The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-05-23
42d CONGRESS.
HOUSE. I . s 5 n
- WAsutNdroN Nav %


Mr. SARGENT presented the maIorit,
report, and Mr.. CLAIR, Of Michigan, thI
minority report Of the select COMMITTEES
on Charges against tho Secretary Of thI
Navy. ''''-
Mr.. HOLMAN, from the Committee OF
Commerce, reported back the Senate
amendments TO the House bill granting L
the Davenport and st. Paul railroad tht
right of'way over the Rock Island bridge
Concurred In. L.. !
The SPEAKER presented the Houst
amnesty bill Of the 18th Of May with or
endorsement Of It's passage by the requisite
two.thirds vote. He directed the bill L
be read in full because the question was
raised whether il required the approval
Of the President, AT fr lrTg,s7
MIR. BINGHAM contended that II did
and a colloquy ensued between the
SPEAKER and the members. 0ItN-T
The SPEAKER finally stated that he was
informed by the Clerk that all the
amnesty bills heretofore passed were sent
to the President for his signature.
Mr. RANDALL inquired how the matter
would stand If the President should not
sign theibill. -Ia srl
Mr.. SPRAKER-That is a question for
Congress, and not for tho chair. It is the
duty Of the Chair to follow the precedents
and practices Of the House. It Is purely
a ministerial duty on bis part, and does
not involve any constitutional question.
Mr.. RANDALL-I have not the least
objection, il 1t will crafty the Republi.
can party, that the President shallagn
the Amnesty bill at this eleventh hour
Mr.. BNaHAM-Especially after the
Presidents recommending Amnesty in
his message.
MIR. BEcK-I desire to submit a resolu-
ton on that point. '.'
The SPEAKER declined to entertain il.
MIR. BECK-By what authority does the
SPEAKER send the bill to the PRESIDENT
Mr.. SPEAKER-Because all other like
bills have been sent to him.
The Clerk informed the Chair that the
practice has been usual and universal.
Mr.. BRCK-That may be SO.
Mr.. SPEAKER-Then why should the
Chair assume to change tho practice Of
tho Honsep ~
Mr.. BEcK-Why not let the House ex-
press its opinion on that point?
Mr.. SPEAKER-It unanimous consent,
the Chair will submit the question.
Mr.. BINGHAM-I object.
Mr.. SPEAKER-Then the Chair cannot
entertain itas question of privilege.
Mr.. CoX-I rise to parliamentary ques.
tion, and, l would like, if possible, to
avoid complications on this matter. Sup
pose the President should retain this
bill for ten days, until both Houses shall
have adjourned, what effect would that
have on it, .. l-
Mr.. SPEAKER-That is not a parlia.
mentary point. 1t Is not ior the Speaker
OF the House to answer questions as to
the probable course OF the President OF
the United States.
Mr.. Cox-I want to avoid trouble on
this matter.
Mr.. SPEAKER-Therc will not be any.
Mr.. CoX-I want amnesty adopted.
MIR. RANDALL moved that Mr.. RoeERs,
of North Carolina, a member elect, whose
disabilities arc removed by this bill, be
sworn in.
MIR. SPEAKER stated that that brought
up the same question in different shape,
and he declined TO entertain the motion:
Mr.. DAWES expressed regret that all
anxiety for the amnesty bill seemed to be
changed to solicitude less the President
should approve the bill.
Mr.. RANDALI-There is no such issue
at all. t r,t
The SPEAKER repeated that the prece.
dents had been to send such bills to the
President, and he would, therefore, wait
to swear in Mr.. ROGERS until it was
passed. He would give itas his opinion,
however, that the House would not have
to wait very long.
Mr.. GARFIELD offered o resolution,
quoting statements from bir. FARMS.
woRTH's speech Of yesterday, against M.
Mullett, supervising architect of ma.
sonry, and ordering that the Secretary OF
the Treasury be informed of the charges
so made and be requested to cause the
same to be investigated; and to take
such action thereon as the result of such
investigation may require. Alter long
discussion the resolution was adopted,
with the amendment offered by Mr..
FARNswoRTH, directing the Secretary Of
the Treasury to report specific answers
to the charges made in Mr.. FARMS.
woRTH's remarks.
The House then went into committee
of the whole, on tho civil service appro-
priation bill.
Having progressed as far as the forty
second page Of the bill, which contains
tifty.three pages, the committee arose.
The House then adjourned.
SENATE.