The Portland daily press., 1876-12-22
Forty Fourth Congressional Session.
SENATE,

Resolution to print 5000 extra copies eff Nc
Donald's pamphlet relative to the electoral
vote from 1889 to 1873 was pas sed.
Resolution offered by MIR. Anthony, provd-
ing that when the Senate adjourn Friday 22d,
it be TO meet Tuesday Goth, and unless other
wise then ordered when it adjourn on the Goth
it be to meet on the 18th inst, and that unless
otherwise then ordered when it adjourn on the
the 10Th it be to meet on Tuesday, Jan. I'd,
18T-which led to lengthy discnssion-was
finally amended so as to read; THAT when
the Senate adjourn Friday 22d inst. it be to
meet on Tuesday 26tb," and as amended was
agreed to- with the general understanding that
the Senate would adjourn from Tuesday to Fri
day and from Friday to Tuesday, Jan. ID, 1877,
without transactng any business.
Senator Sherman said in answer to an in
quiry that the silver bill could DO acted on I'M
mediately after the holidays.
At expiration of morning hour the Senate
resumed consideration of the resolution of MI
Mitchell authorizing an investigation into the
appointment of Cronin as presidential elector
in Oregon, and Mr. Maxey of Texas spoke at
length.
Mr.. Maxey argued that the power was vested
all circumstances attending elections in the
disputed states and gosbehind the action of the
returning boards. BE desired this Oregon
ma tier to be investigated and all the facts
brought out.
Mr.. Morton considered that if counties and
countenanced those murders should not be per-
mitted to enjoy the result of the election
Mr.. Bogy denied that there was intimidation,
murder or bloodshed in Louisiana during the
last compagn. The election throughout the
state was peaceable and quiet AMI the aff1davits
presented by the Senator from Ohio (Sherman)
were by men picked up in the cutters of New
Orleans, many of whom purjured themselves.
Pending the discussion Mr.. Hamlin present.
ed the evidence taken by the committee APP
pOinfpd IN an0Uira tho m oil IF fho
country and it was ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Anthony submitted joint resolution to
print 1900 copies of the report of Professor
Hayden of the geological and geographical sur
vey of the territories for the years 1875 and
1876. Referred to the Committee on Print
ing;
member of the Committee on Manufactures in
place of Mr. Rarnum excused.
Mr. Davis called up the report of the confer
ence committee on disagreeing votes of the
two houses on the bill to provide for the ex-
penses of certain special committees. (The
committee agreed to give each house 49,, 900 to
conduct the investigation ordered.) The report
was agreed to.
The chair appointed as a special committee
of the Senate, authorized by the recent resolu-
ton of Mr.. Edmunds to devise means for
proper count of the vote for President and
Vice President in connection with similar
committee of the House, Messrs. Edmunds,
Morton, Frelnghuysen, Logan, Thurman,
Bayard and Ransom
On motion of Mr.. Davis business was sus-
pended at 2. 40 p. 20. that the Senate might pay
its tribute to the memory of the late Senator
by Messrs. Davis. Wright, Withers. Edmunds
and others, and as further mark of respect
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Resolution was offered by Mr.. Platt for the
select committee to investigate the charges
made yesterday by Hewitt that his letters had
been tempered with in the New York post Of
fee. In connection with the resolution he sent
to the clerks desk and had read telegram
from Postmaster James pronOuncing the accu-
sati0n absolutely false.
Mr.. Hewitt asked leave to make statement
which was granted. He said that about
month ago he received an anonymous letter
from person employed in the New York post
Office saying that teakettle was at work on
his letters. He then began watching his let
tiers and became convinced, as did other gen.
tlemen that they had been opened. He did
not believe Postmaster James was party to
this matter, believing that official to be true
and upright man. While he could not tell to
certainty that his letters were opened he had
suspicion which amounted to belief that such
was the case. Hewitt said he would not op-
pose an investigation but did not believe any
good would come from it or any facts be learn
ed. Unfortunately he had destroyed the anony-
nous letter, as all the envelopes which bore
evidence OF having been opened.
House refused to lay Hewitt's charge against
the New York post Office on the table and in
structed the committee now in New York to IN
vestgate the case.
The following bills were introduced and re-
ferred.
By Mr.. Willis of New York providing for the
organization of the navy during peace
BY Mr.. Landers of Connecticut, making an
appropriation for continuing the construction
OF the post office and custom house at Hart.
ford.
Bill provides that no military or naval officer
or other person engaged in the civil, military or
naval service shall order, buy or keep, or under
his authority control any troops or armed men
at or near the place where any general or spec
ial election is held in any state either on the
day of such election or for ten days prior or
subsequent thereto, unless it be necessary to
repel armed enemies of the United States, and
any person violating any provisions of this sec
ton shall be fined not more than $4,000 and
suffer imprisonment at hard labor for not less
than five years or be deprived of holding any
office OF honor, profit or trust under the United
States.
Mr.. Knott of Kentucky submitted resolu-
ton directing that Barnes, the recusant wit.
ness, be arrested and brought before the bar of
the House for contempt. He declined to allow
time for discussing the resolution suggested
from the Republican side of the House, and
then the Republicans resorted to parlamen-
tary device OF presenting any action by with
AoiuluS buolE fOtoS 81 DIS W udN6 uO QUORUM
voting. A compromise was finally effected by
which an hours discussion was provided for
and Mr.. Garfield of Ohio spoke against the
resolution on the ground principally that the
House was uot justified in treating telegraph
ic communication as an official report.
Mr.. Walker introduced bill in regard to the
use of troops at elections
Mr.. Garfield of Ohio, declared that there was
on his side of the House no purpose or willing
ness to resist any thorough and complete inves-
fioot lion to,nI ,ipv fIa lofa ALA Dbo
er that subject was gone into the more he would
be pleased with it, for he himself had looked
far enough into the question in Louisiana to
know that an honest and thorough nvestiga-
ton would be valuable to the cause of truth.
He thought, however, that the question before
the House should be referred to the Judiciary
Committee, and a careful inquiry made wheth-
er the paper reaG could be properly and right
fully treated as an authentic report of COM
mittee. He also begged the House to look at
the other side of the question, and imagine the
committee calling for Geographic correspon-
dence of the Democratic magnates of the coun-
try for the last nine mouths. If the kilograms
Of seven citizens could be called for, why not
those Of 7oO and if 700 Why not those Of all
the adult population of America. 1t was
naked, foundatienless demand, without proof
of the existence of the dispatches called for.
Mr.. McCrary desired to meet fairly and
squarey the important question whether tele-
graph companies can be required to produce
ouC OoAICSPouuCuOO VI OttiZOpo WhsuOub Guo COu-
mittee having before it any testimony that de-
spatches material in the inquiry are in the
hands of the telegraph companies. If that was
to be decided by the House, then there was no
sacredness for any private papers, and the pro-
visions of the Constitution which declared that
citizens should be secured against unreasona.
bis searches would be rendered nugatory.
Mr. Wood of New York, differed, however,
with the gentleman as to the sacred character
of Geographic correspondence. He believed,
however, it would be very difficult to trace in
any political dispatches anything to criminate
anybodw.
Mr. Knott of Kentucky fortified the position
taken by the House yesterday, in declaring that
Geographic communications were no more priv
LEGGED than oral communications, and
quoted decision made by the Supreme Court
of Pennsylvania sustaining that idea. A vote
was taken and the resolution adopted without
division.