National Republican., 1878-06-08
house OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

The Senate then lat six p. m.) adjourned.
house or REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. KELLEY rose to what he said was q
question Of personal privilege.
The SPEAKER asked him how much time
he wanted.
Mr.. KELLEY did not know. but the Chair
man of the Committee of Ways and Means
Mr.. EDEN, intcrrupting objected to discus
sion Of this character at this late day of the
session.
Mr.. KELLEY said he would speak of
nothing except what related to, and affected
his character in illusions made In a speech
published In this mornings Record, but which
was never delivered on the floor of the House.
Mr.. WOOD hoped the gentleman would
have the largest latitude.
Mr.. EDEN suggested that the gentleman
could print his reply, as Mr.. WOOD had done.
Mr.. KELLEY preferred to speak where he
could he corrected If he committed an error,
and as the gentleman from New York had in
dulged IN personalities in his printed speech,
he might feel impcllod to do the same thing.
Mr.. CONGER said that If all gentlemen who
had been disappointed could claim the right to
make personal explanations this thing would
be interminablc. He had himself been disap.
pointed, and he thought the gentleman from
New York had right to be disappointed at
she fate of his bill. [Laughtcr.l
Mr.. KELLEY then went into O long per-
fonal explanation in relation to certain alega-
iOns made by Mr.. WooD in a speech printed
n the Record of this morning, and Mr. WooD
replied at some length.
Mr.. ATKINS, from Committee on ApprOpri-
ations, reported the supdry civil appropriation
bill, and gave notice that he would call II up
Mt thn last Ia Dafa rrnl
TO Committee of the Whole.
Mr., BRIGHT moved to go into Committee of
the Whole nnd take up the private calendar.
Mr.. BlOUNT antagonized that with a mo-
ton to 20 into committee on the deficiency ap-
preparation bill.
The latter motion was agreed to, and the
House accordingly went into committee, Mr..
BEEBE in the chair.
Eighteen pages of the bill were passed over
without material amendment until the items
relating to the navy deficiencies were reached
Mr.. BLOUNT made the point of order
against the payment of the items for contrac IS
under the head of the Bureau of Steam Engi-
necring.
Mr.. HALE wanted to understand whether
the gentleman was making point of order
against an item In his own bill.
Mr.. BLOUNT said that in the committee he
reserved the right to make point of order
against these items. His point of order was
that these items were not deficiencies and had
no business here. They were simply claims,
and the contracts were all made in plain vio-
latiOn of law.
Mr.. HALEargucd against the point of order,
and contendcd that there a discretion in the
Secretary to make these contracts. An exigency
might require it.
After n long discussion the Chair overruled
the point of order.
Mr.. WILLIS N. " then offered an anne nd
mcnt inserting additional claims amounting in
the aggregate to S0i1,24s.O6
Mr.. WlllfrHORNE, In lieu of this, offer ed
nm amendment authorizing the appointme mt
of Il board Of five officers not below the rank
Of captain, TO examine and report upon all the
contracts and claims in question. Rejected.
Mr.. EDEN said before the vote WAS taken
upon Mr.. WILLIS amendment he wanted to
protest against this system of legislation, and
sgainst the theory advanced that u Depart
nicnt officer could make contracts in violation
Of law and that then tho contractors had an
equitable claim.
Mr.. BLOUNT said that the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. WiHTTHORNE) had put this
House on notice that these claims should be
further investigated. That gentleman had
made speciality of these claims and contracts,
and yet he was not listened to when he put
the House OH notice. lie warned the House
that voice would come up from the people
which would denouncc this system of legisla-
tion.
Mr.. WILLIS amendment was adopted by a
vote of Ill to 49,
Mr.. EDEN said he would call for q vote in
the House.
Mr.. WILLIS agreed to that. He wanted to
see who would repudiate honest debts.
Mr.. ATKINS denied that there was any
justification for that remark. No one wanted
10 repudiate.
Mr.. WILLIS offered further amendment
TO the items under the Bureau of Construction
and Repair, by adding claims aggregating
$372,77O.76, and this was also adopted.
Mr.. WILLIS offered Il further amendment,
adding claim OF Sl5O,OOO to the items under
the Bureau Of Provisions and Clothing.
Mr.. CLHMER said it was always under
stood that the Congress held the control Of the
money appropriated, but this action to-day re-
verscd all that. The mismanagemcmt of the
Navy Department under the late Administm.
tiOn was notorious. He was not surprised
that the Republicans should vote to pay these
claims with view of cOndOning the acts of
the late Administration, but he was astOnished
that the Democratic side should aid them.
The action of tho House to-day gave the heads
Of Departments an excuse for violating the
law, and he would not blame them for it.
The amendment was adopted
Mr.. THROCKMORTON offered an amend
ment to pay balance of $517lG to the Texas
and New Orleans Railroad for carrying the
mails, Adopted.
After the adoption of few amendments, in
volving small amounts, and pending further
consideration the committee rose
MIR. SCHLElCHER, from the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, submitted u report ia relation
To the japanese indemnity fund. Ordered to
be printed and rccommitted.
Mr. HALE moved to take n recess with n