Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-27
Congressional Proceedings.
SENATE.

| Mr.. Edmunds, of Vermont, introduced Dill 10
provide for and regulate the counting OF votes Tor
President and Vice President.
Referred to the committee on privileges and
| elections.
The bill provides that from three to ten days
next prior to the last Monday in every January
following any election for President Vice Pres
ident the Senate shall appoint four Senators, and
the, House of Representatives five Of its members,
and such nine persons shall constitute committee
upon the elections of the President and Vice Pres
inent.
A majority of said committee shall be quo
rum, and the concurrence Of said majority shall
be necessary in any action thereof.
Each member of the committee shall take
special oath to perform the duties imposed upon
him by the provisions of this bill.
The Senate and House are required to meet to-
gether in the hall Of the House, at o'clock,
said last Monday Of January, and meet daily,
Sundays excepted. until the duties herein are per-
formed.
The President of the Senate is 10 preside and
open all certificates and papers purporting to be
certificates Of votes cast for President or Vice
President, and after so opening them the papers
shall be delivered to the committee above provid-
ed for, who shall proceed to examine the same
and report in writing, soon possible, the State
| rate, and what person or persons have been pur-
| suant TO law elected President or Vice President.
If, when the report is made any question is
| raised by any Senator member of the House
touching the legal validity of any vote proceed
| ing of the committee, the two houses shall con-
| slider the question separately, and if they concur
their Judgment shall stand and the report of the
committee be modified accordingly; but if the
| two houses do not concur, then the report of the
committee shall stand, and the persons so declared
elected shall respectively be deemed prima sacia
entitled to exercise the functions of their offices,
subject to any contest made in due course of law.
| Mr.. Stevenson OF kentucky, from the judiciary
committee, reported adversely ON the bill to au-
thorizc the Acknowledgement to adjust the claim
OF the government with the purchaser of the
property of Iiarper's Ferry, and it was indefinite
| ~ postponed.
Mr. Clayton, from the committee on military
affairs, reported without amendment the bill limit
| ing the time in which applications for bounty land
are to be received, and disposing of suspended
cases after certain date.
| Placed ON the calender.
| Mr.. Boutwell,, from the committee on public
lands, reported with amendments, bill providing
for the survey and disposal of the timber lands of
| the United States
Placed on the calender
Mr.. Washburne Of Massachusetts, introduced
bill authorizing the secretary of the treasury to
issue an American register to the schooner Ma
| tilda Commerce.
| Mr.. Pratt frou, the committee pensions,
ported unfavorably on the bill to provide that all
pensions on account of death wounds received, or
disease contracted in the service of the United
States since March 4, 81, which have been granted
on applications filed previous to Jan. l. 1875, shall
| commence from the date of death or discharge
and for the payment of arrears of pension, and it
was Indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Scott from the committee on finance re-
ported with amendment, the House bill to
amend the National Bank account of fixing the
compensation of National Bank examiners. The
amendment provides that persons appointed to
make examination of National Banks in redemp-
ton cities, shall receive such compensation may
be fixed by the secretary of the treasury, on rec
ommendation of the comptroller of currency.
Mr.. Logan of Illinois from the committee on
military affairs reported with amendments, bill
for the relief of certain States and Territories on
account of ordnance stores issued to them during
the late civil war.
| Placed on the calendar.
Bill to facilitate the disposition of cases i'll the
Supreme Court of the United States, passed.
The House bill to amend the 23d paragraph Of
section three of the act to regulate fees and costs
to clerks, marshals and attorneys OF circuit and
district courts Of the United States, approved Feb.
Goth 1858, was amended and passed. The Senate
bill for the relief of the district Judge of Vermont
was passed.
The House bill to extend the provisions of the
act approved March Sd 1867, to provide for the
collection of debts due from Southern railroads,
was amended and passed.
The House bill relating to the punishment of
manslaughter amended and passed.
Mr.. Sprague, from the committee on public
lands, reported with an amendment in the nature
of substitute, bill to secure homestesds to ac-
tual settlers on the public domain.
| Placed on the calendar.
|
laoDs. reported favorably the joint resolutions
, authorizing the President to appoint commission
er to attend the International Pententary Con-
gress at Rome next year.
Placed on the calendar.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the
resolution of Mr.. Schurz nstructing the Judiciary
committee to enquire what legislation was neees-
sary by Congress to secure to the people of Louis
lana the rights of self government, under the con-
: sttution.
Mr.. Alcorn offered a resolution calling upon the
Attorney General to transmit the report of Clinton
Rice, sent to Mississippi in Feb. 1874, to investi-
gate certain changes against Felix Brannigan, q
S. District Attorney, and Leroy S. Brown U. S
, Marshal for the Southern District of Mississippi
, Laid over.
The Senate went into executive session and sub
sequently adjourned.
House
Mr.. Harrison of Tennessee, from the committee
| on elections, presented report on the proposed
am endmeut to the constitution as to the election
r of President and Nice-Presdent in favor of the
plurality system, and a minority report was pre-
scented by Mr.. Smith of New York, recommending
the abolition of electoral colleges and their election
by the people.
Ordered to be printed.
Mr. Garfield of Ohio, from the committee on
appropriations, reported bill appropriating $lS2,
900 Currency, not con), for the payment of Feb
ruary interest on the 365 bonds of the district OF
, Columbia, to he considered and adjusted as par,
> of the proportional sum to be paid by the United
States for the expenses of the District and toward
the payment Of the interest on the funded debt Of
District.
On point of order made by Messrs. Holman
/, and Randall, the bill was sent to the committee
of the whole, where it can be reached only in
regular order or by a suspension of the rules OF
3 Monday.
t Mr.. Durham, OF Kentucky, from the committee
on banking, reported bill to amend the act in
regard to the Freedmens Bank, providing for one
Commissioner instead of three to wind up its af-
fairs and for proceedings against the old trustees
: for improper and fraudulent transactions in the
, management of the bank
5 He explained one of the objects of the BILL a.
reducing the salary by substituting one commits
sioner at 5000 year, for three commissioners
' with an aggregate of $4,000 dollars, and spoke Of
the present management of affairs miserable
D Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, from the judicia.
ry committee reported bills to establish the judi
: cial district of Okahama; for the relief of the
= district judge of Vermont and to provide judcia
remedies for the overcharge Of duties on tonnag'
: and imports, all of which were sent to the co IN
mittee of the whole.
Adjourned at 5 40.