The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-12-09
Forty Fourth Congress-First Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.
A bill was passed providing for the painting
of portrait of the late Henry Starkweather,
Mr.. Mitchell called up the resolution direct.
ing the committee on elections to investigate
the facts attending the appointment of E. A.
Cronin as elector by the governor of Oregon.
The resolution was referred to the committee
ON elections without debate.
Senator Logan's bill to make the silver dol
lar legal ten Ter was referred to the finance
committee.
The Chair was authorized to add new mem
Der to the committee to investigate the cleo
tions in Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida,
Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to take up the joint res
olution proposing an amendment to the Consti-
tuition in regard to counting the electoral votes
by the Supreme Court.
Mr. Merrimon objected and read the 21st
joint rule.
The Chair ruled that the joint rules are not
in force.
Mr. Merrimon appealed from the decision,
and proceeded to argue that the joint rules
have been in force since the existence of the
government
Mr.. Johnston said although it was considered
now and had been at the last session that there
were no joint rules before the Senate and
House. they acted under them every day. The
business of Congress could not 90 on without
them. He quoted at length from tho joint
rules and said that the authority to appoint
conference committees was derived from the
joint rules and the transmission of messages
frola one House to another was in pursuance of
the jointsrules.
Mr.. Edmunds said there was general par
liamentary rule providing for committees of
conference.
Mr.. Johnston argued that there were various
committees appointed under the joint rules,
among them committees on enrolled bills, com
mittees on library and others.
Mr.. Sargent said that when the list of COM
mittees was reported the other day it was &C.
companied by resolutions authorizing the COM
mittees on library, on public buildings and
currently with those of the House. This show
ed that the Senate did not recognize the joint
rules under which the committees might act.
Mr.. Davis said that when the committees
were reported he asked the Senator from Iowa
(Wright), who reported them, whether there
was any change in the usual custom of appoint
ing committees and was assured by that Seua-
tor there was nothing. Now it appeared there
was change for the purpose of avoiding the
Joint rules.
Mr.Wright said some one was talking to him
when th3 Senator from West Virginia made
the inquiry. He understood him to ask if
there was any great change in the Organi cation
of COMMITTEES, and he replied in the negative.
Mr.. Morton said perhaps there was no legal
proposition that could be started, but what
could be argued favorably. 1t was perfectly
plain to him there was no joiut rules as the
Senate had withdrawn from them and it had a
perfect right to do So He quoted from various
authorities in support OF his argument and
read from the Record the views heretofore ex-
pressed by Senators on the Democratic side.
Mr.. Merrimon said he would not be SO I'M
charitable as to say the Republicans desired to
get rid oft for purpose.
MIR: Morton said he had been trying to get
rid of the 22d joint rule for years past.
Mr.. Bayard spoke of the 22d JOINT rule az be-
ing the only one Objectionable and read from
his remarks of last session in favor of the pas.
sage of law regulating the count of the cleo
toral vote instead of dealing with the subject
by joint rule. He said he must adhere to the
position heretofore taken by him. that the joint
rules of the House and Senate were as much
within their control as other rules and might
be terminated by each House az their discre-
ton.
Mr. Edmunds quoted at length from his re-
marks when this matter was before the Senate
at the last session, and also from the remarks
of Mr.. Merrimon at the same time, to show
that that Senator had changed his opinion.
After further debate by Meerss. Merrimon,
appeal OF Merrimon FROM the decision of the
Chair, the decision was sustained. yeas 50, nays
4, as follows:
YeGs--Messrs Alcorn, Allison, Anthony, Bayard,
Blaine, Booth Boutwell,, Bruce, Burnside, Cameron
ling Cooper, Cragin, Dawes. Dennis, Dolsey, Eaton
Edmunds, Frelinghuysen, Hamilton, Harvey, Hitch
cock, Howe, ingalls,, Herman, Logan, MeCreery, Nc
dock, Patterson, Price, Randolph, Sargent, Sher-
man, Spencer, Teller, Wadeigh, Wallace, West,
Window and Wright-5O.
N0yS-Maxey, MerrimOn, Whyte Withers-4.
Absent or not voting-Barnum, Bogy, Davis, Gold
thwaite, Gordon, Hamlin, johnson, Jones of Fla
Jones of New, Kelley, Key, Norwood, Oglesby,
Ransom, Robertson, Sharon, Stevenson and Thur
man,
Mr.. Cameron of Pennsylvania, who would
have voted yea, was paired with Mr.. Salisbury,
who would have voted in the negative
On motion of Mr.. Edmunds the Senate took
up the Joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the constitution of the United Sta ties
In regard to the count ofthe electoral VOTE and
it was read.
Before proceeding with the consideration
thereof the Senate went into executive session,
and when the doors were opened, at 345 D. m :,
adjourned till Monday
HOUSE.
Several bills were introduced and referred,
including one establishing the territory of the
Black Hills.
The pension appropriation bill was passed.
Mr. Wood called up the resolution offered by
him yesterday, calling on the President for
copies of the instructions sent to and of re-
ports received from military or civil officers 10
the South since August last.
Objection was made.
Mr.. Lemoyne offered a resolution asking the
Senate to appoint a committee of five to act
with committee from the House iu presenting
to the Supreme Court of the United States
such questions concerning the Presidential con-
test as may be vital and upon which the court
may give an opinion. The resolution went
over.
The question of taking IN Mr.. Woods reso,
luton or inquiry as to the employment of
troops in the South was carried without debate.
The House then adjourned till Monday.
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