Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-17
FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS,
TUESDAY. March II.


prayer, alluded feelingly to the late Senator
Sumner and his vacant chair.
Mr.. Ferry (Mich.) said so many efforts had
been made 10 show that money was plenty In
New York, that the business men of that city
were arousing themselves to show the perver-
sions which had been made of the real facts
He held in his hand, and asked that it be re-
ferred TO the Committee on Finance, a memo
rial signed by 400 leading business firms of New
currency.
The Chair presented resolutions in respect to
the memory of the late Charles Sumner, adopt
ed by the Union League OF New York. Also
joint resolutions and memorials of the Wiscon-
sin legislature on various subjects.
Mr.. Logan presented petitions from 200 large
businese men OF New York, setting forth the
alarm with which they view the efforts of the
money lenders to prevent an increase Of the
currency, and urging upon Congress to provide
tor an increase.
Also, memorials in form of an increase of the
currency from citizens of Illinois.
Mr.. Window presented sundry joint resolu-
tons OF the Minnesota legislature, which were
appropriately referred.
Mr.. chandler presented q petition, signed, he
said, by every class of citizens, and represent
ing 80 per cent. of the whole business interest,"
OF the city, against currency ndstiOn, AMI in
favor Of specie resumption. Referred 10 FL
Mr.. Pratt presented memorials of citizens OF
Washington asking relief from the Operations
OF the Di trict legislature relative TO sewer i'm
prove ments. Referred To Committee on Dis
trict of Columbia.
Mr.. Allison presented petition of citizens OF
Dapigne county. Iowa, in favor OF specie re-
sumption, and against Imitation. Referred to
Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Haser presented joint resolu ions of the
California legislature, on sundry subjects; which
were appropriately referred.
Sundry private bills were reported adversely
from the Committee on Claims.
MIR. Cameron, from Committee on Foreign
Relations, reported House bill To authorize the
President to accept for citizens of the United
States jurisdiction of certain tribunals in the
Ottoman dominions and Egypt, established or
to be established under the authority OF the
Sublime Porte and the government of Egypt
Passed.
Mr.. Stevenson called up bill for the benefit of
the Louisville and Bardstown turnpike com
pany. Passed.
NIB. STEWART DECLINES SERVICE ON THE DIS
TRICT INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Stewart said that on the 18th OF March
the President pro tenn. had appointed him a.
chairman of the joint select committee on in
YestigatOn of the District of Columbia. On
examination OF the matter he had found the
authority OF the chair 10 make this designation
to be involved in some doubt. He had there
fore declined to act on the committee, and he
submitted the matter for the action of the Sen
ATE, as il involved the correction OF the record.
MIR. Thurman said neither the Chair nor the
Senate itself had the power to appoint the
Chairman of the Joint Committee, as it would
be an invasion of the privileges OF the House
He then dissented from the iiea that even a.
two integral committees the presiding officer
of the Senate had the power TO appoint the
|
according to the usage of the Senate or par
liamentary law had the chairman the right TO
appoint a chairman, unless the Senate specially
deputiZed him to do it. When the Chair was
authorized to appoint a committee it was ONLY
by custom and courtesy that the first on the list
was accepted as chairman. Ii was in the power
of the committee to elect its own chairman.
This very committee had done this thing, and
had elected the Senator from Iowa (Mr. Allison
as chairman. The Senate had the power TO pui
MIR. Allison at the foot, but the Chair had not,
Qrpdh DO efa1t larr ba thnsw 10 -,
put Mr.. Stewart or any other Senator at the
head of the committee. He quoted from the
action OF the Senate on January Is, 1913, when
II was decided that where vacancy occurred
the Vice President would only I'll the vacancy
and not designate the chairman.
Mr.. Stewart said he had declined 70 act at all
under the appointment as he thought il Was il
regular.
The Chair. Does the Senator wish to be ex-
cused?
Mr. Stewart. Yes, under that form. He
agreed with the Senator from Ohio, and though.
the Senate would 90 the same.
Mr.Thurman moved that the chair be iustruc-
Mr.. Hamlin said that was all that was neces-
sary. The committee had itself settled all the
ditticulty by electing its own chairman.
The Chair said the Senate need hardly be as.
sured that he had no desire to usurp authority
He had appointed several Senators on the
committee who had declined, and then
of tse va, oh fbst The The opinion
which the Senate possessed it had conferred
upon the chair, and che Senate having the
power 20 elect the chairman, the Chlir sup
posed he had the power to appoint one, and
that they met the same committees or con-
ference. The Chair would now be deli GIFTED to
be directed by the Senate what to do.
After some further discussion the matter was
settled by the adoption of a motion to correct
the journal so as to show that Mr.. Stewart was
appointed as member merely Of the commit
tee to fill the vacancy.
THE GIvfL RIGHTS BILL.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen said he desired to state in
reference to the civil rights bill, which had
been referred on his motion to the Judiciary
Committee, ald with tie assurance from him
that il would be reported back promptly; and
he desired to say that the committee had snen.
two OF Its regular sessions on the bill, and two
bill was now perfected and ready to be reported
by majority OF the committee. As the author
OF the bill had now been taken away, he would
not call 1t up suntil the chairman Of the COM
mittee (Mr. Edmunds) should have returned, in
order that he might participate in the debate.
Mr.. Norwood presented q memorial from the
legislature OF Georgia and bill to refund that
state Tor advances made during the Revolution
airy war.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Cox, IN. " by unanimous consent, offered a
resolution reciting the provisions OF the act Of
July 16, 1850, prohibiting the publication OF ad-
vertisements on account OF any department of
the government without the written auth ority
of the head OF such department, and that it Is
alleged that bill or bills for advertising done
in defiance of said act are now pending before
the accounting officers of the Treasury depart
ment, and calling upon the Secretary Of the
Treasury to furnish the House with copy of
such bill or bills, with all correspondence upon
the subject. Adopted.
MIR. Dunnell, (Minn.) from the Committee on
Public Lands, reported bill for the appoint
ment OF commission to inquire into the de-
struction of forests, and tb best method for the
preservation Of timber. Ordered to be printed
and Tecommitted.
Mr.. Stone, (Mo.,) from the Committee on
Railways and Canals, reported a bill for the
improvement of the mouth of the Mississippi
river. Referred to the Committee of the
Whole.
Mr.. Lowe, kansas. } from the Committee on
Mines and Mining, reported bill relating to
placer mining in California.
The bill was advocated by Messrs. Lowe,
(Kansas,) Page, (Cal.,) and Kendall, (Nev..)
and opposed by Messrs Ward, (In., and Kas.
son, Qowa,) after which it was referred to the
Chmmittee of the Whole.
Mr.. Kendall, (Nev., from the same commit
tee, reported bill to provide for q board of
commissioners to devise a mode of obtaining
water for agricultural and mining purposes
Referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. Lowe also reported bill relating to min
orAl lands in MiseOuri. Passed.