National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-22

TUsO1WUOm,
states, which would not work wrong to anybody
Mr.. WALLACE said there was no purpose to OBJ
scure the light, and that II the Senator should In
troduce separate resolution for the desired infor
nation there would be no objection.
Mr.. CoNKLING. introduce II now.
Mr., WALLACE. / want the committee to now 70
ON with the inquiry In few Of the States and the
INQUIRY could be made as to tho others when
Mr. EpMuNDs What committee?
Mr. WALLACE. The committee constituted to in
quiro into frauds NJ the recent elections.
Mr.. EDMuNDs. The committee is authorized to
send for persons and papers without the interview
| ton OF the Senate.
Mr.. WALLACE said the committee had been in
| nation 1t needed, had concluded It's labors, and
made Its report ON one Of the branches Of the in
9uiTy. The proposition of the Senator from New
YORK was the phase OF q new inquiry. Although
the committee might apply to the Secretary Of the
treasury for the Information named in the rosolu
uon, there certainly was nothing improper In call
| ing for 1t In this way. The Senate should assent
| to whatever would give light to the country; and
u member Of the committee sought to obtain 1t
IN TINS way there should be no objection.
Mr.. CoNKLISG replied that the Senator from
pennsylvania asked for this information for q
special committee while he (Mr. Conkling) asked
for information for the Committee of the Whole,
composed of nll the people of the country, who
were looking, ON with UNSUITABLE curiosity. lie
humbly asked that the information should be full
and explicit that the Senate and the country might
know the whole truth
Ing the facts showed that there had been inter
ference by the Federal agents in State elections,
md he thought that nothing should he done to de-
lay the furnishing of the information.
Mr.. BECK opposed Mr.. Conkings amendment on
inc ground that II would delay the investigation
for perhaps sixty days
Mr.. BLAINE said that such complaints MS had
been made did not apply TO all the States. He ven
tured TO say there were not ten eight States
which could be named in that connection. There
were certainly none in Maine and Vermont nor IN
Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas Minnesota and Ne
braska Not at oil. Would Senators say that If
such general information were asked for IL would
imply that marshalg and their deputies were used
IN the rural parts Of the country well in large
bolsterous centres, where there were rowdyism aud
corrupt practices which must be kept in check?
The Senate and the country ought to have the in
formation called rby the amendment
Mr.. BECK repeated that, whatever might be the
purpose OF the amendment, its adoption would de-
lay the investigation. Let the Senator from New
YORK 0ilgr his proposition IN the shape of sepa-
the Republican side objected.
Mr.. CoNKLISG replied saying, among other
things, that he understood II would not require
more than forty.eight hours to prepare and furnish
all the information called for by his amendment
II would not therefore, do to object to 1t on the
Mr.. McDoNAiD. As the Senator S aid the infor-
nation eau be furnished in forty. hours /
simply ask If he has authority for the statement. If
II takes twice as long will vote for his amend.
ment
Treasury Department, and can be copied in forty
eight hours. Docs the Senator doubt that?
Mr.. McDoSALp. There Is difference between
what is said can be done and what will be done.
Mr.. EATON. / doubt it.
Mr.. CoNKLING. The Senator from Indiana has
found an adjunct in the Senator from Connecticut
who is willing to doubt, l do not dorbt; because
1t Is lnconceivable that half dozen clerks
cannot copy what is already on the books. 10
doubt is drat on crGdulity which no man can
honor, though the Senator from Pennsylvania is in
doubt. ---....--
Mr.. EATON, The Senator from New York says he
wants the broadest light lie shall have II By my
| vote, but not now. 1t would take a longer time
than forty-eight hours to furnish the information
the Senator seeks IL would be fortunate If IL were
| obtained tinlpS
| Mr.. CoNKLING. Does the Senator think It would
| take longer or shorter time to give the inlorma.
the residue of the Statcsl IT, as the Senator says it
| would take four times forty.eight hours, does he
| think that time would cover the residue of the
Mn. EATON. If It would take ten, fifteen, or
twenty clerks forty-eight hours, or four times
iOrty-eight, 10 furnish the information called for by
the resolution 1t would require forty clerks to fur
| nish the information called for by the amendment,
and therefore another force Of the Department
would have to be employed.
The question having been taken, Mr.. Conklings
amendment was disagreed to-yeas, p; nays 3G-a
Mr.. CoNKLING then offered an amendment in the
form of separate resolution, namely:
"Resolrcd FURTHER That the same information
called for in the preceding resolution be likewise
sent TO the Senate in respect to each state not
named in the resolution, Misunderstanding an an
swcr TO the preceding resolution"
This amendment was accepted, there being no
Mr. EDMuNDs offered the following:
nation IN his possession touching the question and
| necessity. of such expenditures and the operation
of the laws under which they were made"
Mr.. WALLACE said that the information ought 10
be asked Ofthe Attorney General.
Mr.. EDMuNDs replied that 1t called for whatever
information was IN possession of the Secretary of
the Treasury.
Mr.. WALLAcEsadit involved newspaper accounts
or loose rum0rs in his possession :. He hoped the
opinion of the secretary OF the Treasury would
not be asked in this form.
Mr.. EDNUNDs replied there was not line in his
amendment calling for an opinion, but for vOuCh-
ers III the SCcretary's Office, which would show on
whose application the money was expended, and
whether the number of marshols was too large or
Mr.. KERNAN said the committee ought to be al.
lowed to obtain the information without being
| embarrassed.
Mr.. SALISBURY said the Senators had shown u
newborn zeal on this occasion; but when they
had control of the Senate there was no attempt
made by them TO obtain the information lie
would prefer to see them take the situation little
| more Cheeriully.
| We will he said, aid them in obtaining the In.
| formation in proper way; but when We strike u
line for our action there should be no drawback.
II should be understood that the Democrats pursue
their own line OF policy without regard to consult
ing the Republicans. hope they will behave like
Christian statesmen and bear 1t manfully, Laugh.
Mr.. EDMuNDs replied that he had always supposed
that where there were two parties Il Senator was
still o Senator. He thought that Senator in the
minority even had the right TO offer an amendment
| to pending measure lie had not known before
now that because a Senator was in the minority lie
| hau no right TO attempt TO correct legislation.
! He did not know but by direction of some con-
clave OF Democracy n resolution would be brought
in to correct the yeaNnd.nay list by striking of
names The minority would leave the responsible.
ity where II belongs-tO the Democratic party.
When the Senator was in the minority he fire.
quently saw him rise to offer amendments to pend
ing propositions, and no objection made by the
majority to his right TO do So the proprety Of II de-
| pending on their merit and not because OF any
| particular Senator. lie knew of no rule changing
this practice The people will be sorry to learn OF
| 1t, but II will be corrected by and by.
Mr. Edmunds amendment was rejected by
| strict party vote.
| Mr. EDMUNDs offered another resolution, namely;
"ResOirGd JiuNCr, That rs soon us possible after
the information called for by tine foregoing resou'
ton shall be furnished he report fully all the in
formation In his possession touching the question
| of the necessity for the expenditures
This amendment was also TCjected-ycas, q
nays, 36--a strict party vote,
The resolution of Mr.. Wallace as amended by
Mr. COnkling, was then agreed TO.
The Vice President, under the provisions of the
Revised Statutes appointed Senator Booth n mem
Der of the Board OF Regents of the Smithsonian In
sttutiOn to supply n vacancy caused by the exp-
ration OF Senator Sargents term of Congressional
service,
The Senate went into executive session at two
O'clock and when the doors were opened, at
twenty minutes past Two o'clock, adjourned until
Monday.
HOUSE or REPRES ENTATJPES.
Mr.. ELLIS offered resolution increasing the
membership Of the Committee on Elections from