The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-26
Forty Third Congress Second Sess ! on
SENATE.

on file. tIs
Mr.. Edmunds from the Judiciary Committee
reported favorably on bills to remove the p0iitl-
cal disabilities of Edward Booker, John With
ers and Beverly KEENAN, of Virginia, Robert
w, johnson Of Nashville, Tenn, and James
Fl. Halves of Covington, KY, all of which
were placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Window called up the resolution submit
ted by him the I'd inst, instructing the Com
mittes on Commerce to insert ia the river and
harbor appropriation bill such sums as in their
Judgment can be judiciously and economically
expended during the next fiscal year in the I'M
provement of the mouth of the Mississippi riv-
er, the connection of that river with the lakes
by means of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, the
improvement of Hennepin Canal, the speedy
completion of the improvement between Lakes
Superior and Huron and Lakes Huron and
Erie, the thorough and systematic improvement
of the Ohio and Kanawha and the Tennessee
rivers.
Mr. Thurman opposes such an appropriation
in the present condition of the national TN
anceS
Mr.. Window argued that there was not one
of those improvements but would pay the gov
eminent a hundred fold.
The morning hour expired and the resolu-
tions went over. .t
After the expiration of the morning hour the
unfinished business being the bill to provide for
and regulate the counting of votes for Presi-
dent and Vice President, and the decision of
questions arising thereon, it was called up.
MIR. Pratt moved 10 lay IL aSiue lnIOrinally
and take up the bill amendatory of the act
granting pensions to the soldiers and sailors OF
the war of 1912, and the widows of deceased
soldiers, and to restore to the pension rolls the
names of persons stricken therefrom on ac-
count of dsloyalty.
A discussion followed, during which Mr.
Edmunds said if this motion prevailed and the
regular order was thus broken into. he would
feel himself relieved of all responsibility in re-
gard to the civil rights bill.
TIaS ta hy nov n
aside the unfinished business, and the consd-
Grafton of that bill was proceeded with.
Mr.. Thurman moved to amend so as to pro-
vide for the appointment of two tellers on the
part of the Senate instead of one. Agreed to.
He also moved to amend so as to provide that
the certificates of electoral votes be opened,
presented and acted upon in alphabetical order
of the names of the states. Agreed to:
He also submitted amendments striking from
the LIST and I'd sections the clauses providing
that any other questions pertinent to the object
for which houses are assembled may be sub
mitted and determined in a like manner as
questions which may arise concerning electoral
votes. Agreed to-
Several amendments of verbal character were
agreed to.
A lengthy discussion ensued upon the general
provisions of the bill, which was participated
In by Messrs. Bayard, Thurman, Edmunds and
Morton. ..l .f.a- -.H5s..
On motion of Mr. Wright the second section
in regard to duplicate returns from one state
was amended so as to read that returns from
only such state shall be counted which the
houses, acting separate, shall each decide to be
true or valid returns"
At4.5O O'Clock Mr.. Morton said that to test
the sense of the Senate he would move recess
from to 7.3O O'Clock, with the understanding
this bill would be unfinished business tonight.
Mr.. Edmunds said that after this bill was
disposed of he would move to take up the civil
right bill, and he proposed that those opposed
to the bill should have till O'clock tomorrow
to discuss it,
Mr. Thurman opposed the proposition and
thought the steamboat bill should be consider
ed.
Mr. Morton withdrew his motion for a recess.
The consideration of the bill in regard to
counting votes for President and Vice PreSl-
dent was resumed, and Mr.. Merrimon spoke in
opposition.
The house has held an all night session,
caused by struggle for preference between
those who wanted to take up the civil appro-
priation bill and those who wished to take ac-
ton in regard to southern affairs,
The all night session was consumed in get
ting round and round in a circle. When the
question whether the House shall now consider
the bill (the caucus force bill) came to be voted
Cd, the Democrats refrained from voting, and
as the Republicans could not keep in the hall
full force from their own ranks, the vote would
show the absence of quorum, and then there
would be a call of the House with all the te-
dious process connected with it. When these
we're all gone through with, and further pro-
ceedings under the call were dispensed with,
the House would come back to the real ques-
ton of consideration of the bill, and again the
Democrats would refrain from voting, and
again in the absence of a quorum another call
Of the House would be entered on, back to the
beginning:
With all this, and notwithstanding the dis
gust of the leaders of the movement in being
thus thwarted, in spite of the new rule prohib-
iting dilatory motions, there was no exhibition
of i'll temper or bad feeling on either side of
the House. MIR. Butler, who was grand mar
shall of the Republican party, partook of sup
per at his desk peaceaby.
While the roll was being called, Mr.. Cessna,
acting in the meantime as Buffers chief, aided |
in raying those who were inclined to waver
and strengthening. the spirit of those who
force was sklllfully and quietly led by Mr.. Ran
dali, who was ready on all occasions to take
advantage of every weak point in the parlia-
mentary armer of his antagonists, and he was
ably seconded by Mr.. Speer.
The Speaker occupied the chair throughout |
the session, deciding promptly and with bis |
usual clearness of reasoning the many diff
cult points constantly arising, his decisions |
generally giving more satisfaction to the DEM
ocratic than the Republican side of the House.
At this hour, o'clock, the deadlock con-
tinues, and time is consumed merely in calling
the roll on various motions to appeal, lay on |
the table, reconsider, &c.
A motion to adjourn having been made by
member on the Democratic side, Gen. Butler
raised a point of order that it was dilatory
motion.
The Speaker ruled that it was not, and the
ayes and nays were taken on the motion of adj
ournment
On the motion to adjourn the ayes were SO,
nays 154, so the motion was defeated.
Mr. Herford of West Va, then offered the |
following resolution: |
Resolved, The Senate concurriEg, that the
House adjourn to the first of March.