Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-01
THE EVENING STAR.
SATURDAY. March 4, 1879.
CONGRESSIONAL.
Conclusion Of Yeste-daY's PROCEEDINGS
SIcA-

Conclusion Of Yesterdays Proceedings.
SENATE-After our report closed
Mr.. MorrilI submitted an amendment to the
pension arrears bill authorizing the Secretary
or the Treasury TO issue four per cent. bonds
not exceeding in the aggregate sls,0O00o0, or in
lieu thereof. or any portion thereof, to issue
certificates OF deposit authorized by the act OF
February 26, 1879, and the proceeds OF said b0nd-
or certificates TO be applied TO the payment o.
arrears OF pensions.
The Senate, at 5:45, took a recess until 5
O'clock
At the evening session. Mr.. Dawes presented
resolutions OF the Massachusetts legislature
asking abrogatiOn OF the fisheries clause in the
Washington treaty. Laid on the table and Or
dered 10 be printed
PASSAGE OF THE PENSIONS ARREARS BILL.
Consideration was resumed OF the pension ar
rearS appropriation bill, and the amendment Of
Mr.. voorhees, was rejected-yeaS %. nays 81. an
amendment, offered by Mr.. Beck SuSpendiny
the sinking fund until July /, ISL, and proyid-
ing that the money that would otherwise 90 to
L. be considered surplus revenue. was also de-
feated-yeaS 26, nays 81. A vote was then taken
on MIR. Morfill'S amendment and il was reject
ed-yeas ~, nays Al. The Senate concurred il
the amendments heretofore made in committee
OF the whole. BY vote of Sc yeas to q nays
the Senate adopted an amendment. submitted
hy Mr.. Shields providing that the law granting
pensions TO the soldiers OF the war of 1912. aD-
proved March Q, ISIS, is hereby made applicable
II the soldiers and sailors in the war with Mex
ico III l>i6. a motion to lay the bill on the table
was disagreed TO, ana tn" Dill was paSSed-yelS
=, nays ~. Inc subsequent proceedings will
ne found on the first page OF this paperl
HOUSE.-After our report closed
The Brazilian subsidy amendment to the poSt
ONCE appropriation bill was defeated b. yeas
-, nays 15i. The next question was on the
Senate amendment for the Redistribution OF
mail matter. After an hours discussion. in
Which opposition to the amendment was based
on the ground that il would be giving the Posi-
once department power OF censorship over
the press. everything requiring the registration
Oh perlodlcaiS was, Oh motion OF Mr. Cannon
stricken out
Pending further consideration the Sergeant
alarms appeared at the door Of the House
having IN custody Mr.. George +. Sc ward. minis
Ter 10 China. Having announced his presence
iHe speaker. addressing Mr. Seward. Said:-Mr
Seward, you have been presented at the bar of
the House, under the order OF the House for n
preach OF the privileges of the House in refuS.
ing 10 answer certain questions pr0poundp1 In
YOU by committee of the House which uupS
ions that committee was authorized by the
House TO ask; for standing mute when rendered
an oalh as a witness. and for falling to produce
certain books, as required by the subpoena dures
team, duly served upon YOU. II is my duty
now, by authority of the House. to ask whether
you are ready 10 take the oath rendered 10 Won
by the chairman OF the committee to answer
tie questions pr0p0unded to YOU, and TO pro-
duce the books as required by the subpoena
GUGoS tecu7H!
Mr.. Seward have prepared with the as
Sistance OF my counsel, q statement affecting
this question, which beg leave to hand In re-
spectfully, and to request that ii may be read
liz paper III lUtlS lt5dl dFHulnen9) was read Dg
the clerk. The pth Of it is that the witness is
protected by the sacred guarantee Of the COnSti-
tuition, article OF the amendments He claims
the protection OF that guarantee, avowing the
most sincere respect for the House, and the be-
lief that his Just rights as a citizen and officer
Will not Willfully or willingly be infringed. He
argues that the books called for are not public
records, and he therefore submits that he is not
in contempt Of the House, and that he ought TO
be discharged from arrest.
The Speaker Ito Mr.. Seward DO you desire
10 DE understood as declining to produce the
books which you were requested to produce?
ana Go you decline TO take the oath offered to
you?
Mr.. Seward i stand here, Mr. Speaker. for
my rights as citizen and an officer. so long as
persons who are my personal enemies are Dur-
suing me before this committee shall hold all
books and papers that now hold. | speak this
with perfect respect and Difference to the House
but shall stand for all the rights guaranteed
10 ne by the constitution. | want to say to this
House that whenever the committee says it has
done with my persecution ii can have my books
and whenever the Treasury department or the
state department demands my books they shall
have them, but not at the instance of my enc.
| mics
| Mr. Bundy submitted an amendment refer
| ring the matter 10 the judiciary committee &c
| report what action should be taken
| After some debate and considerable confusion
! the motion OF MIR. Bundy was agreed tO-yed,
| 1l2 nays los, MesSrS Luttrell, Lynde Manniny
| Mills, Robbins, Willis (N.Y.l. and Wilson ~
| .a.) democrats, voting with the republicans il
| the affirmative.
| Nj. seward was, on motion OF Mr. Butler. dis
| Charged from custody on his own recogniZanCe
The remainder OF the Senate amendments &
| the post Office appropriation bin were nOn-cOn
| cured lii, and Il committee OF conference wa
! ordered.
The House then, at O'Clock, took a reces
| till $50.
The evening session was confined to the con
| SideratiOn Of pension bills aud to bills for th
| removal OF political disabilities.