The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-06
The Forty-Fourth Congress.
WAsnINGroN, April 8.

judgments rendered by the court of Ala.
bama claim. After debate the bi was
passed.
Mr.. Edmunds said that under the third
rule of the senate the presiding officer o!
the senate should at 1 o'clock to day ad
parchment trial of Belkpap, but this prac-
tice, so far as could be learned, was only
based upon the said rule, and not upon
statutory enactment. In the doubt tba,
had arsed he moved that Chief Justice
Wait be invited to administer the oath, or
in case 1t was not convenient for him to at
tend, some other justice of the supreme
be agreed to- Messrs. Edmunds and Thur.
man were appointed committee to wait
upon the chief justice. At o'clock this
committee appeared, escorting Justice
Waite, and the oath was administered.
After the first six senators had been
called Mr. Morton said if there was
no objection he would suggest that all the
senators be sworn at one time, standing in
their places.
Mr.. Thurman objected saying there
might be some doubt about verifying the
senators that were sworn. lie thought the
senate had better follow the usual custom.
The senators who were absent and there
fore not sworn, were Messrs. Alcorn, ALI
son, Burnside, Carpenter, Christsncy,
ConkliDg, Conover, Dennis, English, Cold
thwait, Howe, Johnson, Jones, New, Nor
rill, Me-, Patterson, Ransom, Robertson
and Wadleigh.
Mr.. Edmunds submitted the following
which was agreed to:
Ordered that summons be issued as re-
CURED by the rules of the procedure and
| practice of the senate when sitting on a
trial of Impeachment, to w. W. Btlknap,
returnable on Monday, the 18th inst, at |
| O'Clock p m.
Mr.. Lord-That is satisfactory to the
managers.
The managers then retired.
Mr.. Stevenson said If there was no fur
Their business he moved the senate sitting
as court adjourn.
Mr.. Edmunds said that was hardly a
proper motion, the senate sitting as a court
should adjourn until . the l7tb, when the
process was returnabe
Mr.. StevensoN inquired if any confer
ence had been held with the counsel for
Beknap, as to whether the time fixed for
| the return of the process could suit them
MIR. Edmunds said he had no such con-
ference and did not expect to have any
with Belknap's counsel, of course, when
the process was returned on the 17th if
they desired more time, they could apply
| for it.
Mr.. Stevenson said he saw no impropr-
ETY. in managers on the part Of the house
having friendly interview with the coun-
sel Of Belkn4p to learn when they wonld
be ready for trial.
Mr.. Edmunds moved that the senate sit
ting as court of impeachment adjourn
until the 17lh inst.
Some discussion arose as TO whether the
time of adjournment should be 1890 or
one o'clock, it being contended that the
rules OF the senate impeachment case re-
| quired summons 10 be returnable at 1890.
Mr.. Edmunds therefore withdrew his mo-
ton to comply with the rules and 1t was
agreed to. The senate then resumed the
consideration Of legislative business and
took up the third class postage bill.
Mr.. Hamln submitted an amendment to
insert "before the same shall be transmit
ted by mail so it would lead, "if, how
ever, postage on third class matter mailed
at Office shall be les, than full amount
above prescribed in cases where the sender
is known, such sender shall be notified of
fact and the amount of postage due shall
be collected from such sender before the
same shall be transmitted by mail" etc.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Hamlin spoke at length in favor OF
the passage of the bill. and during the
course Of his argument he said he had no
controversy with the newspapers and did
not care fig what they said, but he want
ed 10 make one word of comment on the
consistency OF the newspaper press in con-
nection with the senate. He, Hamlin,
voted tor the abolition of the frankng
privilege. That result was produced by
the clamor Of the press. That the press
wanted to be subsidized to the extent of
millions TO carry papers, but it was not will
ling to allow one cent for the transmission
Of matter between members of congress
and their constituents. The postal COM
mittee desired to reform the postoffice de-
partment by reducing the salaries of en-
| ployes, etc, and if could have the calm
| judgment of the senate the department
would he reformed so that ii would be self
sustaining, and every citizen be enabled
to send his private communication to any
part of the country for two cents. Mr..
Hamin then explained the provisions of
| the bill and said he favored fourth class
of mail matter, in which anything might
| be transmitted at one-hslf cent an ounce
and any distance not exceeding three hun
dred miles, but the committee had thought
otherwise He was willing to allow mer-
chsndse in mail if 1t paid the cost OF
transportation.
Pending the discussion Mr.. Edmunds
submitted resolution instructing the COM
mittee on judiciary to inquire into the ex-
pediency of further providing by law for
the administration of oaths in the proceed
ings of the senate. and to report by bill or
otherwise. Agreed to.
| The senate then at % adjourned