Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-01-11
XXxIXth Congress Second Session
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.

I u
and goes to the House. 1t directs the Sec
retary of the Treasury to refund to the
company named 1912 l2S for excessive duty
collected on railroad iron.
Mr.. POLAND called up House bill to fix
the time for the meeting of Congress.
Mr.. WILLIAMS asked If Senators or
Representatives would be entitled to more
than one mileage to the 10th Congress? He
thought the provision should be inserted.
Mr.. POLAND said that new members
obliged to come here from home would be
allowed mileage.
Mr.. WILLIAMS said that would add to
the expense of the doth Congress, and the
idea was that nothing would be done more
than to effect an organization on the 4th
of March.
MIR. POLAND said that he was not aware
the special session of Congress on the 4th
OF March was to be of such short duration
as Mr.. Williams supposed.
Mr.. HENDRICKS thought there was no
necessity for such legislation. 1t was not
thought necessary to keep Congress in con-
tinued session during the war and he did
not see the need OF it now, lift was a party
measure. He believed the country had got
along very well without a continual ses-
sion heretofore; he should like to know the
necessity for an additional session hereaf-
ter. II it was simply designed to hold the
President in check, the country ought to
know t.; if for strictly party purposes the
country ought to know it.
Mr.. EDMUNDS said so far as he knew
the reason which procured the passage of
the bill In the House was to provide an ad-
ditional officer for succession TO the Presi-
dcncy in the event of the death of the Pres
ident. The bill would give us permanent
Speaker of the House, which we would not
have without it. How much political sig
nificance there might be in the bill he did
not know.
Mr.. HENDRICKS inquired if the Presi-
dent pro tenn. of the Senate would not hold
over in that position, if a member of the
next Congress--that is, ifhe would not hold
the office during the vacancy.
Mr.. POLAND thought he would.
Mr.. HENDRICKS said If that were the
case the contingency of the Presidents
death was already provided for.
Mr.. FOSTER replied thata Senator elect
ed President pro tenn. before the adjourn
ment, held that Office during recess, and
until his successor was elected.
Mr.. HENDRICKS offered an amendment
to the second section of the bill, to add the
following words: 'UnlcSs there be recess
in such session for Eore than thirty days,
In which case members of the former Con-
gress shall receive mileage"
The amendment was disagreed to, and the
bill read third time and passed--yeas 26,
nays7.
NAYs-Buckalow Hendricks, johnson,
Marion, Patterson, Riddle and Salisbury.
The bill as amended provides that in ad-
dition to the regular times of meeting of
Congress, there shall be meeting of the
10th Congress- and each succeeding Con-
gress at IL o'clock NJ. on the 4th day of
March, the day on which the time begins
for which Congress is elected. except when
the 4th of March occurs on Sunday then
the meeting shall take place the succeeding
day. Also that no person who was
member OF the previous Congress shall re-
ceive compensation for going to or coming
from the additional session provided for by
this act.
Mr.. CHANDLER presented resolutions
from Buffalo, Toledo and Detroit Boards of
Trade, recommending plans proposed for a
a canal through st. Clair flats, instead of
farther expenditure of money in dredging.
Referred to committee on Commerce.
Mr.. WADE called up the bill to amend
the organic act of territories of the United
States by prohibiting the denial of civil
rights on account of color. He (Wade)
offered the following substitute:
That from and after the passage of this
act there shall be no denial of the elective
| franchise in any of the territories of the
United States which are now or may be
hereafter organized, to any citizen thereof
on account OF race, color or previous con-
dition of servitude, and all acts or parts of
acts either of Congress or Legislative as
semblies of said territories, Inconsistent
with the provisions of this act, are hereby
declared null and void.
Adopted as a substitute and passed by
the following vote:
Yeas-Messrs. Anthony, Conness, Cragin,
Cresswell Edmunds, Fessender,, Fogg, Fos-
ter, Fowler, Grimes, Henderson, Howard,
Howe, KirkwOod, Lane, Morgan, Morrill,,
Poland, Sherman, Stewart, Sumner, Wade,
Wiley and Williams-4
NAYs-Messrs. Buckalew, Dixon, Hem
dricks, johnson. Norton, Patterson, Riddle,
Salisbury and Van Wrinkle.
The bill now goes back to the House for
concurrence in the amendment.
Mr.. EDMUNDS called up the bill to
regulate tenure of office, which provides
that officers shall hold office until their sue
cessOrs are appointed; also, that when vacant
the President may appoint a person to fill
such place, commission to end at the next
session; but no appointment shall be made
without advice and consent of the Senate,
after the time of the expiration of such
temporary commission.
Mr.. EDMUNDS thought the President
ought to have left to him discretion, given
in exceptions named in the bill.
Mr.. HOWE said the second section pro-
vided sufficient safeguards against corrupt
Cabinet officers.
Mr.. FESSENDEN thought the President
ought to have the right to removed Cabinet
officer during the recess of Congress. To
say he should not was treating the EXecu-
tive with disrespect.
Mr. HOWARD said the President had re-
appointed men rejected by the Senate.
Mr.. JOHNSON said the practice was in
conflict with the spirit of the Constitution.
1t enabled the President to take all power
away from the Senate. AS to the Presi-
dents power of removal, it had not been
seriously questioned. Madison thought
the power might be abused.
The question was taken.
Mr.. SHERMAN offered an amend m
that no money should be paid from the
Treasury to any person having been nomi-
mated for Office and rejected by the Senate,
and subsequently appointed to such office,
for any fees, salary or perquisite after the
close of the session of the Senate during
which his nomination was rejected. The
penalty for disobeying this order being a
fine of $4,000 and imprisonment for not
more than five years.
Mr.. EDMUNDS approved, but would
prefer that an independent bill be intro
duced. iii ".ff
Mr.. SHERMAN remarked that the Pres
ident was acting upon the opinion of the
Attorney General, that a man rejected by
the Senate could be appointed Immediate
lv Tho hill iS IN OrpVant rpnntitinn nf