Daily Kennebec journal., 1875-02-02
Congressional Proceedings.
SENATE.


the committee on Post-offices and post roads to
inquire into the nature and extent Of the operation
OF the registered letter system, and its defects,
any exist, and to recommend such legislation as
transmission of registered matter, to extend the
usefulness OF the system, and to procure accurate
knowledge Of its operation.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Scott, from the committee on claims report
ed back several memorials for compensation Tor
quartermasters' stores taken by the army during
the late war, and the committee was discharged
from further consideration Of the same.
The committee had decided to take no action in
such claims until the policy of Congress on ex-
tending the time is settled.
Mr.. Sargent obtained the floor, but yielded for
an executive session. The doors were soon re-
opened and the Senate
Adjourned
Jehn B. Culfed, elected to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Mr.. Rice Of Illinois, was
sworn in.
Mr.. Bramberg of Alabama, made point of Or
der that the unlssued portion Of the journal of
Wednesday, should be read, but the speaker over
ruled the point under the call Of States for bills
for reference.
Mr.. Hale of Name, introduced resolution to
change the rules of the House by the adoption Of
the following as new rule
Whenever a question is pending the speaker
shall not entertain any motions of an amendatory
ton to fix the day to which the House shall ad-
journ. But the previous question in the engross-
ment and then the reading of bill shall not be
ordered during the first day of its consideration
unless three -fonrhs of the members presen shall
second the demand.
Provided this rule shall not apply to House re-
solutions which may be offered on the morning
hour Of Monday.
any proposition to appropriate the money, credit
orr other nrOner.v the limited States cycept tho
regular appropriation bills.
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania, made point of
order which, after discussion, was overruled
and the resolution was referred to the committee
on rules.
Mr.. Cessna, of Pennsylvania, Offered a resolu-
tion to change the rules providing in addition to
rule, substantially the same that offered by Mr.
Hale, Of Maine that the judiciary committee
and Thursdays and that the House, by majority
vote, may dispense with further reading of the
journal after its reading shall have occupied 30
minutes.
A point of order was also made by Mr.. Randall,
discussed and overruled, and an appeal from the
decision was taken by Messrs Randall and Beck.
The appeal was presented in written form, as
follows
1.-The undersigned have taken an appeal from
the decision Of the chair, made this day, which
permits the reading of House resolutions intended
for reference, to the committee on rules, to the
exclusion of the business first provided for to be
proceeded with in rule 130.
(Signed), Samuel J. Randall,
James B. Beck.
Mr.. Garfield of Ohio objected to the presents-
ton Of such paper.
The speaker remarked that the appeal was pre-
sented in an unusual way. He did not decide that
such resolutions should be received "to the exclu
sion of the business first provided for"
Mr.. Randall-Thati just what say in my ap-
peal.
The Speaker--But neither the gentleman from
Pennsylvania nor the gentleman from Kentucky
has a right to say so. The matter should 60 be-
fore the House regularly. The paper presented is
wholly unusual
After some further colloquy the speaker stated
that he had reduced to writing his decision. which
was that a resolution to amend the rules may be
read and referred to the committee on rules during
the first call of States, in the morning hour Of
Monday, and that that constitutes q notice ac-
cordng to the usage of the House, and from that
decision the gentleman from Pennsylvania had
appealed.
MIR. Randalls statement Of appeals having been
handed back to him, he stated that he had not
Withdrawn it, and was informed by the Speaker
that there was no necessity for Withdrawing ii as
the chair had not read it.
An attempt at further decision was defeated by
loud calls for the regular order. Mr.. Kasson of
Iowa moved to lay Mr.. Randall's appeal on the
table Agreed to, yeas l75, nays "a on strict par
ty vote.
Mr. Cessna's resolution was then referred to the
On motion of Mr.. Garfield, the Senate bill ap-
propriating SlS2,5O0 to pay the Interest on the
800 bonds of the District of Columbia was taken
up and amended ON motion of Mr.. Randall, by in
sertng the words "in currency" and passed.
Yeas l64, nays 81.
Mr.. Plat of New York, from the post Office
committee offered resolution authorizing amend
ments to be offered to the post Office appropriation
bill as follows Fixinglhe salaries of postmasters
and the mode Of completing the same; authoriz-
ing the Postmaster General to pay the expenses of
taking the weights of mails ON railroads, and to
pay experts and other employees in the preparation
and publication Of government roads maps; also
to abolish the publication of certain post Office
advertisements in three Washington papers.
Adopted.
Mr. Cobb, of Kansas, moved to suspend the
rules and pass bill directing the President to
supply food and disused army clothing to all help
less and destitute persons living on the western
frontier who have been renderedso so destitute and
helpless by the ravages of the grasshoppers last
summer; yeas, IA; nays 40.
On motion of Mr.. Garfield of Ohio, the House
took a recess until 10 o'clock to morrow morning.
Yeas. l67; nays, 50.