Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-17
FOrty.Fourth Congress- First Session.
SENATE.
Washington, May 10.

| Mr.. Edmunds, from the Judiciary committee,
reported with an amendment bill to amend the
I'd, 4h and 9TH sections of the act to enforce the
rights of the 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 1t was
the bill recently introduced by Mr. Morton, to iur
Their protect ali persons civil rights ard make
the law conform to the constitution. The CON-
mi:tee on the Judiciary had examined it carefully
and made several amendments. lie gave notice
that at the earliest opportunity he would call up
the bill and ask the senate to dispose OF It,
At 90 the doors were reopencd and the Senate
adj burned until tomorrow.
House.
Mr.. Vance said the printing cost 81 100000 per
year. which he considered a half million more
than was necessary.
Mr.. Ballou of Il. l., made the n n-:'ty report
taking the ground that the ConCrcs, ioaat prjatcr
was officer of the Senate and was therefore not
amenabc to the jurisdiction of the House. In his
opinion, too, the testimony failed to show a case
justifylng any harsh criticisms condemnation of
the Congressional printer. In one or two unim-
portant particulars there might have been such de-
partures from the street letter of the law as law
yers would denominae irregularities But IN
no instance had the Treasury been defrauded OF
one cent ard in 20 instance was 1t ever pretended
that the printer or any friend of his profted orc
cent from any contract, business arrangement or
business transaction of his office. He expressed
he conviction that the majority of the committee
bad not only forgotten the primal object of the ids
vcstigatiop, but had been largely influenced by
desire to reinstate Franklin Rves in the profitable
position of printer of Congressional debates, even
at a much higher rate than the Government was
nov paying.
In conclusion he stated his conviction that the
Congress ionai printer as an honest, upright and
faithful servant, needing COUNSEL and assistance
rather than censurc.
Mr. Singleton of Mississippi, a member of the
committee, supported the majority, reported and
said lie p eitrod three charges against the con-
gressional printer as follows
Fir.t-A want of proper qualification and a to-
tai incapacity to fill the office.
Second-A gross and objectionable negligence
in the management Of the ctice
Third-The cmbczzlement Of TIE money Of the
United States.
During the discussion which followed, the use
Of the name of Senator Anthony objected to
lay Mr.. Garfield of Ohio, ont of order, and
somewhat excited cooquy took place between
Singleton and Garfield, the Speaker pro tenn con-
stantIy hammcring with the gavel. lie finally
succeeded in Restoring order.
Nothing more serious occurred than remark
by Mr.. Garfield in reply to one by Mr. singleton,
inaud.bie to the reporter, that II the gentleman
from Mississippi asserted that member on this
floor said what not true, and said it to him,
he would hold him responsible under the rule not
to nsult member by denying statement which
every member who heard him knew was correct.
To this Mr.. Singlcton's reply was, that he had
made no charge against the gentleman from Ohio,
and Mr.. Garfield declared that the gentleman from
Miss could not insult him.
The chair at last got an opportunity OF ruling
that il was not in order to mention the name OF a
Senatorin debate, and that the gentleman from
Miss should proceed in order.
Mr. Eames of K. L., subsequently stated that the
name OF Senator Anthony occurred only in an eX-
tract his colleague had read.
The discussion closed and the House pro-
cecded to vote on the resolutions reported by the
cnmmittee on printing.
TIE resolutions direc ling the Speaker to certify
to the proper authorities OF the District OF Colum
ba the testimony taken, relating to the contract
of a. NJ. Clapp as Congressional printer, to the
end that he may he indicted and prosecuted, wero
adopted; yeas 49,; nays, u. CA party vote)
The resolution instructlng the judiciary COM
mittec 10 inquire wh( Their the Congl PRINT
Ell is licer who may be lmpeached, was adopt
eli without div sion.
The third resolution instrl citing the committee
on appropriations to embody III The sundry civil
appropriation blll a section changing the present
system of Government printing, was recommend
ed.
GA motion of Mr. Holman Of Ind, the first reso-
luton was modified 50 as TO refer the testimony to
the authorizes of the District for proper action.
Mr.. Hayes of South Carolina, offered resolu-
ton in,truciug the Judiciary committee to enquire
what additional legislation is necessary to secure
to STATE whrn party to a suit in a l. 5. Court,
preference in trial civil cases pending between
private parties. Adopted.
r.
the immigration of Chinese to the Cnlted States.
Referred.
The House at o 'cock went into a committee
of the whole Mr.. Springer of H., in the chair
on the,post office appropriation
On motion of Mr.. Cannon of H., the section as
to postmasters' compensa ION and box rents, was
modified so as to provide that at offices where the
boxes are not supplied and owned by the post
MASTER he shall at least receive seven hundred
dollars per annum OF the. box rents, if so much
shah have been collected.
| On motion of Mr.. Holman, the commission of
postmastcrs on all other postal revenues, were lin
| tied to $1,000 instead of $500.
On motion of Mr. Holman the compensation to
railroads for carrying mails was fixed at five m lis
per neal foot when run at rate of not exceeding
- miles per hour. Without proceeding further
| the committee rose.
Mr. Lawrence of Ohio, stated that if he had
/ been tn the House yesterday. when the vote was
taken on TIE silver bill, he would have voted fer
| it, although he originally against the resump-
ton measure; he thought the country would learn
| by this means that the gold resumption IN 1917 IS
| totally impractlcable.
| Mr.. Lewis of Alabama, offered resolution IN
sruc,ing the Committee on Rules to inquire into
the propriety Of consolidating the offices OF door
keeper aud sergeant at arms. Adopted.
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