New-York tribune., 1885-03-21
AGAINST SPECIAL CONFESSIONS.

AGAINST SPECIAL COMMISSIONS.
MIR. VAN wYCK ATTACKS THE SOUTH AMERICAN
COMMssIoN-oTHERs SENATORS RErALIATE.
WASHINGTON, March 2O.-The resolution
offered Mr. Manderson yesterday for the appointment
Of five Senators to proceed to Alaska and investigate
matters relating the OF the Territory
laid before the Senate Mr. Henderson said the resolu
tion introduced In compliance with the suggestions
OF a number OF gentlemen Of them members Of the
Senate. He had only recently become member Of the
Senate and not that the resolution worded
In accordance with the usual rrecedents He said that
when the bill providing for civil government Of Alaska
was passed by former Congress- lamentable ignorance
had shown in regard to the condition OF things In
Alaska and the gentlemen to whom he referred thoughtt
important that information should now be obtained The
purpose Of the proposition to have the committee ap
pointed by the Committee Territories to have 1t
made OF members Of that committee II many could be
found who willing devote several weeks to this
arduous duty.
Mr. Van wyck said that lamentablc 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 Territories OF the
expense which this committee would entail upon the
Government. The Senate had recently been passing
resolutions authorizing committees which had nothing to
do TO sit during the recess and nowwe were asked 10
end committee to Alaska-the remotest place In which
had any interest except, perhaps the North Pole
The expedition would probably not be any more ex-
pensve tlan the COU1lls5lOn 10 tcltCdl anu OOuth
America He referred to this that the Senate might
not In this matter subjected to the criticism Of lament
able ignorance The commission appointed on the
day January They reported for duty in October
this Commission Central and South America land the
first thing they did was to to San Francisco then to
NewMexco then to New Orleans to che Exposition
Each member was provided with $500 for his ex-
penses The commission consisted OF two aud boy
for Its chairman remsued IN Albany. The first thing
these two men and boy did to hire palace car, at
S35 a day, for which the total payment was Sl,ii7
before they got to NewOrleans. Then they furnished
themselves with supplies The Utah Commission boldly
charged for lager-beer and wine. This commission
charged only for SUPPLIES, which doubtless included
liquids and solids lie would ask hisfrends on the Re
publican side OF the Chamber II 1t not time TO stop.
About tho of January the commission got ready to
start from New From the LIST Of January their
expenses $4,000 The men who robbed safes we're
comparatively honorable. This money was taken from
the pockets Of taxpayers who hardly able to pay
So a night for lodging Pullman cars when they
travelled. In addition to this expense they paid for
their supplies and their cook, aud allowed $500
year each besides The chairman OF the commission.
who never left NewYoT resigned on the 18th OF jan
nary and drew out OF the Treasury Si679 10. It cost
the Government about $4,000 for this commission
before the two men and boy got ready to leave New
Orleans This reckless waste OF money was a great
wrong upon the people who paid the taxes.
Mr. Manderson wished 10 make q statement supple
.nentary those made by his colleague. He would be
tho last In the body TO attempt 10 defend raid upon
the Treasury. He did not understand from his COL
leagues remarks that any committee OF the Senate or the
Senate itself was responsible for the action OF the South
American Commission The resolution that he had ln-
trouced was OF general character but was secne
In Is purposes and who might be appointed aS
members the mtee would certainly have no sine
cure He ready to condemn everything oi shs
kind not even action OF his colleague lMr, van
WycO when he introduced resolution IN the last days
OF last Congress To procure annual clerk TOR the
committee OF which be chairman. Mr. MandrrsOn
read the resolution offered by hi. Van Wyck proyldng
that the Committee Ale Iploy enent % t.e M.ssss,
prepare dctHffed satefnent
expense OF the Improvement ot that river ana us
tributaries Under that resolution Mr. Manderson SAID
| hts colleague might he atle TO make u Jnnketing
excursion from the head waters to the mouth OF the
Mississippi River lie did not suppose that his friend
would make such excursion and he submitted that IL
was discounted To his colleagues IN the senate 10
suppose that because they introduced resolutions Of this
| characterl they proposed TO maze this pretence
for raid upon the Treasury. He did not believe that
any member Of the senate would bc guilty of such action
The resolution Of his colleague passed by the senate.
Notwithstanding avOwal that It's purpose was 10
| provide "A annual cerkshlp for the committee.
SIR. Van Wyck maintained the prOprieJ of his action,
stating that his pos had been that a standing
mteas should have annual clerks that annual clerks
should employed only committees which mad work
to do policy the other shonld De decided upon.
The resolution was referred to the Committee on Terri
| tOrips,