Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-12-27

HOLMAN asked unaniRous consent
to OFFER . resolution reciting that j.
O'Conner Power, M. r., was depu-
tized to present such congratulations
and referring the subject to the for
eign committee with instruction to
report the necessary action.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.
Mitchell's resolution for an inycs-
tigation of Cronin's appointment was
then discussed.
Mr.. Bogy resumed his yesterdays
argument. He said the election COM
mittee had become most important
committee. Nobody could enter the
senate without passing that ordeal,
whether elected or not. He must be
elected by the chairman of the elec-
ton committee. The chairman of
this committee (Morton) reminded
him of q returning board-a new in
ventiOn. 1t was conceded that Til
den had Q popular majority of 300,-
600, but Hayes had three returning
boards, worth just one hundred thou
sand votes.
Mr.. Mitchell said if the Oregon re-
turning board could effect its purpose
it would equal forty-five millions Of
people.
Mr.. Bogy was glad, he said that the
Oregon case had happened; it upset
all the republican talk about a p,1ma
.facia case, which would have been
endless.
Mr.. Morton said returning boards
were not new inventions; they were
as old as the federal constitution, and
existed in every state in different
forms and with different powers
In Oregon, the governor had no dis
cretionary or judicial power, as was
the case with the Louisiana return
ing board. He could not count out
fraudulent votes, and he exceeded his
powers under the law.
Mr.. Eaton said he would not count
vote which he thought was OBJ
tanned by fraud for man elected
triumphantly by the American pco-
pie. He argued that all votes cast for
Watts were worthless, while Cronin's
were certainly legal but he thought
Grover should have certified to only
two men. He would not vote to place
in the Presidential chair the demo-
cratic candidate upon Cronin's vote.
He accused Mitchell Of being exer-
cised at q very small thing-the Ore
g0n case-and yet stOmaching all the
southern frauds. He read letter of
Long, q republican candidate for the
Louisiana legislature, declining to re-
ceive his election from the returning
board, saying his opponent was fair
ly elected. Eaton said Longs evil
dence was powerful. 1t denied intim-
idation, though Sherman declared it
existed. The representatives Of the
people could not afford to do wrong.
The President was reported as say
ing he should deliver the govern
ment to Hayes if the latter was de-
clared elected. The President had
nothing to do with it, and the peo-
ple's good sense would see that JUS
tice was done. He argued that the
President of the Senate had no more
right to count the votes than a page,
unless chosen President of the joint
convention.
Mr.. Sherman questioned if the re-
turning board returned Long to the
Louisiana assembly. The solid will
of the people of Oregon had been
fairly expressed for Hayes, and he
was entitled to three electoral votes
there. He would apply the same rule
tc Florida, which was governed by
her special laws. If Hayes became
satisfied that he had not majority of
the legal votes of Florida and Louisi-
ana, he would not accept the Presi-
dency, and he would not want him to.
He argued that the Louisiana return
ing board was legally constituted, and
its returns remained unimpugned. He
was satisfied that he spoke Governor
Hayes sentiments in saying that if
that gentleman should become con-
vinced that the returning board of
Louisiana or Florida acted wrong he
would make no claim to the office of
President; but such proof was want
ing. He could show from the evil
dence now before the Senate that the
vote of Louisiana should be counted
for Hayes. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The judiciary committee reported
favOring congressional power to COM
pei the production of kilograms.
Hurd made a minority report which
asserts that the description of tele-
grams should accompany such de-
mands.
Knott offered substitute declaring
that kilograms have no more privilege
than oral communications and must
be produced when called for.
A long discussion ensued. Among
notable speeches made was one by
Garfield protesting that the telegraph
should be as sacred as the postofiice,
and one by Hewitt, declaring that the
sanctity Of the postsffice was more
imaginary than real, as his (Hewitt's)
letters had been constantly opened in
the New York pOstOffice.
Mr.. Wood, of New York, favored
the report of the committee, and op-
posed Hurd's amendment as being
tantamOunt to o defeat of the Louis
lana investigation.
Finally Hurd's resolution requiring
the subpoena to describe the specific
kilograms to be produced, was de-
feated-yeas "a, nays 125, and Knott's
substitute was adopted without di-
vision.
Mr.. Platte then asked unanimous
consent for the introduction of a res
olution of inquiry into the charge of
Hewitt against the New York post
Office.
Mr.. Luttrell objected.
Mr.. Chittenden asked leave to in
troduce, for reference to the banking
committee, bill for funding legal
tenders.
Mr.. Holman objected.
1t provides, first, that the secretary
Of the treasury be authorized to with
draw, as soon as the necessary prepa-
rations can be made, United States
legal tender notes whenever presen-
tod, and to issue therefor, dollar for
dollar, tho face value in coupon or
registered United States bonds in the
spirit of the original act, provided
that the bonds authorized by this act
shall be payable in gold, forty years
from January l, 1877, and to bear
four per cent interest, payable quar-
terly in gold. Second, that the bonds
authorized by this act shall be avail
able for United States treasury depos-
it for banking deposit. Third, that
legal tenders received in exchange
for these bonds shall be destroyed.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
Frelinghuysen presented q petition
of many Union soldiers, asking the
passage of the House bounty bill. Re.
ferred.
Anthony offered q resolution tha,
the Senate adjourn from the 22d ia
the 26th, and from the 26th to the 18th
and from the 29th to Jan. I'd, unless
otherwise ordered in each case. A
long discussion followed.