Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-22
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
WEDNESDAY, March p.

the manufacture and sale of intoxicating
liquors in the District of Columbia Referred
10 Com mittee on District OF Columbia.
Mr.. Hamliu, from Committee on Post or
fees reported the House annual post route
bill.
Mr.. Frelinehuysen, from Committee on
Foreign Relations, reported a bill 10 return
10 The japanese government the balance Of
the japanese indemnity fund with the eN-
ception OF $4,000 70 oe retained for prize
money.
Mr.. Booth. from Committee on Public
Lands, reported favorably bill granting the
right OF way for wagon roads over the Blue
MouDtaiHs OF oregon.
Mr.. Mcdonald, from the same committee,
reported hill comforting To the state of Flori-
"a The swamp and overhowed lands granted
by ect OF 1870
Mr.. Rogy introduced bill for the relief OF
persons in the northwest aud Indian terrific
ries, 10 whom the government confirmed
lands. Referred 10 Committee on Private
Land Claims.
Mr. Dorsey introduced bill amsniing the
act Incorporating the Young Mems Christian
Association of Washington. Referred TO
Committee on District of Columbia. Also.
DILL To amend section 1923 OF the Revised
Statutes. Military Affairs.
Mr.. Bruce introdu sed DILL 10 provide for
the pay ment Of bOunties In colored soldiers
and sailors and their heirs Referred 10 Com
mitiee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Wright introduced bill prohibiting
sale OF liquors in tue territories. Referred 10
Committee on Territories. Also, blll pro-
htbiting the manufacture and sale Of iutox-
icating liquors IN the District Of Columbia.
Referred TO Committee on the District OF Co
lumbia.
Mr. Edmunds submitted Joint resolution
proposing an amendment 10 the constitu-
tion.
Mr.. Gordon Introduced bill tn declare the
true Intent aud meaning of section 1903 OF
the Revised Statutes Military Affairs.
The following bills were passed:
Senate bill for the relief OF Major ID. c.
Smith.
House joint resolution granting the rights
and benefits of the Soldiers Home TO John
News.
House bill for the sale of the arsenal and
lot at StOningtoD, Connecticut, with amend
ment requiring the advertisement 10 be in
serted thirty days before the sale.
The unfinished business being the bill 20
provide for aud regulate the
COUNTING OF THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
and tie division OF questions arising there
Mr. Morton SAID he would ask the Senate
TO remain In session TO day until this mat
ter was disposed Of
Mr. Edmunds suggested that the Senator
hsd better say tomorrow, as there was
other matter which ought 10 be disposed or
to-day.
Mr.. Sargent gave notice that as sooa as the
pending measure was disposed OF, he would
move TO proceed with the consular aud dip
lomatic appropriation bill.
Mr.. Whyte then took ne floor on the cleo
foral bill, and read from authorities 10 suS-
tain the position heretofore assumed by him
that the constitution lodged the sole power
| 10 count the electoral vote In The han Is OF
the President OF the Senate. He quoted from
| The remarks of Mr. Yancey, Mr.. BENJAMIN,
and Mr.. Henry Winter Davis as the ilris-
ciction of the President OF the Senate In this
| matter. Mr.. Whyte maintained that all the
long line OF authorities from which he read
were TO the effect that the Senate and the
| House had no power whatever over the
counting OF the electoral vote. that the func-
| lions of the President of the Senate were
| ministerial. He warned Congress not 10
| iamper with this matter. 10 the course of
| his remarks Mr.. W. referred To the assertion
| ofMr. Thurman that IL passed hts Mr. T's)
| that the constitution put this power intothe
| hands OF the President OF the Senate. Mr..
| w. said this idea had entered the brain OF
greater men than he.
Mr.. Thurman said he had meant in what
be said not TO offend the constituencies OF
any one. In the power which had been
claimed as veSting in the hands of the Pres
ident OF the Senate, he did not see how you
could separate the ministerial from the judi
| cial function. He commented on the views
| Of Mr. Winter Davis, which had been quoted
from by Mr.. White, and expressed his ina
| bility TO see the force of the argument.
| Mr.. Johnston said the electoral college was
Just as much constitutional BODY as the
Senate or the House; it was equally recog-
| nized by the Constitution, and we were
bound TO acknowledge this fact.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Luttrell Cali introduced a bill 10 prohibit
| contracts for servile labor. Referred 10 Jul
| dietary Committee.
Mr.. Rice (Ohio), from the Committee on
ESus4ODss q VIII
that an pensions on account OF death,
wounds or injuries received while in the line
| of duty since March 4, 1864, heretofore grant
| ed or to be granted before January 1, 1850,
shall commence AT the date OF death or the
| time when the wounds or injuries were re-
! ceived. Referred TO the Committee on the
Whole and made the special order for Wed
Mr.. Hopkins PA offered resolution call
| ing on the Secretary OF the Treasury for
! copies of all correspondence on the subject OF
a change of Officers in the cusfnm- hnnGa
Pittsburg; and also 10 inform the House
what influence led TO suspension Of the
order. Adopted.
The House then, In the morning hour re.
| sumed the considers ion of the bill reported
yesterday from the Judiciary, prohibiting
officers and employees of the government
CONTRIBUTING MONEY TO INFLUENCE
| ELECTIONS.
| Mr.. Blaine offered his amendment to the
| original bill. and also TO the substitute TO
include Senators, Members and Delegates.
! He said he congratulated the House on The
| surrender OF the doctrine OF state rights,
| which had heretofore been asserted 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 gratifying circum-
| stance in the history OF the times, AMI an
| assurance that the democratic party would
/ unite with the republican party ia
| preserving the purity OF the elections.
| He referred 10 the recent Senatorial
| contest in the Virginia legislature,
4
| manner in which the ballot was purged' by
| the Withdrawal of the excess over the regis
tratiOn, claiming that as the republican BAL
| lots were on large paper and the democratic
on small slips, all but five republican votes
! were drawn out He next referred TO two
assessments made in 1856 by the democrats,
and said the republicans had never made bat
one. There was no use in being pharasical
about IL, the fact that all parties had asses
| sed and collected money from persons hold
| ing federal and state offices was too notori-
| Gus TO deny or bubble about Ii the ball
was intended 10 root out and eradicate the
| evil, IL should go far enough to EN- brace Sem
ators, members and delegates.
Mr.. Townsend (Pa-l offered an amendment
providing that this law should not be con-
strued TO interfere with existing state laws,
and proceeded to show that the la ws OF Penn
| sylvania allowed contributions for printing
tickets, holding conventions and political
| de demonstrations, and such proper expendi-
lures.
Mr.. Goode IVA said the ballot was a thing
unknown 10 The people of Virginia untll it
was put upon them Dy the Underwood cDa-
ventton, composed almost wholly OF replb
licaDs, and that the law was strictly folio vet
in reducing the number OF ballots 70 the
akScr< oxfS