Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-07
Counting the Vote for President
and Vice President.
A Discussion Over the Steam
boat Bill.
The Civil Rights Bib In the
Senate.
POland's Committee Report
Against Interference in
Arkansas.
SENATE

OlA AAtAAAAl-alos
Mr.. West, of Louisiana, presented me-
mortal from P. B. S. Pinchback, asking &C
ton on his claim for admission to a seat in
the Senate. Referred to the Privilege and
Election Committee.
Mt. CLAYTON, from the Committee on
Territories, reported back the bill to organ
ize the Territory of Oklahamas with re-
commendation that its further cOnsidera-
tiOD be postponed till the second Monday
in December next. 1t was so ordered.
Mr.. Morton, from the Committee on
Privileges and Elections, reported back Sen
ate bill to regulate the counting OF the
votes for President and Vice-President,
and also the concurrent resolution to
amend the 22d joint rule, and asked that
the committee be discharged from their
further consideration 1t was so ordered.
Mr.. Morton also reported from the same
committee, bill to provide for and regu-
late the counting of the votes for President
and Vice-President, and decision OF the
questions arising therefOrm. Placed on
the calendar. Mr.. Morton gave notice that
he would ask the Senate to consider the bill
Monday next. The bill provides that both
houses of Congress shall meet together az
one O'Clock on the last Wednesday in jan
uary next succeeding the meeting of the
Electoral College, and be presided over by
the President of the Senate. One teller
shall be appointed by the Senate and two
by the House, and they shall receive from
the presiding officer the certificates as they
are opened, and, after reading them aloud,
shall make a list of votes as they
appear from the certificates. The re-
suit Of their count and the names Of the
persons, if any, elected shall then be an
nounced by the President Of the Senate.
If, however, upon the reading Of any OF the
certificates, any question shall be raised in
regard TO counting the votes therein eertl-
fed, the Senate shall withdraw to its cham
Der, and each house shall decide upon the
question raised. No electoral vote or votes
from any State to the counting Of which
objections have been made, shall be counted
except BY the affirmative vote Of the two
houses. When the two houses have voted,
they shall Immediately reassemble and the
presiding officer shall then announce the
decision of the question submitted, and
any other question pertaining to the object
for which the two houses assem-
bled, may be submitted and deter
mined in like manner. The second
section of the bill provides that if
more than one return shall be received by
the President of the Senate from a State,
purporting to be the certificate of the cleo
toral votes given at the last preceding cleo
ton for President and Vice President in
such State. all such returns shall be opened
by him in the presence of the two houses
and count the votes, and the returns shall
be counted which the two houses acting
separately shall decide to be the true and
valid returns.
The remaining sections Of the bill limit
each Senator and Representative to ten
minutes in speaking on any one question;
provided, that after such debate has lasted
two hours, the majority of each house may
direct the main question to be put without
further debate; and provided, that the joint
meeting of the two houses shall not be dis
solved until the electoral votes are all
counted and the result announced, but it
shall be competent for either house, acting
separately in the manner provided, TO take
a recess, not beyond 10 o'clock the next
morning.
A message was received from the House
of Representatives announcing the non
concurrence of that body in the amend
ments to the Senate bill amending the
National bank act, and fixing cOmpensa-
ton of National bank examiners, and ask
ing a committee of conference thereon.
| The request was agreed to, and Messrs.
Scott. Morrill, Of Vermont, and Bayard were
! appointed members Of the Conference
Committee on the part Of the Senate.
Mr.. Chandler moved to take up House
bill to revise, amend and consolidate the
laws relating to the security Of life on
board of vessels propelled in whole or in
part by steam and for other purposes.
Agreed to, yeas p, nays 10. The reading
of the bill, which was commenced last ses-
sion was concluded.
Mr.. Boutwell, opposed Its passage, and
was followed bv Mr.. COnkling, who said
he well understood the nature and persis-
tence ofthat LOBBY which even now was in
this chamber to urge this bill. He under
stood the force Of that lobby, which pur-
| chased newspaper to pour out abuse on
| Senators who opposed the bill. IL was not
a great while ago that a vessel went down
in Long Island Sound, and the newspaper
/ to which lie referred said the loss Of so
many lives then was cbargable to him
| CConkling1 At the proper time he would
assign his reasons for voting against 1t. he
would like to have some Senator who
/ favored IllS DILL uldhc . 5beheCALCAit VI lAC
| defects Of the present law, and show where
the proposed changes would be beneficial.
Mr.. Morton said that the men who were
| favoring this bill were not paid lobbyists,
but men Of character, sent here from Gin
cinnati, Pittsburg, Louisville and other
places. 1t had not been prepared by poll
! ticians, but by experts. The changes pro
posed were important and many Of them
vital.
Pending the discussion of the bill, Mr..
| Cameron moved that the Senate proceed to
| the consideration of executive business.
The chair laid before the Senate a num-
| Der of bills from the House, among them
the Civil Rights bill, which.was read the
| first time.
Mr.. Davis objected to its second reading
to-day, but at the request Of Mr.. Edmunds,
Withdrew the objection that the bill might
be read a second time and referred to the
| Judiciary Committee. 1t was so referred.
The Senate then prOceededto the eonsid-
Grafton of executive business and soon after
| adjourned.