Year: 1876




cause the public confidence should not be de-
stroyed without cause in the postofflce depart
ment. During his own connection with that
department at the opening of the late war, so
sacred was the rule of the inviolabihty of cor
respondence, that although repeated repre-
sentations were made by local postmasters as
| to the importance Of obtaining hostile pro-
| ceedings through letters deposited in the post
| office, orders were Issued from the
postofice department prohibiting the
tampering in any way with such
letters. The only alternative for the investi-
CATION suggested was that the postmaster
general should make it, but that official had
| not the power which the house had to make
a thorough investigation. He might send
special agents, but the power to summon
witnesses and to take testimony did not exist
in him as it did in the committee of the house.
Unless, therefore, the gentleman Hewitt
would satisfy the public mind by stating that
he had no sufficient ground for his charge
he did not see that the house could withhold
its assent to the resolution.


Mr.. Hale said it was very clear to him that
this was matter which the house could not
let drop The inviolability of the postofice
department should be upheld by every power
of the government. 1t was all the more i'm





undisturbed and unmolested since yesterday
the house had taken from another branch Of
communication between man and man all
that it had ever had of nviolabihty. The
postoffice stlll remains, and the house could
do nothing better in the exercise of its high
est power than to ferret and probe such mat
ter to the bottom. Let an investigation be
made, and let it be most search
ing and complete. Let us know whether
there has been any interference with CORE
spondence of any gentlemen, more especially
of the gentleman from New York Hewitt
who held the foremost place In one of the po-
litical parties of the country. That gentle
man believed his correspondence had been
tampered with, and he had lost confidence in
the postoffice department He had showed
him [Halel two letters, which he had exam
ined and become convinced that the letters
had been in some way opened; but whether
in postothces or by writers who had opened
and then resealed them, the gentleman
from New York Hewitt nor him
self had been able to determine.
He had asked that gentlemen whether
he had any proof as 10 how it had been done,
and he answered he had not, and he did not
believe, provided they had bee.. y,x;uea IN the
New ' Gr Trn pos,otfice, that Postmaster James
had any knowledge of it, but ne Halel saw
that the gentleman from New York believed
his correspondence had been tampered with,
and he was in favor of setting dt work every
power to see if that great department was
sacred.


Mr.. Springer's substitute for Mr.. Platt's
resolution was adopted by strict party vote
LII to SO. The Republicans had previously
objected to sending the inquiry to Mr.. Cox's





election frauds.


Mr. Willis introduced bill, which was re-
ferred to the committed on naval affairs, pro-
viding that the feet of the navy, in peace and
until the public safety demands an increase,
shall consist of thirty sea-going vessels of
war, to be distributed among the respective
squadrons and divisions. 1t Itspecifes the num-
Der Of line officers and privates; that their
full pay shall be the same as that of the Off
GERS Of the army with whom they take rank;
that when on sea service the same amount in
emouments be allowed az to assim1latea
grades in the ARMY; thai when on duty on shore
officers shall be entitled to their full pay,
without allowances, and when on leave of alb
sence, to 21s per cent. of the full pay of their
grade without the allowance of retired line
officers who have seen twenty years actual
service at sea; and retired staff officers who
have seen fourteen years actual service at sea,
shall receive seventy-lite per cent. of full
pay of the grade from which they were re-
tired, and all other officers shall receive one
half Of full pay of the grade from which
they were retired. In addition to the num-
ber of men now allowed to the navy, eight
hundred and fifty boys for training may be
enlisted.


The speaker laid before the house a tele-
graphed communication from William R.
Morrison chairman of the Louisiana investi-
eating committee, transmitting a record of
the proceedings before the committee in the
case of Z. w. Barnes, manager of the West
en Union telegraph company In New Or
leans


Mr.. Knott submitted resolution directing
that Barnes, the recusant witness be arrested
and brought before the bar of the house for
contempt.


He declined to allow time for discussion, as
suggested from the Republican side of the
house, and then the Republicans resorted to
the parliamentary device of preventing any
action, by Withholding their votes, so as to
have no quorum voting. Proceedings for a
call of the house were then begun. Finally
twas agreed that an hours discussion should
be allowed, and Mr.. Garfield spoke against
the resolution, on the ground, principally,
that the house Is not Jusuhed IN treating
telegrlphic communication as an official re-
port.


Mr.. Walker introduced a bill, which was
referred to the committee on Judiciary, pro-
vidIng that no military or naval officer, or
other person engaged in the civil, military or
naval service, shall order, bring, keep or have
under his authority or control any troops or
armed men at or near the place where any
general Or special election is to be
held in any State, either on the day
Of such election, or for ten days prior or
subsequently thereto, unless it be
necessary to repel armed enemies of the
United States; and any person violating any
of the provisions of this section shall be fined
not more than five thousand dollars and suffer
imprisonment at hard labor not less than five
years, and be deprived from holding any Of
Statac