Year: 1872




CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
MR.. SUMNER CORRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION


ORGAN-A LONG SESSION OF THE HOUSE


TIE ADJOURNMENT QUEsTIoN-EXC1TING


TINE IN TIRE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE


tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUNBl


wAsHISGToS, May 20, 1872.


Shortly after the expiration Of the morning hour on
Saturday the Senate went into Executive Session, ana
the doors remained closed for eight hours ana man,
Ten minutes after they were opened the senate ad-
iourned In the morning hour, Senator SUMNER IN rev
words disposed of the dispatch in The Ne Iors Times
OF Friday relative the Executive Session on Thurs
day He said: "I have no right to make statement OF
what said or anybody else said, In Executive ses-
son but / have right to vindicate myseH
against caumny, and 10 deny speeches ialsely at-
trbuted TO me. The Netc-York Times contains
speech said to have made by me, which is fapr
cation and I particularly denOunce as absurd and
ridiculous this statement attributed to me- that Great
Britain should have been promptly notified, when she
proposed to break up the Tribunal that the result wond
be war; There is not Senator within the sound of my
voice who does not know that never uttered any sueh
thing In open session executive session. deny II
positively" The morning hour was spent IN discussing
a House bill to establish Western Judicial District In
North Carolina Senator West offered, as an amendment
a bill providing for Judicial Districts in Louisiana,
and upon its rejection Senator Clayton offered to amend
Arkansas and providing for the holding OF court in
Indian Territory No vote was reached when the morn
ing hour expired. Senator Sherman called up the
Tariff BILL and 1t will be the first thing In order to-n3r-
row. After opening the doors, the b to increase s the
capital of the Washington Gas Light Company anu eA-
tend its works was passed.


The House sat l9 consecutive hours, from y Friday
evening until 81 Saturday morning The Committee OF
Claims had the floor for the evening session, and ran
through bill after bill without debate, or even expana-


ton until few cautious members began to get alarmed
and thought about time shut down the flood gates,
before all the money was drained from the treasury
They commenced calling for reports on the bills repre-
sented for explanations OF the cases. but the men,
bers OF the Claims Committee anxious 10 work OIL all the
business they had hand grew indignant at these very
proper demands. They appeared to think that 1t was
the business Of the House to vote for whatever they
offered. The members who wanted to know what
they were voting for very unpopular, and were
told that they were obstructng the public business
This silenced them for a time, and the claims were
rushed through fast the Clerk could read them and
the Speaker their passage until at about lOs
O'clock bills had been passed. of the merits Of which
scarcely dozen members had the least knowledge.
When the claims mill ceased grinding. bill was intro
duced against which a small minority made deter
mined stand. It provided for the payment OF man in
Missouri for damages to his property while battle was
in progress 1t appeared be the forerunner OF count
less multitude Of similar claims, and Messrs Garfield,
Farnsworth, Peters, Hoar, willard sheabarger, and
others fought ii resouey joined by Mr. Blair the Chair
man of the Claims Committee, who said 1t established
a dangerous precedent. A large majority were deter
mined to put through and after they had got the pre-
vlous question: refused to let the final vote over until
the next day. When the House counted the pass
age OF the BILL it found that there was no quorum In
the Hail. and call of the house ordered. Various
dilaory motions interposed and it after mid
night before the call completed. remarkable par
liamentary struggle then began. small minority,
skilled the rules held In check Tor hours an over
whelmng majority, led by new members not versed in
parliamentary tactics When
shown by the CALL and another vote had passing
the bill half dozen OF the minority refrained from
voting so there again appeared TO be quorum, and
another call had be ordered. These tactics twice
repeated, and number OF motions to adjourn and dis
pense with the calls were made TO consume time AS
the weary hours on, and daylight began to come In
combatants which had been OF the b. st from the
beginning, became more and more acrimonious ana, IN
spite OF the efforts OF few patient ana go0dnatured
members TO give air OF ollity 10 the performance
much i'll feeling displayed. The majority made so
many bunders, ana were so unsked IN Parliamentary
maneuvres, that IL o'clock in the morning, and
after third call of the House, before they got motion


through to send for the absenees Two hours were occ
pied in bringing delinquent members from their beds
the House adjourned until Monday The result of the
nights foolish performance the entire loss OF Saur
days session, at time when every day IS needed for
legislative work. and the passage of an Objectionable
measure, which, with the large majority In its favor
d9y If its friends had consented to adjourn on Friday
night when adjournment was first proposed.


Itisnow generally considered settled that Congress
will adjourn on the sd Of June. The House resolution



mittee of the Senate tomorrow, and immediate action
urged The temper OF the Senate in favor Of pema
nent adjournment before the holding Of the Philadelphia
Convention in order to avoid heated political discus
son which il is believed will result If the session is pro-
onged after that time. Senators say that the Treaty
yet get through with its business by the 10Th inst but
that in all probability the session will last until the 80 OF
June The Tariff bill will be acted upon and
will not require than three days. Senator Morton
and other leading Senators are IN favor sitting 1t out on
two DAYS.


There was q very exciting session of the House Judi
cary Committee Saturday. the Mormon question.
during which Messrs Bingham and Butler INDUCED In
epthets and imputations toward each other COM
mon among rowdies and loafers tian IN the Committee
rooms of the United States Congress. The Mormon
question was disposed Of, far this session is
cerned by the adoption of motion by Mr.. Potter, to
recede the decscn at previous meeting to report
the bill Of Mr. Voorhees, regarding the Mornons There
seemed TO be some doubt in the Committee as TO the
agreement report this bill and on this the itempered
language of the two members Of the Committee arose
The vote on the motion to recede was five to four,
Messrs Butler, Peters Wilson, Eldrdge and Potter in
the Affirmative; and in the negative Messrs Bingham,
Voorhees,, Goodrich. and @ercur; The sub-Committee
now investigating the charges against Senator POmeroy
In with his election 70 the Senate will report
early during the present week dhey VIII ssk TO De ds
and report that the charges have not been sustained
action during the present session. but 1t is the intention
OF the Committee 20 cit during the recess and be ready
TO report the results Of the inquiry early next December


The Senate Appropriations Committee held meeting,
yesterday to consider the Sunday Civil Expense bill just
received from the House Mr.. Garfield, Chairman OF
the House Committee present at the meeting and
explained the items upon which questions arose 1t is
probable that the Committee will make but lew amend
nents will have the bill ready 10 report as soon
the Senate act upon 1t.


The River and Harbor bill is stil held by Senator
Chandler in his Committee and the fact that he Is In
favor of keeping Congress in session until the House
upon the KuKlux bill gives rice the story that he
intends 10 hold on 70 the bin until the last moment