, 1885-03-21
WASHINGTON ITEMS.
Senator Van Wyck Speaks
His Mind
Concerning the South Ameri-
can Commission.
The Republicans Asked to De
feat the Measure.
Extravaganza of Republican Of
ficials.

its reference to the committee on terrific
ries. A debate arose during which Senator
Van Wyck attacked the South American
commission in vigorous style. He said
the first thing they did was TO go to San
Francisco, then TO New Mexico. then to
see the New Orleans exposition, and each
member was provided with 81, 500 for his
expenses. The commission consisted Of
two men and a boy, for its chairman re-
manned in Albany. The first thing these
two men and a boy did was to hire a
palace car at ss5 a day for which the total
payment was $l,447 before they got to
New Orleans. Then they furnished
themselves with supplies. The Utah
commission boldly charged for lager beer
and wine. This commission charged only
for supplies, which doubtless include
liquids and solids. He would ask his
friends on the Republican side Of the
chamber lift was not time to stop. This
(the ~senate) was all the party had left.
Democrats had possession at the other
end of the capitol and of the administra-
ton. About the LIST Of January the COM
mission got ready to start for New Or
leans From the first of October to the
LIST OF January their expenses We're &c.
000. Men who robbed safes were com
paratiyely honorable. This money was
taken from the pockets Of the taxpayers
who were hardly able to pay 81 a night
for lodging on Pullman cars when they
travelled. In addition TO this expense.
they paid for their supplies and their
cook and were allowed $500 a year he
side. The chairman of the commission,
who never left New York, resigned on the
25th of January and drew ont of the
treasury $4,679. II cost the government
about $40,0O0 for this commission before
the Two men and the boy got ready to
leave New Orleans. This reckless waste
of money was a great wrong upon the
people who paid the taxes. What made
i worse. outrageous bills that the COM
mission had contracted had been approved
and paid. He denounced this as worse
than highway robbery. lie said a man
who enters a house at night and robs it is
honorable in comparison with those who
robbed the treasury by such expenditures
as he had described. 1t is worse, he said,
than stealing the public lands, and here
he referred to the Backbone patents as
a robbery of 7,O0O,0 600 acres at n lick.
Mr.. Henderson referred to the resolu-
ton of Senator Van Wyck providing for
a committee to prepare a detailed
statement Of - the improvements
to the Mississippi River under
which Nh. Manderson said his colleague
might be able to make a junketing excur-
sion from its head waters to the mouth Of
the river.
Senator Harrison charged Van Wyck
with having offered the resolution merely
for the purpose Of obtaining pay for his
clerk during the recess and with a view to
saving the government the fifteen OF
eighteen hundred dollars, the salary Of
the clerk. He offered a resolution that
Senator Van Wyck's resolution be
rcscinded, and asked that II be referred to
the committee on the improvement of the
Mississippi river.
Senator Vest said it was not his pur.
pose to become a participant in the yer,
interesting domestic discussion on the
Republican side of the chamber. Mr.
Van Wyck was like the boy who partici
pated in the murder of his " father
He saw the old man was about to b
beaten to death, and as he could not he'll
it, he thought he would give him a licl
to help him out of his misery. Fo
twenty-five years he Vest) had been tn
intimate personal friend of one of tn
members of the South American com
mission, and his record both public an
private, was as stainless and without re
proach as that of any public man coult
possibly be. The man who charged i
his tVest's) presence hat Thomas c
Reynolds had ever by extravaganza 0
otherwise, ~wrongfully taken one cent Q
the peoples money or made a statemen
which he Vest) contr1dicted absolutel
and unqualifedly. Van Wyck disclaime
any personal reflections.
Senator Van Wyck disclaimed any pei
sonal reflection. He had made his II
marks with respect to the commissio
and not respecting its members. He il
terpreted Mr.. Vests challenge as
threat, and said substantially he would b
ready to repeat his statements.
Senator Hawley inquired whether Sci
ator Van Wyck knew enough about tn
details of these transactions to justify hi
in attacking the honor of the gentleme
who had always stood as high as he tVa
Wyck) could ever hope to stand.
MIR. Van Wyck replied by reiteratir
some of his previous statements.
The Alaska resolution was referred
the committee on resolution.
Senator German offered a resolution i
recting the secretary Of the interior to fu
nish the senate with copies ofthe contra
entered into between the Union Pacii
Railroad company and other railros
companies affected by the act approx.
July l. 1862, and the Western Uni'