The New York herald., 1876-12-09
Proceedings Of the Two
Houses.
The Electoral Vote CT Oregon
To Be Investigated.
The Decision a MI Ferry a th. 9WsliI-Escsna Joint
Rule Sustained BY Large Majority
SENATE.

late Hon. Henry Starkweather, OF Connecticut, TO &C
company the eulogies the life and character OF that
gentleman. In presenting the bill Mr. Anthony said
had been the practice print portraits OF deceased
Senators and Representatives 10 accompany euoges,
but the Committee on Printing was opposed to II.
However they did not think proper TO recommend It's
iiscontinuapce just now. II Is well known that eulo
ges the life and character OF the late Speaker Mr
Kerr, were soon to be delivered. and II would not be
proper forbid the further printing Of portraits now
Alter the eulogies Mr.. Kerr shah have been pro-
nounccd the printing Of portraits can be discontinued
The bill then passed.
Mr. INGALLS, (rep) OF Kansas, submitted resolution
requesting the Secretary of the Interior report
he senate Immediately what efforts have been made
% remove the Sioux Indians from their treaty
lion tho Indian Territory and what negotiations are
aow pending between the government and said
Indians together with the object and purpose thereof
Agreed TO.
Mr.. MrcnELL (rep.) OF Oregon, called up for refer
the resolution submitted by him yesterday, d.
.ecting the Committee Privileges and Elections
Investigate the facts attending the appointment Of f.
A. Cronin as Presidential eecor by the Governor of
oregon. Referred TO the Committee on Privileges and
Elections without debate.
On motion OF Mr.. LOGAN the bill introduced by him
last session TO provide for the issue OF silver coiu and
10 make the silver dollar legal tender, taken
from The table and referred TO tho Committee on
Finance.
ME- MERTON. (rep) OF Ind, moved that com.
nttee of three additional members to
COMMITTEES on Privileges and Elections .a os
imposed by the resolution OF Mr.. Edmunds pro-
vuins for an Investigation into the recent elections IN
Assssipp South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida,
nnd Louisiana. Agreed TO- ana the Chair was author
ized 10 appoint the new members.
Ar HAKvzy, lrep.l OF Kansas, submitted resolution
authorizing the select committee examine into tho
several branches OF the civil service TO employ .
clerk, and send for persons and papers. Agreed 10.
WLSr Irpl lnfT In rOd,t Nd n fnr In
icf of W. W. Handlin, formerly Judge OF the Third
pis,rict Court OF New Orleans Referred the CON-
mlttec on the Judiciary.
Mr.. EDxUSDs (rep.) OF Vt, moved to take up the
.o'ns resolution proposing an amendmen. 70 the con.
he electoral vote by the supreme Court
THR JOINT RULES.
Mr. MKRRIMoF, (dem.) OF n. G., objected, and read
The twenty first JOINT rule, providing that the
finished business left from session shall
be taken up for action until after the lapse OF
days OF the beginning OF the subsequent session. He
made the point Of order that under that rule the joint
resolution could DOT be considered now.
The CHAIR (Mr. Ferry overruled the point Of order
and announced the joint rules were not force; be-
SIDES this subject covered by Senate Rule 81 which
was directed to be road II provides that the
mencement OF second session business shall be re-
eumcd and proceeded with ifs no adjournment had
taken place.
Mr. MERRtxoS appealed from the decision Of the
CHAIR SAID he had objection taking up this
JOINT resolution could be done properly but II the
twenty nrst joint rule In force, lie believed II
was, the resolution could not be taken up He thought
that rule contained very wholesome provision. Mr..
Aerrimon then argued tnat the JOINT rules were in
force, and It was not competent for the Senate 70
abolsh them without the concurrence Of the House.
Neither House could withdraw assent these rules
without the concurrence OF the other He read from
sss prSceodlnss o Congress q previous sessions 20
enforced The joint rules had been in force the
existence Of the government. They had never been
questioned and nothing has ever been said about their
readoption u at the last session OF the Senate
Mr. JOHNSTON, (dem.) OF Va, said, although It was
considered now and had been at the last sesson
4 fhero were M rules in fOrCO UetOra
and House, they acted under them every day. The
business OF Congress could not 60 on without them.
He quoted length from the joint rules and said the
authority 70 appoint conference committees de-
fved from the JOINT rules, and tho Transmission OF
messages rom house TO another was IN pursu-
ancc Of the JOINT rules
Mi. EDnUSD Ds said there u general parliamentary
rule providing Tor committees OF conference
Mr.. JOHNSTON argued that there were various CON-
mttees appointed under the JOINT rules, among them
committees enrolled bills, committees the
library and others
Mr. SARGENT lrepo OF CAL, said When the list or
committees reported the other day II was
panied Uy resolutions authorizing the committees
tue Library, on Pubic Buildings and Grounds Print
ing and Enrolled Bills to act concurrcniy with those
committees Of the House TINS showed that the SEN
recognize the joint rules under which these
committees might act.
Mr. DAVIS, dem OF W. Va, said:- When the COM
mittecs were reported he asked the from Iowa
(Mr Wright), who reported them, as whether there
was any change IN the usual custom OF appointing
committees, and was assured Dy that Senator that
there was no cnonge. Now appeared that there was
a change, for the purpose OF avoiding the joint rules
Mr.. WRIGnT. trep) OF Iowa, sad--Some one
taking 10 HIM wnen the Senator from West Virginia
tNr. Davsl made The inquiry. He understood him TO
ask If any great change IN the organization
Of committees. and he replied in the negative.
Mr.. MORTON SAID perhaps there was no legal proposi-
tion That could be started out what could be argued
iavorably 1t was perfectly plain TO him that there
JOINT rules. AS the Senate had Withdrawn from
thou, and " had perfect rgnt TO DO He quoted
from authorities in support OF his argument
an read from the record The views heretofore
pressed by senators the democratic side OF the
her He OpintOu.
ms friends the other side IN maintaining that the
JOINT rules were binding now was 10 maintain tho
second JOINT rule relative TO the count Of the
electoral vote, which had been condemned wicked
everywhere
Mr. MERRIxox said he would not be so uncharitablc
say that the republican side desired TO get RID OF
itior purpose.
Mr. MoRroS said he had been trying get rid OF the
twenty second Joint rule Tor years past.
Mr. BAYARD, (4em-l vi Del, poke OF the twenty
second Joint rule being the only objectionable
and read MARKS OF the hast session iavor
OF the passag &c OF regulating cleo
toral iustcad OF deang with the SUBJECT By JOINT
rule he commented at some length on the joint rules,
their object their origin aud sad nc must adhere 10
the position heretofore taken by him, 10 the effect
that the Joint rules OF the House and the Senate
ns much within their control other rules, and might
be terminated BY each house at their discretion.
Air. EDMuNps, ci Vernon. quoted at length from
hts when this matter was before the Senate
nj the last session. and also IRON the remarks OF Mr.
Mcrrmon at the same time to show that that Senator
had changed his opinion.
Mr. MgRRIxox said at the last session he had not
given the subject much attention. but after he heard
The umeuts OF other Senators he had reflected on
the matter and nad changed his opinion.
Mr.. EDMuSps, rcsuihnE his argument, referred TO
the question before the House OF Representatives at
tho last sessson, and auding TO decison OF the late
Speaker Mr.. Kerr, although he (Mr. Edmundsl disa-
greed With him upon subjects OF general politics,
long aud pleasant friendship existed between them.
Mr. Kerr had departed from his career OF usefulness
amid the sorrow Of all good men Prominent In that
great party, was noted not only as an honorable,
patriotc citizen, but as having the large views OF
statesman Continuing his argument he commented
on the Joint rules and said they simply standing
orders each House OF Congress in the same language
He argued that each house had perfect right 10 retire
from such rules. There nothing in any one OF
these ko-callcd rules but the simple, independent
choice OF each House Of Congress In regard TO guiding
It's own conduct Alter further debate By Messrs-
Merrimon, Edmunds and Others The question being on
the appeal o Mr. Mcrrimon IRON The decision OF the
Chair the decision OF the Char sustained by yeas
30, nays 4, as folows:-
YoasMcssrs Acorn. Allison. Anthony. Daysrd Blaine,
booth Boutwell, Bruce. Bur inside, Cameron OF Wisconsin,
Ihanes Cnstiancy Clayton. Cockre Coakling Ccnovcr
Cooper Cragn. Dawes. Dennis. Dorsey, Eaton Ffeng-
hu,sen Edmunds. Hamilton Harvey, Hitchcock. love.
ingalls, Herman. Logan, McCreery Mcdonald. Mcmillan,
Mitchell Hsrrli Morton, Paddock, Patterson Price Ran