The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-18
Forty Fourth C0ngress-First Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. II

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. II.
Mr.. Morton gave notice that he would asl
| the Senate on Wednesday to consider the reSo
| lutions on the Mississippi election.
Mr.. Gordon of Georgia presented the petition
of E. l.. Beauregard for the removal of his DO.
litical disabilities. Referred to the Judiciary
Committee.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Financial Commit
| tee, reported with amendments the Senate bill
| Freedmen's Savings and Trust Co, and gavt
notice that he would call it up for consider atior
| tomorrow. Placed on the calendar
Mr.. West introduced bill to amend the
acts to aid in the construction of railroad auG
telegraph from the Missouri River to the Pa
cific Ocean. approved July LIST, 1872, and July
| I'd, 1874 He said he offered the bill with
view to protect the interest of the government
and asked that it be referred to the Committed
on Railroads.
Mr.. Morrill, inquired if this bill had anything
to do with the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Mr.. West replied that the road was not men
toned in the bill Mr.. Sargent of the Judiciary
Committee had already been instructed to in.
qlire into the subject He thought the Judi.
ciary Committee was the proper one to have
the subject in charge and hoped the Senate
would consent to the bill being referred to that
committee The bill was referred to the Judi
ciary Committee.
Mr.. West also introduced bill to recover
from the Central and Union Pacific Railroad
Companies the bonds and coupons issued to
them in excess of the amount presented. He
said that So, 000, 600 worth of bonds have been
issued to these companies in excess of the
amount authorized by law. Referred to Judici-
ary Committee.
Other bills were introduced and referred.
Mr. Kelly of Oregon, from the Committee on
Railroads, reported with amendments the Sem
ate bill to extend the time for the construction
and completion of the Northern Pacific Rail.
road. The amendments were ordered printed
and the bill and amendments to be recommit-
ted.
Mr.. Boutwell, gave notice that on Friday
next he would submit resolutions in regard to
the life and services of the late Vice President
Wilson.
Mr.. Boutwell, presented petition of citizens
OF Mass. asking the passage OF laws making
every member of Congress directly responsible
to the electors OF his district, the majority of
whom, if he does not meet their expectations
or justify their confidence, may at any time re-
call him and appoint successor. Referred to
the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Sherman submit ed a concurrent re solu-
ton proposing a common unit of money and
accounts (the dollar for the United States and
Great Britain. Referred to Finance Commit
tee.
Mr.. Hamlin called up the resolution of Mr.
Edmunds reported favorably by the Committee
on Rules, which provides that the joint Jules
III IOrC6 al Tue ldSU SESSION. OF congress SQali Dc
the joint rules for the government of the two
houses during the present session.
The question being on the amendment of Mr..
Morton to except the 22d joint rule in relation
to counting the vote for President and Vice
President of the United States, Mr. Bayard
spoke of the defects in the I'D joint rule and
said he did Dot see why one could not be pre-
pared by joint committee of the two houses
of Congress, which would overcome all the
difficulties complained of in the rule now in
force. He moved that the subject be postponed
one week.
The morning hour having expired, the chair
announced that the resolution would be laid
over
Mr.. Boutwell, said that the officers of the
Treasury Department were preparing state
ment in answer to the points made by the SEN
ator from West Virginia Davis on Thursday
last, and it would not be ready for the use Of
the Senate before tomorrow. He therefore
hoped the resolution in regard to the Joint rules
would be discussed to-day and that the resolu-
tion of Mr.. Davis calling for committee to
inquire into the books and accounts of the
Treasury Department could be resumed to-
morrow.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
resolution in regard to the joint rules.
Mr. Frelinghuysen argued that such rules
fell with the end of Congress. He supposed
they had been continued for a number of years
by acquiescence. He agreed with the Senator
from Delaware that the 22d joint rule should be
amended.
Mr.. Thurman argued that the rule should be
changed and hoped the matter would go over
till Monday.
Mr. Sherman said that the joint rules were
only for the government of the two houses of
Congress when they were acting together. He
had 10 doubt the Senate had right to change
rule just the same as it had a right to change
one of its own rules The same power rested
10 the House of Representatives should that
"a oh rt1lo Tho 70
should now avail itself of this opportunity to
withhold its assent from a rule which might at
any time revolutionize the government. He
thought the Judiciary Committee could pre-
pare rule to govern the count for President
and Vice President which would be much bet
ter than the present 22d rule.
Mr.. Morton spoke of the difficulties in the
present rule in regard to counting the vote for
President and Vice President, and said that
upder 1t the power was in either house of Con-
gress to disfranchIse state This vas wrong
and the rule should be changed. In reply to a
question of Mr.. Salisbury as to the origin of
the 22d joint rule, Mr.. Morton said it was
adopted in 1865 without debate, in stormy times
to meet an exigency which it was then thought
might arise. He thought it never should have
been adopted.
Mr. Salisbury argued that neither house of
Congress could annul joint rule without the
concurrence of the other house.
MI. Conkling favored the adoption of all the
joint rules except the 22d and said it was very
clear to him that the rule should be changed.
After further discussion by MaXey, Thur
man, Salisbury and others, the pending mo-
ton being that of Mr.. Bay ard to postpone the
subject for one week, Mr.. Hamlin said he was
opposed to laying it over for that time. Legis-
:aton was in backward state this season, and
u0less this joint rule be acted on now it would
be crowded out.
Without action the Senate at 800 p. m. went
into executive session and at p m. adjour ned.
HOUSE.
Bills were introduced aud referred as fol.
lows:
To repeal stamp duties on medicines; for the
improvement of Vergennes Basin and Otter
Greek, VI to prevent traffic In spirituous or
intoxicating liquors in the Centennial buildings
or grounds during the exhibition; by Mr.
Banks of Massachusetts, for the removal of all
political disabilities; by Mr.. Starkweather of
Connecticut, prescribing form of oath for
members of Congress.
Other bills were referred as follows:
To reduce the salaries of all executive and
legislative officers of the government except
the army and navy, under 81 800 20 per cent.
and to fix the salary of the President at $685.
OO0; directing the dscontinuance of work on
the streets in Washington and to prevent the
further use of certificates by the directors of
the Board OF Audit; to repeal the act prohibit
ing the payment of debts due by the United
States before the war, except on proof of loyal
ty; to amend the act granting pensions to SOL
diers of 1872.
By Mr.. O'Brien of Maryland, proposing the
following amendment to the Consultation:
Section mo state shall make any law re.
specting an establishment of religion or prohib-
iting the free exercise thereof, and no minister
or preacher of the gospel oflany religious creed
or denomination shall hold any office of trust or
emolument under the United States or under
any state;no shall any religious test be requir.
ed as qualification for any Office or public