Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-12-14

FORTY.FOURTH CONGRESS.
Proceedings of the Second Session.

FORTY.FOURTH CONGRESS.
Proceedings Of the Second Session.
In the Senate, on the 5th, Mr.. Nor.
ton submitted joint resolution proposing an
amendment to the constitution to provide for
by direct vote of the people. Mr.. Write pre-
sented petition for the division of Iowa into
judicial districts, northern and southern. Mr..
Spencer introduced bill to establish the Ter
ritory of the Black Hills. The resolution to
provide for an inquiry into the State elections
in various southern States was taken up, and
after the reading of the Presidents message
was discussed at length and passed, five Dem
ocrats voting with the Repub iicans on the final
question. Mr. Merriam introduced a bill to
alter the times prescribed for holding elections
and counting tile electoral vote.
In the House on the 5th Mr.. Plaisted
asserted that he distinctly voted in the mega
tive on the resolutions introdu ced on the
previous day by. Mr.. Hewitt, but was record
ed In the Affirmative. The change OF the vote
would defeat tie mo motion. Tie Republicans
claimed that the record sho uld be changed.
The Speaker ruled that the change should be
made, but Mr.. Fuller arose on the Democratic
side and said he had voted in the affirmative
but his vote was not recorded in the journal !;
after this correction was made the Speaker
exercised his privilege and voted in the az
firmative, which carried the question. A
somewhat heated discussion was carried on
during this skirmishing, but of no impor.
tance except as regarding the rules of the
House. Alter the reading Of the Presidents
message, the following committee OH the in
nounced: On Louisiana: Messrs. Morrison,
jerks, McNlahon, Lynde, Blackburn, Meade,
House, Phe]ps, New, Ross, Townsend, ol
Pennsylvania, Danford, Huribut, OF Illinois,
Crapo and Joyce. On Florida: Messrs''
Thompson, Debolt, Walling. Hopkins, Gar
field and Dunnell. In the South Carolina
committee the name of Mr.. Cochrane was
on account of illness in his family.
SENATE-Dec. 6th.--Mr. Window in
troduced bill to extend the provisions OF a
land grant to Minnesota railroad, after
which the standing committees We're an
nounced. The resolution OF Mr.. Withers to
inquire into the sending Of troops to Peters.
burg, Va, was called Up and discussed, and
after slight modification, passed. A message
dFo% 9athei the President, accompanied by repo,
the committee who attended the canvass
made by the returning board in Louisiana.
motion was made to print the document en-.
tire, and after discussion the subject was re.
ferred to the committee on printing.
HOCSE.-Dec. 6th.-The message OF
the President with documents referred to i1
the Senate proceedings, was read and laid or
the table on motion of Fernando Wood, by s
vote OF 15s to 80, party. vote and the House
! adjourned.
SENATE, Dec. In the the Senate
| on the 7th, q communication signed by Car
Schurz and J. B. Henderson was received
I,
submitted to the various States by which th'
electoral vote for President and Vice Presiden
may be conferred on the Supreme Court. Tht
committee on printing reported in favor O
printing all the depositiOns accompanying th'
report Of Hon. John Sherman on the election
n Louisiana. The printing was opposed b,
| Thurman, Eaton and others and a lengthy
! the legality of the count in that AState, and o
the action Of the Governor of Oregon in with
holding the certificate from the Republican
| elector and giving the same to the Democrat,
elector. The reporc was ordered printed.
resolution was offered instructing the com
mittee on privileges and elections to inquire
! ordered printed. Mr.. Howe introduced bill
to restrain unauthorized persons from actin!
as electors.
In the House, on the 9th, the mes
sage Of the President with documents referred
to in the Senate proceedings, was read ant
laid on the table on motion of Fernando
Wood, by vote of l53 to 80, party vote ant
the House adjourned.
House. Dec. TN the House on th'
7th, MIR. McCrary introduced q resolution TO
joint committee to prepare rules, either con
stitutional or legislative, such as may best b
calculated to secure the counting OF the Pres
idential votes in manner that shall not b
questioned. The resolution was referred t.
the judiciary committee. Mr.. Frye presented
aprotest from the Colorado Legislature agains
the refusal of the House to admit to his sea
the member-elect from that State. The Hous
then adjourned.
| SENATE, Dec. Son the 9Th inst. il
the Senate, on motion to take up Edmunds
resolu' ion proposing an amendment to tn
ing electoral votes, Merrimon made the poin
OF order that under the 21st joint rule tn
resolution could not be considered. IT,
Chair (Ferry) overruled the point, and an
nounced that the joint rules were not in force
Merrimon appealed from the decision OF til
Chair, with other Democrats arguing that til
Joint rules were in force, because they conl'
consent of the other. Bayard (Dem.) as q
the last session of Congress, sided with To
| Republicans, and asserted that the joint rule
might be terminated by each House at its dis
| cretiOn. When the vote was taken the de
cision of the Chair was sustained by yeas so
nays 4. Without the transmission OF other i'm
portant business the Senate adjourned t
Monday
House, Dec. SIN the House, Mr.
Baker, of Indiana, introduced bill propos
| ing an amendment to the constitution for
bidding the assumption or payment Of an,
claims for loss or damage growing out of los
or destruction of property during the late re
bellion. A resolution tor the appointment Q
committee, and requesting the Senate to ap
point like committee to act Herewith, t
present to the Supreme Court for their opin
ion on such questions bearing on the juris
diction and powers Of the two houses in join
session in counting the electoral vote as sal.
committees may deem important in this cri
licans to debate. The pension appropriation
bill was then taken up and passed. The res
olution offered Thursday 6y Mr.. Wood, o
New York, calling ON the President for copie
| Of instructions sent to or received from mill
tary officers in the South was taken up an,
after debate passed. The House thenadjourn
ed to Monday.