The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-12-19

WASHINGTON, December 12.-The senate
this afternoon confirmed the nomination of
Green B. Raum, of Illinois, to be commits
sioner of pensions.
After some unimportant routine business
| the introduction of bills was taken up, and
after some further business the senate adj
journed.
WASHINGTON, December 12.-Immedi-
| ately after the reading of the journal Mr.
Butterworth, of Ohio, rising to a question
of privilege, offered the following preamble
and resolution;
Whereas, On divers days during the
month of October, 1889, and at other times
| since that date there appeared in the Gin
cinnati Con mercial Gazette and other pub
| lie journals what purported to be an exact
| copy of a certain contract alleged to have
been and entered into by several parties
| whose names were appended thereto.
Whereas, OF the persons whose names
appear on said paper, all except one were
at the time of said publication and except
| Honorable s. S. Cox, deceased, are still
| members of this house and of the senate of
! the United States.
Whereas, Said contract so published as
| authentic and genuine was the basis for
charges suggestions and intimations that
said members and senators whose names
appear on the alleged contract entered into
an unlawful and corrupt contract and
scheme to defraud the United States in the
matter OF the proposed purchase of certain
ballot boxes, which charges are an as
sault upon the integrity and reputation for
honesty of each of said several members
and senators, and, if true, render them un-
fit to sit as members of congress; therefore,
Resolved, That committee of five mem
bers OF this house be appointed by the
speaker to make full and thorough inves-
tigation and report without delay the evil
dence together with their findings thereon
TO the house. Said committee when APP
pointed shall ascertain and report.
L. By whom the same alleged article was
perpetrated, and whether the several sigma
lures appended thereto are forged or gen
uine.
2. If forged what person or persons if
any were directly or indirectly aiding,
abetting, assisting or knowingly conserving
to the preparation and uttering of said
forgery, and for what purpose and intent.
3. Whether any of the members whose
names appeared on said alleged contract
have either directly or indirectly any unlaw-
tul corrupt and improper connection with or
interest in the ballot boxes, which are sub
JeSt of said alleged contract"
The resolution further provides that the
committee shall have authority to call for
persons and papers, administer oaths, etc.
Mr.. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, whose
name is appended to the alleged contract,
vigorously denied any knowledge thereof.
The resolution was adopted and the report
OF the Silcott committe was presented to
the house.
Ihe report of the select committee gives
a detailed statement of the assets and liza
bilities of the Office ON December 5. The
shortage is stated at 70,70S.96. 1t states
that the committee has not yet made suffi-
Gent investigation of the matter of dis
counts and notes. Many notes the COM
mittee believe were forged to cover the
defa lcation already exhisting. 1t also says
that the committee cannot too severely con-
denim the manner in which the sergeant-at-
arms conducted the affairs of the Office.
Mr.. Paysop offered resolution contin-
uing the committee and giving it enlarged
powers on which long debates sprung, af-
ter which resolution was adopted extend
ing the powers of the select committee that
may report to the house its conclusions as
to the effect of any deficiency of the cash in
the office of the sergeant-at-arms.