Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-12
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
FIELD DAY IN THE HOUSE.
THE BALLOT BOX FORGERIES.
A Committee of Investigation Ordered.
REPORT ON THE SILcoT MATTER.
CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE SENATE.
The Senate.


to committees Mr.. Wolcott was excused from
service on the committee on Indian affairs.
A large number of petitions, resolutions and
memorials were presented, among them a res
olution of the Massachusetts legislature in
favor OF granting pension to every honorably
discharged Union soldier and sailor.
Petitions from various parishes of Louisiana,
IN favor OF national election law, were pre-
sented by Senators Ingalls,, Sherman and
Evarts.
Among the bills introduced and referred were
the following:
By Mr.. Sherman-To revive the grade of
lieutenant general of the army
by Mr. Butler-For the emigration Of per-
sons OF color from the southern states.
By Mr.. Dawes-TO establish the tenth Judi
cial circuit
THE WORLDS FAIR AT WASHINGTON.
BY MIR. Gorman-For an international expo
sition at the national capital in 1892.
by MIR. Stewart-For the free coinage of both
gold and silver and the issue of coin certificates
to circulate as money
The joint resolution Of the Florida legisla-
lure IN tavor OF a national ship canal across the
FLORIDA peninsula, and of Che improvement of
tne b. Johns river, were presented by Mr.
Can, read In full and referred to the committee
on commerce.
NEGRO COLONIZATION.
Mr.. Gibson offered a resolution, which was
referred to the committee on foreign relations
lnstructing that committee to inquire into the
expediency and practicability Of acquiring or
setting apart territory for the occupation of
negro or colored citizens of the United Statess
and also to inquire how far and in what man
ner the government of the United States
can and ought equitably to aid the freedmen of
the United States, their families and descend
ants, to emigra.e thereto and to settle thereon,
ana TO establish system of common school
education
THE HOLIDAY RECESS.
MIR. Ingalls, offered q concurrent resolution.
which went over without action for holiday
recess of the two houses from Thursday, De-
cember ls, to Monday, January 6.
COMMITTEE CHANGES.
Under resolutions offered by Senators Aid
rich and Platt the following changes in COM
mittees were agreed to-:
The appointment of select committee of
hfteen Senators to be called the auadro-cen-
tennial committee; the increase of the COM
and mining and public buildings and grounds
70 nine members each; of the committee on
1ndan depredatlons to seven members; Of the
committees on the post office, territories, pub
Tic lands and pensions to ten members, and the
continuance during the present session of the
select committee on irrigation.
MEMORIAL HALL AT WASHINGTON
Mr. Dolph offered resolution (Which was
referred to the committee on the library in
structing that committee to INQUIRE into the
advisability of the erection in Washington of a
memorial hall, at which shall be received and
retained such statues and portraits of public
men and eminent citizens of the United States
and such historical paintings and other works
OF art as may be provided by law. He sub
mitted some remarks in advocacy Of the reso-
luton.
The Senate then proceeded to the considera-
alton of executive business and at lao
adjourned till Monday next
Nominations Confirmed:
The Senate this afternoon confirmed the fol-
lowing nominations: Green B. Raum, of uli-
nois, to be Commissioner of Pensions; joseph
a: Clark, to be pension agent at Augusta, Me-;
frank q. Loveland, to be pension agent at
New York; VIM. H. Shelmire, to be Pension
agent atPhiladeiphia. at
Nominations Sent to the Senate.
The President today sent to the Senate the
nomination of Cyrus J. Fry of South Dakota to
be marshal Of the United States for the district
OF South Dakota; also a number of recess
nominations, including Joel B. Erhardt col
lector OF customs at New York, and David W.
McClung, collector of internal revenue for the
first Ohio district; Chas. D. Lincoln Of Michigan
to be second deputy commissioner of pensions,
large number OF army and navy promotions
appointments OF consuIs, registers of land
offices, etc.
The nomination Of D. Bernard Macauley of
New York to be consul at Manaqua, Nicaragua,
was Withdrawn, he having declined the ap,
pointment.
House of Representatives.
Immediately after the reading of the Journal
Mr.. Butterworth (Ohio) rising to question
of privilege, offered the following preamble
and resolution:
Whereas, on divers days during the month
OF October, 1885, and at other times since that
date. there appeared in the Cincinnati CONNER
ctdt- Gazette. and in other public journals what
purported to be an exact copy of a certain con-
tract, alleged to have been made and entered
into by the several parties whose names were
Here follows reproduction of the alleged
ballot-box contractl
Whereas, Of the persons whose names appear
on said paper, all, except one. were at the time
OF SAID publication and, except the Hon. s. S.
Cox, deceased, are still members of the House
and OF the Senate of the United States;
whereas said contract published as au-
thentic and genuine was the basis for charges,
suggestions and insinuations that the said mem-
pofs dnu OcudtOTb WHOSE names appear on SAID
alleged contract entered into an unlawful and
corrupt contract and scheme to defaud the
United States in the matter of the proposed
purchase Of certain ballot boxes. which charges
are an assault upon the official integrity and
reputation for honesty Of each of said several
members and Senators, and, if true, render
them unit to sit as members Of Congress;
therefore,
Resolved, that committee of five members
OF this House be appointed by the Speaker to
make full and thorough investigation and re-
port without delay the evidence, together with
their findings thereon, to the House. Said
committee when appointed shall ascertain and
reports
First. By whom said alleged contract was
prepared and whether the several signatures
appended thereto are forged or genuine.
Second II forged, what person or persons, il
any, were directly or indirectly aiding, abet-
ting, assisting or knowingly consenting to the
preparation and uttering of said forgery and
for what purpose and intent.
Third. Whether any of the members whose
names appeared on said alleged contract had or
have either directly or indirectly any unlaw-
ful, corrupt or improper connection with or in
terest in the ballot boxes which are the subject
of said alleged contract
The resolution further provides that the
committee shall have authority to call for per-
sons and papers, administer oaths, &c.
Mr.. BurTERwoRrH's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Butterworth himself read the preamble
and resolution, and then stated that he had but
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