Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-12-22


U. s. stand committed against repr
! diation and in favor OF 4 speedy +,
I turn to specie pay and,
WHEREAS, Congress established
. like policy In the act Of March 1St
! 1869, which was followed BY the sc
OF January l4th 1876, providing for
return to specie payments on the Ii
, day of January 1879; therefore.
ResolUcd, that in the judgement o
this House prompt Legislative meas
urcs should be taken to render salt
Act OF January l4th. 1875. eflcctiy,
by placing in the hands of the Sccrc
tary Of the Treasury whatever power
may be necessary to that end.
! Jones, of Kentucky. moved to la,
the resolution on the table.
| Hale demanded the yeas. and nav
on this motion, but after some debat,
Jones withdrew his motion to lay
on the table, as he said under adyic,
Of his friends.
Hale demanded the yeas and nav.
on the previous question.
/ The House refused to second hy 4
vote of l45 to Is.
Among the Republicans voting Ns
was Kelley.
The resolution was then. ON motion
Of Holmes, referred To the Committed
on Banking and Currency.
Starkwcather introduced bill to
amend the law relating to postage on
3D. class matter. providing that from
January Ist, 1876. postage on
pamphlets. transient newspapers. Pc
riodicals and magazines. hand bills.
posters. unsealed circulars, prospec-
fuses, proof sheets aud corrected proof
sheets, shall be one cent for every two
ounces or fraction thereof, and that
the postage on all other mailable mat
ter shall remain as now provided by
law.
He moved to suspend the rules and
pass the bill.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. l6. A large
number of memorials, asking for the
appointment of . Commission to in
quire into the alcoholic liquor. traffic,
were presented aud referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Howe introduced bill to provide
for the appointment Of commission
on the subject Of the alcoholic liquor
| traffic, which was referred TO the
Committee on Finance.
Conkling presented memorial Of
practical steamboat men and per-
sons engaged in navigation. designa.
ting certain portions of the steamboat
laws which should be changed. Re.
ferred to the Committee on Com.
merce, and he said a few words ap-
proving of the matter and manner Of
the paper which he said shows that
steamboat men have some regard for
the safety of those travelling.
Spencer said that at the last Session
OF the Alabama Legislature Com
mittee had been appointed to inquire
whether corrupt practices had been
used to secure his election to the
Senate, - the Legislature which ap-
pointed that Committee was not the
one which selected him and be had
not appeared before it.SHe denied
the charges Of fraud and corruption
and said the Legislature which ap-
! pointed the Committee was frandn-
lently elected, like the one recently
elected in Mississippi, and like that
was "A part of conspiracy to over
throw lawful government in the South.
!; Recognizing the U. 8. Senate as the
only body authorized TO decide on hia
right to q seat in the Chamber, ho Of
fered . resolution that the COMMITTEES
on Privileges and Elections Inquire
/ whether he used corrupt practices to
secure his election. and authorizing
/ the Committee to send for persons and
papers and sit during holidays.
/ Thurman said the resolution ~
drawn only directed inquiry as te
I whether the Senator himself had used
corrupt practices, not whether hit
election was secured by fraud.
/ Spencer eaid he wonld modify it se
40 to meet the view of the Senator
from Ohio.
The lesolusion was modified as fol.
lows:
Resolved, That the Committee or
Privileges and Elections are hereby
instructed to investigate into and en-
qnire whether in the election Of Geo
L. Spencer, ss Senator from the State
of Alabama, there were used or caused
to be used and employed any corrupt
means and corrupt practices to secure
his election to the seat he now hOlde
and that said Committee be empow-
cred to administer oAths. to send fol
,persens and papers, to take testimony
to employ stcnogrAphers, and sncf
clerical assistance as they may deem
necessary, and to sit during the recess
OF Congress, if considered Advisable
and to report the result of their inves
tigation ~ soon "a practicable.
The. resolution, as modified, wa
agreed to.
After the expiration OF the morning
hour Morton called up the resolution
submitted by him yesterday to author
ize the appointment of q special com
mittee of five Senators to inquire int
the circumstances attending the recen
election in Mississippi. He spoke il
favor Of the resolution, and referred &
! various statements of persons residin,
In Mississippi to show that Republical
voters were intimidated, and tho bal
lot boxes stuffed in that State.
Bayard denied the power OF th
Senate to make such an investigation
!. The courts were the only remedy.
After discussion the Senate wen
: into executive session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. l7-Varions me
J MORALS asking for . Commission :
: inquire into the liquor traffic weE
: presented and referred to tho Com
. mittea ON finance.
t Edmunds submitted q resoiutio
providing for the election Of Pres
dent pro tenn by the Senate on the Il
: of Jan. He said he offered this that
, might lie over during recess and b
printed, 90 that Senators might loo
i mp precedents and consider an impol
tant question which has been suggest
, ed in the newspapers and 0therwis,
in respect TO the Speaker of the Hous'
He had no doubt that the present pre-
, siding officer Of the Senate was PREF
ident pro tenn within the Constitution
T but he believed every possible douf
should be put ct rest.
) Thurman suggested the reference {
: the resolution 10 the Committee o
+ Judiciary, or 70 that OF the Committe
. on Privileges and Elections.
Boutwell, suggested it be referred I
: the Judiciary Committee.
o Thurman moved Il be referred
Q the Committee ON Elections.
Salisbury thought the proper Con
: rnittee was that of Judiciary; An
Edmunds consenting, it WAS referre
! to that Committee, but the decisi0
! was finally changed 80 % to refer II
r the Election Committee.
: The Clerk laid before the Sena'
unfinished business, being the resol,
j. ton of the Senator from indians
/ Morton, authorizing the appointme,
& of a special committee to enquire int
1 the recent election in Mississippi.
Thurman and Bayard hoped tn
4 resolution would not be considere
4 now as several Senator's had made Al
i rangemcnts to visit the Centenni'
: buildings at Philadelphia to-day, All
i would not like to be disappointed.
4 Morton said he would not press II
4 matter until Monday.
!. Tho Sanat ta then ~ enf inf0 ey ccntix I