The New York herald., 1879-02-28

unauthorized and unfounded and unjust and SLAM
derous newspaper declarations to put himself on a
formal vindication. His record has been long and
well known 10 the country in all matters in regard to
| appropriations and jobs and schemes ] am glad 10
say that for ten years ii has been of the plea
sures Of my experience here TO hand in hand with
him in opposing such from the beginning. do not
think he needs this committee for his vindication.
| Mr.. RANDALL am very much indebted to the
gentleman from Maine for the kind manner in which
he has spoken aud duly appreciate his words but
on this subject my mind is made up. believe that
this is necessary and due to representative of
the people on this floor. II is due to and due to
you as l am the presiding officer OF this body. 1t is
| due to the House and due TO the country that my
yindcation in this respect be made of public record
for have no fear in the God or man in that
respect. have inserted the word Immediately" i'll
the resolution that the committee may begin at
| once
| Mr.. HALE-You do not understand me as opposing?
| Mr.. RANpALL-No. sir; l understand you my
| friend
| Mr.. KELLEY, trepl of Pa. testified as to the
| esteem in which Mr. Randall held in the city of
Philadelphia. He had been that gentleman's col
league for sixteen years. and he desired to say to him
that he feared that his resolution would do nothing
but dignity scoundrel by bringing him before Con-
Gress for the public gaze In conclusion he said -
"'My colleague has done well in demanding this in
vestgation but l agree with the gentleman from
Maine (Mr Hae) that it is entirely unnecessary aud
assure the Speaker and this House that whatever
political asperity may be felt toward him in Phila
delphia do not believe there is man among the
eight hundred thousand inhabitants of that city who
will not throw this infamous slander from him with
the exclamation, Randall may be bitter partisan,
nal integrity" tApplause on the foor and in the
galleries)
Mr. THOMPSON (rep.) of Pa, stated that there had
never lived nor did there live one person in the
State of Pennsylvania. whether republican or demo-
crat. who had ever for single moment entertained
suspicion that the honesty OF his colleague tMr.
Randall not as clear a sunbeam. He believed
that personally or politically his colleague needed no
report of q committee upon the slander. He might
have omitted his resolution with justice TO himself
and with safety wherever he known might in
future he known. But while he lAlr. Thompsonl DO
EeVa6 Int fhn nj r1u efG
in favor of his colleague and Ill dcnunciaon OF his
slandercr would do his colleague good would
take from him none OF the suspicion which had not.
and could attach to him. still, he would vote
for the resolution for the purpose of putting the
record his detesation OF offence without excuse
pallation and almost without parallel in the past
| Speaker RANDALL-I am very much obliged 10 the
| gentlemen who have spoken. but hope the House
| will unanimously agree to the resolution. do not
ask this for to-day, because the people who live with
me and about mo know my character. but should
like to have nvestigated-that il may go into his
| tory--the truth or fasity OF the statement.
| The resolution was then unanimously adopted.
and the Speaker pro mr. Carlisle stated that he
would announce the committee early ~ possible
VENTILATION or THE CAPITOL
| Mr.. YoUSG. (dem.) Of Tenn, from the select COM
mittee the Capitol ventilation. presented report
recommending certain changes fncluding the re-
nova of the desks the opening OF the hrcplaces in
wall back Of the Speaker so TO effect
| direct communication with the open air.
and closing with resolution appointing Pro-
MIR. Clark. architect of the Capitol; Mr.. Schumann
civil engineer OF the Treasury Department. and Sur
geon Billings. of the army an advisory board. with
out additional pay compensation, to carry out the
proposed changes and appropriating $4,000 for the
Mr. WOOD, tdeni) of N. Y. favored the report gen.
orally, except to the removal OF the desks; that
| he thought, would prove inconvepient
Mr.. YOUNG explained that he had formerly thought
| so, but he now convinced TO the contrary
| Tables, with all writing convenienccs. would be
placed in the open back of the chair and there
all necessary correspondence could be attended to by
members.
| Clymer Butler and Young.
Finally the discussion closed and the resolution
was adopted. with amendments providing that the
desks shall not be removed and adding to the COM
mssioners Messrs. Hewitt of New York; Butler. Of
Massachusetts, Loring. of Massachusetts,. and jones'
of New Hampshire.
The Senate amendments 70 the deficiency bill
taken from the Speakers table, ordered printed
and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
INTERNAL REVENUE.
The House then resumed consideration Of the con-
ference report on the Internal Revenu bin.
because it Continued the tax on matches The whole
country demanded the repeal of the tax matches
When he had yesterday asked the gentleman from
Virginia (r. Tucker) whether the conference
mttce had made any efforts to enforce the thrice
peatcd wish of the House for the abolition of that
tax he had been answered with Virginia sneer. Ho
insisted that he had right to know what the COM
| mittee had done.
The report of the conference committee was then
| agreed to--yeas 147, nays ia
BGINGING MINISTER SEWARD TO THE BAR.
Mr.. SPRINGER, (d.m) of H., rose to question Of
privilege and desired to call up the resolutions
ported from the Committee on Expenditures in tho
State Department for the arrest of George f. Seward
| contumacious witness.
Mr.. HALE raised the question of consideration on
| q vote by tccrs.
| Tho House refused to consider the question now.
Mr.. TURNER, tdeml Of KY. member of the Com
mittcc Expenditures in the State Department de-
| manded the yeas and nays, and when Mr.. White
(rep) of Pa. suggested that he withdraw the call ho
gestculatcd angrily. and in an excited manner in
sisted on the yeas and nays. The q noisy
and tumutuous one. without apparent for it.
The yeas and nays were ordered, and resulted
| yeas 1872. nays l21
SO the House voted to consider the subject now.
Mr.. CARLISLE las Speaker Pro tev announced the
appointment of Messrs Gambler, of Georgia.; Iynde,
of Wisconsin,; Throckmorton. of Texas: Frye of
Maine. and Monroe. of Ohio tho select committee
authorized under the resolution offered to-day by
Mr. Randall of Pennsylvania.
Mr. SPRINGER moved the previo"s question on the
resolution TO have George T. Seward brought before
the bar of the House. The previous question
seconded and the main question ordered. This lcav-
ing an hour for debate the discussion opened by
Dir Springer chairman of the Committee on Expen-
ditures in the State Department. who stated that the
question involved was whether public officer can
Seward was in contempt of the House. not only
in refusing to produce the books called
for in the subpoena duces tecum. but in
refusing even to be sworn as witness.
He stated that Mr.. Stewards plea was that the books
in question what known the blotters) not
public records. Mr.. Springer, however, undertook
TO prove that they were ana he said that if judge
official could withhold his records he could
thus defeat all investigation ON the part OF the House.
the only body that had the power OF presenting arti
cles of impeachment.
Mr. BuSpY, (rep.) of ". Y. Ia member of the COM
mittce contendcd that Mr.. Seward not in con-
tempt, and that under the fifth article the consti-
tuition person could be expected to supply evil
dence against himself As TO the law of Congress
the subject he contended that its provisions applied
to witnes only and not to parties.
A member asked whether Mr.. Seward based his re-
fusa the ground that the production of the books
would criminate him.
Mr.. BrSpY replied that Mr. Seward placed himself
his reserved constitutional right, and he Mr..
" he in vudica NJ
that reserved right. The committee had evidence
before IL from the state Department showing that
been received by Mr.. Seward had been accounted for
and that every book prescribed by the department
To be kept at the consulate had been returned the
department.
sEwAuDs CONSTITUTIONAL PRIVILEGE.
Mr.. FRYE rcp1 OF Me- asked Mr. Bundy whether
he contcndcd that II the books asked Tor were ad-
nittcdly public records Mr.. Seward could still claim
the constitutional privilege.
Mr.. BuSDy replied i'm the Affirmative, but added