The Morning herald., 1876-03-23

I0poEtant Amon0nense ana Se
castle speeches.
senate.
Nv American Press Association.
WARRINGTON, D. c., March ~.
The bill to regulate the counting Of the
electoral vote was taken up. Mr.. Morton
said he would ask the Senate to remain IN
session until it was disposed Of.
Mr.. White took the floor and read from
authorities to sustain the position, that the
Constitution lodged the sole power to count
the electoral vote in the hands of the Presi-
dent Of the Senate, and the House had no
power of the counting Of the electoral vote,
and that the functions of the President OF
the Senate were ministerial. .
An amendment offered by Mr.. johnson,
objectiug to the reference OF any question
growing out of the electoral vote to the
Supreme Court, was retaSed.
Mr.. Maxey moved an amendment that in
the event of the two houses failing to agree
as to which return shall be counted, then
the presiding officer Of the Senate shall de-
eide which return shall be counted.
Mr.. Sargent supported and Mr. Edmunds
opposed it.
Mr.. Wright thought it was best to take
the bill just as it was. j.
Mr. Cameron thought the President of
the Senate would act fairly.
Mr.. Maxey thought it remarkable that
Senators were so afraid Of this power in
the hands of the President Of the Senate
when It had been in his hands down to
1868. Mr.. Maxeys amendment was re-
jected.
The Senate then adjourned.
House.
The House resumed the consideration OF
the bill reported yesterday In favor OF the
Judiciary Committee, prohibiting officers
and employees Of the government from con-
tributing money to influence elections.
Mr., Blaine offered his amendment to the
original bill, and also to the substitute to
increase Senators, members and delegates;
he said he congratulated the House on the
surrender of the doctrine of State rights
which had heretofore been arrested by the
Democratic side by the denial of the right
of the general government to interfere IN
the matter of elections in the States. He
regarded this as a significant and gratify-
ing circumstance in the history ofthe times,
and an assurance that the Democratic
party would assist with the Republican
party as preserving purity of the cleo
tions. He referred to the recent senatorial
centest in the Virginia Legislature giving
the details of the balloting, and the manner
in which the ballot was purged by the
withdrawal of excess over the registration
claiming as the Republican ballots were
on large paper and the Democratic on
small strips, all but five Republican votes
were drawn out. 1t was too noto-
rious to deny. If the bill was
intended to root out the evil it should 60
far enough to embrace Senators, members
and delegates. Mr.. Blaine then demanded
the previous question on the bill and
amendments, but the House, by party vote
of 73 to 81, refused to sustain the demand
Mr.. Goode then proceeded to address the
House and charged the grosscst corruption
in management OF the Portsmouth Navy
Yard. Mr. Cox said there had been good
deal of unnecessary discussion since both
parties are so anxious to secure the purity
of elections, who were responsible for the
frauds in the South; since reconstruction
The record Of the Housewouldshow that
they had seen members from the South anG
in the House who were never elected outside
of it. He did not care to meddle with it
He charged that the Republican party wal
responsible for the frauds in the past tel
years. He had attended the Greeley con
vention in Baltimore and some Republican
had stolen bis pocket book with the tickets
some one, however, furnished him with two
more.
Messrs. Page, Lutterell, Hoar and others
also spoke Of the corruptions in elections
Mr.. Caulfeld then demanded the previous
question, which was seconded.
Mr.. Browns amendment was adopted
yeas 12s, nays SS.
Mr.. Hoar's amendment, providing that
nothing herein contained shall be construct
to prevent voluntary contributions for cir
culating documents, or for procuring pub
lie addresses for the purpose of giving in
formation on questions of public interest
was rejected.
An amendment was proposed by Mr.
Goode, imposing fine of not less thai
$1,000 nor more than S. 1000, and imprson
ment for not more than one year, for tn
use of force or by threats of life or limb t.
person, or by bulliery, to secure the elec
tion of President, Vice President, Senate
Representative in Congress, or appointment
of self or any person to any office or pos
of honor or emolument under the Govern
ment, was adopted.
The yeas and nays were again ordered o.
the amendment proposed by Mr.. Blaine t.
the substitute offered by Mr.. Brown. Re
jected; yeas 1e2, nays 10Y.
Mr.. Hoar's amendment was rejected, a
an amendment to the bill was; also rejecte
as an amendment to the substitute.
Mr.. Goodies amendment was adopted
The substitute for the bill as amende
was then adopted. The bill was then pas
ed. Yeas 173; nays 8.
The House then at 6 p. m. adjourned
WASHINGTON, March 22-The Commi
tee on the Expenditures of the War Depar
ment does not think there is any neceessit
for q further examination of Marsh and h
has been turned over to the Judiciary Con
mittee, who pursue their Investigations
secret. The War Department Conmitte
will, however, soon have Mrs. Marsh b