The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-12-16

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
Mr.. Wright submitted Joint resolution
proposing certain amendments to the Con
stilulion. II is proposed that the Presi.
dent and Vice President shall be elected
by u direct vote of the people, and each
hold office for six years; that the President
shall be ineligible 10 reelection. Every
male citizen over 81 years Of age and not
convicted OF Infamous crime shall have
the right 10 vote; that the election Tor
President and Vice President shall be
held AZ the same time A majority of all
the votes cast shall elect, but il no one re
ceives majority, another election shall
be ordered, at which only the two receiv.
ing the largest number Of votes at the
previous voting shall be voted for; and
that the election returns shall bo canvass
ed by the Superior Court OF the United
States and certificate issued by that tri.
bunAl. Referred 10 Committee on Civil
Service Reform.
MIR. COnkling presented a memorial in
relation 10 the deprecated value OF the
bonds OF the District OF Columbia, and
asked leave to introduce . bill 10 COusoli-
date the debt Of the District Of Columbia,
and to issue bonds Of the United States
in exchange Tor bonds OF the District.
The bill and memorial were referred.
MIR. Pratt introduced bill limiting the
time In which applications for bounty
land shall be received and disposing OF
suspended cases alter certain date Re.
ie:red.
MIR. Wright introduced q resolution In.
struCting the Judiciary Committee to in
qulrc into the intent and meaning oil the
act OF June %, 1874, entitled ian act con.
t1rring jurisdiction upon the criminal
court OF the District Of Columbia" and
particularly whether under or by its pro.
visions persons charged or indicted for
libel or other crime in said District can
DO brought from state or other place
within the Federal jurisdiction 10 said
District TO answer therefor.
Mr.. Edmuuds said the Judiciary Com
mittee did inquire into that subject at the
last session, aud he did no. sec the ne,
cessity Of going over the matter again.
The views Of the committee were cub
mitted 10 the Senate At the time tho bill
passed. Ii any one still Thought the Ut.
terer of malicious slander outside Of the
District could be brought here for trial il
was not worth while Tor the committee 10
attempt to further enlighten him.
MIR. Conkling moved to amend the resO.
luton by adding the following words:
"And also whether said act has any I'D,
plicstion to the prosecution or indictment
Tor crime or libel"
The amendment was agreed TO and the
resolution adopted as amended.
MIR. Scott presented memorial setting
forth the alleged unjust discrimination
against periodicals IN the new postage
law, anu asking for q change Referred.
MIR. Morton submitted resolution in
Structing the Committee on Rules to in.
Quire into the expediency OF amending
rules 60 as to abolish the useless fOrmality
Of Senators asking permission 10 introduce
q bill without giving previous notice by
which much time was consumed and the
journal encountered.
Mr.. Edmunds objected to the words
useless iorm8lity. lie knew OF one oCca.
sion when it had been anything but use
less lormality, and that was when tic
Senator from Kentucky, McCreery, asked
leave to introduce bill providing ior the
removal OF the bones OF our soldiers from
Arlington, but failed to obtain such leave.
Mr.. Morton said he did not wish to al.
Ter the rule, but mercley to obvatc III.
necessary reptitions IN the journal.
The word useless was struck ou! and
the resolution adopted.
The consideration OF the bill to frame
q new government for the District Of Col.
umba was resumed and the reading Of
the bill concluded The bill was then
laid aside till tomorrow.
Mr. Morrill,, OF Maine, called up the
House bill reported from the Committee
on Appropriations yesterday, to continue
the Board Of Audit to audit and examine
the uniunded and floating debt OF the
District Of Columbia. Passed.
Tho Senate then went into Executive
session, and when the doors were re-
opened, Mr.. Spencer, IRON the Committee
on Military Affairs, reported hvOrably on
Senate bill to provide for tue relief of
persons suffering from the ravages Of grass.
hoppers. Placed on the calendar.
The bill authorizes the President of the
United States 10 issue temporary supplies
Of food and dlsusCd army clothing, sufll.
Cient to prevent starvation and suffering,
to destitute and helpless persons living on
the Western frontier, who have been rcn.
dered so by tho ravages of grasshoppcrs
during the past summer, and appropriales
100000 to carry out the provisions of
the act, Adjourned.
HOUSE.
POSTAL SALARIES.
The House Committee on POSI- Offices
and Post Roads to-day agreed 10 recon-
mend the passage Of the bill introduced
last February, providing that from the
first OF January next the annual salaries
of various pOstmasters shall be: New
York, $4,000; Chicago, st. Louis and
Philadelphia, $4,000 each; Cincinnati,
Brooklyn, Baltimore and San Francisco,
IS 900 each. Provided, that the salaries
shall be paid from moneys received at
the post otllcCs in said cries from box
rents, sales OF postage stamps and from
other sources, in excess oil the cXpCndi-
lures allowed and made thercat Tor rent,
clerical hire, fuel, lights, furniture, sta.
tionerYprinting and necessary incldentals,
There was struggle over the vote and
many votes were changed.
Mr.. Garfield changed his vote to tho
affirmative and moved to reconsider, re-
marking that tho Committee on Appro-
pristions had not had an opportunity to
say word against 1t.
Mr.. Randall moved TO 10y the motion
to reconsider on the table, which motion
was rejcCted-yeas 100, nays 129.
At the suggestion Of MIR. Dawes the
subject was postponed until Monday next.
Mr.. Dawes, from Committee on Ways
and Means, reported concurrent resolu.
tion Tor Christmas recess irom the Esd