The Leavenworth weekly times., 1876-02-10
CONGRESSIONAL
SEEATE e

SENATE.
AsHiNG-oS, D. C., February Mr..
Allison, from the committee or Indian af
fairs, reported back the Senate bill to pro-
vide for the payment of claims for Indian
depredations, and asked that i De referred
TO the committee On appropriations. 50
ordered.
The Chair laid before the Senate the un-
/ flushed business, being the House rcSolu-
tiOn directing the Commissioners OF the
District of Columbia to pay the interest on
/ the bonds issued in pursuance Of All act OF
/ Congress, approved June 20, 1874, cut OF
any funds in the L. s. Treasury, subject To
the requisition of said Commissioners. The
pending question being on the amendment
Of Mr. Kernan, submitted yesterday, pro-
viding that any further issue OF 3.65 bonds,
under or by virtue of said act OF Congress,
approved June 20, 1874, is hereby prohib-
tied.
J The bill was discussed at length, and
Mr.. Edmunds gave notice that at the prop
er time he would submit an amendment
/ providing that there shall be no increase
| in the present amount of total indebted
ness OF the District.
Pending discussion, the Senate adjourned.
WASHINGTON, ID. C., February 7.-ihe
chair laid before the Senate a memorial OF
the New York Board OF Trade, demonsrrat-
ing the inexpediency OF attempting the re-
sumption OF specie payments before the Ie-
quisite conditions are ripe for it. Referred
to the committee on finance.
| After the expiration OF the morning hour,
the Senate resumed consideration Of the
! resolution Tor the decision oi Pinchback as
/ Senator from Louisiana.
Dir. Thurman spoke in opposition 10 his
admission, claiming that PiIchback had 10
prima :acie case upon which he could be
seated.
Mr. Thurman said there was but one
thing upon which the question turned, and
that was whether the body Of men which
assumed to elect Pinchback was lawfully
the legislature of Louisiana, or not. Ii
they did compose the lawful legislature,
then Pinchbacx was entitled TO his seat. Ii
they did Lot, then he could not be admit
ted. Mr. Thurman then referred TO the de-
cision of the supreme court oi Louisiana,
and said that the question now before the
Senate was for the Senate TO decide, and no
decision Of any court, not even the Supreme
Court of the United States, should have
any influence in the matter, the Senate be-
ing an exclusive judge of the election and
qualifications Of its own members.
In conclusion, he said he
did not see how changing
the circumstances in Louisiana could
change legal opinion. Were the Senator 10
listen to an appeal to choose between a
Republican and a Democrat, ,as ii they were
sitting as electors if the Senators would
stand by their conscienoes, which induced
them to vote for Carpenters bill, he would
promise them that there would be rOult
which would be in accordance with the dig
nifty of the Senate.
Mr.. Christiancy spoke against the admis-
sion of rinchback, and Mr. Howe in favor.
Pending discussion, the Senate went into
executive session, and, when the doors
opened, adjourned.
WASHINGTON, d. C., February S.-The
Chair laid before the Senate a number of
House bills, which were referred.
Mr.. Ferry said that while he was ever
ready to do his part of the official labor,
he found that his services on three commit
tees conficted with the requirements OF
presiding officer, and he was not able to
meet the requirements of the service on the |
finance committee; he therefore asked to
be released from service.
After the expiration OF the morning hour, |
it was moved that the Senate proceed to |
the consideration Of executive business
Mr.. Morrill, said that yesterday he gave |
notice that he would call up the centennial
bill at one O'Clock to- ay. He desired that |
whatever Was the pleasure of the Senate on
the subject should be expressed at the
present time The financial condition OF |
the country was such that the Senate
should say what it proposed 10 do. Ii they
proposed to turn their backs on ii, very
well. He gave notice that he would urge
4 cOnside alton OF the bill at the earliest
Mr.Edmunds didn't think the centennial
bill should be considered until the infor-
nation called for from the Secr-tary OF
State Was received. lie, however, would
no; oppose the present consideration OF the
bill.
The Senate, by vote of yeas Is, nays 50,
refused to go into executive business, and
and on motion of Mr. Morrill, took up the
House bill appropriafing Sl5O,0OOO o for
he centennial. Morrill, then Weld
d the floor Ia Eaton who
offered resolution in re-
'pect to the memory of his late colleague,
Mr.. o. s. Ferry, the understanding being
hat the centennial bill would come up as
business tomorrow.
Mr.. Clayton called up the unfinished
business from the morning hour OF yester-
lay-Senate bill to repeal section % of the
eyised statutes, making restrictions in the
disposition OF the public lands in Alabama.