The New York Herald Newspaper, February 20, 1879, Page 3

fF WASHINGTON The House Undoing Recon- struction Legislation. REPEAL OF THE JURORS’ TEST OATH. Beginning of the Fight Over the Federal Supervisors Law. SOLEMN WARNINGS FROM REPUBLICANS. The Geneva Award Bill as Reported by the Senate Committee. FROM OUR. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. + Wasntnoron, Feb. 19, 1879. BOTH HOUSES HITCHING IRRBLEVANT MATTER TO APPROPRIATION BILIS—A WASTE OF TIME. Both houses to-day engaged in hitching trrelevant matter on appropriation bills. In the House the Legislative bill got to the point in Committee of the Whole where it had been predetermined by the democrats to add the clauses repealing the test oaths and the federal election laws, and::hanging the pey of jurors. In the Senate the Post Office bill got to the point where the rebulicans had predetermined to add to it the Brazilian subsidy. Both attempts are merely waste of time. The Brazilian subsidy will not pass the House, and the clause repealing the federal election laws will not pass tho Sonate. What is doing to-day and this evening in Congress is of little practical account. GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCHES, Wasnrnoton, Feb. 19, 1879. THE GENEVA AWARD BILL—CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, The more important changes proposed by a ma- fority of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary to ‘be made in the Geneva Award bill arc brietly stated as follows:— The House proyisions for the payment of “war premium claims’ and for the allowance of interest above the four per cent allowed by the former law are wholly omitted, and so, also, are the extra allow- ances for whalers. ‘Tho revived Court of Commis- sioners are to take jurisdiction of the claims of in- surance companies and give them precedence in tho distribution of the remaining balance of the Geneva award. ‘ ‘The other claims provided for by the majority of the committee are to form a “second class,” and are to consist of claims directly resulting from damage done by any Confederate cruiser (including the so- called “‘exculpated” cruisers) on the high seas, and also within three miles of the shore. The full text of the House’bill as amended by and reported from the Senate Judiciary committee this afternoon is as follows:— An Act for reviving and continuing the Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims and for the dis- tribution of the unappropriated moneys of the Geneva award. Be it enacted, &c., That an act approved June 23, 1874, entitled ‘an Act for the creation of a court for the adjudication and disposition of certain amunere received in the ‘Ireasury, under an aw by the tribunal of arbitration con- stituted Ly virtue of the first article of the treaty concluded at Washington, the 8th of May, A. D. 1871, between the United States of America and the Queen of Great Britian, bo, and_ the game hereby is revived, re-enacted and continued, all the provisions thereof to take effect trom snd after the approval of this act, except as changed or modi- fed by this ‘act. Sxerion 2.—That the number of inggee for said ‘court sirall be three, and the agreement of two of the rs shall bo necessary. to decide any question erie Horan oie. 6 8 © Judges of the court hereby ro- ‘@stablished shall convene and ongestine in tae elty of ‘Washington as soon as practicable after their ap: pointment, and the court so organized shall exist eighteen months, and all claims provable under this “act shall be verified and filed with the clerk of said court within six months from its organization, or uall bo'held to be watved and barred. 3 a much of the twelfth section of the 2. ‘act a8 provides that ‘no claim shall be admissi- le or allowed by said Court, by or in behalf of any ..dneuranes company or insurer, either in its or his * Joxs,”" be and the same is hereby own right, or as assignee or otherwise in the right of a person or arty insured aa foresaid, unless such claimant shall show to the satisfaction of raid Court, that ‘ing: the late rebellion the sum of its or his losses in re- spect to its or his war risks exceeded the sum of its or his premiums or other gains upon or in respect to such war risks, and in case of any such allowance the same shall not be groater than h excess of ed. That any claimant excluded by the provision hereby repealed shall-have the like period of time within which to present, file and cS it or his claim after the pass- age of this act as he could have had after the passa; of said act if not so excluded; and such claims shail be considered as claims of the first class; and such court shall also consider and allow all pro; erly proved claims not included in the first class directly resulting from damage done on the high seas by Contede ernisers dur- ing the late rebellion, including vessels and — attacked and taken on the high seas, or pursued by them therefrom, although the loss or damage oc- curred within three miles of the shore, and whether such claims be made by the original property owner or by an underwriter who paid tor such loss or dam- hy which claims shall be considered as claims of the second class, SEC. the judgments rendered by said Court under this act shall be paid by the Secretary of the Treasury out of the money patd to the United States pursuant to article 7 of the Treaty of Washing- ton, and the interest accruing therefrom, not ex- pended in payment of claims heretofore proved and allowed under the provisions of said original act and the act extending the time for the filing of claims thereunder and of expenses under this act. Sec. 6.—Judgments rendered in tho ‘first class shall be firsi paid. If the sum of money remaining after provision for expenses and the judgments in cases of the first class so unappropriated suall be in- - sufficient irks ion claims of the second class in fall tl shall be patd ‘rita, Sec. 7.—That this act shall not be construed as in any way renewing, extending or continuing any of the commissions or appointments of judges or officers of the said Court of Commissioners of Ala- dame Claims issued and made by virtue of said Ogee. that. all econsary * Sec. 8 all moneys n for the a ment of the salaries of the judges and officials ait. thorized by this act, and for the lawful expenses of the said court hereby re-established, are hereby ap- propriated out of any moncys in the TreAsury not Otherwise appropriated, all of which shall be reim- Dbursed out of the said unexpended monoys before any of the judgments rendered under this act shall be paid. RAILROAD TELPGRAPHS—-MURAT HALSTEAD BE- YORE THE COMMITTEE—STRONG VIEWS ON RAILROAD RULE. In the Senate Committec on Railroads this morn- ing Mr. Gardner G. Hubbard opposed the bill author- izing railroad companies to use telegraph lines for commercial purposes, and spoke in favor of the prin- ciples of a postal telograph bill. He incidentally re- ferred to the New York Associated Pross in @ manner which showed that he had no proper conception of the way in which ite affairs aro managed as a private institution, as he thought its nows ought to be dis- tributed among newspapers on the principle of @ common carrier, Ho was several times in the course of his remarks reminded that the commitres had sot apart its time for hearing only of arguments on the bill. Stillson Hutchins, of the Washington Post, mado » Prosentation of his difficulties with tho New York Associated Press, in which he adrbitly confused facts with tho inferences which he had himself drawn, thereby making & plausibio case before the commit- but one which would not be sustained upon an examination of all the circumstances. Murat Halstead, of the Cincinnati Commercial, being present, noticed an allusion by Mr. Hubbard to # letter he had written some years ago, and said it grew out of the warfare of the Wostern papers with the Now York Associated Press at that time. The Western papers then conquered their indepon- dence, and now transact their business through their own organization, having business relations, how- ever, with the Now York Associated Press, At that time the Western Union Telegraph Company had treatod them with absolute fairness; but now thoy furnish the opposition papers in the Wost at lowor Fates than they serve us, The main object of the % New York Associated Press was to provent reckless competition among its own members. The uews- Paper business was a private one, and the government had no right to meddle with it at all, Menconnected with the press had the same right as any other cit {zens—vo more; but they claimed that, when they had built up a system of obtaining news, employing agents everywhere, they had aright to the news as Property, There wero too many newspapers now; they were daily dying out, and therefore it was not good policy to encourage other swarins. Senator MireukiuLl—What do you think of giving Fauroad companies the privilege of transmitting commercial messages? Mr. Harsrzap—Thoy would do well to mind their own business. Tho privilege would add to their in- fiuence in the politics of the country. Ido not think the rule of railroads would benefit the coun- try. The newspaper and telegraph business should, 80 far as possible, be let alone. The argument is now closed on the bill, which the committee will now proceed to consider. THE UNFINISHED DOUBLE TURRETED MON- TTORS—STATEMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. The statement of the Secretary of the Navy con- cerning the disposition to be made of the four unfin- ished double turret monitors Puritan, Amphitrite, ‘Yerror and Monadnock, presented in the Senate to- day by Mr. Sargent, is supplemental ,to the letter of January 9, 1879, The Secretary says:— The hulls of these monitors aro ready for launch- ing, and could be put in the water as soon as the machinery is placed on board. The boilers are now ready, the contract for their construction nover having been suspended, The money to pay for them was appropriated by the Detictency act of June 14, 1878, It will require from eighteen to twenty-four months to build and erect on board, complete and ready for steaming, the motive powers of these vessels, while but a few months would be required in case of emergency to put on board the turrets now on hand, and supply the armor. The department does not look forvad to the results of experiments by other nations in re- gard toironclads with sufficient certainty to justify any recommendation of delay in the completion of the vearels on thet account. In order to complete the vessels the following appropriations s2ould be made for their machinery, viz. For the Puritan. oe ++ $420,000 For the Amphiti 230,000, For the Terror 230,000 For the Monadnock. 285,000 on Rusa RE UE TT” PRO O TREN ++ $1,165,000 If tho vessels are to be completed, one-half the wholo sunt estimated in the letter of January 9, that ts $947,807 should be made for the fiscal yoar ending Juno 30, 1880, As regards the contracts of March 3, 1877, which were suspended, the department oan only now say that since their suspen: the investigation of ail tho matters they involve has not been made with sufficient mimuteness to decide whether or no it would be best to continue them in event of an appropriation being made, yet at the same time it is proper to say that there is no reason known why they should not be continued; that is, none growing out of the prices to be paid or the character of the contractor. The draft of an amendment to an sap- peonristios bill is submitted, the aggregate of which is made up as follow: For machinery, &o... Construction for the year end’ 1881... oeee Expenses of steam trials, Kc. THE HOT SPRINGS \USE IN THE SUNDRY OIVIL BILL—REPORT THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE OMISSION. Senators Cameron, of Wisconsin, Randolph Eaton, of the special committee appointed by Senate to investigate the causes of the omission of the Hot Springs section from the enrolled Sundry Civil Appropriatton Bill last session, submitted their report to-day. They quote the resolution by which (on motion of Mr. Conover) the committee was created, and show that the points for their consideration therein contained are simply questions of fact, em- braced under four general heads, as follows:— First—How or in what manner the section was omitted in the enrolment of the bill. Second—W hether Senator Conover had any connec- tion therewith. Third—Whether any officer of the government, and who, after the adjournment of the last Congress, pre- tended to investigate the matter. Fourth—What testimony was taken in that investi- gation, The report continnes :. Your committee, after taking the testimony of a member of the Hougw. | teo on Eprolied Bills and ot the who enrolled and engrossed the bill in question, the officers of the Senate who had charge of or were empowered to receive the bill, to- with officers and detectives of the Secret ice division of the Treasury Department and many other witnesses, find:— First—That all the evidence goes to show that the omission was a clerical error, made by the over- worked and exhausted members and clerks of the House Committee while enrolling a voluminous and intricate bill in sections as they severally came from the Conference Committee during the last hours of the session. Second—It is conclusively proven that neither Sen- ator Conover nor any member or officer of the §enate is in any way imp icated in the loss vr omission of the section from the bill in question, and that tho bill dia not come into the possession of Senator Con- over or any member of the Senate Committee on En- rolled Bills, or of Mr. Rice, the clerk of the commit- tee, from the time it left the possession of the House Committee until it was placed before the President for his signature, Third—When the fact of the omission became known after the adjournment of Congress it caused much public comment, and charges were made by varions parties affocting the integrity of members of Congress and the fidelity of officers of both houses. About this time Mr. Atkins, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, requested the Sec- retary of the Treasury to permit tho officers of the Secret Service division of his department to investi- gate these charges and discover, if possible, what tenth, if any, there was in them.. ‘This request was ‘anted, in compliancé with it, the chief of that ivision designated au officer to conduct the investi- gation. The officer having this investigation in charge scems to have acted with much more zeal than discretion. Fourth—It is the unanimous opinion of your com- mittee, after a careful consideration of ail the evi- dence brought before them, that there were no grounds for the charges made, and that the testi- ony given by the officers of the secret service divi- sion during this investigation was based on worth- less hearsay and is not entitled to any credit whatever. ANGUS CAMERO: THEO, F. RANDOLPH. WILLIAM W, EATON, THE SHANGHAI CONSULATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED—ACTION OF TIE COMMITTEE. Commissioner Phelps, of the District of Columbia, was examined by the House Committee on Expendi- tures in the State Department to-day relative to tho character of Minister George F. Seward, which bo Placed above reproach, Upon the conclusion of Mr. Phelps’ examination tho testimony in tho case was formally closed. The time for making a report has dot yot been fixed. Tho republican members will undoubtedly embrace their views in a minority re- port to be submitted simultaneously with that of the majority. The democratic members have been in consultation agreater portion of the day, but have not yet com- pletdd the report which is to be submitted to the House by tho chairman, as agreed upon at a meeting on Monday. It is understood that the roport will ask of the House an order which will authorize the com- mittee to require Mr. Seward to show cause why he should not produce tho books called for in the subpa@na duces tecum. Whether a discuasion will arise in the House upon the presenta. tion of the report mentioned is of course unknown, but an attempt will be made on the ropub- lican sido to disouss the question fully before any return in made to the report. The democratic mem- bors appoar disposed to postpone all discussion on the subject until Mr. Seward complies with such orders as tho House shall determine upon relative to the cause for his not producing the books he claims to be private, and which the prosecution aver con- tain intelligence bearing on the subject under in- ++ $3,085,614 gation, x yen IN THE APPLICATIONS FoR PENstoNs— CHANGES IN THR MODE OF INVESTIGATION RECOMMENDED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, In his letter to the Vice President, nid before the Sonato to-day, the Secretary of tho Interior again in- vites attention to the views prosented heretofore by the Commissioner of Pensions in relation to the facility with which fraudulent and unmetito- rious claims for yonsions may be presonted under the ex parte system now provided by law for adjusting pension claims, and says the developments in the business of the Pension Bureau since the passage of the act of January 25 make it his duty to again present the subject to Congress. During the first six months of the present fiscal year 6,247 persons, who served in the army and navy, prosenuted their claims for invalid pensions—an sverace of thirty-four per cent. From January 26 to February 15 (inolusive), 8 period of twenty-one days, 2,801 claims for invalid pensions were presented, of which 409 were presented in the firstseven days, 455 the next seven days and 1,437 during the last week. The request for blank forms (which the Commis- sioner is required to furnish) has been ten times as groatas during the past year, and has averaged 140 per day, coming from all parts of the country. The same tendency is evinced by the great number of rejected claims (more than two thousand) which have been called up for re-examination since the 25th of January. Under the excitement of the Arrears act there is a general movement among the persons who have been in the service to obtain pensions, of whom there are supposed to be upward of one million living who have never applied for pensions, This extraordinary activity in preseuting ¢cl:ims, when taken in connection with the fact that despite very effort to settle them the file of undetermined cases has con- stantly increased, must inevitably overwhelm the bureau under tho present system, and the delay which now attend the settlement of tho claims, amounting practically to a denial of justice in many cases, will not only be greatly prolonged, but extend to a mwueh greater number of cases; and, while tho honest claimant will too often be deprived of his right because he is too conscientious to manufacture testimony, the government will be defrauded by the more wnserupulons. Under these circumstances he recommends to Congress the plan for the aljustment and settlement of claims for pensions suggested by Commissioner Bentley in bis annual reports and communications sent to Congress heretofore. EXPENSES IN THE PATENT CFFICE, , The sub-committee of the House Committee on Expenditures in the Interior Department commenced the investigation of expenses in the Patent Office to- day. Mr. Babson, manager of the alent Office Gazette and Official Advertiser, was betore the commit- tee, but beyond submitting certain statements ro- garding the manner of conducting the business of his department nothing was developed. The com- mittee will resume its labors to-morrow morning at the department. THE CATTLE PLAGUE—LYGISLATION PROJECTED, The Secretary of the Treasury and tho Secretary of State had aconsultation to-day on the subject of a necessary enlargement of the powers of the Treasury Department 60 as to prevent the shipment of diseased cattlc from onr porta, and a bill for the purpose in- dicated will be prepared and sent to the proper com- mittee of Congrrss either to-day or to-morrow. This was in accordance with yesterday's action of the Cabinet on this matter. PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. SENATE. WasHINGTON, Feb, 19, 1879. The Vice President laid before the Senate a letter from the Secretary of the Interior calling attention’ to the amendments to th» Pension law already sub- mitted by the Commissioner of Pensions to prevent frauds upon the Pension Bureau. He refers to the bill granting arrears of pensions, and says sinco its passage the application for blanks has been twice as great as heretofore. Refered to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. Tavnman, (dem.) of Ohio, submitted an amend- ment to the Army Appropriation bill, providing that upon general courts martial for the trial of privates and non-commissioned officers there shall bea private or non-commissioned officer of equal rank with the person to be tried. In explanation of the amend- ment Mr. Thurman said it was drawn by General Ord. Such was the practice in the German army, and he had no doubt it would result in good. The amend- ment was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. PAY OF LETTER CARRIERS, The House bill to fix the pay of letter carriers was taken up. Mr. Fenny, (rep.) of Mich., in chargeof the bill, explained it and spoke of the necessity of having ex- perionced persons for letter carriers. In roply to a question of Mr. Davis, of West Vir- ginia, ho said the bill would not take over $200,000 out of the Treasury. * After some further discussion the bill was read a third time and passed by a rising vote of—yeas 25, nays 16, 3 It provides for two otakecs’ of letter carriers “in cities which contain a population of 75,000 or more. ‘The first class to receive $1,000 per annum, provided they have been in service onc year, and the second class to receive $800 per annum. In all cities con- taining a population of less than 75,000 thero shall be one class of letter carriers, who shall receive a salary of $850 per annum. The Postmaster General may establish a third grade of carriers, known as auxilia- ries, to be paid $400 per annum. THE POST OFFICE BILL. The Senate then resumed the consideration of un- finished business, being the Post Oftice Appropria- tion bill, and. amendments proposed by the Commit- tee on Appropriations were agreed to—among them the following :— Allowing the Postmaster General to spend $5,000 for fees to United Siates attorneys, marshals, clerks, &c,, necessarily employed by special agents of tho department. Appropriating $25,000 to enable the Postmaster General to adopt s unitorm cancelling ink to prevent frauds on revenues of the Post Office Department. Increasing the appropriation for wrapping twine from $40,000 to $50,000; that for rent, light and fuel from $390,000 to $450,000; for miscellaneous end in- cidental items from $¥0,000 to $100,000, The Sevate Committee reported in favor of striking ont of the House bill the clause providing that the Postmaster General sball make no deficiency in the appropriation for the current fiscal year by placing postal cars on any line, and the Senate struck it « The committee also reported an amendment creasing the appropriation for transportation by railroad from $¥,000,000 to $9,400,000, of which sum $400,000 may be expended to maintain and secure from railroads necessary and special facilities for the postal service and $16,088 to pay the balance due for walaries and expenses of the special commission on railway mail transportation. Agreed to. Anamendment ot the committee increasing the appropriation for postal clerks, route agents, local agents and messengers from $1,350,000 to $2,770,000 was agreed to. Also an nendment providing that from ard after iy post office clerks, route agent messengers shall be designated as postal clerks, and divided into five classes, whose salaries shall bo from $800 to $1,400 per annum, Other amendments were agreed to ax follows :— Allowing the Bureau of Engraving and Printing of the Treasury Department to bid for the contract of printing postage stamps. Authorizing the Postmaster Goneral to issue postal cards for circulation in the mails of foreign eoun- tries under the provisions of the Universal Postal Union of June 1, 1878, suclt cards to cost two cents, THE BRAZILIAN SUMSLDY. The Brazilian Mail Steamship subsidy amendment ‘was then reuehed. It reads as follows: For ocean steamship service between the United States and Brazil, $200.00); and the Posimastor General is au thorized and dirveted, after duc public advertisement, to r ton yoars for carrying the mails once each mmencing not later than July, 17, from New . Va, te Rio Juneir commencing later New Orleans Janeiro and 000 tons, after the best modern capable of making thirteon nautical mites an he malt carriage to be paid for at not oxcocding Ri peennnum one way for the wean the termini of exch cr ar nile stance netnally traversed both services’ sh: therefor to contain all pro view which may be ettwto securing «fei quired by Inw in Mr. Buc, (dem.) of Ky, raised the point of orde that tho amendment wax not gutman to the bi. that it was new legislation aul not an appropriation to carry out existing law. ‘The question as to whethor the amendment was in order was submitted to tho Senate and it was do- cided by a vote ot—yeas 39, nays 23—that the amend- ment was in order. The voto was as follows: Lega esere, Anthony, Baton, Jones + Mitehoti, terson, Plumb, Ransom, Roiliak, Sargent, Saunders, Sharon, Shiclda, Sponcor, Windom and With ers— i Nars—Mosars. Bailey, Bayard, Bock, Booth, Davis of 11\- nois, Kdinunds, Harris, Horeford, Howe, keman, MeDou- ald, McMillan, MePherson, Merrimon, Morgan,” Morrill, Oglesby, Randolph, Saulsbury, Teller, Voorhees, Wadioigh and Whyto—23. Mosers. Jones, (rep.) of Nev., Chaffeo and Johnston, who would have voted in the atlirmative, wore paired with Messrs, Allison, Thurman and McCreery, who would have voted in the negative, Mr, EDMUNDs, (rep.) of Vt., raixed the point of order that under tho twenty-ninth rule the amendment could not be considered and because it proposed general legislation tu « general appropriation bill, A lengthy debate ensued upon this point of order, during which Mr. Conguine, of New York, satd ho thought tt demonstrable that tho amendment was erman. ‘Chis was a bill appropriating money for he postal service, and it was proper to appropriate monoy to carry the prails from the city of New York to the city of Kio Janciro, He argued that this was legislation entirely proper; but an amendment to appropriation bill to repeal test oaths and all laws by which piracy upon the ballot box may be pre- vented would be gouoral legislation and cow) oe be tucky. caid the Post Route bill attached to an appropriation bill, ‘Mr. Bucs. of | togislati of last session failed to become a law on account of this Brazilian mail subsidy being upon it, Now the House Lad sent to the Senate a bill simply making | appropriations for post office purposes, and the | Senate proposed to load it down with this Brazilian subsidy, Mr. Maxey, (dem.) of Texas, said the House re- fused to consider the Post Route bill of last sessior not on account of the Brazilian subsidy, but on count of an amendment allowing foreizn books free through the mails, the House regarding that as a revenie measure, Mr. Bavanp, (dom.) of Del., argued that this was | a scheme to further a commercial enterprise. Mr. Dnarse, ned that the House | Toaded the appropriation bills down to the guards with g 1 lovisiation and sent them to the Senate, He would always resist the ides of the Sonate stand- ing hy ud being spoon-fed by the House as to what should be passed on appropriation bills. Mr. Donsry, (rep.) of Ark., said the Post Office Ap- propriation bill was full of legislation trom the first to the last line. There had not been an appropria- tion ball passed during the last tweuty years which did not have important slative provisions in it. Mr. Axruony, (rep.) of Ii. L., aad 4a veteh agen the point raised by Mr. Beck that the amendment was not relevant, He believed it was, but he though with the tor from Vermont (Mr. Edmunds), that it was xeneral legislation wpon an appropriation Dill, and should vote to austam hix point of order. The question being upon the point of order raived by “Mr. Ely ls, of Vermont, that the amendment could not be considered because it proposd general legislation, the Senate, by a vote of yeas 33, nays 26, decided that it could be considered, Mr. Earon, (dem.) of Conn., submitted an amend- Ment to reduce the subsidy from $200,000 per aunam to $100,000, Rejected—yeus 25, nuys 29. “ THE GENEVA AWAnD, Pending disenssion, Mr. Edumnds, of Vermont, by direction of a majority of the Committee on ‘the Judiciary, reported, with amendment, the House bill tor revising and continuing the Court of Comunis- sioners of Alabama Claims, and for the distribution of the unappropriated money of the Geneva award, Placed on the calendar, In submitting the report Mr, Epauxps said he did so ay (he organ of the committee; but he felt no tur- ther responsibility personally in regard to it, as he was opposed to the bill as it stood, Mr. Eaton, of Connecticut, submitted an amend- ment to the Brazilian subsidy amendment so as to provide that the contract for such service shall be tor four years, instead of tea years, as proposed by the committee. Mr. ConKLING, of New York, said there had been something said sbout a violation of contract, and what should be done then? He was not one to pro- pose compromises, but why not amend the Dill so as to provide that the service shall be performed by a Chinese cumpany, and then Congress coukl end the contract whenever it should choose to do so, The amendment of Mr. Eaton that the contract shall ran four years instead of ten, as proposed by the cominittce, was rejected—yeus 27, nays 30. Barry, (dem.) of Yenn., then moved to limit the contract to five years instead of ten, and said the Dill of lpst year proposed that the contract should run five years. Why, in the time elapsed since, had the triends put it up to ten years? debate followed, at the conclusion of . M., on motion of Mr. CamEnon, of Pennsylvania, the Senate went into executive session, and when the doors were reopened, at halt-past tivo P. M., adjourned until to-morrow, at four o clock. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Wasuincton, Feb, 19, 1879, ‘The House at half-past eleven o'clock went into Committee of the Whole (Mr. Blackburn, of Ken- tucky, in the chair) on the Legislative Appropriation bill. Tho pending amendment was that offered last night by Mr. Herbert, of Alabama, fixing the pay of jurors, regulating the method of drawing them and repealing the statutes in regard to the jurors’ test oath, upon which a point of order had been raised by Mr. Hale, of Maine. Mr. Hae, (rep.) of Me., argued that the amend- ment was new legislation and did not retrench expen- ditures. He did not care whether sections 820 and 821 were repealed or not, They were not followed in many of the Southern States. He had voted once to repeal them and had no objection to having them re, pealed if it were done in the proper way. Mr. Hensert, (dem.) of Ala., argued that tho amendment was clearly in order, and stated that its object was to have the State laws fairly and honestly carried out. Mr. Woop, (dem.) of N. Y., was surprised that the point of order should have been raised by the gen- tleman from Maine (Mr. Hale). He quoted froma civil sundry bill brought in by the Committee on Appropriations, of which the gentieman from Ohio (Mr. Garfield) had been chairman, and of which the gentleman from Maine had been a member, on which had been placed various sections containing 2 not germane to the bill. Mr. Have, of Maine, thought there was nothing analogous in the two cases, Iu the bill referred to by the gentleman there had been no attempt to forco through.the House a matter upon which it was di- vided by party lines at tho dictation of a caucus. Mr. Woon, of New York, said that he could not ses any difference—whether the proposition came up as the result of a caucus or whether it came up in the usual way. Mr. ATKINS, (dem.) of Tenn., argued that insemuch as the amendment reduced the compensation of ju- rors from $3 to $2 per day it was clourly in order. The CHairMan then overruled the poiut of order, Mr. HALE, of Maino, moved to amend the amend- ment by striking therefrom the clause regulating the method of selecting jurors. Rejected—yeas 101, nays 122. ir. Hare then moved t¢ amend the amendment providing for defraying the expenses which may be incurred in the enforcement of the act — Feb- rnary 23, N71, to enforce the rights of citizens to vote in the several States. Rejected, Mr. Ranpat, (dem.) of Pa., called attention to tho fact that for some reason or other (which he was not aware of) the State of Pennsylvania had been excepted trom the operation of the xections which were pro- posed to be repealed and at bis suggestion the amend- ment was eo worded as to make its application gen- eral. Mr. Conan, (rep.) of Mich., moved to strike out of the amendment the clause repealing section 821. That would allow the repeal of section 82), aud would leave it in the discretion of the court to make connection with the rebellion a cause of challenge on motion. Mr. Exam, (dem.) of La., thought it was a remarka- ble spectacle that the President of the United States: might take the modified oath, but that jurors could not. He reminded the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conger) that the late war between the States— he did not call it a rebellion—had ceased; but the two sections of the country could never be recon- cied cordially while this test oath romained on the statute books. Mr. Conger’s amendment was then rejected—66 to 11x. Messrs, Chittenden of New York, Kelley of Pennsylvania, Cole of Missouri, Metcalfe 0° Misseurn, Robinson, Rice and Crapo of Massachusetts (republi- cans) voted in the nogative. ‘The question then recurring on Mr. Herbert's nays 85. The question then ca amendment repealing the appointment of au Mr. Hate, of May prvisors of election. rose toa point of order that the amendment changed existing law and was not ia the interest of economy. It took boldly and violently the whole body of criminal law guarding clections and proposed to repeal it. He had never known so bold and radical a proposition to be offered to an ap- propriation bill, But it had been resoived up. in a democratic cau and a democratic caucus was like the old Cominittee of Public Safety in the Freneh Revolution which rendered nugatory all legislation, removed commanders of «rinies and assumed power over life and death. Velieved that his side of the House ermined that this revolutionary degisiation should not suceeed, Ten years’ experience had taught him no parlinmentary Wit, no device and no plan (ander the rules ot the House) which should not be resorted to if the amendment were ruled to be in ler, #0 as to prevent its being embodied in the Ap- propriation bill, Mr, Sovriann, (dem.) of Ohio, argued that the amendment was ¢ nd that it was in the di- y, because the cost of these super- jon of 1876 was over $200,000, and the same in I878, ‘The gentleman from Maine (Mr. Hale) conld not, he said, intimidate his (the dem- atic) side of the House. If it was revolutionary to ‘al the sections now, their enactment when the Tae an ‘invent had been offered by him in the nuomy, and also in the interest of a pure and untrammelied election, He CHAIMAN overruled the point of ordor on the udment was not only gormano, Mr. Sovrmand then made an argument in advocacy of the amendment. He was followed on the sar sido by Mr. Dunwam, ot Kontacky, who argued that ail the machinery of elections ought to be controlled by the State governments, not by the federal yovern- ment. SPEECH OF Mi. GARFIELD, Mr. GanrreLp, (rep.) of Ohio, said he had not spoken on the points of order because he did not re- gard the question as one that was being considered deliberately. Ordinarily this was # ball of deliber- ation, but now they were called upon merely to reg- ister the edict of a party caucus, under the rulo of a person who was under orders to decide that the amendment came in under the rule, This remark caused an immediate explosion of angor on the democratic side, and there were calls to order and’a demand that the obnoxious sentence be reduced to writing ond read at the clerk's desk, but the chairman (Mr. Bisckburn, of Kentucky,) ex- pressed the wish that no point of order should bo made, but that he (Mr. Blackburn) should be per- mitted to respond, and that wish was acceded to. NO WHONAL REFELBOTION, Mr. Ganrizu, of Ohio, proceeded with his speech, exhibiting im its delivery much feeling and deter. mination. He said that {he chair will perfectly wn- derstand that I mean no reflection on him personally (derisive laughter on the democratic side); what I ya party cancus resolves, inst the will of its own minority, that its whole party must act as one man he: without res gard the opponents § within its own arty, then it ceases to be free deliberation, becomes dictation from outside, and not delibera nblican Qarty was supreme was also revolution: | } | | NEW YORK HERALD: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1879.—rRIPLE SHEET. 7 tion of statesmen within. Gentlemen on the other side have done me the houor to quote with approval | @ sentence in which 1 said that the man or party who sought to raise bas tioual partisan issues in this country would mistake the spirit of our time and the wants of our people, sud would not be sup- wrted. it and believe it, and to-« thing proposed on the peac of uy an appropri: thi Ww wely that Y process went prope od into a yreat ele ing machine for 1ss0, and that is the whole meaning of this movement. Gentlemen (wd- dressing the other side of the you seck to eut out a sec # living seetion—trom the crim- inal laws ot the United States, und to say that bal- lot box stuffing, frand at the elections, intimidation, outrage (poisoning the very fountain springs of the elective franchise) shall be uo crime, and machinery by whi ch crime can be shall be destroyed. at you pi day, and to do it at the dictation of a party caucn: ORIGIN OF TRE LAWS. These laws were put in the statute books because of this yreat report which 1 hold in my hand (hold- ing up the Lawieuce report of the New York e.eotion of 1568), which has never been answered and never can be, It was proved in it that, although the State of New York appeared to give 10,000 majority tor the candidates of one party in 1865, there were no less than fifty-one thousand fraudulent votes which produced that result, and one of the foremost men of the nation, whom the dei -y afterward honored by nominating him to be its candidate for the Presidency, wrote and pub- lished to the world a bold denunciation of that fraud, and addressed his denunciation to Samuel J, Tilde the man who sustained it, and he closed his denune ation by saying:—Mr. ‘Til uu have conteder- ates who will couckle over this exposé as showing that tue democrats kuow how, and that they can’t be driven from power, They will say, ‘What if the pub- lic judginent condemn us? — Let ‘our repeaters go twive more all around, and we will come ont all right.’ But, Mr. Tilden, I believe in God, and I 4 profound conviction that the frauds of a triumph thus ac! ed will turn to ashes on the lips of its victors. [believe that you, sir, will yet perceive the: an honest deteat would have been more advan- tageous to you in the long run than either of your fraudulent victories.” If that docs not sound like prophecy in view of what hus befallen the autnor of those frauds in 1sés, then I do not know what the readings of prophecy mean. It was in pursuance of the discovery of those frauds by an authorized committee of tue House that we put in the statute books provisions to protect our national: elections against the crimes and outrages which would sap the foundution of all free government. What are the things that the gentlemen talk of ? Simply that we place at the poli in all of our ne- tional elections witnesses, who shall stand by, who shall not interfere, but who shall sec if fraud is ut- tempted in their presence and shall report it. ‘That iy whut these gentlemen call oppression. SECEET OF TI MOVEMENT, The secret ot all this wovement is found in an order issued from New York and published in tho democratic organ here, which says tliat it the election laws be not repealest th 11 be enough democratic members elect to the next Congress who will be im- prisoned for crime betore the next Congress mec: to give the majority to this side of the House, and that therefore these laws must be re- pealed or the republicans will organize the House. And on that call, on that party bugle call, the caucus has ordered these proceedings to-day. And this (ironically) is the party of peace and good order, which does not want trouble, unt wants conciliation and the lovely union of all elements mm the country. Now, Mr. Chairman, it this be the purpose which we are called upou here to vote upon, we on this side are compelied to meet it in the spirit of the constitution and our rights; and that we propose to do, and if it takes one night, two nights, ten nights, the seasons roll—(appiause on the’ republican side)—not while Congress lasts shall you strike from our statute books the muni- ments tor the protection of the elective franchise. When you co it you must do it because you have the whole power to do it—and not by our help, not by our consent. A hundred criminal pros- ecutions are to-day pending before courts ot the’ United States to punish crimes agaiust the elective franchise. Already enough men from the city of Cincinnati have been sentenced to the Penitentiary for fraud to take away the majority of one of the members on this floor from that city—({applause on the republican side)—and all the proceedings in the Cincinnati courts are to be abandoned at the cry ot a party order, which demands it for party success. SPRECH OF MR. BLACKBURN. Mr. Bracknurn, haying left the chair and come down on the floor, said :— Mr. Chairmun—If there be any one who, in the heat of discussion, has been betrayed into improper action or improper utterance I submit that [ will not permit myself to lose sight of the fact that, ae the Eero chairman of this Committee of the Whole uring the pendency ot the discussion of this measure, Lintst not engage iw a dispite as to its merits. Ido not conceive that it would be either proper or just for me to leave that chair to come own to the floor to engage in a wrangle or discus- sion with any gentleman as to the merits of the meusure over whose destinies I was wielding more than ordinary power. Ihuve not come down here for that purpose, nor do I propose to address myself to a single feature of this amendment. T have come to respond to what it seems to me could have been uttered with but one purpose, aud that is to force me from that place, to not only an indignity, but to hurl back an attempted insult: (Applause on the democratic aide). Before I proceed to say to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. perp what I want to say I intend toread the note furnish to me by the official stenographer of the House and, if that be what the gentleman stands upon, thon my answer will be as cmphatic and as plain as it will be short. The note is “Our House is to-day presided over by one who is under orders to decide that this comes under the rule.” If the gentleman trom Ohio is content with that asa correct statemdnt of his language, I, of course, have nothing left bit to ac- cept it. ‘ ‘ | ir. GARFIELD—That is not the whidle of tho ¢gen- tence. Mr. Biacksurn—I am perfectly willing to have the sentence completed, for I do not desire to do the gentleman injustice: Mr. Ganrizitp—I do not know what the whole sen- tence will be found to be in terms, but the point which I sought to make und which I still make is this+that te action of d body outside of this House seems to be binding on its members who belong to that body, and what I meant to say was that not only the House on that side, but its chatrman as well, wero under a sort of duress because of the acknowl- edged control of wat is that I said, and I say it as I belie In no manner did I intimate that the gentleman (Mr. Blackburn) had himself been ordered in any special way to decide tho question, but I referred to the fact that there was a kind of duress which covered all of the mem- bers on that side of the Hpure, including the presid- ing officer of the comiittec, who was also, as I un- derstand, himself chairman of the caucus, Mr. Buacko' —I ask the gentleman from Ohio to state to this committee whether he did say, or whether he intended to say, that the occupant of ir was under any order, or had received even ession of opinion or purpose trom the demo- cratic caucus as to how he was to rule on any ques- tion of order. Mr. Gaurixtp—I repeat only what I have just said {and which I stand by forever) that my meaning was, and is, that the wuole party, including the chairman, was under moral duress of caucus action, which made this not a deliberative body but a body to reg- ister the edicts of a caucn Mr. Buacksurn—I do n ee exactiy how Iam to ld of the utterances of the gentleman from Lhold what is furnished me by the official stenographer of the House. It is very evident {and 1 am glad to recognize the fact) that the gen- tleman from Ohio does not propose to stand on that. Now, when I submit to him the question as to whether he then intended or does how propose to be understood as telling this committee, that Tas its chairman, reevived instructions either directly or in- directly, or even any intimation from a democratic canens as to how I was to rule, or bow I was expected to rule, on any question of order that was ever to be presenied, Lam not able to reach a direct issue with the gentleman, Ido not understand now as he pnts t he even charges that. I wish to add word, and Lam sure that I am not vic any obligation that belongs to caucus action. never was the slightest intimation given to m: that caucus or any member of it, either in cau by 6 or since, that expected to rule this way or that way upon any question on which a point of order should be raised. I never the amendments offered to this bill by the gen! nfrom Alabama and Ohio (Messrs, Hor- bert and Southard) until they 1 did, of course, k eral purport was, I did not kno not know their framework. The explained to mo or read to. me, nor had they been seen by mo until the point of order was raised. This statement was due not so much to myself ax it was t> my party associates in the House and country; not so much duc either to thém or to me as it was to the geutleman from Ohio, who, decording to this report, had made a charye that could not be sus- tained and had taken a position whore he « stand, It was me n his account thar that of myself or my as right what [conceived to be wrong; and, as I never do anything grudgingly, T say now that itis not in auy grudging spirit, but’ very freely and very cheer- fully, that Lf accept the explanation and statement iven by the gentloman from Obto as to what was his purpose as completely exonerating both myself and my party associates in the House, IN caucus, As the gentleman from Ohio knows what was done in . perhaps he will tell us whether any member of the caucus was bound by its actio Mr. Bracknors—I will answer that question my: seit, arid will say that that question was passed upon, and that it was declared in caucns that no one was bound in any way by its action. The caucus was simply for the purpose of consultation, Mr, BLACKBURN'S remarks were frequently ap- Clerk's desk. planded. Mr. Have, of Maino, offered as a substitute for Mr. Southard’s amendment, an amendment prohibiting the use of tissue ballots; providing that ballots shail be five by threo inches, and making it penal « to attempt to cast any other ballot, or to ¢ regular ballots when cast, Rejected—yeas 112, nays 12. Mr. Arex, (dont.) of S. C., satd that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Keifer) had anticipated a war with the South, and had said that there was going to bea fight. It that gentleman wauted to yet up a fight he would have to got it up with somebody else, ‘The people of the South had had enough of fighting. ‘Those people shoul be let alone, The colored man was in the hands of his fr who were doing more for Lim than the republicans had ever dono, Ho referred to T said it with deliberation because I believed | support of | the tissue ballots as the creatures of republican mise | rule, which, like all curses, had come home to roost, | SUEECH OF Mit. RAINEY. | Mr. Ratvey. (rep.) of 3. C., said that such gentle- | men as his colleague (Mr. Aiken), whe might have ali given their advice and aid to tue colored race in the South haddeclined to do so, Was it any wonder, then, that the colored race had done some things which aid Jeet credit upon it? It had the consolation, of ving that it had not whie had not beep done by democratic y in other’ States. The colored race did not vote for the republican party wider duress, as had been stated by his col- Jeayte, but because it felt a sense of gratitude toward utality the col. arty through whose instru ored race had been made men and which had thrown upon them the habiliments of American citizeaship. He stated—and he defied contradiction—that South rolina was as republican to-day, on a fair, square, unintimidated vote, ax any State in the Union, (Ap> » on the republican side.) In conclusion, he “I want to see the time come when the colored » divided, but do not drive us; do not lo not intimidate us; do not tell us, be- cause We are negroes, that we have no rights that you, the favored race’ of the jand, are bound to re- r Without taking apy action on the amendment, the committee rose and, at ten minutes to five P, M., the House adjourned until to-morrow. THE FLORIDA COUNT. G¥NERAL BARTOW'S STATEMENT BEFORE THE POTTER COMMITTEE—WILLIAM E. CHANDLER'S IDEA OF A COUNSEL'S DUTY—AN ISSUE OF Fact. Wasurxatoy, Feb. 19, 1879. The Potter Investigating Committee met at half- past eleven o'clock this morning, and General Bar- low, of New York, was culled to the stand to finish his testimony. ‘ Mr. Hiscock put in evidence the final argument that was written by the witness for deliverance be- fore the Florida Returning Board, and it was then handed to witness, who read it througlr carefully and took memoranda of its contents. It consisted of thirty-nine pages of foolscap. Mr. Hiscock said he had no questions to ask with reference to it, and the Chairman proceeded to ex amine the witness in regard to his connection with Dr. Cowgill and about the memoranda he gave to Parris. The ‘40 for Hayes” mentioned there meant the number of votes on the face of the returns and included the 219 yotes of Alachua county; the mem- oranda said, “Do not throw out Manatee and Mon- roe,” but those two places were thrown out; with regard to the 219 names that were in dispute witness suggested that the registry list should be obtained, and if the names were there that would settle it. By Mr. Hiscock—I am unprepared to say that they did produce the registry list showing that over three hundred of them were properly registered, but some of them might have voted at other polls. Q. Then the principle you proposed was that every man’s vote should be questioned? A. Yes. Q. Do you swear that when Governor Stearns came to your door, at the time of your interview with Dr. Cowgill, that you did not for an_ instant dispute his eutrance into the’ room? A. I swear ositively I was very glad to see him; I don’t think aap bad purpose to interrupt me because the republicans were weary or thought T was acting improperly in having an interview with Dr. Cowgi at so late an hour; no one knocked at the room door and was refused admittance while I was talking to Dr, Cowgill; before I retired that night I communicated my views to Mr. Parris, and suggested that I should moet the democratic lawyers; my object in baring the meeting was simply to tell them what I had tok the other side, Q. You had told the other side? Stearns. Q. Did it not appear to you that you should call together such men of your own side as Wallace, Chandler or Noyes, and communicate to them that you ditiered with them and sce it you could not yeach a conscientious conclusion of the case before you sepirated from them, and secretly? A. It was not secretly at all; I knew Governor Stearns would inform them, and if they wished tw discuss it with me they might come to ine. Q. But you sought out the other side? A. I don’t recollects, oe ‘The Chairman—You eaid yesterday that you re- markedfut Tallahasse that the return of Tilden would be a national calamity? A. I did. (Q. Whit were yanr relations with Tilden? Mr. Hiscock objected tp going into this, and the question was withdrawn. The witness asked leave to explain his position in relation to the republican party, as it had been drawn out of him by adverse counsel in a fragmentary man- ner and might be misunderstood. Mr. Reed pointed out that the committee had al- ready gone into this matter very fully, and General. Barlow did himself sn injustice when de described his answers as fragmentary. He had not made a single reply with = Pan oe He objected to hte-making a general statement - BARLOW’! A. Yes, Governor GENERAL '$ STATEMENT: to Mr. Hiscock took the same objection, but after a short conversation witness was allowed to go on, He made a long statement, in which he pointed out how he had reiused to take the position of counsel to the republican party at ‘Tallahassee in order to keep himself in an independent position; that his conduct with regard to Dr. Cowgill was not incon- sistent with his position as republican counsel, and that he took the letter to Partis to be copied because that gentleman had a clerk and not be- cuuse be was one of the democratic coun- sel. He concluded an elaborate defence of the dishonorable conduct with which he has been charged, -by stating that he wont downto Tallabas- see for the purpose of giving an honest judgment in the matter tor the democrats. and the republicans, with the idea that that was his duty; and he. there- fore, had not the slightest hesitation in talking with democrats or anybody else who could throw any light on the matter and assist him in getting justice done, ‘After General Barlow had left the witness stand the chairman announced that he had received a commu- nication from Mr. Jack Wharton, stating his inability to attend to-day, but that he would present to- morrow. : WILLIAM B. CHANDLER RECALLED. William E. Chandler was then recalled, and in reply to Mr. Hiscock testified that he received the manuscript argument from General Barlow, on the 4th of December; a short time previously General Noyes and himself requested Mr. Barlow to furnish them with a general summing up of the case; he did s0 and the argument was submitted. Q. Was anything said about his signature to the argument ? A. ‘There was; he desired that it should not be read to the Returning Board in his own name or as his argument, and when the argument came to me it had written on it, “Don’t sign;” the paper was road as the closing argument of the republican sido, and no signature affixed. Q. Did you send Governor Stearns to Barlow's room and under what circumstances? A. I thought thut under the circumstances such an interview might mean treachery and violation of what he owed to the cause as republican counsel, and I thought Governor Stearns had a right to be present at the in- terview if hecould; he was reinctant to go, but I in- sisted. Mr. Hiscock—Now, Mr. Chandler, if you have any- thing that you wish to add to your testimony please improve the occasion. CHANDLER VS. DARLOW. Mr. Chandler—I desire to state that General Barlow was in Florida from the beginning to the end as counsel for the republican cause and the republican candidate. He distinctly entered into that relauon and remained in it down to the 6th of December, when we lett for home, and was under the obligue tions and responsibilities of counsel. As to his state. ment that he was not, I desire in my own behalf and in behalf of all the other gentlemen who were there, to inter a distinct and unqualified contradiction, I myself told General Barlow that he would be the acing counsel on our side. I told him he had been | assigned to that post of honor (if there were honor in the business) and he assented without objection, Within a few days he said to me that he was there by request of the President in another capacity, to seo if there wasa fair count and that nothing wrong was done on either side, I pointed out that the two relations were inconsistent and might become in- compatible, as 1 wished him to occupy the relations of counsel and have the obligations of counsel. He insisted upon it that there was no incompatibility between the two, and from that time I had no doubt that he was under all the obligations of counsel. He sects to have tried his best as republican counsel to secure the yote of the State for Tilden, but fortu. nately he did not sneceed. Mr, Stenger—Was he ever paid anything for acting as counsel? A, [ presume not; none of us were; the satisfaction of getting Hayes returned was suf. ficiont. By Mr. Hiscock—In that secret interview with Dr, Cowgill, Mr. Barlow advised him to throw out the disputed votes from Alachua county, while in an arjyument of his which was read betore the he had contended that they ought to be kept in? ‘The Chairman showed Mr. Chandler a half dozen of the cipher despatches that have been photo-litho- graphed, The iatter replied that he did not know their meaning. Some of them seemed to be in a local cipher. GENERAL BARLOW IN REPLY. General Barlow was heard in reply, atter which Mr, Hiscock asked:—Q. In your position then, not as counsel, but as visiting statesman, non-partisan, did nceive it to be your duty to address an argue to a member of that Board and attempt to in- fiuence ot bias in that way his decision? A. Yos; what I tried was to lay down the correet principles of decision. * Q. Then you regarded it as your duty there not to seo that no fraud or wrong Was done, but to influ. ence the honest judgment of that Board on questions that they might decide honestly either way? t consider I was at liberty to influence them that way but L understood the question of fraud was involved in Alachua county. On the motion of Mr. Hiscock, Mr. A. N. Gibson, correspondent of the Now York Sun, was’ recalled and aske: he knew that any despateh from any party in New Orleans to him or from him to any party in New Orl i been withdrawn from the telegraph office, He replied that he did not, aud wae not aware that Mr. Maddox had withdrawn any. Mr. Hiscock then asked that Mr, Whitney, manager of the Western Union office ot Washington, be sub- pt a, Pethe committee then adjourned until to-morrow morning,