reason why, dc. Du-
ring his remarks on the resolution Mr.. Beck
said the Secretary Of the Treasury had in
creased the bonded debt OF the United
States to the extent Of S74, 490, 450 by selling
bonds and boarding gold.
After brief debate the resolution was
| laid over.
After some opposition from the Demo-
cratic side, and an unsuccessful motion by
Mr. Matthews to take up the TeXas-Pacitic
bill (the vote on that motion being &c ayes
| to SO noes), Mr.. Blaine's resolution regard
| ing the deprivation OF citizens OF their
rights was taken up, the question being on
Mr.. Thurman's amendment, which was
agreed to without division.
MIR. Conkling moved as an amendment
| that the investigation be made by select
committee OF nine, instead OF The judiciary
Committee; which was agreed to.
Mr.. Blaine then submitted resolution
authorizing the committee to take testimony
| bv itself, or by any sub committee, and to
visit any portion OF the country when
deemed necessary.
Mr.. Butler, OF South Carolina, moved 10
amend the amendment so as to provide that
the committee, or any subcommittee there
OF, shall sit with open doors.
| A very animated debate followed, which
was participated in by Mcssrs. Butler, EuS-
tbs, Bayard, and others, contendin" for open
investigation; after which Dir. Buffers
amendment was rejected, the vote-30 to
3O-beinc a strict party vote.
| a subsequent amendment that the COM
| mittec, or any Sub. committee thereof, should
sit with open doors when requested to do
| so by any member OF the committee was also
| rejected by strict party vote.
| Without further action the Senate ad.
iourned until tomorrow.
The discussion was very animated, the
Democratic senator's, and particularly
Messrs. Butler, Merrimon, and Ransom,
persistently demanding for open inveStlga'
ton, and Mr.. Blaine contending against il
with great activity.
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
A bill appropriating S150,000 for The de-
ficiency in the railroad mail transportation
was reported from the Committee on APP.
preparations, and is to be acted on to-mor.
row.
Mr.. Chalmers moved to suspend the rules
and pass the bill making it penal offence
for any officer, agent, or contractor OF the
| United States to interfere with the election
of members of Congress or President by
contributions of money, or by the use OF
abuse OF official privilege, or by brides,
threats, influence, DC; and also making IL 1
penal offence to solicit or receive contribu'
tons for election purposes from persons in
the employment of the Government. Re.
jected-ayes, 1872; noes, 103-not the neces
publicans voted "No"; the Democrats,
"Aye"-Mr. Kelley, Of PENNSYLVANIA, yo.
ting with the Democrats.
| A resolution was adopted calling on the
Secretary Of the Treasury for information
whether there was any balance on the loan
account standing to the credit OF the Urea.
sury in any national bank on the 1st OF
March, 1876, or on the 1st OF any succeed.
ling month until January, 1879, with the
name Of such banks and the amount held
by each.
The House, in Committee OF the Whole
took up the bill appropriating $4,000 fol
the construction OF bridge across the Po'
tcmac at the island Of the Three Sisters
above GEORGETOWN, Eaf the cost to be de-
irayed By. the Government and hail by the
District. This bill gave rise to discussion
involving the question is to the State OF Vii:
ginia ceding jurisdiction for the abutments
or approaches Of the bridge on the Virginia
side, and as to the propriety OF that State
contributing one fourth of the expense.
Mr.. Congcrs, OF Michigan, insisted or
the last-namcd point, and in his remarks
satirizcd the strict cGnstructionists OF Vir'
ginia indicating Mr.. Tucker by name) fol
their oid-time opposition to Internal i'm
provements, while they pressed approprla
lions for their own State in the river anC
harbor bill.
Mr.. Tucker replied with much warmth
denying that he had ever pressed for appro
priations for his State in that bill, and as
sorting that he had always opposed such
bills.
A proviso was inserted in the bill re
curing The assent OF the State Of Virginia,
and the bill was laid aside to be reported tt
the House. The Committee Of the Whole