The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-13
FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
WILL. PROBABLY ADJOURN ON
THE 10TH TO THE 9TH.

x The Serxeant-at-Arms Found to
Have Been "ShaVin&" the Sala-
rIes of COnGresSInen-The Re-
peal of all Tobacco Tax.
WASHINGTON, December 12.-SENATE
In furt ther execution ofthe arrangement
tls to committees, WalcOtt was excused
ifom service on the committee on Indian
affairs
Petitions from various parishes of
louisiana in favor of national election
law were presented by Senators Ingalls,,
Sherman and Evarts. Among the bills
Introduced and referred were the follow
ing:
By Mr.. Sherman, to revive the grade
Of Lieutenant General of the army.
& BY Mr.. Butler, for the emigration OF
persons of color from the Southern
Estates.
III A Joint resolution OF the Florida legis-
4 lature in favor Of a national ship canal
across the Florida peninsula, and of the
Improvement of the St. Johns river, was
presented by Mr.. Call, read i'll full, and
referred to the committee on commerce.
s Mr.. Gibson offered a resolution (which
was referred to the committee on foreign
relationS) inStructing that committee to
inquire into the eXpcdienCy and practical
bity of acquiring or setting apart
territory for the occupation ofthe negroes
or colored citizens of the United States,
and also to inquire how far, and in what
manner, the Government of the United
States can and ought equitably aid the
freedmen OF the United States, their fam
lilies and descendants, to emigrate thereto
y and to settle thereon, and to establish Il
4 system of common school education.
n Mr.. Ingalls, offered n concurrent resolu-
ton (which went over without action)
for the holiday recess of the two houses
Il from Thursday. December 10, to Mon
day, January 6. Under the resolutions
offered by Senators Aldrich and Platt,
the changes in the committees prepared
in caucus and already published were
agreed to. After a brief executive session
the senate adjourned till Monday.
g# HOrSE.-The report of the Sicott
committee was presented to the house
to-day. The report gives detailed state
ment of the assets and liabilities in the
Office on December 5. The shortage is
stated at $40, ,70S.96. 1t states that the
committee has not yet made sufficient in
vestigation of the matter of discounts
and and notes. Many notes, the
committee believes, were forged to cover
the d, falcation already existing. 1t also
SAYS that the committee cannot too Sc
verely condemn the manner i'll which the
sergeant at arms conducted the affairs OF
his Office.
Mr.. Pavson offered a resolution con-
tinuing the committee and giving it en-
q larged powers, on which long debate
y spranG up.
# Immediately after reading the journal,
Mr. Butterworth, of Ohio, rising to a
question of privilege, offered a preamble
and resolution reciting the facts in the
case of the publication of what is known
4 as the ballot box contract and asking for
+ the appointment OF a committee OF five
x to make full and thorough investigation
and report without delay the evidence
and finding therein to the house. The
committee is to ascertain and report by
whom the said contract was prepared,
and whether the signatures are torgerles
or genuine. II forged, what person or
persons directly or indirectly aided,
abetted. assisted, or knowingly consented
y to the preparation and utterance of said
forgery, and for what purpose and in
tent whether Of any members OF the
house whose names appeared on the al
legged contract had or have either directly
or indirectly any unlawful, corrupt. or
Improper connection with, or interest
in the ballot boxes.
The resolution further provides that the
committee shall have authority to call
for persons and papers, administer oaths,
4 etc.
Mr.. Butterworth detailed the circum-
stances of the publication in the Cincin-
natl Commercial Gazette OF various
phases of this matter.
Mr.. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, whose
name was also appended to the alleged
contract, joined with Mr.. Butterworth
!. in asking for the appointment of the
committee.
The resolution was adopted without
division.
Mr.. Adams, of Illinois, chairman of the
special committee to investigate the
office of sergeant-at-arms, made what he
said was a partial report from the COM
mttee. The report puts the deficiency al
$40, ,7O9, and says there was found also
N note from Leedom for $l,O5O on which
w only $15O had been paid. Itturther states
that the sergeant-at-arms had been dis
counting the salaries and notes OF mem
bers of the house, and that although it
was claimed that this was done from pri-
vate funds, there was evidence that, i'll
some instances at least, it had been taken
from the government safe and the profits
retained by the sergeant-at-armS ltSayS
the committee cannot too severely con-
dcmn the negligent manner in which the
sergeant-at-arms conducted his Office,
and exonerateS the paying teller and
bookkeeper from blame. The report con-
cludeS with the statement that the COM
mittee did not feel authorized to go into
I the question of liability.
"a At the conclusion of the long debate
3 which followed, resolution was adopted
directing the committee to report as to
the effect or result of any deticiencyin the
cash of the sergeant-at-arms' office, and
especially as to the unpaid salaries to
members, accompanying their report
with bill if necessary; also one offered
by Mr.. Hemphill, of South Carolina, di-
recting sergeant-at-arms Holmes to ar
range with the treasury department for
the payment Of the mileage of members
and delegates.
N Mr.. Brewer, of North Carolina, intro
duced bill for the repeal OF the tax on
tobacco i'll all its forms. Referred to the
committee on ways and means.
The house then adjourned to Monday.
d Beaten, Not Convinced.
Philadelphia Record.