The Portland daily press., 1876-05-17
Forty Fourth Congress-First Session
SENATE.

Mr.. Edmunds, from the Judiciary Commit
tee reported with an amendment the bill to
amend the I'd, 4th and 9th sections of the act
to enforce the rights of citizens of the United
States to vote in the several states of the Union
Placed on the calendar.
In making the report Mr.. Edmunds said it
was the bill recently introdu ced by Mr.. Morton
to further protect all persons in their civil
rights and make the law conform to the con-
stitution. The Committee on Judiciary has
examined it carefully and made several amend
ments He gave notice that at the earliest op-
portunity he would call up the bill and ask the
Senate to dispose of it.
Mr.. Mitchell spoke at some length upon the
evils of Chinese Immigration, and at at Las
the Senate resumed the consideration of the
articles of impeachment.
On motion of Mr.. Edmunds the galleries
were cleared and the doors closed.
Before decision was reached, at 525 the
doors were reopened and the Senate adjourned
until tomorrow.
The House took up the report of the Com
mittee on Printing in regard to the government
printing office.
Mr.. Vance said the printing cost 81 100000
per year, which he considered a half million
more than was necessary.
Mr.. Balou of Rhode Island made the mi
nority report, taking the ground that the Con-
gressonal printer was an officer of the Senate,
and was therefore not amenable to the jdrisdic-
tion of the House. in his opinion the test-
mony failed to show case justifying any harsh
criticisms or condemnation of the COMPRESSION.
al printer. In one or two important particu.
lars there might have been such departures
from the strict letter of the law as lawyers
would denominate Irregularities, but in no in
stance lad the Treasury been defrauded of one
cent, and in no instance was it even
pretended that the printer or any friend
of his profted one cent from any contract,
business arrangement or transaction. He ex-
pressed the conviction that the majority of the
committee had not only forgotten the principal
object OF the investigation but bad been large
~ influenced by desire to reinstate Franklin
Rves in the profitable position of printer of
congressional debates even at much higher
rate than the government was now paying. In
conclusion he stated his conviction that the
congressional printer was an honest, upright
and faithful servant, needing counsel and as
sstance rather than censure
Mr.. Singleton of Mississippi, member of
the committee, supported the majority report
and said he preferred these charges against the
congressional printer.
Flrst-A want of proper qualification and a
total incapaclty to fill the Office.
Second-A gross and objectionable negli-
geDce IN the management of the office.
Third-.Embezzement of the money of the
United States
During the discussion which followed the use
OF the name of Senator Anthony was objected
to by Mr.: Garfield of Ohiolas out of order, and
a somewhat excited eolloquy followed between
Singleton and Garfield, the Speaker pro tenn
constantly hammering with the1 gavel. He
finally succeeded in restoring order.
Nothing more serious occurred than a remark
by Garfield in reply to one of Singleton's inau-
dible to the reporter, that if the gentleman
from Mississippi asserted that member of this
hoor said what was not true and to him he
would hold him responsible under the rule not
to insult a member by denying a statement
which ms nor wi IN hard hir~,
correct.
To this Single.on's reply was that he had
made no charge against the gentleman from
Ohio. and Mr.. Garfield declared that the gen.
tleman from Mississippi could not insult
him.
The Chair at last got an opportunity of ruling
that it was not in order to mention the name Of
Senator in debate and that the gentleman
from Mississippi should proceed in order.
Mr.; Eames of Rhode Island subsequently
Cured only in an extract his colleague had
read.
The discussion was closed and the House pro-
ceeded to vote on the resolutions reported by
the Committee on Printing The resolutions
directing the Speaker to certify to the proper
authorities of the District of Columbia the tes-
timony taken relative to the conduct of A. M.
Clapp as congressional printer, to the end that
he may be indicted end prosecuted, was adopt
ed Yeas 1877 nays "a Ia party vote)
A resolution instructing the Judiciary Com
mittee to inquire whether the congressional
printer is an officer who may be impeached
was adopted without division.
The third resolutinn lnstructing the Commit
tee on Appropriation to embody in the sundry
civil appropriation section changing the pres
'ent system of goverumhnt printing was recon-
mitted.
On motion of Mr.. Holman of Indiana the
first resolution was modified SO as to refer the
testimony to the authorities of the District for
proper action.
Mr.. Hoge of South Carolina offered reso-
luton instructing the Judiciary Committee to
enquire what additional legislation is necessary
TO secure to state when party to a suit in a
United States court preference in trial over
Adopted
Mr. Piper of California intro luced a bill tn
restrict the immigration of Chinese to the
United States. Referred
The House at four o'clock went into commit
tee of the whole (Mr. Springer of Illinois in the
chair ON the post office appropriation.
On motion of Mr. Cannon of Illinois the
section as to postmssters' compensation was
modified SO as to provide that at offices where
boxes are not supplied and owned by the post
master he shall at least receive 500 per annum
of the box rent if so much shall be collected.
On motion of Mr.. Holman the commissions
of Dostmasters on all other postal revenues
were limited to $1,000 instead of $780,
On motion OF Mr.. Holman the compensation
of railroads for carrying the mails was fixed at
five mills per linear foot when run at a
speed of not exceeding % miles.
Without proceeding further the committee
rose.
Mr.. Lawrence of Ohio stated that if he had
been in the House yesterday when the vote
was taken on the silver bill he should have
voted for it, although he was originally against
the silver resumption measure. he thought
The country would probably learn by this
means that the gold resumption in 1879 was to-
tally impracticable.
MIR. Lewis of Alabama offered a resolution
nstructipg the Committee on Rules to inquire
INTO the propriety of consolidating the offices of
loor,keeper and sergeant-at-arms Adopted
Adjourned at $50.