National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-03-19
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
'IoOn,'nsed prom Fms Pugsl


Mr.. SPRINGER moved to suspead che
rules and pass joint resolution providing Tor
the deposit of silver bullion on the same terms
as gold bullion is deposited.
Mr.. STEPHENS tGa.) expressed the hope
that the bill would not pass.
The yeas and nays were demanded and tel
)ers were demanded on ordering the yeas and
nays Members voted very slowly, and at two
o'clock the Speaker announced that the Dis
| trict Of Columbia COMMITTEES was entitled 10
the floor to the exclusion of NIL other business,
and that committee was called for reports.
Mr.. WILLIAMS (Mich.) reported back the
| Senate bill to authorize the Commissioners Of
the District Of Columbia to refund certain
taxes enormously collected. Passed.
Also reported bill releasing certain church
property from taxes enormously paid. Passed..
Also resolution requiring the Commits
sionors Of the District to report what streets,
avenues, and alleys were paved since April !,
1872, the cost Of paving, material used, &c.
Adopted.
Also, q joint resolution sppropriating $4,000
for the Commissioners Of the District TO en-
ploy laborers in improving the canal south Of
the Capitol. Passed.
| Mr.. BOUCK, from same committee, reported
back Senate bill to extend the charter Of the
| Franklin Fire Insurance Company. Passed.
Also reported bill regulating attachment
for debt In the District Of Columbia. 1t ex-
empts from levy and execution all wages not
in excess Of $50 per month Of all actual resi-
dents Of the District. Passed.
Also a substitute for the bill regulating the
appointment Of justices OF the peace and con-
stables In the District Of Columbia. II author
lies the appointment of five justices Of the
peace and of twenty constablcs to take the
place Of those now holding commissions, aud
they are authorized to settle up the business
Of the old justices who are now in commission.
Passed.
Mr.. MAYHAM, from same committee, re-
ported back the bill to authorize tho Commits
sioners Of tho District Of Columbia to audit
certain claims against tho District, and for
| funding the same.
MT. EDEN made the point Of order that the
bill involved m issue Of additional certificates
and that II must, therefore, have its first con-
sderation in Committee Of the Whole.
The CHAIR sustained the point Of order,
and tho House won't into Committee Of the
Whole, Mr. STESGER In the chair, and took up
the pending bill.
Mr.. MAYHAM explained Its provisions, and
urged It's passage as a matter Of right and jus
ticc to the District and to the people who had
claims against 1t.
Mr.. BLACKBURN said he had reported the
bill from the committee originally, but with
the distinct understanding that he was op.
posed to the measure. This billed clothed the
Commissioners of the District Of Columbia
with all the power possessed by the late board
of audit, and he asserted that that board had
audited and allowed claims which were unjust
He believed that this bill would give oppor.
tunities to jobbers and brokers, and not to the
honest contractor or claimant. 1t opens up to
: all speculators in claims an opportunity IA
prey upon honest claimants who had been
f compelled to sell their claims. He would vote
for any bill to establish an honest judicial tri.
bunal for the payment of honest claims, but be
| mot wi IN af ba
board of audit, and especially to transfer tho
work TO the Commissioners of the District
who were now overburdened with work, and
who could not give the necessary attention to
the business. He was prepared to assert, and
he deficd contradiction, that Of the thirteen
millions of certificates issued by the board OF
audit not one-half Of them were signed by the
members Of the board, but by clerk, and SC
IL would be IL the duties were transferred 70
the Commissioners. He for one claimed the
right of Congress to question the validity OF
the debt created by the board Of audit.
| Mr.. HUNTOS did not see the dangers in
this bill which Mr.. BLACKBURN ANTICIPATED
There was honest work done for which the
Government was responsible, and he believed
, 1t was the duty of Congress to provide for de
termining the Justice Of these claims. He be
ieved that the Commissioners were the pro
/ per parties TO audit and pass upon thes,
a claims.
u. u
not fact that the District Commissioners hat
G made new contracts, or changed the location
, | OF contracts made by the old Board of Public
!, Works, and had thus increased the indebted
u ness
l Mr.. IlENDEE would answer that by sayin,
that locations Of work han been changed, bu
by that act the Commissioners had saved 1900
I 600. The Attorney General had decided tina
S they had right to change contracts in tn
: way they did.
Mr.. BLACKBURN was not disposed to trus
the Commissioners who had thus changed cor
: tracts with auditing powers upon claims tina
t aggregated 81 ,735,O00.
Mr.. HENDEE said that statement shove
the gentlemans exaggeration. The $780, 90
was stricken out in committee OH the gentle
: mans own motion.
Mr.. BLACKBURN. And / tried to strik
o out all the rest.
: Mr.. HENDEE. And failed.
If Mr.. HUNTON said 1t did not matter to hir
il in whose hands the claims now were. TIL
=. debt was an honest one and should be paiG
% even If under stress Of circumstances tn
e original holders had been compelled to pal
v with them.
Mr.. HENDEE also argued that the claim
3 should be paid, no matter who held them nov
'e The argument that they should not be pal
l. because they had passed into the hands
third parties would in his country be calle
u Mr.. BLACKBURN asked the gentleman
IT repeat that remark, and Mr.. HESDEE did s.
rs and asked ii il was offensive.
"A Mr.. BLACKBURN. Decidedly so.
Mr.. HENDEE. Then l withdraw It, as d
oi not desire any controversy. Laughterl II
l. argued that the claims were just and shout
r be paid.
The committee then rose for the purpose
'e closing debate.
y Mr.. HARRISON made an effort to get
# the report on the case of Colonel Polk, Doc
!, keeper of the House. but objection was mad
" Debate was limited to fifteen minutes, al
III the House again went into Committee OF tn
e. Whole.
,e Mr.. EDEN argued that the debt which
4 was proposed to pay was contracted Illegal
and in the face OF direct prohibition by Coz
ie gress. 1t was debt fixed primarily on Il
~ people OF the District, and ultimately on Il
IN people Of the whole United States, and he d
not propose to tax his constituents to ia
i" them unless they were more car
~ fully guarded. He had been told tn,
ue many just claims against the Distri
were not provided for at all in the bill. The
\, was special class to be benefited, and d
vi bill did not even provide for the summoni
n of witnesses at the presentation Of voucher
of He denied that these claims were all ius
=, The law abolishing the board Of audit w,
:" passed because they had allowed unlawf,
he claims. lie WAS not 30 much in love with Il
o. way things had been done in this District