Evening star., 1870-02-08
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings
TUESDAY. Fehruarv g

oENAi L. nc vice PRESIDENT presented
resolutions OF the Legislature of Iowa ratifying
the fifteenth amendment. Laid on the table.
Mr.. Sumner presented resolutions OF the Mas
sachusetts Legislature in favor of paying the
French spoliation claims. Laid on the table.
Mr.. Sumner, from Committee on Foreign Re-
lations, reported bill TO provide for appoint
ment of Solicitor of the Department OF STATE.
and to provide additional clerks FOR that De-
partment.
Also, from Committee on District of C,lum
bls bill TO repeal the charter OF the Medical So
ciety of the District of Columbia.
MIR. Sherman, from Committee on Finance,
reported resolution requesting the President q
communicate correspondence with foreign gov
ernments relative TO common standard OF inter
national coinage.
The Committee on Public Buildings AMI
Grounds reported resolution 10 provide four
additional seats i'm the Senate chamber. Passed.
Mr.. Drake called up his resolution altering
the rules so as to provide that Indian treaties
shall be considered in open session, which was
amended, on motion of Mr. Edmun.ls to except
cases where the President desires 10 eemmuni-
cate eonfidentially any Indian treaties, and then
passed.
Mr.. Wilson called up the West Point appro-
priation bill. which was passed.
Mr. Abbott offered resolution calling on the
President for information relative 10 the dspo-
siuon OF the cotton cases in the Court of Claims,
the costs OF defending suits, &c. Adopted.
Mr.. Robertson called up the bIll to remove the
political disabilities of persons therein named.
Amendments were offered adding number
Mr.. Edmunds referred to the name of v. A.
Witcher, of Virginia, who was the party, he had
been ini rmed. against whom ten indictments
Tor murder were pending. Mr.. witcher had
Just sent foB him and Informed him that, though
not guilty.
MIR. Robertson stated his willingness to have
the name Of Mr.. Wltcher left out.
Mr.. BOreman said Mr.. witcher had behaved
very badly, but was now Republican, or pro-
fessed to act with that party.
n. -. n
how badly man had behaved, SO he now acted
with the Radical party he was all right, and his
political disabilities were removed at once. He
Mr.. So suggested that the name of Jefferson
Davis, our late associate. be added to the list
as Mr. Davis has shown signs Of sincere repent
ance.
The name of Mr.. witcner was then struck
ont, as was also the name of Drury Wood of
Virginia, who stated that he preferred TO wait
Tor general amnesty.
Mr.. Stewart moved an amendment providing
that the disabilities of all parties except former
members of Congress, Judges of u. =. Courts,
and officers OF the Army and Navy, nav be re-
moved, on their Ming application in any of the
Sncuit or District Courts Of the United States.
ms provision to take effect after the ratiiica-
ZION OF the 18th amendment has been duly pro-
Claimed.
After some little discussion, Mr.. Stewart
withdrew his amendment at the request of sew
eral Senators, who said ii would jeopardize the
bill in the House.
HOCSE.-Mr. Paine (Wis.) said that in ac-
cordance with the dinections of the Committee
on Elections he would give notice that the fol-
lowing resolution would be called up for action
at some future time:
,fsSoIred, That the following be adopted as rule
A special Committee of Elections SHAH be chosen
sfeaSef day r s ss esa.s. Sasws s Tas
Soinmittee, and shall give the House least i've
Of the day 60 designated the standing Committee ~
Elections shall meet publicly in the hall OF the
Haa RsF- laTar raNsaz III.
tss,a lne;s ~ IN !e presensatises holding uncon.
sea.s IN me Rouse excepting such as shall not
session Of Consress and eNenpfiDS aae rns current
have been already designated as members If twa
special Committees of Elections during the current
term OF Congress The Committee shall then inclose
Ia Ia DSn f a., the siies on such Inst, and after the
csuse tyentXcne H. ba raxn y , shail
number ON each and the nam anu .ne
10 to tie read alcnd. ana. unless oSiectaf ~ re
h iIher party may object to any OF the names $,
drawn, and the same Shall be rejected, and other
ct a. ~ >, Ee drawn 10 iiea thereof sub
drawn witbon, oiisc,in a. 81 . u..h .ne names
or added TO the number of names rems;niog :, IN
box, to precisely twenty-one The twenty one one
names 60 obtained having been recorded the parties
shaIl, IN the Alphabetical order OF their names,
strike each one % name from the list successiyeIy,
representa,iyes whose names shaii renain AMI tine one
stiute the special ommittee Of Eieetons for sncb
contested case and in the trial thereof shall be sub
ect to the laws rules and orders hitherto regulating
Gnp%,t m ~ rfeti anu oi the Standing
annlicable thereto - - - ~ ~.' "
The final decision of majority of the whole sna;a,
Committee chosen shall be reported 20 the House
and shall stand the order OF the House. unless the
HOUSE nus: shsll 9iheswise determine.
sah his @ RUE sha Ii hot Apply TO any case IN which
bV the stanng C;t, iuem S E, 10 me House
adoption Of the same: nor sh ali II he the rI s % ,e
House Of Representatives Of any future C,oaral sn
unless expressly adopted by such House
Mr. Allison (lowa) thought the resolution
shouid oc referred to the Committee on Rules.
=, MI. falne SAID he had not offered the resolu-
tlon for acton at this time, but gave notice
that II would be called up some time in the fu-
ture.
ML. hiaynarI ienn.) suggested that the game
Vi .4.;,nee might go Iurther, and he would sug-
esst tnat me Oierh use dlce box or something
iSr, " aSoe. G lin mo Vas ehtitled 10 seat
=, u - lee Vi ,le house IN ,eiatiop 70 mendng
,i e % wss @ mere read ana it was decided that
e NJ es IT,: oo,lu not oe ahehueu In this form, rs
~ rasni,,.;n, naa l,os even the proper notice.
~ iesoiuuon was accordingly Withdrawn tenn
p".arhy.
MI, Lshn y. ID called up ms resolution Of
piaJ 20 sop tne Puocation IN the
80 "a Roes All t.iS % aooi.lon ,, oi ,he lrank-
ing priylieee. MT. Latin said this did not inter
In viii exe itsn. VI Peuhon IN the least, but
an nc Manted 10 stop was useless expense Of
PIgnoaoI.
MI; otafkWea.her (Conn) wanted TO know
i,u VII .he, "ouiu not Cost more 10 talk long
Whlie ABOUT aoolishlng the publication than il
"ogId 10 publish them;