Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-05
FORTI.FIFTH CONGRESS.
FRIDAY, April ),

SENATE.-Mr. Allison presented memorials
asking an amendment to the constitution
granting suffrage to women. Referred 10 CON-
mite on privileges and elections.
MI. sargent called UP the general naval ap-
preparation pro bill, and explained the action of
1he amendments restoring the number of
enslgnS to 100, cadet midShipmen To S6, and
70 cadet englneersto be appointed in 1875 were
The paragraph relating to naval hospitals
was amended so as TO discontinue the naval
hospital at ANNAPOLIS. but retains the one at
All the amendments of the committee were
agreed to.
Mr.. Whyte offered an amendment making
the compensation of master machinists, boiler
makers, pattern maker and moulder at the
Naval Academy, annual salaries instead of
per diem. The amendment was not agreed to-
The bill was then passed.
The Chair laid before the Senate communi-
cations from the Secretary of War transmit
ting letter from the quartermaSter general
relative to appropriations for his office, and
from the paymaSter general relative TO prize
money and bounty to cOlOred soldiers Re
terIed to appropriations and military COM
mitteeS.
Mr Bayard then addressed the Senate on
the Pacific railroad funding bills. He CON-
menced with reference to the circumstances
under which the railroads We're built, and
said IL had, besides its commercial ends. a
great political object, and had Justly been
styled by the Supreme Court a great national
undertaking for great national purpose.
ROUSE.-On motion of Mr.. Luttrell. it was
agreed that the House hold a session to-mOr-
row for debate only.
On motion of Mr. Hunton, the House took
up and passed the Senate Joint resolution au-
thoriZlng the deposit of the records of the
electoral commission, in the State depart
ment.
MR.. BAKER EXPLAINS.
MI. Baker tlnd..) rose to a personal eXnla-
nation, and had read paragraph which ap-
peared in the Washington Post this morning.
III which Mr. George c. Wedderburn denies
some statements Which Mr.. Baker made in
debate on the dOorkeeperS case yesterday,
and in which Baker said that Wedder-
burn had received pay for an office. not
authorized by law: II he did any man wrong
ne would correct Ii, II In error, but upon re
view OF his remarks yesterday he found he
was entirely accurate except i'm the small mat
ter OF compensation. The gravamen of his
charge was that Wedderburn dropped out of
the list of candidates for DoOrkeeper. i'm con
Slderatl0n OF receiving an appointment under
Polk He had examined Polk Stestimony and
found That Wedderburn had conveniently
dropped out from the list Of candidates. but
did il in virtue of a corrupt bargain that he
should be compensated. He was appointed
ssnperintendent OF passes, an office unknown to
Inc law, and which was created especially for
him. The only mistake he (Baker) made was
as 10 the matter of compensation The uues-
Ii0n IS clear that by reason of some bargain
Wedderburn was rewarded by Polk, for the
testimony showed that two members had
made a bargain in Pok'S behalf i'm the caucus,
MI. Harris (Na.) desired to say that he had
an opportunity TO know, and that there was no
bargain that Wedderburn should have an Of
nee. He was dropped out simply because he
did not have the votes
Mr: Baker dISclaimed having asserted or in
tlmated that the Virginia delegation, which
supported Wedderburn, knew of any bargain
Mr. Eden hoped the gentleman from Indiana
would DC allowed to 90 on and say all he had
to say oh the Polk case.
JUSTICE TO KNIGHT.
MI. Frye rose TO question of privilege. and
SAID he held in his hand letter from Mr. J. G.
Knight, referring to speech he (Frye) had
made day or two ago. Mr.. Knight says that
ne was placed on the soldiers roll against his
protest, and that he never desired TO be there
but Polk insisted on keeping him there. He
made this statement in justice to Mr.. Knight
MI; Butter rose to a question of privilege,
and desired TO have resolution which he held
III hand passed for the purpose of completing
the organization of the House.
Inc Speaker inquired wherein that was a
question of privilege.
to proceed to the election of a doorkeeper, in
accordance with the resolution he would now
offer.
Mr.. Cox CN. W made the point of order that
il was not question of privilege.
Mr.. Butler asked that his resolution be read,
and then it could better be determined if il
was question of privilege.
The resolution was then read That the
House do now proceed to elect a doorkeeper,
and that that true Union manned soldier,
Brigadier General James Shields be elected to
that office"
MIR. Cox n: W said that the House must
accordance with FORM The dOorkeeper's of
hce was temporarily filled, and caucus
would be held to satisfactorily settle this mat
ter.
After further discussion the consideration
OF the question of privilege was postponed
until Monday