The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-11
XLVth Congress..Regular Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.
Over forty Senators were in the chamber before
the Senate was called to order at noon.
A great part Of the morning hour was taken up in
the presentation Of large number of petitions from
various parts of the country in favor or the adoption
Of 10th amendment prohibiting the states from dis
franchlsng persons on account Of sex. All were
ferred
Senator Eaton presented memorial of President
Woosey and others. asking the coinage Of silver
dollar of 400 grains, to be made legal tender, and
said he would move an amendment to that effect III
the silver bill.
A large number of petitions were presented by
various Senators from manufacturing companies
throughout the country, demonstrating against any
legislation in regard to the tariff laws until Congress
shall have ascertained by official inquiry the condi-
ton of the industries of the country and that legs-
laon be such to promote the general business
terests OF the conntrry. Referred to the Finance
Committee.
MIR. Conkling presented memorial OF the Alaska
gold and silver mining company, asking that pro-
lection be afforded them as citizens to enable them
to prosecute their business in Alaska, and that
Alaska be added to Oregon for all judicial purposes.
the Citizens Of Lynn Mas . IN favor Of Pf the Testo G
ton OF the silver dollar Of 424 grains and that its
coinage be made as free as the coinage of gold.
Mr.. Conkling submitted resolution instructing
the Judiciary Committee to inquire in regard ito the
action taken by any department officer of the gov
Agreed to.
He also submitted a resolution instructng the
Committee Naval Affairs to inquire and report in
regard to the restoration Of DR.. L. l. Draper to the
medical corps. Agreed to.
ing an amendment to the constitution prohibiting
states from making appropriations for sectarian pur
amendment proposed during the session of 1878 and
1876. Referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Senate resumed consideration Of Matthews
luton and Beck spoke against the feature of the
Blaud bill which allowed any prrty to take silver to
the mint and have it coined at government expense,
but in favor OF reconciliation.
The resolve to admit the woman suffragists to the
floor of the Senate was lost yeas 49, nays 81, fol-
lows:
Wis, Dawes Ferry, Hoar, Matthews. Mitchell, Roll
Inns, Sargent, Saunders and Teller-13.
Nays-Baiey, Bayard Beck, Booth, Butler, Christ
fancy, oockrell, Cole Conkling, Davis of W. Va,
Eaton, Edmunds, EustEs Grover, Hamln, Harris,
Hereford, Hill, Howe, Herman, Kirkwood, Lamar
Mcdonald Mcmillan, McPherson, Morgan, Plumb,
Randolph, Salisbury, Thurman and Wadlefgh-
Senate at O'Clock adjourned till Monday.
The House met at noon with 2O5 members pres
ent.
The resolution reported by Mr.. Wood of the Ways
and Means Committee prior to the recess, directing
investigations to be made into the management Of
special departments, came up the first business.
MI Kelley asked unanimous consent to resolu-
ton orderinga session for Saturday, to hear the
women IN aid OF constitutional amendment to grant
them suffrage, but objection was made
bill was passed directing the Secretary of State
to six the great seal OF the United States to the
document entitled, s'The administration of the
United States government at the beginningl ofits
second century,
Several bills were referred and motion to refer
Mr.. Woods resolution to the Committee ofthe Whole
on the state of the Union, was then adopted
The House went into Committee of the Whole for
consideration OF Mr.. Woods resolution.
MI. Buchard offered an amendment so as to au-
tnorlze the committee to apply to the House at any
time for such power.
Mr.. Wood opened the debate He declared that he
personally knew Of nothing that it intended do
beyond fair, legitimate honest inquiry and inyesti-
CATION for the purpose of legislation and for the pur-
pose OF nstructng the House in the discharge OF its
legislative duties 1t was not designed to enter into
q wide and extended attem Mt t0 iniure no1
or private character of any public official 1t was for
the purpose Of carrying out that power and authority
upon the House of Representatives to investigate the
coudnct Of public officers looking to publication of
the civil service and to laying the foundation for i'm
parchment if the House should deem fit to take that
idea OF the and duties of the House
was that they were coordinate with those of the
public officers.
Mr.. Wood continued to advocate the resolution and
SAID 1t was In accordance with the principles laid
down In the Presidents message, and that the in
vestigaons of the last session had already improved
some OF the executive departments.
Mr. Hale OF Maine offered as substitute a resou-
ZION proVldlng That whenever auy committee OF the
House shall ask for special and extraordinary powers
in regard to the time and conduct OF the
power to send for persons and papers or any other
extension of its power and duties for the purpose of
investigating the condnct of any officer of the gov
eminent, the charges on which such demand for an
investigation are based shall be presented in writing
to the House with the name of such officer charged
with improper and unlawful proceedings and par
ticular statement OF the charges against him. and
the same shall be accompanied by a statement in
writing signed by one or more members of the House
that he had or they had to beeye the facts
set forth in said charges.
He had advocated tue adoption OF his substitute
and said 1t proved the good faith of the Republican
side of the House, Nobody desired to stife the legi-
innate investigations, but the House should not 90
further than was comprehended in this resolution
Mr.. Wood opposed the sUbp@naed. To consent to
1t would be to put end to all investigations. 1t
would publish beforehand the parties to be inyesti
gated and witnesses to be submitted and thus give
time for papers to be removed and for witnesses to
abscond.
Mr.. Clymer conceded that the Republican members
were just as earnest and In their Willingness
for investigation when there was proper cause as the
members on his own side. He could conceive of no
more dlsagreeabe duty that could be imposed on any
pubic servant than that of becomming public intor
mer he did not doubt that in the executive depart
lnents az now administered the heads of those de-
partments courted investigation iu order to protect
rom the derectons of their predecess-
ors He believed many OF them were anxious that
the past should be examined. They did not want to
appear as informers and spies their predecessors
unless they were compelled to do So but IL the House
asked them for proof Che said it regretfnllv and
the proof would be abundant to show that
in the past, OF which the present should be asham
cd.
Mr. Cox of Ohio remarked that he alone Of hi. s,do
Of the House had favored the adoption of the resoln
ton before the recess still he believed in the general
principle laid down by the gentleman from Maine
(Hale There ought to be as little general ching
possible, for no knew what but at at the same
time it was exceedingly difficult to draw the line
He was inclined to go far as TO say that mem
Der should rise In his place say he believed GER
tain charges to be true. He himself was the only
member against whom the resolution could possibly
be framed because he had beena lin charge of de-
which rumors Of fraud had been SO common. He