The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-28
CLOSING LEGISLATION IN CONGRKss
Pension Arrears PnSm In the senate
Stewards Case In the House.

NhNHiNtlNNt Ifbs Efs-" 1li 'fhl'Nfi AiN'Ilst
Flal presented in tho Senate petition OF 1886
colored persona Of Florida. complaining that
they are not protected in their rights by tho
laws Of Florida.
Mr.. Morrill, tllep., VII reported from the
Finance Committee an amendment To the bill
making an appropriation Tor the payment u
arrears In pensions. which provides for tho
issue and sale Of per cent bonds to the amount
Of $4,000 900. or in lieu thereof tho issuing Of
Government certificates OF deposit.
The Senate voted 10 print $4,000 copies II
tina Agricultural report. and the proceedings
Of the Paris Monetary Conference.
NJ Hamlin crop. Me- moved to take up tho
Geneva Award bin. Mr.. ingalls, Rcp.. Kanl
objected. Mcssrs. Davis lind. I1lD aud Thur
man IDcm.. ohiol spoke against takin.; up tho
bill. and the motion TO take IL up WIS defeated
rs to Al.
The bin making appropriation for the pay
ment Of pensions arrears taken w. An
amendment was agreed 10. providing that pen
sion agents shall receive for their services 80
cents for every payment and appropriating
$4,000 10 meet such expenses: also that the
pensions arrears act shall extend to pensions
granted by special at Of Congress.
An amendment submitted by Mr.. ingalls,
! rep, Kansas led 10 debate. II provides for
| dividing the States and Territories into dis
trcts not Ia sXcee,i seventy-siX IN number. pro
! vid"s Tor a Commission 10 attend each Of said
districts al least OnrD a year. ana assigns
! pension surgeon and pension clerk 10 make
medical and surgical examinations and To- take
| testimony IN pension cases IL iurher pro-
| vides for the appointment Of such pension sur
! r,-ons and clerks 10y the secretary Of the lnte-
| rior. and IN" examination ot Ucnsioners with
| view to preventing frauds on the Pension
MIR Eimt nds tRep.. VT raised the point that
I this was legislation upon general appropria-
| ton bill. but the Senate oVerruled the objection.
| The subject wis dropped 10 take upthe House
resolutions Of respect to the memory Of the late
| Is
PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE.
Speaker Randall. calling Mr.. Carlisle 10 tho
chair. rose To- personal explanation. He
| quoted from letter printed In the Philadelphia
| lcdg,r. signed by Special Agent II. l.. Williams.
| in which II - said that appropriation warrants
wer" illegally signed To get m"neyto continue
operations OF the Bureau OF Printing and En-
| craving. which was directly In the interest ~
! Mr.. Randall. who was said TO be- stool holder
| Mr.. Randall entered the most absolute denial
| and offered resolution for the ppolntment II
select committee 10 inquire into the facts OF
Mrssrs. Hale tRep.. Mol and Kelley tRep..
| PENN init mAtcd that Mr.. Handalis reputation
is not likely 10 suffer from attacks Of this sort.
the inter saying: | agree with the gentleman
from Maine Mr. Hale that i is entirely IN
necessary. and assure the Speaker and this
| House that whatever political RsperitY may bs
felt toward him In Philadelphia DO not be-
lieve that there II a man among the 800 600 IN
hahitants Of TINT city who will not throw this
Infamous SANDER from him with the cxclama-
is Il liar who charges him with want OF personal
integrity" Applause on the floor and in the
gall"ricsl The resolution was adopted.
Tho Committee on Capitol Ventilation made a
report recommending certain changes incud-
ing the removal Of the desks and the opening
IT IRE places and the appointment Of a commits
sion 10 sup"rintcnd the work. The report was
adopted. with nm amendment that the desks
should not bs removed.
the Internal Revenue bin WAS agreed to-l4I
The House having voted to consider Mr..
Springern resolution from the Committee on
Expenditures in the State Department for the
arrest of George r. Seward as contumacioua
witness Mr.. Springer said that the question in
volVed Was whether public oncer can on re-
Mr.. Seward WAS in contempt Of the House, MOI
| only IN refusing TO produce the books called Tor
In the sup'rna duces tecum. hut IN refusing
even to he sworn IA n witness. He SAID that Mr.
S-ward's plea was that the books in quest on
twlint are Inown as the blOtters were not public
| records Mr.. Springer, however. undertook "a
prove that they were. aud he said that II II Judge
or an official could withhold his records. he
could thus defeat all invest igatiOn on the part
Of the House. the only body that had the power
of,pres"ntlng articles q lmpeae4inunt a..
miit , pe eoptspd-d dat Mr. seward was not ia
contempt and that under the 5ih article Of the
Constitution no person could DO expeted U
supply evidence against himself. AZ To- the law
Of Congress on the II bl.ct he cOntended that il
provisions applied TO witnesses only. and MOI tt
Mr Butcr Ind Mass took the same ground
No person accused Of crime was ever requlrec
% give Grand Jury evidence against himself
The privilege was as old as Magma Charta
which doclnred TINT memo So uDSuIn dccttsdr'
dcbet II man were TO he compelled to pro
durn evidence against himself. why not go bncI
, at once to tho tOrturc-why not apply tho rack
: If these books We're private books. then MIR
Seward could not lbs required 10 produce them
, and II they were public books. then Mr.. EvArll
was the proper custodian Of them. and the sub
, p'nna should issue 20 him.
Mr.. Springer explained that Mr.. Eyarts hi6
cAii.~l on Mr.. Seward to bring with him All tll'
bOuks records. and papers NJ his orlce.
, | Mr.. Butler said that there the other oonstltu
| tOunl difficulty THAT these were private books
was run against II they had boon returned ~
| public books. then the House ought TO have
them. evon II the whole state Department build
| Ing had To- be- moved TO the Capitol. Laughter.
| Tho first vote WIS taken on the resolution
offered by tho minority If the Committee, to thi
, ! N II that Seward was justified in his refusal
II wis rclcrtod i"as, ll9; nays, l42-a part
I | vote.
: Tine question then recurred on tho majority
/ | resolution. directing the Sergeant at Arms
! | arrest Grorge r. Seward forthwith. and To brinl
, | him before the bar Of the House.
Mr.. Cong"r fktD.. Mieh.) int rpoeed motion
10 iaken recrss. aud the yeas aud naye wer
cnllcd upon it, During tho roll call neg4la
tinus for "a compromise were being carried %
ION the bnss 81 letting the resolution Oe adOpt
ed and not delivering tho warrant 10 the Ser
gonnt-at- Arms til to-morrowL The n"gotla
IONS, however, were not huccessiul. MI
Springer said that seward would not DO ar
rested before tomorrow.
| the motion for recsss WIS rejected, AMI n
resolution WIS adopted-yeas, 100; nays, "A.
Ask ANY Physician about IL,
t,,a .t la. f,uN tuer that rpFou