The Portland daily press., 1878-12-17
SENATE.
Senator BIaine's Resolution AdOpled-
Seer tary Sherman ana tie SilY.r Bill

Senator BIaine's Resolution ADOPTED
Secretary Sherman ana tie Silvrr Bill.
Among the bills Intr doced were the following:
By Mr.. Dawes for the erection of fire proof
bu lding al for national museum. Referred to
the committee on public buildings.
~ Mr. Grover. to regulate employment labor on
public works. Referred 10 the committee on COM
meIce
A 'esouion was adopted instr uctug the COM
m'ttee on Judiciary to consider the exped ency of
repe alipg all laws compromising Uniten States at
torneys fees. and the passage of laws fixing the
salaries of such officers.
ur. Beck submitted resolution that the
Secretary OF the Treasury be required to appear
before the SeDate in person Wednesday next at
O'Clock to inform the Senate what reason if any be-
for falling to answer the resolu ion of the Senate OF
the 3D. of December 1878 in reg ard to the amount of
silver coin received for customs duties aud whe,h her
he has applied on any part IF it to the payment OF
interest bonds and noIes of the United States and
If not so applied to state the reason why.
During his remarks on the resolution Mr.. Beck
said the Secretary Of the treasury had ucrea sed the
$40, 499, $50 by selling bonds and boarding gold.
Aiter bnef debate the reso ution was laid over
Seuate took up the resolution Of Mr.. Blaine 10
regard TO citizens being deprived of their conslitu-
tional rights
After brief debate of colloquial character the
amendment offered by Mr., Thurman directing
further isquiry as to whether persons were dis.
missed from employment by reason of their votes
whether money Was raised by assessment or other
wise upon Federal oficehoiders employees for
election uiposes, and also into the conduct Of
ssses E va resolution OF
Mr.. CouSling submitted an amendment to have
the INVESTIGATION made by special committee of
Agreed to. yeas 81, nays 29.
Mr. Blaine then submitted an amendment
authorizing the committee to take testimony by
itself or by any subcommittee and visit any portion
of the couttry wheO such visit in their judg-
ment fcl'ita'e anv portion of the object of inquiry
Mr.. Bul'e' moved to amend the amendment to
provide that the committee or any subcommittee
the. cot SIT With ope doors.
Mr.. blaine opposed the amendment, and said that
there might tie where witness would be
embarrassed by Iestityine openly. VERY many men
who had been intmi 'aIed at the polls we're more
intim,dated on The witness stand. lie would leave
the Whole mater of open session of the committee
with tie committee itself
MI. Butler said that be understood that the
Senator from Naine objected to the amendment on
the ground that in Certain parts Of the couutIy
cer'an witnesses we're willing to testify secretly bit
n openly rhe Senator had spoken about SO and
so being llegei in regard to depnving citizens of
their lights: There was not particle Of proof Of
The fact He tsutler) as Senator in part repre-
and country that people of his state desired the
most complete and fn lest Investigation which could
be made, and any witness who appeared before The
coamittee in South Caroha could testify just as
Mr.. Eusts said that as far as Louisiana was con-
cerned the past Investigations proved that the
Republican witnesses were not iutimidated because
republican witnesses not only ties flied there but a
great many OF them testified both SIDES 1t
occurred 10 him (Eustis) as al oxtraor ,inarv sfua
ton for the Senator from Maine to occupy When in
advance of the examination Of a single witness the
Honorable Senator took the liberty II stating to the
Senate aud the people of the county that tho
people of Louisiana had more rights as voter,
han the inhabitants OF Senaga Dbia He tEustis)
could demonstrate that the election in Louisiana
Was 14lr and peaceful, and there were gleat mapy
reasons why DenocI attic candda,e Wee elected
The coored peope exc ctsed the right OF suffrage and
Discrimination. However he would NOT detain the
Senate now but after investigation he Wonld
have an opportunity of defending nus people,
Mr. blaine SAID that the Senator from South
Ignorance Of past events in South Carolina He
lblane) referred to the troubles in that state and
SAID that ne had 200 letters giving details of the
Senator Butle desired fee and Jar IN Vestig atom
free from Intimidation ne would leave il Ie tie
, I'M ~netner the doors be opened not, and
not yet Witnesses white and coIored, be notified
that the doors be open, and if they appeared before
the committee they would do so at their pelil.
full and fair invesriga ion as he claimed. he wond
vote for the amendment to open he doors The
senator senator Ssai9e9 SAID that he had 200 letters COM
Senator to say IN bis sp ech Wednesday la.t hat
ae based bis statements upon newspaper publica-
tons; If newspaper statements were evidence the
Senator from Maine as well as him self 1Rntas3
would nave oeen hung and quartered long ago. He
Old not mean 70 say the newp papers did not commu-
nlcae the trutn but when correspondents we're sent
to bis country to write down everything bad about
the people and suppress all that good he thought
Maine with corps of detectives and make the state
a stencil 10 the nostts of the world.
Mr. Baine-You have the right to do so under This |
~ '
The amendment Of Mr.. Butler was rejected by a |
strict party vote.
Mr. navis of West Virginia renewed in anotber
shape Buffers amendment and Mr. Bavard snnEa
10 favor thereof saying the resolution and all amenI
ments thus far bad been acted on almost with |
unanimiy ana he hoped it would continue in regard
to this amendment. Courts always took te. timonv |
with open doors There was somethipg un-Ameri. |
can in Secret inqusiuons
=, After considerable discussion between Messrs.
Blaine and Ransom and Others, Mr.. Davis amend
nent was rejected BY strict party vote, yeas 20,
nays 20. WV '0"' go
senator Davis amendment was that the doors
'houid be opened at the request of any member of
he committee. ~