The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-16
HOUSE.

nres, reported joint resolution autho-
rizing the President 10 invite an Interna-
tionai Monetary Commission to consider
and recommend uniform rates, or the
relative valuation in coinage and legal
tender powers Of gold and silver. Re
lerred.
Al the expiration Of the morning hour
the House went into Committee OF the
Whole on the private calendar Mr.,
Hooker in the chair.
The second bill on the calendar was
one which applies an appropriation oi
1876 900 made by acl Of Congress 10 pay
certain Southern mail contractors.
MIR. Bragg asked il the bill hal been
reported unanimously by the Committee
on Postoltices and Post Roads.
Mr.. Conver, a member OF the commit
lee, answered that ii had not. He had
always been opposed 10 the payment oi
claims Of that kind.
Mr.. Bragg asked further whether the
Republican members Of the committee
had omitted TO make the min nority re-
port in order that the Democrats might
be charged with endorsing everything
said against them about the payment oi
the Southern clalmE.
Mr.. Conyer said there had been no
minority, which was because no major
ity report had accompanied the bill.
Mr.. Bragg said that II the bill, which
appropriated over $4,000, 900, had nc
sufficient claim on which TO rest, which
would warrant the majority putting
their names on a paper giving theiI
reasons for supporting the bill, he hoped
the House would not pass it.
Mr.. Waddell, Chairman Of the Post
office Committee, explained that they ap-
propriated no money. The appropriation
had been made Last year, but the Secreta-
ry had refused to use the money till The
claims were all in, and the bill was sim
ply directing the Secretary to pay tue
claims already proved.
In answer 10 the question he stated that
the aggregate OF all the claims would
amount 10 $500 900, but many OF these
claims wonld never be presented.
Mr.. Thompson opposed the bill. II was
not merely proposition 10 appropri'
ate SS75, 900; Il was proposition TO pay
land to begin TO pay at once) all the claimt
Of all those claimants. II was danger
ous legislation; Il was dangerous 10 the
rights Of the people and the rights Of the
Treasury TO compel the Secretary TO pay
all those claims, whether they amounted
10 375 900 or s$.0OO,0O0, and neither he
nor the committee knew TO what sum they
did amount. When this government had
restored to those claimants life, liberty
and prosperity, II had acted with mag
nanimity which compared iavorably with
the action Of any other government. He
would 20 az far "a any man in removing
political disabilities, yet he wanted some
line drawn, something to bring a remem'
brance to the coming generation that q
crime was crime.
Mr.. Hanna favored The bill. The claims
appeared. 10 be Just and honest, and
and whether II needed an appropriation
Of SS75,O0O or $4,000 TO meet them he
wonld cheerlully vote for II.
Mr.. COnger said The. bill appropriating
the 1915 900 had been passed when mol
ten men on the Republican side had ap'
proved II.
Mr.. Regau reminded Mr. Conger that
the bill had been passed when the Repub.
lican aide had felt reConciled-at the end
oflhe 4l!h Congress number oi
Republicans had voted for II.
Mr.. Conger said that II had been pass
ed on the gush Of Cancellation. There
had been good many things done on the
gush Of Cancellation since then that many
men regretted. Now, he was surprised
at his friend from Indiana Hanna) IL
taking the position he did. That gent
thought 40 harshly Of the Coniederacy
aud Ia Postmaster General that he woult
not recognize payments made by them e
those contractors, but wanted them pale
] over again. The gentleman from Texal