Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-23
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, March q


Mr.. Edmunds, from the Committee on the
judiciary, reported adversely on n ,use bill
in reference IN the settlement OF the accounts
OF United states clerks and marshals, and Il
was Indefinitely postponed.
Mr. Jones. (Florida.l By request. intro.
dCced a Dill 10 prohibit the transportation of
liquid nitro glScerine. and la regulate tue
trans pCristicn Of dynamite. Commerce
MI Morton here gave notice thai On
Monday next he would ask the Senate u
proceed 10 the consideration and the nnsl
disposition OF his resolution providing for
an Investigation into the Mss Ssippi eIec-
ton.
Mr.. Wright called attention 70 the Din n
reduce Jbe salary Of the President OF tue
United STATES, which was now pending on r
motion TO r. consider its passage. la View
OF tie importance of the bill. he hoped tHp
Senate would dispose OF IL az the earliest
olVcalcnt opportunity.
TIE unfinished business being the bin 20
provide fer and regulate the
COUNTING or THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
aud q edivision OF questions arising there
on, was PROCEEDED with.
Mr.. MerrimOn moved an amendment that
IN case OF two sets Of electoral votes. that
vote should be counted which les duly csrtIh-
81 To Toy the state authorities recognized by
ara IN harmony with the United States gov
eminent
Mr.. Merrimor then made an elahorafa lis
QUESTION on The electoral system. aud main-
taiued that Congress had mo- right tO exercise
any control over the Organi zatiOn Of the
elecloFal college, which pertained entirely
10 the states themselves. When the vote was
To be counted, then the jurisdiction % Con-
grees began. He held thar IL was not de-
signed by the constitution and would NOT he
wise 10 put exclusive jurisdiction over the
counting OF the electoral vote I'm the hands Of
any ore man. Congress is charged win the
duty OF counting the electoral vote and IL
cannot delegate this power 20 any one IN an
or any set OF men. lie dissente,i entirely
from The views Of Mr.. Whyte aud Mr. Ste
version as To the conSt rational power 90 the
President of the Senate over the electoral
vote Referring 10 the action Of Mr.. Mason.
the President pro ten. OF the Senate Ga the
occasion OF the counting of the electoral vo:e
N 1871, when Mr.. Mason ordered the vote OF
wisconsin In be counted. Mr.. Merrfrnon said
he did not doubt that Mr. Mason thought ne
was acting right; but in his opinion mis-
course was very questionable. and II the
vote OF " isCOnsin had deci tel the pre- iaeu-
Gai election on that occasion, the most Sc.
liouS consequences woCli Inevitably have
tEEued.
HOUSE OF REPRE- SENrATIVFS.- Mr..
Seelye Mass moved 10 reconsider the vote
by which the House refused 10 concur in the
Senate amendment 10 the Red Cloud agency
appropriation blI, by which the amount
was ircTf aSe6 from 500 600 10 Sl1n.n0l. He
said $50 600 was the lowest estimate the
Indian bureau ard Interior department
could NE Be IgT The support o. these Indians
20 Jaiy I.
Mr. Atkins lTenn), vino reported the bill.
Seld The committee could gain but little I'M
formation from the Indian blrea n, but from
the information they had obtained ~ ap-
rearsd that >5o,o00 would he ample to feed
AL the lECians II this reservation. They hai
however, consented 10 make the amount
~ico,NO0 al the suggestion OF a republican
member OF the committee.
MI Steele Wyoming said that IN accord
anCe with resolution OF the House the Pre-
sident had sent Major Murray, 7th cavalry.
10 make an investigs ton and report on TIE
Red Cloud agency. That report hai not VET
come To the House, though he leaarned Vs.
TsEcay that il had been received At tine Va
oo paIti lie saw by the papers that
interyiewed, aud was reported as having
said That Sd. eco would be sufii .ieut for the
purpose of feediug them.
Nj. Holman charged that portion OF the
Indian fund had been expended in defraylng
the expenses Of an Indian council held in vi
olaiiOn of law.
Mr.. Page Cali urged the necessity OF i'm.
After further debate Mr.. SeeIye consented
10 allow the motion TO go over % await the
report OF Major Murray.
Mr.. Banks presented the memorial Of the
Women's Christian Temperance Union, OF
Massachusetts, praying the restriction of
the manufacture and importation OF lntOxi-
eating drinks 10 the quantities required for
manufacturing and chemical purposes and
the arts. Referred.
Mr.. Stone MOI introduced bill TO regu-
late the compensation of railroad companies
for the transportation OF the mails. Referred
Roads.
Mr. Harris VA, from the Committee on
Elections, submitted a unanimous report in
the case OF Bromberg We. Harralson, claim
ants from the LIST Alabama district, declaT
ing Harralson entitled 10 the seat.
Mr.. Thompson (Msss), from the same
committee, submitted a report in the case OF
Jesse j. Finley vs.. j. T. Walls, OF Florida,
awarding the seat TO Finley. the contestant
Mr.. Townsend IN. " submitted a minor
ity report declaring Mr.. Walls entitled 70 the
seat.
Mr.. Harris gave notice that he would call
l.up the cases at an early day.
The House then in the morning hour pro
ceeded TO the consideration OF bills reported
from committees.
Mr.. Dibrell, (Tenn.,) from the Committee
| on Public Expenditures, reported bill To
| reduce the expense OF collecting the customs.
| The bill provides that the salaries paid at
| any port OF entry or delivery shall not exceed
/ the Total amount Of customs collected Or
dered printed and recOmmitted.
MIR. Parsons. (Ky.,) from the Committee
on Private Land Clair ms, reported a bill pro
viding for the sale of certain lands an III
| ceDnes, Indiana. Passed.
Mr.. Boone, (Ky.,) from the Committee on
| Indian Affairs, reported bill prohibi Ting
| the cutting OF pine timber on any Indian
reservation or land 10 which the Indian tit le
| or right has not been eXtinguished. Pa ,sei.
Mr.. Hardenbergh N. j., from the Com
mittee ON Military Affairs, reported a till
| 10 re enact and continue in force the act Of
| June -, ls'0. authorizing the settling Of ac-
! counts OF officers; referred TO Committee OF
! the Whole. Also, Senate bill relinOuisnIer
| the interest OF the United States ia c -rtsIn
! lands in Ssn Francisco; same re ference.
MI. lhoTHOIEs lenu.D reported HPna.e
bill TO donate the military road from AutO-
| Mo To Salem, Oregon, 10 The several Counties
| through which IL passes. Passed.
Dir. Cook (Cia.) from the same committee,
reported a bill tO reduce the military r-Ser-
walton at Fort Laramie 10 lifty.fOur square
miles. Passed. Also p bill authorizing the
Secretary OF War 10 pay the debts incdrreI
by citizens OF oregon and California in snp-
pressing Indian outbreaks IN 1872 and lS.3.
Referred TO the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. A. 8. Williams, from the same COM
mittee, reported bill 10 authorize commits
stoned Officers OF the army 20 make deposits
under the act OF May Is, 1852. Passed. Also,
bill 10 repeal section 1918 OF the Revised
Statutes. Passed. THE section repealed
PROHIBITS the appointment TO any position
In The army OF any person who has served In
The military, naval or civil service OF the
confederacy or any state in rebellion
Mr.. Banning, from the same committee,
reported a substitute for the bill TO regulate
the pay and allowances of army officers.
Pending consideration the morning hour
expired.
On motion OF Mr.. Hurlbut, (Ill.) the special
order, the bill for the equalization OF bonn
ties, was POSTPONED until Wednesday next
The House then, on motion of Mr.. Randall,
pa went into Committee Of the Whole on