Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-17
EIRIIaE

HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16-The House
met at IL o'clock this morning. Imme-
diately after the reading of the journal
several members endea7Ored to obtain the
floor for the purpose Of moving a suspen-
sion Of the rules TO take up various bills,
but the regular order was insisted upon,
and a number Of bills, mostly of private
character, which Rad been considered IN
committee Of the whole, were passed.
While the bill to pay the awards of the
Southern. Claims Commissioners was pend
ing, Mr.. Dawes moved to 60 into Commit
tee of the whole on the Tariff bill. The
motion was defeated, ayes 90, nays 90.
Mr.. Garfield reported the sundTy civil
service appropriation bill, after which sew
elal bills were introduced by unanimous
Consent.
At y o'clock the bill for the reofganiza-
tiOn Of the Treasury DEPARTMENT was
taken up, the House being in committee Of
the whole. The committee subsequently
rose and reported the bill. Il contains the
following provision: Hereafter no money
shall be paid for contracts made for any
site fJf public building in excess Of the
amount specifically appropriated therefor,
and no money shall be expended upon any
public building upon which work has not
yet been actually begun, until after draw
ings and specifications, together with de-
tailed estimates of the cost thereof, shall
have been made by the Supervising Archi-
tect Of the Treasury Department, and said
plans and estimates shall have been ap-
proved by the Secretary Of the Treasury,
and all appropriations made for The cOu-s
struction Of such buildings shall be expend-
ell within the limitations Of the act author
ling the same, or limiting the
cost thereof, and no change Of
said plan involving an increase Of the
expense exceeding 10 per centum Of the
amount to which said building was limit
ed, shall be allowed or paid by any officer
of the government, without the special
authority Of Congress. The bill apprOpri-
ates S37,7jO for en-raving and printing
certificates Of the centennial stock for the
international Exposition, also, sos, 600 70
enable the Executive Departments and the
Smithsonian Institution TO participate in
the Exposition, and repeats the prOvisO
that the sum hereby appropriated shall
cover the entire expense to which the
United States shall be subjected on account
of the exhibition.
Mr.. Young offered an amendment re-
quiring appointments Of the department to
be distributed among the States and Terri
tories in proportion to population. Agreed
to, and the bill passed.
Mr.. Harrison, from the Committee on
Elections, reported a bill proposing an
amendment to the Constitution in refer
ence to the election Of President and Vice
President.
The first section provides that the PIesi-
dent and Vice-President shall be elected
by direct vote Of the people. Each State
shall be divided into districts equal in
number to the number Of Representatives /
to which the State is entitled in Congress,
and the person having the highest number
of votes in each district for President,
shall receive the vote of that district; but
candidates for President and Vice-Presi- |
dent are not to be both citizens of the
same State.
The second section pOrvides that the
person having the highest number Of votes |
for President in a State, shall receive the |
two Presidential votes from the State at
large.
The third section provides that the per- |
son having the highest number Of Presden- |
tial votes i'm the United States shall be Pres |
ident.
The fourth section provides that if two |
persons have the same number Of votes in |
State, it being the highest number, each Of |
them shall receive one Presidential vote |
from the State at large, but if more than /
two persons shall receive the same num- i
Der, it being highest number, neither shall /
receive any vote from the State at large. /
IfmOre than one shall have the same num-
Der Of votes in any district, it being high
est number, no Presidential vote shall be
counted from that district.
The fifth section makes the same prOv.s-
ions applicable TO the Vice President.
The sixth section gives Congress power
10 provide for holding and conducting
presidential elections.
The seventh section provides that The
States shall be divided into districts by the
legislatures thereof, but that Congress may
At any time by law make OF alter the same
The eighth section provides that no per-
son who has been a Justice Of the Supreme
Court shall be eligible to the Office Of Presi-
lent or Vice President.
Mr.. Harrison was going on TO explain
and advocate he bill, when he was inter
upted BY observations from MeSsrs. Lamar
lnd Speer, members Of the Committee on
to the effect that they had not
yiven their assent to the report.
The Speaker thereupOn inierpOsed and
that as the hour for the funeral
ceremonies of Mr.. Hooper was at hand,
he bill should 90 over for the present, and
tating that it would come up the first
hing Tomorrow after the reading Of the
Ournal.
The Speaker then presented a letter
rom the Clerk in reference to the resigna-
ion Of Mr.. Purmau, Of Florida, and d.
ected the name Of Purman TO be struck
rom the roll Of members.
The funeral Of the late Representative
Hooper took place a. two O'Clock. All the
,alleries were crowded, aud OCCUPYING pre-
-ioUsly assigned seats were the President,
cabinet, justices Of the Supreme Court,
nd the Senate. The services consisted Of
eading of the Scriptures and a prayer, after
Which the funeral procession was reformed.
The body was borne from the hall, and the
House adjourned.
CONNECTICUT.