Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-23
SENATOR'S EXCURSIONS.
MIR. Van Wyck Attacks the Proposed
Expedition of Committee to Alaska.


Senator Van Wyck, of Nebraska, Fri
day, made bitter attack on ex-President
ArthuTs South American Commission.
Mr.. Manderson, Of Nebraska, moved the
reference to the Committee on Territories
of his resolution for committee to in
vestigate the government of Alaska. He
said in support of his resolution that
lamentable ignorance had been shown in
the Senate of the condition of affairs in
that Territory. This brought Mr.. Van
Wyck to the floor. He said that
lamentable ignorance was usually
found to exist with regard to bills
which passed the Senate after the
bills had passed. He did not know
whether the Committee on Territories
was aware of the expense which this
committee would entail upon the govern
ment. The Senate had recently been
passing resolutions to authorize commit
tees which had nothing to do to sit dur
ing the recess, and now we We're asked to
send committee to Alaska-the remot-
est place in which we had any interest,
except, perhaps, the north pole. The ex-
pedltlon would probably not be any
more expensive than the commission to
Central and South America. He referred
to this so that the Senate might not in
this matter be subjected to the criticism
of lamentable ignorance. That commits
sion was appointed on the 7th day of JAN
uary. They reported for duty in October,
and the first thing they did was to go to
San Francisco, then to New Mexico, then
TO New Orleans to see the exposition.
Each member was provided with 81, 800
for his expenses.
The commission consisted OF two men
and bOy-fOr its Chairman remained in
Albany. The first thing these two men
and boy did was to hire palace car at
$35 day, for which the total payment
was $1,447 before they got to New Or
leans. Then they furnished themselves
with supplies. The Utah Commission
boldly charged for lager beer and wine.
This commission charged only for sup
plies, which, doubtless, included liquids
and solids. ke would ask his friends on
the Republican side of the chamber if it
was not time to stop. The Senate was all
the party had left. The Democrats
had possession at the other end of
the capitol and of the administration.
About Jan. the commission got ready to
start for New Orleans, From Jan. 1
their expenses were $4,000. The
men who robbed safes were comparatively
honorable. This money was taken from
the pockets Of taxpayers who were hard
ly able to pay 81 night for lodging on
Pullman cars when they travelled. In ad-
ditiOn to this expense they paid for their
supplies and their cook, and were allowed
ST, 500 year each besides. The Chair
man of the commission, who never left
New York, resigned on Jan. %, and drew
out of the Treasury $4,679 16. 1t cost the
government about $4,000 for this COM
mission before the two men and boy got
ready to leave New Orleans. This reck-
less waste OF money was a great wrong
upon the people who paid the taxes.
Mr.. ManderSOn thought that it was dis
courteous to his colleagues in the Senate
to suppose that because they introduced
resolutions of this character they pro-
posed to make that pretence for a raid
upon the Treasury. He did not believe
that any member of the Senate would be
guilty Of such action.
Mr.. Van Wyck retorted that every Ter
ritorial officer of Alaska was now in
Washington, and that the Governor of
Alaska had all winter performed the du-
ties of his Office from here.
Mr.. Vest, of Missouri, defended Thomas
G. Reynolds, one of the South American
Commission. If that gentleman had gone
to Mexico in palace car, he said, he
went as he thought the representative of
the government should go. He went there
under orders of the Secretary of State,
and came back to the city of New Orleans
under orders of the department, for the
purpose OF interviewing the representa-
tives of Central American States who
were there. He had performed his duties
honestly and faithfully. He was now in
Costa Rica, and was performing his func-
tiOns in manner so satisfactory that the
new Secretary of State had said he re-
garded him as one of the best officers in
the service of the government. Two men
and boy, the Senator from Nebraska had
said. The boy was nearly 80 years old;
had been an editor of one of the leading
papers in Chicago, and had rendered val
uahle services.
Mr.. Hawley, of Connecticut, asked
whether Mr.. Van Wyck had grovelled so
far into these questions as to know
whether this amount covered cOmmissary
bills, railroad fares, etc. Did the Senator
know enough about the details of these
transactions to justify him in attacking
the honor of the gentlemen who had
always stood as high as he could ever
hope to stand?
Mr.. Van Wyck replied that he had
grovelled. Then, reading from memo
randa, he said ''Here is this palace car,
forty-ive days at $35 day. And here is
pay for cook and for tickets.' He added
that the commissions expenses from
October to January. before they left this
country, were over Sc, 600.