The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-02-26
FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
WAsHINGToE, February 70.
SENATE.

Oh D. y. n. NC Chllldn, Y. >. Ot!lhLOI IIoin
Minnesota, from March fourth. Read
and placed on file
Mr.. Window called up the resolution
submitted by him on the I'd inst, in
structing the Committee on Commerce to
insert in the river and harbor appropria-
tion bill such sums as in their judgment
can be judiciously expended during the
next fiscal year in the improvement Of
the mouth OF the Mississippi river and
the connection of that river with the
lakes BY means of the Fox and Wiscon-
sin river improvements and the Henne-
pin canal; the speedy completion of the
improvement between Lakes Superior
and Huron and Lakes Huron and Erie;
the thorough improvement Of the Ohio
and Kanawha and Tennessee rivers.
Mr.. Thurman opposed such appropria-
tion in the present condition Of the
national finances.
Mr.. Window argued that there was
not one of these improvements but would
pay the government an hundred fold.
Pending discussion the morning hour
expired and the resolution was laid over.
The unfinished business being the bill
to provide for and to regulate the count
ing of votes for President and Vice Pres
ident, and the decision of the question
arising thereon, was then called up.
Mr.. Pratt moved to lay it aside in
formally, and take up the bill amenda-
tory of the act granting pensions TO the
soldiers and sailors of the war of 1872,
and to the widows of deceased soldiers,
and to restore to the pension rolls the
names of persons stricken theretrom on
account OF disloyalty.
\ discussion followed, during which
Mr. Edmunds said that if this motion
prevailed and the regular order was thus
broken into, he would feel himself re-
lieved of all responsibility in regard to
the Civil Rights bill.
The Senate by vote of 20 yeas to "a
nays, refused to lay aside the unfinished
busincs, and the consideration of the bill
was proceeded with.
Mr.. Thurman moved to amend so as to
provide for the appointment of two tell
crs on the part Of the Senate instead of
one. Agreed to.
vide that certificates of the electoral votes
shall be opened, presented and acted upon
in alphabetical order Of nameS.of States,
beginning with letter \. Agreed to.
He also submitted MI amendment stri
king from the first and third sections the
clauses providing that any other ques-
tions pertinent to the object for which
the Houses are assembled, may be
submitted and determined in like manner
rs questions which may arise concerning
electoral votes. Several amendments of
II verbal character were agreed TO, and Il
lengthy discussion ensucd upon general
provisions ut the bill, which was purtici-
patcd in by Messrs. Bayard, Thurman,
EdmundS and Morton.
On motion Of Mr.. Wright the second
section, in regard to duplicate returns
from the States, was amended so as to read
that returns only from such States shall
be counted, which, the two houses acting
separate, shall each decide to be true and
valid returns.
Mr.. Morton said, to test the sense of
the Senate, he would move that recess
be taken from to 7:3O o'clock p. m., with
the understanding that this bill should
be- finished tonight.
TheCiviI Rights Bill.
Mr. Edmunds said that after this bill
should be disposed of, he proposed to
move to take up the Civil Rights bill, and
speaking for himself though he hoped
with the assent Of the majority, he pro-
posed that those opposed to the bill
should have all the time they wanted to
discuss it till five o'clock tomorrow after
noon, then if there were amendments
there could be Il short discussion under
the five minute rule, and then the Srna-
tors having charge of the bill should have
half an hour to close the debate.
Mr.. Thurman said he could not COLI
sent to any such arrangement He did
not wish to speak on civil rights, as he
had twice spoken elaborated ly on the SUBJ
ject and would now leave 1t to others. He
hoped that when the bill in regard to
counting the Presidential vote should be
finished majority of the Senate would
take up the steamboat bill, otherwise it
would be lost If it had been decided
elsewhere that the civil rights bill should
override everything else, then he had no
hope for the steamboat bill. He was not
willing to enter into any such agreement
as the one proposed.
Mr.. Edmunds said there was nothing
else left but for the Senate to go on and
do the business il had to do.
Mr.. Morton withdrew his motion for Il
recess, and the consideration of the bill
in regard to counting the votes for Presi-
dent and Vice President was resumed,
Mr.. Merriman speaking in opposition to
it.