The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Bill 10 Psy ss75, 900 to South
ern Mail Contractors.
A Spirited Debate as to their Status
as Rebels.
Confederate Leeches on The Public
Treasury.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, March s.

tain petition for abalition Of tariff duty
on type considering it as scandolnsly
false as containing statements, many Of
which are utterly devoid Of truth and
"a in the interest OF the foreign type
founders and their products. Referred.
The Senate amendments 10 the bill
suspending operations Of revised statues
in regard to the Guiana Island were con.
Cured In.
The Senate bill known as the Long
Bond Bill was referred 10 the tommittee
on Ways and Meanp.
| Committees were then callt on for re.
ports Of a private nature.
The committee was authorized to ar
range for placing the Centennial Memo
rial In the Stale Department, and an
invitation was received from Superin.
tendent Mcpherson to view the exhibits
OF the Bureau Of Engraving and Printing
before heing sent TO Paris.
The Speaker laid before the House the
following communications, which were
referred: Letter from the Secretary Of
War asking an appropriation Of Sl2,50O
for an accommodation at Providing
Ground, Sandy Hook. Letter from the
Secretary Of War stating that the Post
Quartermasters at Chicsgo and New
York would be ordered 10 appear before
the Committee on Military Affairs.
The Speaker then called on the com.
mlttees for reports of private nature.
The morning hour was consumed in
the discussion upon the resolution re-
ported adversely by the Committee on
Accounts for the payment Of laborers
employed in the cloak rooms, which was
finally referred TO the Committee on
Civil Service Reform.
Mr.. Atkins offered resolution calling
on the Secretary oil the Interior and Sec
retary OF War ior all information in re-
gard to the geographical and geological
surveys conducted by their respective de.
partment during the past ten years. Ad.
opted.
The House then went into the Commit.
Tee Of the Whole, Mr.. Price in the Chair,
upon the private calendar, the unfinished
business being bill for the payments Of
certain ante bellum or Southern mail con.
tractors.
The bill makes available at once an
appropriation Of S375, 900 already appro.
priated for the payment Of such contract.
ors for services rendered prior 10 May
q, 1861.
Mr. Frye said that II the United States
Government owed just debt TO man
who afterwards went luto the rebellion,
he was in favor Of the government dis.
charging its just debt. But this bill pro.
vided for payments to be made up 10
May 3lst, 1851, while in reality most OF
the States went into rebellion previous to
January. He therefore offered an
amendment providing that no payment
should be made to mail contractors for
services rendered after their respective
States adopted ordinances OF secession.
Mr.. Mills argGed that inasmuch as the
United States did not recognize the in.
surrectionary condition Of the Southern
States until May 81, 1881, the government
should pay for services rendered in those
States up to that time.
Mr.. Reagan pursued the same line OF
argument and stated that the Confederate
Government had required all Postmast.
ers to account to the United States Gov.
crnment for all moneys, stamps. &C., in
their possession up to May 81. 1851.
Mr.. Conger read from the order, Issued
May 20, 1861, by the Postmaster General
Of the Confederate states, instrucLing the
Postmaaters Of the United States Govern.
Inent In the Southern States, TO retain In
their possession subject TO further order
Of the Department for the benefit OF the
Confederate States, all mail bags and
other property belonging to the postal
service.
Mr.. Willitsidenied the statement made
by Mr.. Reagan some time ago that the
Confederate government had never paid
or assumed to pay the contractors and
read the act passed by the Confederate
Congressman in which It assumed to pay
every dollar, the only Limitation being
that such contractors should be loyal 10
the Coniederacy. He had found on exami.
nation OF the Confederate records eigh.
teen OF these claims had been audited and
paid and the Confederate government had
gone 40 far as to provide that II the
United States government should there.
after pay them the contractors should
re.emburse the Confederate government
for the amounts paid them. He also
quoted from the report made by Mr.. Rea.
gan as the Confederate Postmaster Gener-
al in which he credited himseli with S502,.
900 paid on account OF services rendered
prior 10 May 3lst, 1851.
Mr.. Aiken asked II because eighteen
claims had been paid, the government
should repudiate its honest debts.
Mr.. Reagan raid he had not seen any
OF his reports. He thought be could
prove that which he had previously
stated, but ii the gentleman from Michi.
gan (WillitsJ was right he would coneede
to IN amendment so as 10 exclude from
payment such contractors "a were paid by
the Confederate government
Mr.. Blount felt it his duty 10 cay for
his section that be would not cast bis vote
to pay any one for earring the mails in
the South who had hitherto been paid by
the Confederate government.
Mr.. Cox (0hio) said that whatever
might be the result OF the facts which
took place during the exciting time OF
rebellion no one on his side Of the House
would hesitate TO accord the gentleman
from Texas (Reagan) entire csndor in
| MS poaltlOn, lor ne nad won thelf respect
BY his conduct on the floor. Applause
on the Democratic side.
Mr.. Tucker said that the statement
which had been made by the gentleman
from Michigan (Willits) was from the
archives OF the Confederate government,
which had been taken BY the conqueror
thirteen years ago, aud had been con-
cealed ever since. He attributed no un.
worthy purpose In the conceAlment from
the eyes OF Confederates.
Mr.. Willits-They were not changed.
Mr.. Tucker-No one said that they
had been changed. and the gentleman
who suggests 1t must not impute 70 me a
motion which suggested itselfin his mind.
He said the gentleman from Mich
igan (Willibl had not read fully,
for he had not had time, the doen-
ments which be proposed TO print 10 his
remarks; he (Tucker) was not willing
that the vote should be taken on this bill
until it had been recommItted for ex.
animation into the facts, aud be believed
such an examination would clearly vim.
dicate the honor Of the Confederate Gov.