Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-24
Forty.First Congress Second Session,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb, 20, 1871.
SENATE

WASHINGTON, ID. C., Feb, 20, 1871.
SENATE.
Mr.. Chandler presented the concurrent resO-
buttons of the Michigan Legislature, for such
action as will extend the operation OF the extra
dition treaty now existing between the British
government and the United States government
so it may include much greater variety OF
criminal offences against the laws of both gov
ernments than now provided for in Ashburton's
treaty, They were presented, ordered to be
printed, aud referred to the committee on foreign
relations.
Mr. Howard said, years ago he had called the
special attention of the secretary of state to the
subject referred to in the resolutions, and he
had promised to endeavor to secure an altera-
ton of the treaty to meet the requirements OF
the people of the northwestern frontier Wheth-
er he did so, Mr.. Howard could not say.
Bills for the relief Of dstillers of brandy, from
grapes, and TO impose an additional revenue
tax upon lotteries, were eported from the
tinance committee, and indefinitely postponed.
The remainder Of the morning hour was occu-
pied in a discussion on the Philadelphia centen-
| NAL celebration bill
Mr.. Conkling argued that New York was
more appropriate place for a celebration, thus
defeating the repeated efforts of the Pennsylva-
MIA senators to secure vote on the bill.
The Indian appropriation bill was then taken
up, and the amendments from the committee on
Indian affairs were disposed of, with much ac-
companying discussion upon the merits and de-
fects of the present Indian policy.
The vote upon an amendment at 6 80 demon
strated that Il quorum was not present.
Mr.. Cole, chairman of the committee in charge
of the bills, moved that the sergeant-at-arms be
directed to compel the attendance of absentecs.
Mr.. Thurman, referring to the fact that forty
senators were absent, said this would not have
occurred had the bill before the senate been a
party measure. He moved to adjourn.
Mr.. Nye raised the question that it was not
font for fhn tn %l, 90
tendance of senators, except upon the first day
of the session.
The vice president ruled that the senate could
only invite the attendance OF absent members,
saying that, while the rules might be amended
so that minority should have power to compel
the attendance of absent members, no such rules
had yet been made, and the custom had always
been merely to invite the attendance of senators
Mr.. Hamlin conCurred, as to the custom, but
maintained the right of the minority to compel
attendance.
Messrs. Edmunds and Conklng took similar
ground, and Mr. Sherman the opposite.
Mr.. Thurman sal upon the first day of the
meeting Of the first congress no quorum was
present, and there was no attempt at compul.
sion to secure attendance, but the absentees
were implored to come in, and it was DAYS and
days before a quorum could be secured.
Mr. Thurman expressed the opinion that, il
the sergeant-at-arms should undertake to arrest
ton at law.
Mr. Coles motion was then stated in the form
of a direction to the ser2eant-at-arms to invite
the attendance of absent members.
MI. Scott moved to substitute to "enforce'' fol-
"invite"
The vice president, in accordance with his
decision, declined to receive the motion.
Less than a quorum being incompetent to dc
business, no appeal could be taken from the
decision Of the chair, and, after further discus
sion, Mr.. Coles motion prevailed-23 to 10
and the sergeantat arms was furnished with d
list of absent senators, and directed by the vice
president to notify them that their presence was
desired.
At 80 O'Clock, vote upon motion to adj
journ showed a quorum present
The remaining amendments TO the bill were
then disposed of, and the bill passed-2S to 2.
Mr.. COnklng then moved to take up the
house bill to guard the purity Of elections,
amendatory Of the enforcement act of last ses-
sion, in order to make it the first business in
order for tomorrow.
Mr.. Bayard moved to adjourn. Lost.
Messrs. Casserly, Bayard and Thurman, on
the part of the minority, Strenuously opposed
taking up the bill, and gave notice of their dc,
termination to oppose its progress, step by step.
They severally appealed TO the majority not to
endanger the necessary appropriation bills, in
order to expedite what they alleged to be a
pu ely partizan measure.
1ub S6uule NOteu upon MT. COuhllQg ulOtlOn
when Messrs. Bayard, Casserly, Thurman, and
Johnston, the only democratic senators present,
did not answer, for the purpose Of defeating the
motion by preventing quorum.
MIR. COnkling called attention to the fact, and
personally named each of the senator's
Mr.. Thurman inquired of Mr.. Conkling what
he was gong to do about it. 1aughtYrl
Mr.. Conkling replied that he would request
the chair to have the names again called
The chair, MIR. Carpenter, then caused to be
read by the secretary the rule of the senate re-
quiring members to express their assent or dis
sent upon vote by yeas and nays, unless eX-
cused by the senate,
Mr. Thurman raised a point that, the roll
having been called, no business could inter
vene until the result of the vote was announced.
The chair Over-ruled the point.
The names Of the four democratic senator's
were again called, when Messrs. Bayard and
Johnston, after receiving individual notification
that, under the rules, it was their duty to an
swer, voted "no." Messrs. Casserly and Thur
man made no reply.
The result OF the vote was then announced
yeas 80, nays B. two votes less than a quorum.
After further discussion, more senators being
present, Mr.. Conkling's motion was carried-35
tod
AT II 80 the senate adjourned.
HOUSE
The house passed the fertilization bill, as re-
ported from the committee on appropriations,
with single amendment retaining the uneX-
pended balances of last year, and then proceeded
to the consideration of the river and harbor bill.
The New England appropriations in the forth
ticatiOn bill are as follows: For Fort George,
Portland harbor, $500 Fort Preble Portland
harbor, S28,500; Fort Scanned, Portland har-
Dor, $50 600; Fort Warren, Boston harbor, $780,
600; battery on Long Island head, Boston har-
bor S37 500; Fort Winthrop, S45. 800; Fort In.
dependence, S27, 800. The uneXpended balance
of last year for permanent defences at Nara
gansett Bay, Rhode Island, is appropriated for
the same purpose.
In the river and harbor bill, an additional APP
preparation of $4,000 for the Shrewsbury river,
N. j., and $4,000 for the Arkansas river, was
agreed to, and, after several hours discussion,
the rules were suspended and the bill passed.
149 to 80.
The house passed the bill relative to taking
dispositions de bene eSSe in courts of the United
States; also the senate resolution prescribing
the oath to be taken by Senator Ielect Miller OF
Georgia.
Mr.. Dawes motion for an evening session for
the consideration Of sundry civil service bills,
was rejected, and the house adjourned