New-York tribune., 1878-02-02


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
wAsHISGroN. Feb. 1, 1873
large number of bills were introduced and
,,,erred IN the House to-day the Senate not being In
session. /; among them the folowing
By Mr.. PHILLIPS Rep, Kan.)-To provide for fund
ing the National debt in home bonds convertible into
currency. Referred.
Mr.. BAKER Rep., Ind). rising 10 question OF prlV'-
Iege said that several days gentleman wei! known
N him had brought him certain statements in writing
involving misconduct of a grave II not criminal cnar-
acter on the part Of the DOorkeoper of the House lie
had taken notice OF the matter at the une U it b
that gentleman returned shortly ter' 49,, M9tn n,S
statements in the form OF hi, an d,tv n Se did
he Baker felt he shcnd be false &C to to- ms Io Uu Resdcs e d
not bring the matter TO the notice OF lhe ipue
those statements, there were also TWO Ohti WHlcu nc
would present The first document contained thc names
OF sixy-three employees on the rolls OF ine d1orkeeer
in Of the number authorized by law lie desired
y Mr' HUSToN Dem, va) inquired whether it would
not be offer resolution referring the Whole
es invest cation, but document should go before the
country which might be derogaory to the DoOgkeeper,
MI BAKER then offered a resolution recitiDg the
charges that John W. Polk the Doorkeeper, has been
guilty Of corruption and mafeasance III office; that lie
Eas required employees TO pay 10 other employees part
Of their salaries and tnat be interested IN claims and
Committee on Rules 10 inquire into the matter alleged
against the Doorkeeper, and report whether said
whether that Office ought not to be abolished He
then had read at TIE Clerks desk the atdavs referred
10 The first signed by Iugram Corye, charging
that Mr. Polk interested in claims before Congress,
and mad promised him an interest in theu III conslder
lion of his resgning his position Clerk The second
statement signed by Mark A Duffy Assistant super
1be same charges aud declaring that Polk had told
Duffy that he had corner upon Congress " in the
ay of appointments and that lie could get the Commit
tee on Accounts to do anything for him
The SPEAKER stated tnat 1t would De almost lmposs
be for the Committee Rules perform the service
he knew himself that it already occupied to the ox
tent OF its powers and because such an investigation did
not properly come within the scope of its duties.
Mr. BAKER then suggested that the matter should DO
referred to Il select committee OF five members.
Mr. MCMAHON Dem, Ohlo), member OF the Com
mtee on Accounts. defended that committee from the
insnuation made against it in Of the adavit and
said that If the DOrkeeper could get all he wanted from
IT, lie wanted very little, for it had been the rule OF ta
committee give nothing except what was strictly ac-
spoke of Mr. Polk as perfectly honest man. an c.,,r
Mr.. ROBERTS Dem Md chairman on the commit @ I
Accounts, intimated that the gentleman fio IN
diana (r Baker, seemed desirous OF placing on others
to pay the extra force on the Doorkeeprs roll we ne
(Ar Baker, much responsible Tor II as anybody
Sir. WRIGHT Dem. Penny argued that IL the roll Of
employees not sufficiently large 1t ought 10 De en-
larged. Some people believed, IS matter OF fath, III
what was called Purgatory and know that MrPO mas
been walking up to his armpite IN Purgaory ever slhce
man. promising to do much and doing but little Laugh
teri do know why man earning his dollar cay IL
ihe other side will probably call that denaCOguism Ido
not mean so much my friends opposite as | do mean
noOng up at the reporters galcryl yoo men up lAere
who represent the press. Laughter ,,
The SPEAKER-Tbe gentleman from pennsylvania
MI. WRIGHr-1 am addressing the members. / was
only switching of IN the neighDOch0od of the speaker
IIauChterl have through tnat ordeal so Olten
that like the eel, which Is skinned so often that
Sc ceases to be sensitive, not sensitive 10 these
cues Of demaC0gIism. believe that the Door Keeper
has done the thing nc could for never has mortal
man been oppressed with applicants for Office as lie has
Dee since he has been in that pOSton nave seen thc
corridor opposite his thronGed with men, Wo-
mon and children tlat it almost Impossible to Aet
through, he told repeated occasions mat
he almost wished lie very dead" liaIghterI Ills
matter should not he made political question:.
Mr. ELLSWORTH Nep. Mich)-H3s not MI POLK
made il political question IN refusing 10 appoint hpuD-
lcans his rolls .
Mr. WRIGHT-It has always been The custom Of the
party III power TO take the sqOis OF Once nope you
wilt bcgrudge the petty patronage OF tue ltOse
when the Republicans have all TIE patronage o. tAc
Government.
Mr. FKYE Rep Me.)-If with only the patronage Of
The House at yoir d. sposal Mr. Polk is OvcrV hcmed
picants, III Heavens now will it De when you nave
lie Presidency the United states, with 10000 Ohces
Mr.. WRIGIT-Nc are only tTeaGlES III the footsteps
Of those who nave gone before u.s.
MI CLTMER Dem, PENN cOntrasted the expenses OF
the House and of the senate in the FoTyf0urh Con-
cress He gave the clerical ana contingent expenses OF
ihe senate at $3.50 tor at the rate o S36oe Tor e3c
Senato and OF the House az S3OJS1o or AT the Iae O
81 .O13 for each member) :,
Finally the previous question was seconded anu Aif
Bakers resolution mOaed so a TO direct lie lnVestisa-
tion TO be made by the Committee on Reform III the
Civil service) adopted. -,
THE House at 3:l5 went into Committee Of the Whole
CIr Ycates Of y. c. the Chair the private calen;
dar After time the committee rose and reported
TO the House sundry private bills, principally pension
bills but no action taken thereon.
The House at 4:3O adjourned