The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-27
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS-.
PROCEEDINGS Of the Second Session.

proceedings Of the Second Session.
In the Senate on the 18th, the report
{ of the Democrats attending the Louisiana re-
turning board was ordered printed. The
committee on privileges and elections report
ed favorably Oh the resolution authorizing an
investigation as to the eligibility IF Watts,
the Oregon elector. Laid over till to-day.
Senator Cameron, of Wisconsin, introduced q
bill providing that from and after it's enact
ment the United States snail receive legal
tender notes at par in payment Of import du-
ties and oil dues and revenues of every kind
The Senate then resumed consideration OF I'M
finished business, being the joint resolution
OF Edmunds proposing an amendment to the
constitution providing that the electoral vote
for President and Vice-President be counted
by the Supreme Court. An amendment was
adopted providing that the electors shall vote
gued in favor of the proposed amendment at
length, and was followed by Morton, who op-
posed it. Without action the Senate ad-
journed.
In the House on the 18th, under the
call of the States the following were the more
important bills introduced: Reducing letter
postage to two cents: Tor the purchase OF silver
bullion, and its coinage into dollars, to he a
legal tender for all debts, public and private,
including duties and coin interest; Thy Glover
DEM To protest States against domestic
violence--providing that the President shall
not use the army until after the Legislature
OF State has certified to him that the author
ity of the State is forcibly resisted, and that it
is unable to overcome such resistance, or after
the Governor has certified that riot, iDsurrec-
ton or overt acts of rebellion have occurred
which he has endeavored and is unable to sup
press, and that the Legislature cannot lie con-
vened because OF such violence. The rules
were suspended and and the judiciary COM
mittee instructed to inquire on the legality OF
the circular letter issued by the Attorney Cen
eral during the late Presidential campaign to
United States Marshals in relation to their
powers and duties in such election.
SENATE, Dec. 12.-In the Senate Mr..
Bogy presented memorial of himself and
report the Democratic committee which
wnnes sed the count OF the Returning Board
of Louisiana. Ordered printed. The Senate
resumed consideration of the resolution Offer.
ed by Mr.. Mitchell providing for ali investi-
cation into the appointment by the Governor
OF Oregon Of Cronin as Presidential elector.
Debate continued through the morning hour,
no vote being reached. Senator Merrimon
introduced a bill to amend section 1l6 of re-
vlsed statutes of the United States in regard
to vacancies in the Office of President and
Vice President. Referred: The bill provides
death the Secretary of the Treasury, shall
succeed to the Presidency, in the event of the
death, removal or resignation of both Presi-
dent and Vice President. The regular order,
the proposed constitutional amendment Of
Tered by MIR. Edmunds, providing that the
power to count and declare the result of the
electoral vote shall be vested in the Supreme
Court, was then resumed. After discussion,
at the request OF Senator Bogy, the question
went over.
House, Dec. 12.-Mr. Blair intro
0nCe0 constitutional xr1,
was referred, torbidding the manufacture and
sale OF distilled liquors as a beverage after
1900. Mr. Bland then demanded the resump~
ton OF business under the twenty first Joint
rule, which requires that at the Sc .ond ses-
sion of Congress the unfinished business OF
the preceding session shall be taken up as
the regular order. This opened the question
as to whether the joint rules of the two
houses were in force. The Chair (Mr. Ran
dall) ruled that such rules were in force
lively running debate ensued, Mr.: Garfield
appealed from the decision of the Chair, but
afterwards withdrew the appeal, and business
proceeded under the ruling. The bill report
ed last session by Mr.. Bland to utilize the
product of the gold and silver mines OF the
country came up in the morning hour, and
went over. The post Office and tortifcation
bills were reported, and the House ad journed
In the Senate, on the 18th, the com.
mittee or printing reported tcrcibly on the
joint resolution to print ten thousand copies
of the report of the Republican visitors +:
Louisiana. Laid over. The resolution OF S-,,-
ator Mitchell, providing for inquiring iato the
appointment OF Cronin as elector for Oregon,
was taken up, but soon gave way to the joint
resolution pro: sing ali amendment to the
constitution SO as to have the count of the
electoral vote made hy the Supreme Court OF
tea to the floor spoke at length. Whsn s the
debate was closed q vote WAS taken OH the
passage OF the resolution and it was defeated
by vote Of IA yeas 10 81 nays. Senator Ed
'nunds gave notice that he would to-day call
up the bill to provide and regulate the count
lknown as Morton's billy which passed the
Senate at the last session, but now comes up
under motion to reconsider. The Senate
then adjourned.
In the House on the 18th, in the
morning hour the House considered the bill
to utilize the products of the gold and silver
mines Speechessn ftvor OF the double stand
ard OF gold and silver were made by Messrs.
Durham and Willard. The latter is men,
per OF the silver commission, and declaredthe
largely in favor Of tie double standard. At
the close of the debate the substitute offered
yesterday by Mr.. Bland-that silver dollars of
the weight Of 4l2K grains shall be coined and
shall be legal tender for all debts, public and
pr1vate, except where the payment OF gold
coin is required by law-was agreed to with
out division. The House then voted by yeas
and nays on the passage of the bill thus
amended, and it was passed-ayes 1877 nays
So. The House soon atterward adjourned
On the 18th inst, in the Senate, af-
ter the morning hour the resolution to print
extra copies OF the Presidents message and
accompanying documents in regard to the
late election in Louisiana was taken up. Mr..
Thurman moved to amend SO as to have print
ed with the message and documents the me-
moral OF Messrs Bogy, Stevenson and Nc
Donald, embracing the report OF the Demo-