Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-02-28

| tulueSe Oil, Dy MS refusal 10 accord lC FfeSe
! dence over some insignificant legislation. II
| ply desired to say that the charge wa
| utterly without foundation. He had upol
| every occasion supported the bill, and haC
| iurthered It's passage, and he had neve
! heard an objection to its consideration coz
! ing from his side OF the nall.
| Mr., C0nger objected to having interjecteC
| into q personal explanation a reflection OF
| the members Of his side.
| Mr.. Blackburn replied that ne had intended
| no reflection upon anybody, but he would bt
( glad 10 have the gentleman from Michigan
| ooBtrovsrt his statement.
Mr.. Springer called up the question of the
| contumacy of George F. Seward, of the
| China consulate.
| ton on the vote by tellers. The house re-
fused to consider the question now.
Mr. Turner, member of the committee
| on expenditures in the State department, de-
| marded the yeas and nays, and when Mr.
White Pa. suggested that he withdraw the
call he gestIculated angrily and in an excited
manner insisted on the yeas and nays. The
| scene was a noisy and tumultuous one with
| out apparent reason for it. The yeas and
nays were ordered and resulted-yeas 132,
nays l2i; so the house voted to consider the
subject now.
MIR. Carlisle, speaker pro tenn, announced
the appointment of Messrs. Chanler, Lyme,
=
committee authorized under the resolution
offered to-day by Mr.. Randall.
Mr.. Springer moved the previous question
on the resolution to have George F. Seward
brought before the bar of the house.
The previous question was seconded, and
the main question ordered, this leaving an
hour for debate
The discussion was opened by Mr.. Springer,
chairman OF the committee on expenditures
IN the State department, who stated that the
question involved was, whether pubic Off
Ger can be required to produce the records of
his office. Seward was IN contempt of the
house, not only in refusing to produce the
books called for IN the subpoena dHceS tecuDe,
but in refusing even to be sworn as a witness.
Mr.. Bundy, a member of the committee,
contended that Seward was not in contempt,
and that under the fifth article Of the consti-
tuition no person could be expected to supply
evidence against himself. The committee
had evidence before it from the State depart
meDt showing that every dollar belonging to
the government which had been received by
Seward had been accounted for, and that
every book prescribed by the department to
be kept at the consulate had been returned
to the department
After considerable discussion the first vote
was taken on the resolution offered by the
minority of the committee, to the effect that
Seward was justlhed in his refusal. 1t was
reJected-yeas, 119; nays, 142-a party vote.
The question then required on the majority
resolution, directing the sergeant. at arms to
arrest Seward forthwith and bring him before
the bar of the house.
Mr.. Conger interposed motion to take a
recess, and the yeas and nays were called
upon it.
During the roll-cail negotiations for a COM
promise were being carried on on the basis
Of letting the resolution be adopted and not
10 nt IN Mt
arms uuul to- morrow. The negotiations,
however, were unsuccessful. The motion for
a recess was rejected, When the house was
brought to a vote on the resolution the Re-
publlcans at first declined to vote, but twenty
four of them declined to Join IN this OBJ
structive policy. There was still, however,
no quorum.
Mr.. Springer stated that there was no IN
tention to do any injustice to Mr.. Seward,
and that If the resolutions were adopted the
warrant would not be delivered to the SER
geant-at-arms until to- morrow.
Mr.. Conger said that he did not know that
the gentleman from Illinois Mr.. SpringerI
had the control of such things.
Mr.. Springer replied that he would take
the responsibility of that assurance. The
vote vas again taken and the resolution was
adopted-yeas, 105; nays, A.
Conference report on the amendments to
the tobacco bill was agreed to-yeas, l47;
nays, ia. The tax on matches remains as
it Is at present
4 session was ordered for to morrow even
ing for business for the committee on public
lands. The house took recess. The even
ing session is to be for hearing of reports from
the committee on ways and means.
EVENING SESSION.
! The house met at eight o'clock for consid-
Grafton of the reports from the committee on
ways and means.
IL. = Ia
| reported a bill respecting protests and APP
peals from the decisions from collectors OF
| customs. Passed.
also bill amending section 1897 Of tn;
revised statutes Of the Z nited States, SO the
| interest on bonds called under the proyi2ions
| of said section, or surrendered under the pro-
| visions of the act to facilitate the refundlne
| Of The national debt, shall cease and deter
1 nine cfter tie expiration of thirty days from
| the date of the surrender or date OF notice
required to be given by the secretary of the
| treasury; provided, that nothing herein
| shall affect the existing contracts made II
| pursuance Of law.
| Mr.. Wood explained the provisions OF the
bill. As the law now stood, IN the process Of
| refundIng the bonds redeemed, as well as
| the bonds issued for their redemption, bore
| interest for three months after the date q
| their call.
Mr.. Hewitt my was in favor of the bill
4 but it seemed to HIM good deal like locking
/ the stable door after the horse had beer
| stolea, Il this bill could have been reported
on the day before the recess, Ehen he hao
called attention to the matter, the result
| would have been a saving of one hundred
| and fifty thousand dollars. He was aware
| that the secretary of the treasury had saiC
| that he had followed the presidents sci
| By his predecessors in paying double
interest, but he Hewitt called attention to
the fact that Secretary Rristow, when he
! came into Office and found that q double in
terest had been paid, had put stop to it. e
| all times pending these negotiations OF re-
| funding, which was as remarkable q success
as had ever occurred IN the history of finance
| it has been possible, and within the law, to-
| the secretary of the treasury to have made
| such contracts as would have stopped or al
least limited the payment of double IN
| terest. The amount OF profit mad,
by the First NATIONAL bank of New I orl
had been something enormous, but no blam
! of any kind could be attributed to that bank
but he held that the reminding of the loai
had been so managed as TO throV thos
| enormous profits into the hands of that ont
concern, and prevent other banks or prlvat
bankers from sharing in the refundlng pro
cszs.
MI harch-1r4 defended the action of tn
| secretary.
The bill then passed.
a Dill TO allow imported marble blocks t
be Bonded in open yards was reported an
passed.
Z bill for The relief of Albert NJ. Wyman
late treasurer If the United States, wa
passed, and the mousse adjourned
Sudden Demise of an Important wit
ness.
New ORLEANS, February 27.-J. L
Tompkius, principal witness for the govern
menb ii z large number of tobacco an
WHISKY cases, died suddenly this morning c
neuralgia OF the heart.
A Just Sentence,
CLEVELAND, ONO, February 27.-Jame
Turpin, of this city, convicted of raj ling b
3xn daughter, was to-day sentenced to tt
penitentiaTy for life.