The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-02-12
XLth OONGREss---Third Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.-After some unim-
portant business, Mr.. Davis offered the follow
ing joint resolution: gTgtVf
ResoLued, That the noisy and disorderly con-
duct of Benz. F. Butler, Representative from
the State Of Massachusetts, and other mem
bers of the House of Representatives in the
Representatives Hall, on the 10th of Febru-
airy, during the time when the President of
the Senate, in the presence of the Senate and
House of Representatives, was opening the
certlbcates OF votes of electors for President
and Vice President of the United States from
the several states, and while said votes were
being counted, whereby said business was dis
turbed and Distracted, was disreputable to
said Benz. f. Butler and other Representa-
tives acting with him and a wrong and insult
to the people Of the United States.
Mr.. Ferry-Let it go over Lfegt .ls.E5
The resolution accordingly went over under
the rules. -1~---
Mr.. Morton, from the Committee ON Military
Affairs, reported favorably upon the resolution
10 reIunq 10 the States the interest and dis
count and money borrowed by them to euuip
pay transport and supply tIoops for the SER
vice of the United States in the recent war.
Mr.. Cragin called up the bill for the relief of
Henry Q: Noyes, of Claremont N. H., direct
ing the Secretary of the Treasury to issue to
him new $1,000 bond in place of the one de-
stroyed. Passed.
At the expiration of the morning hour Mr..
sherman moved to proceed to the copsidera-
ton of the currency bill.
Mr.. Chandler moved recess from 40 to 2
this evening, the session to be devoted to the
consideration of the river and harbor bill and
other matters reported from the Committee on
Commerce
Mr.. Sherman's motion was carried
The motion for recess was then carried
and the Senate resumed the consideration of
the currency bill, upon which Mr.. Conkling
addressed the Senate.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, in a speech, an
IVlfAr ion Il
ment to the section providing for the funding
of United States notes. SO that any bebts bear
ing higher rate of interest than five per cent.
may also be funded.
Mr.. Corbett advocated the amendment Of
fered by him to the pending BILL
Mr.. Sumner moved to take ND the bill for
the further security of equal rights in the Dis
trict of Columbia, which was passed. The bill
strikes out the word white from the laws of
the District of Columbia, the charters of
Washington and Georgetown. The bill has
already been passed twice, but in each case
within less than ten days of the end of the
session, and failed to become law because it
was returned by the President
The bill for the relief of Mrs. @. P. Hart,
paying her $4,000 as compensation for the use
by the Government of gun elevating screw
invented by her late husband, B. Hart was
passed.
The bill to authorize the importation of ma
chinery for repairs upon giving bond in double
the appraised value thereof, to be withdrawn
when the machinery has been repaired, was
passed.
EVENING SESSION.
The bill to authorize the New York, New
foundland q London Telegraph Company to
land submarine cable on the shores of the
United States was considered.
MI Trumbull offered an amendment pro-
viding that the privilege of landing subma-
rine cable shall be given to foreignpowers
only when they give to the United States the
Tlrixy n Iar 6ir1r rha., ~,
which was accepted by Mr.. Chandler.
The bill was then informally passed over and
the river and harbor bill taken up.
The appropriation for Wisconsin river was
struck out by a vote of 81 to 15
Several amendments striking ont or reduc-
ing appropriations for Western rivers or har-
bors were agreed to. Among them one repuc-
ing the appropriation for Chicago harbor from
$4,000 to $4,000. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The first business was the resolution of Mr.
Butler, OF Massachusetts, protesting that the
counting OF the vote of Georgia by order Of
the Vice President was an act of gross oppres.
sion and invasion of the privileges of the
House. autry
The Speaker requested Mr. Dawes to take
the chair. ias
Mr.. Dawes took the chair and appointed
Messrs. Vision, of Iowa, and Pruyn, of New
York, a committee to notify the President and
Vice President elect of their election.
Mr.. Shellabarger addressed the House at
length against Mr.. Buffers resolution. aA
Debate ensued which was participated in bv
Messrs Shellabarger, Bingham, Schenck
Thomas and others. $50
In reply to Gen. Butler Mr.. Speaker colfax
observed, the Speaker is to sit by the presiding
officer in joint convention, but he is no less the
Speaker OF the House of Representatives at
the time; be is charged with the maintenance
order; when the House is in session this rule
is mancitory: Ii there was no House of Rep
fnf 1YrnC hnRa -. -
exceeded lis authority; if there was a House
OF Representatives here yesterday, then be
performed his duty in endeavoriDg to command
the order that had been disregarded by the re-
fusal to obey the order of him who was presid-
ing over the joint convention.
After long discussion Mr.. Garfield moved
the previous question.
Mr., Butler-That is the meanest act ever
saw any white man do. Cries of order, order.
Mr.. Garfeld-The motion that made was
not my own idea, and, as so many friends
around me desire to have more discussion,
WITHDRAW the motion to lay on the table.
Mr.. Butler again obtained the floor and
made lengthy speech, paying his respects to
tne opponents In his own peculiar sty lie, after
resolutions which have modified and sent to
the chair, and ask that they may be read.
Tbe resolutions were reads as follows: Ss
ResotUed, That the House protests against
the manner of procedure and the order Of the
1resluene OF tne oenate pro ten., in the pres
ence of the two Houses, in counting the vote
OF Georgia, in obedience to the order of the
Senate only, and against his acts dssolving
the convention Of the two Houses at his own
will, as an invasion of the rights and privileges
of this House.
Resotued, That the above resolution be, and
hereby is referred to a select committee of five
with leave to report at any time, and to report
by bill or otherwise
At the conclusion of Mr. Butler's remarks
the House took recess.
The House met again a. 7.30 and proceeded
to dispose of private bills reported from the
Committee on Invalid Pensions, after which
the House adjourned.
The debate on the question of privilege is t.
be continued tomorrow.
VURGUNWA