New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-05
xxxvrn,h CONGRHss....F FRS. Session.
SENATE. .WAsnISGToS. May 4, 1904.
80 -. ,,-,-.,poAc CONTR ACToKS

CLANS or GUYBoAr CONTRACTORS.
Nr. HALEIUn.. n. H. from the Committee
on Naval Aas,rs reported bli ,F1vlo's ,oT u o,
of competent persons 70 CxamJe tie claims O. con
tr.c,ors for sdewleel funhosts, known as "oOulie-
enders" II is claimed that the contracts weIe o
nnder msapprehepsh that ,e enshcs WI. ese
CONNECTING LAKE MICHIGAN WITH RID klNLh
NJ HARLAN ON, Iowa. submitted resolution ' .sa
the Secretary of tie Interior be directed 10 Ia
Serete what disposition had been made OF tne l~ 70
Granted TO the State Of Wisconsin for the f.!PV5
Sreninc canal TO connect the waters OF Lake ni'0s
with the waters Of the Red i.iyer ,
REPAIRING LOSSES BY LOYAL ClIlIENS'
Mr. LANE UTn Kansas introduced a Iesoluilon M
structing the Committee on Military AnaHs 70 lnqniIe
into the expedency Of reporting W ~ ins W pp
erty taken from loyal citizens during ne al eA'iuus
Mr. WGsoS cUn, Mass) objected, and the subject
Was laid over. o,,-,,
,,o -oso,ntions Of Mr. SHERMAN Un., Ohio came up
ms the spccia ORDER that quorum OF the senate con-
sist of majority of the Senators duly chGseh lna' y
n marity cf the Presidential electors, duly appointed
cd 1noed vote for one person, he Is the Presidents
that n the election of President devove upon ihe
House of Representatives and the votes of majority
Of the States represented IN the House DC cast ol VO
person he is the President.
Mr. DAVIS Cond. Un., Ky.) said that he dld NOT De-
Heve that less number than majority OF Inc whoie
number of the Senators representing the states constr
flutes quorum under the provision OF the CONSTITUTION
1t was not in lis opinion competent Tor Congress 70
pass any of legislation without such quorum
Journals Of Congress- from the time of the formation OF
the Government up to tie present time showing that
an actual majority of the whole body constituted quo
rnm and that the first Congress adjourned from day to
dew until such quorum formed. and that Their &C.
ton had been uniform since The trainers OF tIs
Constitution never contemplated that there snoI9
be q sliding scale on the subject but PROVIDED hAcu
number that should constitute quorum r..
Mr. JoHNsoy (Cond. In. Md said there We're iouI
clauses in the Constitution bearing upon TINS question:
which reroved any doubt that II meant 10 apply t.
persons duly chosen and qualified. If the proposed
resolution was not adopted, factlous minority al at
time when an important measure was pehGlhs, lAis h
defeat II nv aisentng themselves from the Senate As
an instance he said South Carolina had no senator
here too day and there was no power adequate 20 COM
pel her 10 elect OF choose Representative or senator
TUr pIsAGREENENT on NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS
On motion Of Air. FEssENDEN (Un., Me- rom the
Committee of Conference on the Naval Appropriation
bill the Senate adhered TO lis amendments anu agreed
70 final Conference.
THE QUORUM QUESTION.
Mr.. CARIuE (Cond Un. Va said that ell the Trecc.
dents against the views taken BY the senator nom
MARYLAND since the formation Of the Government
Mr. JOHNSON (COnd. I'm, Md said II was plain that
under the Constitution we had the right 20 adopt such
rnes for the Government Of our body the eXi.
Cencies Of the times demanded. In support OF thls
proposition Mr. johnson insanced the decisions oil tue
British Parliament.
Thirteen members getting themselves together would
constitute q quorum
MT JOHNSON said il was easy to ask questions and
the question was extreme one, and not appropriate
10 the present issue
The resolution was then adopted as follows:
YEIs-Mesrrs CONFESS, Covan, Dixon. Fessenten Halo
Harding Howe Chandler Clark Colsmer, Johnson, Lane
(Iudl lane (Kans.s Morgan, morrill, Ncsmith Poncroy
Rama Sherman Sprasue simmer Trumbui Van Wrinkle,
Wade Wiley and Nilson-26. 49,
Nlys-Messrs Anthony Buckaew, Garlic, Davis, Dooit-
Ge Foster Grimes, Henderson, Powell Riddle and Haf'
BUREAU OF MILITARY JUSTICE.
Mr. WILSON called up the report OF the Committee OF
Conference on the House bill establishing Bureau Of
Military Justice. and moved that the Senate Tecede
from its amendments.
The motion rejected.
Mr.. CoLLAMER (Un., Nt) moved that the senate ad
here to it's amendments c
Mr. WILSON said that the features Of the House bll
did an act of Justice TO Of the most deserving OH
cers Of the Government, Holt, which
the Senate struck out.
Mr. HALL commended that the position Of the Judge
Advocate General purely civil office, and should
not be adorned with chapeeu
On motion OF Mr.. WILSON the bill was laid on the
table.
ABsENTEEs TO BE REPORTED.
Mr. FRssENDEs called up his resolution that the off
cal reporter in making out bis list report the names
Absentees.
Mr. FEssESDES said the fact that the Senate ha'
found itself so often without quorum had become no
forious and shameful and the resolution proposed thu
the names of absenees should be sent through the Of
ca paper of Congress TO their constituencies so that
sense Of shame might compel their attendance.
The resolution was adopted
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate then, on motion of Mr.. DOOIITTLE went
into Executive Session Adjourned