Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-23
FORTY.FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON. May %.
SENATE.

and sit during the recess of the Senate.
Discussion ensued.
Mr.. Ingalls,, of the same committee, stated that
he had all the information possessed by the CHAIR
man, and he differed from him entirely, and if
any discrepancies are shown to exist, It will be
found due to change IN the maLner of keeping
the hooks, and the treasury officials be relieved of
all lmputstions made against them on the floor of
the Senate. The committee do not wish to sit
during the recess, but wish this authority 10 or
der that their clerks may continue the examina
ton of the books and report to the committee up
on the assembling OF Congress.
Mr.. Beck said rs member Of the committee
he did not believe sufficient progreA was made in
the examination to give any opinion what the re-
suit would be.
Pending the discussion the morning hour ex-
pred.
Mr.. Blaine, from the committee on rules, re-
ported series of joint rules to be proposed to the
House OF Representatives.
Ordered to be printed and lie on the table.
The bill TO provide permanently = form of gov
ernment for the District of Columbia was then
taken up, but laid aside informally.
Mr. Lamar spoke at length IN favor of the Tex
as Pacific
Mr.. Lamar in conclusion appealed to the Sena-
tors IRON the New England States especially, to
support the measure, as work of national impor-
lance in the history of the whole American peo-
Pile.
Mr.. Johnston gave notice that he desired to ad-
pared to day.
Mr.. Allison, from the cot ference committee on
the Indian appropriation BILL submitted report,
which was agreed TO, and the bill passed.
The Senate then resumed the consideration of
the bill providing q permanent form of govern
ment Tor the District of Columbia, and the first
section, recognizing the District as q municipal
corporation, etc., was agreed to without amend
ment.
MIR Baysrd moved to amend the second section,
providing for the appointment of commissioners,
so as to provide that the two commissioners to be
appointed from civil life shall be actual residents
of the District Of Columbia for one year. instead
at three. as the Senate committee proposed
MIR. lngalls, in charge of the bill, said that the
bill AS 1t passed the House, fixed the period at five
years, but the Senate committee reduced it to
three years. 1t had been rumored, he did not
know with what truth, that this provision was put
III by the House for the express purpose of meet
ing particular case. If that was true it would
not be wise for the Senate to agree to it.
The amendment of Mr. Bsyard was agreed to
by rising vOte-yeas %, nays Is.
Mr.. Hoar moved to reconsider the vote, and
said he did so for the purpose of submitting an
amendment providing that one of the commits
sioners TO be taken from civil life should be An &C.
tual resident OF the District for period of three
years previous to his appointment.
After some further discussion he withdrew his
motion to reconsider and gave notice he would
renew 1t hereafter.
Mr.. Baysrd submitted 40 amendment requiring
the commissioners TO be appointed from civil life
to give n bond in $50, 900 each.
Mr.. ingalls, opposed the amendment
Pending the discussion, Mr.. Voorhees, intro
duced bill authorizing the construction of
bridge across the Wabash river, at point within
six miles Of the town of Merom, Ind.
Referred to the committee on commerce.
he Senate then went into executive session,
and when the doors were re-opened adjourned I'LL
to morrow.
Mr. Harrison offered as question Of privilege
resolution extending tue Potter investigation to
Oregon and South Carolina, and declaring 1t not
the intention of the House through such investi-
CATION to annul the decision of the Presidential
question rs made in the 44th Congress. A vote
was taken as to whether the resolution presents
question of privilege, but both sides dsincllned
to vote either one way or the other.
The vote on Hariisons resolutions resulted
yeas II, nays 80, and the point of no quorum be-
ing raised on the democracy side, Harrison with
drew them.
Mr.. Wilson offered a resolution extending the
power of the investigating committee where there
may be we'll grounded 4 Legations of fraud.
Mr.. Cox of New FORK moved the resolution to
the Potter committee, and the yeas and nays were
ordered
The motion to refer the Wilson resolution be.
ing deteated-yeas SO, nays ll5, the resolution
was adopted without division.
Mr.. Springer submitted q report from the eY-
penditures IN the state department, setting forth
ten articles Of impeachment against y. b. Brad
ford, late consul general at Shanghai China.
Referred to the judiciary.
The following are the principal articles of i'm
peachment against o. b Bradford:
Fnst-Thst he became interested and promoted
officially rallw ay from Woosang to Shanghai, in
violation Of treaty obligations and the acts of Con-
gress.
second-Thst he conspred for pecuuiary
gam with +. Iverson and others, to deceive the
Chinese authorities by procuring contract to
build a carriage road, and Afterwards construct
ing a railroad from Foosung to Shanghai.
Third-That be was guilty of injustice and ex-
torlon in his official capacity, Is Judge of the
Consular Court, upon citizens Of the L. 5. (rhere
are hive specifications under this srticie)
Fourth and Filth-1hat rs postal agent of the
L. 5. he distracted letters from the mails and
opened them, Tor the purpose of pryng into the
business and secrets of the persons writing the
letters
Sixth-That he took voucher in one instance
for $50, and paid IN person only $50, retaining
$40.
Seventh-Tbat as the postal agent Of Shanghai,
he received Mexican dollars, which were at pre-
MUM over gold aud currency; that he paid his
expenses in like coin, but charged the government
premium as If he had purchased such coin,
thereby detiaudlng the government out of large
sums of money.
Eighth-Thst he embezzled fees due the gov
eminent $1,000.
Ninth-That he embezzled $4,000 of govern
ment funds.
The house then went into committee of the
whole MIR Springer in the chair on the army APP
prorristion bill, all general debate 10 close in an
hour.
While endesvoripg to have the latter order
made. Mr.. Hewitt of New York, in answer to .
question, stated that he was 10 favor of adjourn.
ing sine die June l0t
Mr.. Schleicher opposed the bill because he did
not think it provided sufficient force for the pro-
lection of the Texas frontier. 1t has been said
that the Mexicsns had promised to keep the peace
upon the borb,r, but everyone who had any ex-
perience with the neighbors OF the United States
on the Rio Grande, knew their promise went for
nothing. He read from testimony taken by the
committee on foreign affairs, describing the NUT
der of fur Americans on American soil by Mexi-
cans, and said livery earnestly that there had been
a time when the murder of four American citizens
would not have been ignored by an American
congress.
After long debate the committee proceeded to
consider it under the Eve minute rule.
Mr.. Throckmorton moved to amend by making
the limitation of the army % 900 instead Of 20
600 men.
After long debate, the committee without &C.
ton arose, and the house took recess.
EVENING SESSION.
Mr. Robertson of La, from the committee on
Mi>ssslDpi leyees reported a hill for the OrQauiz-