The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-02-24
aY TELEcRAPH.
MIDNIGHT REPORT.
xxx cONGREss---FIRsT ssEsION

r
MIDNIGHT REPORT.
xxx c0HGREss---FIRsT SESSION.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l9.
hamsay OF Mimi, presented the petition
of DR.. Evans of Colorado, recommending
strict quarantine as preventive Of the chol
era in this country, which was referred to the
committee on commerce.
Feseenden Of Maine, presented . petition
tor the reduction Of the tax on agricultural
implements, which was referaed to the com.
mittee on finance.
| Cowan presented petition asking that an
amendment to the Constitution be adopted to
prevent any State from making any distinc.
ton On the right of naturalized citizens, which
was referred to the judiciary committee.
Wilson introduced bill to continue in
force the present freedmen's bureau for two
years longer, which was referred to the mill
tary committee
Pomroy of Kansas, introduced bill to
reimburse the State Of Kansas for expenses
incurred in equipping and calling out the
militia to repulse the invasion of that State
and Missouri, which was referred to the COM
mlttee on military affairs.
|
against Voorhees,, of the 7th Indiana District,
Marshall of Illinois, sustained the minority
report at length.
Dixon from the committee on post offices
and post roads reported q resolution calling
upon the Postmaster General to lay before
the Senate all the information in his posses
sion in regard to the feasibility and useful.
ness Of establishing telegraphic lines in con-
nection with the mail routes for the trans
mission Of government and public business.
Brown spoke at some length on this subject,
favoring the establishment Of government
telegraph lines on the ground that it would
establish a uniform rate of telegraphing, as
now exists in the post oflce, and that it would
break up the present monopoly which now
lcontrolsthe dissemination Of news through
the public press, and that it would
enable a better report of Congressional pro-
lceedings tfian now goes abroad. to be sent
from Washington. The resolution was adopt
ed
Pending the consideration Of the bill. the
morning hour expired and the amendment TO
the Constitution on the subject Of representa-.
ltion, was taken up.
Mr. Ward. of New York, presented the
Joint resolutions ot the Legislature Of the
State Of New York, urging Legislation calcu-
lated to improve and facilitate the navigation
Of the great lakes, and recommending a grant
of public lands TO aid in the construction oil
the Portage Lake aud Lake Superior Ship
Canal Referred TO Committee OH Com
merce.
Mr. Cobb, OF Wisconsin. on leave. intro
dueed Joint resolution from tie Legislature
lof Wisconsin, relative to the 10, provernent ot
the navigation of the rapids Of the Missi ssippi
river. Referred to the same committee
Mr.. Wa=hburne was then allowed to ad-
dress the House in favor of his claim to o
seat During has remarks he sent to the desk
a newspaper, from which the Clerk read q
letter signed by j. w. Wall. and addressed to
Daniel ". Voorhees,, relating TO the trade Of
firearms in 1863.
Mr.. VOORHEES, interrupted the contestant
saying, whoever stated that he WAS en-
gagged in purchasing firearms either for ioyal
or aisloyal purposes or that he belonged to
any sectional political organization stated
what he knew to be false and what the gen.
tlemau who made the charges knew to be IN
true. He had answered that calumny to the
people of Indiana
Mr.. Davis rose TO q point of order, which
the Speaker sustained that neither the con
ites,ant nor the sitting member we're speaking
on the merits Of the case.
Mr.. Voorhees, then addressed the House
for an hour in support OF his claims
Mr.. Noosbees sent to the Clerks desk ar
extract from the Washington correspondent o
the Cincinnati Commercial, purporting te
give the action OF the Committee ON Elec
tons. which SAYS that that committee decid
ed, with but one dissenting voice, that Mr.
Voorhees, was entitled 10. .hs seat.
Mr.. Ingersoi. OF H., moved TO suspend tbs
rules SO far as to allow the committee to pro-
duce their record; If the committee had re
versed their decision on the case withou, hav-
ing heard additional arguments rs to the sit
ting member charged he should like to know
it.
The Speaker said it required the unanimous
consent to suspend rules.
Mr.. Banks, of Massachusetts, objected. He
said.on parliamentary grounds, and not on tht
merits of the question, no member could ge
up here and say what transpired in the com
mttee on a decision not reported by it, and
not before the House.
Mr.. Voorhees, then proceeded with his ar
gument, and conteuded that the fraud had
been proven in the vote given him, and tha
the testimony taken by the contestant wa.
sworn to before person incompetent to ad
minister oaths outside of the city of Terrs
Haute, Indiana. In conclusion, he said tha
he was to be deprived of the seat here becaus,
the majority had the power to do it. Tn,
committee should cover their first actor
giving him his seat, or give the reason foi
their second action in depriving him of it,
Mr. Dawes then closed he debate on be
hall of the majority report. During hi
speech the House suspended the rules ana
sent for the record OF the committee on the
case He statsd that the committee did not
find in the case different from what they had
done in many other cases before them. The
record was here produced from which it ap
pears that there is no record of vote in fas OF
of the sitting member on February 1st, wher
such vote is stated to have been taken.
Mr. Shellabarger, member of the com
mittee. said that a vote was taken, which de
cIared.hat the sitting member, Mr.. Voorhees,
was entitled to his seat, but it was under
stood that II was not O final vote.
Mr.. Voorhees, said the clerk of the commit
tee had neglected 10 record that action Of th.
committee.
Mr.. Dawes resumed his argument and con
tended that the fraudulent votes in Mr.. Voor
hees' behalf were clearly proven, and de
prived him of the legal majority. The Hous
then voted by 28 yeas against SO nays tha
Mr.. Voorhees, was not entitled 10 his seat, ant
by 81 yeas against SO nays that Mr.. Washburl
was entitled to it. Several members vote,
that neither was entitled to it.
Mr.. Stevens introduced bill to secnre th
speedy construction of the Southern branch Q
the Pacific Railroad and Telegraph. 1t wa
referred to the Select Committee on that sub
ject
Mr.. Stevens also introduced bill to defn
more particularly the tenure Of civil officers
which was referred to the Judiciary Commit