The New York herald., 1879-02-28
sarded such proposition as the most absurd thing

garded such proposition as the most absurd thing
in the world.
DISTINCTION WITH DIFFERENCE.
Mr.. SPRINGER, in reply to arguments on the other
Seward had not rendered. not those which he
had rendered, that the committee was after.
MIR. Seward hal kept two sets OF books IN one or
which the original entries kept and in the other
Transcript of them from the original entries.
II the books of original entry could not be examined
the committee could not determine whether all the
government moneys had been accounted for. What
example would be set to consus other officers if
they were he told that they could go and appro-
pirate that they could then shelter themselves
behind the constitutional privilege and refuse TO
the shield of fraud and pecuation and embezzement
of government funds the sooner new constitution
provided the better it would be for the coun-
try.
Mr. TOWNSEND. (rep.) of N. ". inquired. jocularly.
whether the missing books those that had been
spirited away in Michigan Haughter.)
Mr.. SPRINGER replied that those books had been
already produced in court but the Seward books had
not been.
The discussion was closed by Mr.. HooKEn. tdem.)
of Miss. who also took the ground that public
officer could not thus be allowed to shelter himself
behind a personal privilege; especially was the at
tempt to do so unbecoming IN an ambassador at
foreign court.
The first vote was taken on the resolution offered
by the minority Of the committee to the effect that
Seward justified in his refusal 1t was rejected
yeas 49, nays l42-a party vote.
The question then recurred on the majority resou.
ton directing the Sergeant Arms to arrest George
+. Seward forthwith. and to bring him before the
bar Of the House.
Mr.. CoxGER interposed motion to take a recess.
and the yeas and were called upon it. During the
carried the basis Of letting the resolution be
adopted and not delivering the warrant to the Ser
geant Arms till tomorrow. The negotiations
however. not successful.
The motion for q recess was rejected.
Then the House brought to a vote on the reso-
luton.
The republicans at first declined to vote, but
twenty -four of them declined to join in th obstruc
tive policy. There was still, however, no quorum
Mr.. SPRINGER stated that there no intention to
do any injustice to Mr.. Seward. and that if the
iivered to the sergeant at Arms until tomorrow
Mr.. CoxGER said he did not know that the gentle
man from Illinois ts1r Springer had the control Of
such thing.
Mr.. SPRINGER replied that he would take the re-
sponsibility of giving that assurance.
The vote was again taken and the resolution was
adopted-ycas l05 nays ~.
session ordered tor tomorrow evening for
business Of the Committee on Public Lands.
The House then. at six o'clock. took recess until
eight o'clock y. NJ the evening session to be for
ports from the Committee on Ways and Means.
EVENING
The House met at eight O'Clock this evening foY
consideration Of reports from the Committee on
Ways and Means.
mttee. reported bill respecting protests and ap-
pcals from decisions of collectors OF customs
Passed.
,oore hIed before the liquidation Of tho entry shall
he regarded Of the iorcc effect II filed within
% thai S ans and
to ,nS or The The assignee on Their Arrival
States importers for of deposits for unascertancd
@ S 5e p ~
srd,.:. Of The ZINE or, sns payment with the inter.
FUNDING NATIONAL DEBT
Also the bill amending section 3697 Of the Revised
Statutes of the United States, that the interest
bonds called under the provisions of said section.
surrendered under the provisions of the act to
facilitate the refunding o. the national debt shall
cease and determine after the expiration of thirty
days frpn Ia ~ Of
the notice required to be given by the Secretary Of
the Treasury; provided that nothing herein shall
affect existing contracts made in pursuance of law.
Mr.. WOOD explained the provisions OF the bill. Az
the law stood. in the process Of refunding. the
bonds redeemed well as the bonds issued for their
redemption bore interest for three months after the
date OF the call.
to him good deal like locking the stable door after
the horse had been stolen. II this bill could have
been reported on the day before the recess. whom
he had called attention to the matter, the re-
suit would have been saving of $1,5OO,000.
He aware the Secretary of the Treas
ury had said that he had followed the
precedcnts set by his predecessors iu paying double
interest but he (Afr Hewtt called attention to the
fact that Secretary Bristow when he into office
and found that double interest had been paid. had
put stop to il, and he had the personal authority
Of Secretary Bristow for stating that fact. At all
times pending this negotiation or refunding (which
remarkable "a success as had ever occurred in
the history of finance, had been possible and within
the law the Secretary the Treasury have made
such contracts us would have stopped at least
limited the payment OF donhle interest The amount
OF prOflt made by the FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF New
York had been something enormous, but no blame
OF any kind could be attributed to that bank But
he held that the refunding of the loan had been
managed 70 throw those enormous profits into
tho hands Of that one concern and prevent Other
banks private bankers from sharing in the refund
ing process
Mr.. BuncHAnp. Of Illinois. defended the action Of
the Secretary.
The bill was then passed.
Bills for the transfer of the old Post Ofce site at
New York to the Chamber Of Commerce for 500 900.
and the bill for the relief OF Albert Y. wyman late
Treasurer of the United States. and of Charles Cin
ton late Assistant Treasurer at New Orleans
ported and were. points OF order. referred TO the
Committee of tho Whole.
Mr. FORT. of Illinois. withdrew the point Of order
to the bill for the sale of the old New York Post
Office. but Mr.. Butler. of Massachusetts, renewed IL.
He consented, however lat tho suggestion OF Mr..
Hewitt, OF New York.. TO withdraw IL condition
that the bill should bc atercd 20 require the
sale of the property by auction. but at not less than
$25O,OO.
Mr. PRrpENoRE. OF Virginia. interposcd another
objection. thus defeating the BILL the House. at
eleven o'clock. adjourned.