Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1883-02-22

without any references to the general
question OF woman suffrage.
Senator Hoar said Mr.. Edmunde
proposed to deprive all the women of
Utah the right of suffrage because he
believed q certain class OF women
would not vote az he thought they
might vote.
Senator Edmunds said tho question
of suffrage was a political question
within the control OF tho political pow
ers; that what Mr.. Hoar had raid
about the opinions Of Mormon women
was entirely apart from this bill.
If the real opinions of those women
could find expression, he would wish
to have them vote, because the very
nature of every virtuous wo'
man revolted against polygamy
and all Its influences, 1t
would not be constitutional to
undertake to diefranchise any man or
woman on account of opinion but
everybody except perhaps Judge Black
could agree that In point of law con.
gres, could regulate In the Dlstriot OF
Columbia or In any territory could
confue It to property holders Of $780,
600. Who desired to keep mp the
political power of the polygsmous
Mormon churoh2 He thought the Inn.
portance of breaking up the Mormon
system would justify the suspension
of female voting In Utah without any
reference to the general question of
woman suffrage.
Senator Blair moved to amend the
seventh section of the bill 30 a. to
make its provisions apply to ''persons'
instead of females" The bill amend
ments were still pending when the
senate adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In the house the senate amendment rs
to the pension appropriation bill wore
concurrsd In.
Caswell submitted conference re.
port on the postoffice appropriation
bill stating the conferees had been IN
able to agree. Caswel explained that
the chief points Indifference were the
items appropriating $185, 600 for rpec-
ial mail facilities and relating to the
compensation allowed to land grant
railroads for mail transportation. A
further conference was ordered.
Pending amendment being that OF.
fered by Mr.. McOook, under direction
of the military committees, "that all
lands reserved for military purposes
(no longer desirable for such purposes)
be placed under the control of the
secretary of the interior, to be by
him sold at public sale for cash, nc
subdivision to exceed 160 cores,
etc'" Amendments were added
providing that the land shal
not be sold at less than 81 % per
acre; also providing that any settlers
who were in actual occupation of q
portion of any reservation prior tc
the location Of the reservation enc
continued such occupation av tn,
present time, shall be entitled to locate
on the land on which they live undel
the homestead laws. The amendmen
as amended was adopted.
Mr. Bsltzhoover move d to amend b,
striking out the clause authorizing tn,
secretary If war to detail officers TO
service In the signal oorps,, exciusiv
OF lieutenants in tho signal CORPS, .
authoriz, I'd by Law. In advooatinl
this amendment Beltzhovsr made Al
attack upon the administration Of tn
signsl service under General Hsssn
He believed this bureau was purssg .
civil institntion, wholly unrnil Id
and that It should be transferred u
some civil department of tn
government; especially that 1
should be placed under charge OF 1
head who had some scientific knowl
edge, some standing and reputation
among popular scientists of the ccun
try. The speech which he had hat
printed some time sgo In the Rscort
had been criticised because 1t had no
been delivered on the floor of tn
house. In order to avoid any misun
Outstanding he had formulated hi
statements In brief form, as followe:
Tirst-The administration of tn
signal service bureau under 81. W
Howgate was the most corrupt, prof
gate and dishonest which ever existe
In the annals of the government.
Second--Howgate's methods wer
characterized by employment of tn
whole signal service force log rollin
to influence congress to pass legisls
tion for the bureau.
Third-While apparently expendin
the full appropriation in keeping u
the Efficiency Of the service, Howgat
was stealing hundreds of thousands {
dollars. The amount of his larcenit
reached 5000. 900.
Fourth While this corrupt, felt
nious scheme was In progress, Hov
gate was surrounded by number {
educated, well paid employees, WI
were either marvellously stupid {
criminally culpable.
| Fifth-That no investigation OF an
kind had been made 10 ascertain Ii
character or extent of these fraud
nor had the perpetrstor been brougl
to trial There were some reason
for this which some persons aroun
the signal bureau knew better ths
anybody slae.
Sixth-General Hazen had nev,
brought Howgats TO trial, but ha
left every employe of Howgate's 4
control of the bureau.
At this point Mr.. Beltzhoover asks
leave to print some of Howgate's 10
ters In The Record, but K. B. Taylo
(Ohio), objected.
Mr.. Beltzhoover confined:
Seventh Hazsn not only failed
bring Howgate to justice, but adoptt
precisely the methods of Howgate
using employees of the bureau to Il
fiuenoe congress through boards
trade aud newspapers,
Eighth--Hszen had made false pr
, tonses to the war department to secu
| l.. l. l.