The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-01-11

10 prevent the naturalization Of Chinese
or Mongolians; also, to punish and pre-
vent the practice OF polygamy In Terri
tories and other places subject 10 the ex
elusive jurlsdiction OF the United States
also joint resolution Of the Californis
Legislature concerning Chinese emigra
tion.
EtyEcENTp1rcEs.
By Mr.. Coz, Of New York: For the
coinage OF Eve cent silver coins, and the
discontinuance Of the five cent nickel and
copper coins.
M. Bragg, Of Wisconsin, asked leave
TO offer u resolution empowering the
Military Committee to have the testimo-
ny taken by it in regard to the Mexican
border troubles printed, and 10 report II
TO the House at any time.
Mr.. Hale objected.
The motion. to refer Mr.. Woods
resolution 10 the Committee Of the Whole
was then adopted, and thereupon the
House went into Committee Of the Whole
Mr.. Eden, Of Illinois, in the chair, for lis
consideration.
Mr.. Burchard offered an amendment to
the resolution so as TO authorize the
committee 10 apply TO th eHonse AZ any
time for srch powers.
Mr.. Wood opened the debate by ex-
planning the object Of the resolution;
WOOD EXPLAINS.
Mr.. Wood declared he personally knew
Of nothing that 1t was intended TO do be-
yond fair, legitimate and honest inquiry
and investigation for the purpose OF leg.
islation, for the purpose ol instructing
the House in the discharge Of It's legiSla,
tive duties. 1t was not designed to enter
into wide and extended attempt TO injure
the public or private character Of my
public official. It was for the purpose oi
carrying out that power, and that authori.
ty which the Constitution appeared TO i'm
pose expressly on the HOuse OF Repre-.
senta,ives, to investigate the conduct ol
public officers, looking to pnrifcation oi
the civil service, and TO laying found ..
tions for impeachment iithe House should
deem fit 10 take that course. His idea
Of the powers and duties Of the House
was that they were coordinate with those
Of the President and d-Senate. IN regard
to the incumbants Of public offices,
the executive, nominated aud appointed,
the Senate had confirmed or refused TO
confirm. It rAmains with the House TO
know how persons appointed and con-
frmed discharge their duties. The
President had very clearly laid down that
principle in his annual message. He be.
lieyed Il necessary; In order that the
House should exercise iIa rights, TO have
It's power in the matter delegated 10 com-
mittees 10 examine witnesses and take
testimony in order to lay the facts before
the House and 10 lay foundation Tor the
action Of the House in the way OF i'm.
peachment or OF recommendation 10 the
President for 'remoyal. There was no
reasonable rightto complain Of the reso.
luton. Certainly tue Investigations Of
the last Congress had resulted 10 great
good 10 the public service in many re-
CARDS. Soma Of The executive depart
menls have been improved butthey would
not have been improved except for
those Investigations. Tue resolution had
been subject 10 grave consideration by the
Committee on Ways and Means. Every
feature had bsen examined: each com
mittee that was to be clothed with power
was thrown on It's own responsibility for
the proper exerci,e Of that power. Under
these circumstances, it appeared to him
that there could be no objection to the
adoption Of the resolution, aud. he hoped
that there would not be.
Mr., Hale offered as substitute q reso'
luton providing that whenever any com:
mittee OF the House shall ask for special
and extraordinary powers in regard 10
the time and conduct oil It's meetings,
power TO send for persons and papers
or any other extension OF its pow.
er and duties for the purpose Of
Investigating the conduct Of any officer oi
the government, the charges on which
such demand for investigation is based,
shall be presented in writing TO the House
with the name OF such officer as is charged
with improper and unlawful proceed
ings and particular statement OF the
charges against him, and the same shall
be accompanied by statement in writing,
signed by one or more members Of the
House, that he has, or they have, reason
10 believe the facts set forth in said
charges. He advocated the adoption oi
his substitute and said it proved
good faith Of the Republican side
OF the House. Nobody desired to stiile
the legitimate investigation, but the
House should not go further than was
comprehended in his resolution. Alter
the adoption by the last Congress OF a
resolution similar to that now before the
House, almost the entire business OF the
House had been given up TO inyesti,
CATION. The mania had spread 10 nearly
every committee. Even the staid Com
mittee on Ways and Means had been af-
fec,ed by Il. Every disaffected man,
every broken down and expelled Office
holder, every dead beat who had not re-
ceiyed what he wanted, had been sum
moned before the committees, and the
whole business OF the session was given
up to these investigations, which were
almost all fruitless. The only commit.
tee which had not got into the investi.
eating business had been the Committee
on Appropriations, presided over by the
present Speaker OF the House, who had
rigidly kept the committee to its duty,
and more valuable work was done by that
committee than by all the Investigating
Committees together.
Mr.. Wood opposed Mr.. Hales substi'
tute on the ground that TO consent TO II
would be to put an end to all inyestiga
tions that Il would publish before hand
the parties IN be investigated and the wit
nesses 10 be summoned, and thus give
time for the papers TO be removed and lor
the witnesses 10 abscond.
Mr.. Clymer conceded that the Rspub-
lican members Of the House were just as
earnest and sincere In their willingness
for investigation where there was I
proper cause as the members on his owr
aide. He could conceive Of no more dis
agreeable duty that could be imposed
upon any publicseryant, than that Of be-
coming q public iniormer. lie knew
from his own experience that thousand
, Of rumors reached the committees, II
which possibly there might be grain o
truth; he knew that in the last Congress
he had weighed patiently and carefully
rumors OF the most monstrous character
affecting then high officer Of the gov
ernmeni, on which rumors he would M
more have come into the House ami