The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-12-14
WORTH1NGToN MOBILES MINI,

WORTHINGTON NOBL..
F0RTY:FoURTH CONGRESS-
Proceedings Of the Second Session.
sENATE.-Dec. SIN the Senate, on
the t;cs 9th, M: Morton submitted Joint resolu-
tlon 70 provide for the election of President and
vlce President by direct vote of the people.
ar. Write presented q petition for the divi-
sion Of Iowa into Judicial districts, northern
and southern. Mr. Spencer introduced bill
70 70 establish the Territory of the Black Hills.
1!s Ine resolntion to provide an inquiry into the
reading Of the Presidents 1iesscge Was dis
cussed at length and passed, i've Democrats
voting With the Republicans on the final ques-
ton: MIR. Merriam introduced bill to alter
the times prescribed f6f holding elections and
counting the electoral vste.
HOrsE--Dec. 5th:-Mr. Plaisted as
serted that he distinctly voted in the negative
on the resolutions introduced on the previous
DAY by Mr.: Hewitt, but was recorded in the at
posed by the Democrrts because it would de-
feat the motion: The Republicans claimed
that the record should 6e changed. Tie
speaker ruled that the change should he
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 !;
atter this correction was made the speaker ex-
tive, which carried the question: A some-
| what heated discussion was carried on during
| this skirmishing, but OF no importance EXCEPT
| as regarding The rules OF the House. Alter
the reading of the Presidents message, the
following committee on the investigations Or
dered in the South were announced: On
louisiana: Messrs. Morrison, jerks, Nc
Mahon, Lynde, Blackburn, Meade, House,
Phelps, New, Ross, Townsend, OF Pennsyl-
va4ia, Dantord,, .Httrlbut,. OF illinois, Grape
and joyce. On Florida Messrs: Thompson,
Debclt, Walline, Hopkins; Garfield and Dup@
nell. In the South Carolina committee the
name Of Mr. Cochrane was substituted tor that
OF Mr.. Stenger, excused on account of illness
in his family.
On the 9th inst, in the Senate, Mr..
Window introduced bill to extend the pro-
visions Of land grant to Minnesota rail-
road, after which the standing committees
were announced. The resolution of Mr..
Withers to inquire into the sending of troors
| to Petersburg, Va, was called up and diss
cussed, and after slight modification; passed:
| A message from the President, accompanied
ny D. report VI OeuaCOr 0ner1nan anu Otler
members of the committee who attended the
canvass made by the returning board in Lou
| isiana was presented. motion was made to
print the document entire, and after discus
sion the Subject was referred to the commit
tee on printing:
In the Senate on the 7th, a c0mmu.
nication signed by Carl Schurz and J. B. Hen
derson was received, praying that a constitu-
tional amendment he submitted to the various
$N<~ H>~~~ 49, s-H
dent and Vice President may be conferred on
the Supreme Court. The committee on print
ing reported in favor Of printing all the de-
positions accompanying the report of Hon.
John Sherman on the election In Louisiana
The printing was opposed by Thurman, Eaton
and others and lengthy discussion of the
question was had, including thelegality ofthe
the Governor OF Oregon in withholding the
certificate from the Republican elcctor and
giving the same to the Democratic elect0t.
The report was ordered printed. A resolution
was offered instructing the committee on priv
ileges and elections into the affairs in Oregon
introduced a bill to restrain unauthorized per-
sons from acting as electors.
In the House on the 7th, Mr.. cCrary
Introduced a resolution for joint committee
to prepare rules, either constitutional or legis
lative, such as may best be calculated to Sc
cure the counting Of the Presidential votes in
a manner that shall not be questioned. The
resolution was referred to the judiciary com.
mittee: Mr. Frye presented q protest from
the Colorado Legislature against the refusal
OF the House to admit to his seat the member
elect from that State. The House then ad-
journed.
On the 8th inst. in the Senate, on q
motion to take up Edmunds' resolution pro-
posing an amendment to the constitution pro-
viding the manner OF counting the electoral
vote, MerTimOn made the point Of order that
under the 21st joint rule the resolution could
not now be considered. The Chair Ferry
overruled the point, and announced that the
joint rules Were not in force. Merrimon ap-
pealed frem the decision of the Chair, with
other Democrats arguing that the joint rules
were in force, because they could not be abol
ished by one House without the consent Of
the other. Bayard lDem.) as at the last ses-
sion OF Congress, sided with the Republicans,
and asserted that the joint rules might be
Without the transaction Of other important
business the Senate adjourned to Monday.
In the House, Mr.. Baker of Indiana,
introduced bill proposing an amendment to
the constitution forbfdding the assumption or
payment Of any claims for loss or damage
growing out Of loss or destruction Of property
during the late rebellion. A resolution tor
the appointment ola committee, and request
ing the Senate to appoint like committee
TO act therewith, to present to the Supreme
Court tor their opinion on such questions
bearing on the jurisdiction and powers Of the
two houses in joint session in counting the
electoral vote as said committees may deem
important in this crisis, went over on prop
osition by the Republicans to debate. The
pension appropriation bill was taken up and
passed. The resolution Of Thursday by Mr.:
for copies Of instructions sent to or received
from military officers in the South was taken
up and after debate passed. The House then
adjourned to Monday
In the Senate OH the 1lth, the report
of the Democrats attending the Louisiana re-
turning board was ordered printed. The
committee on privileges and elections report
ed favorably on the resolution authorizing an
investigation as to the eligibility of Watts
the Oregon elector. Laid over till to-day
Senator Cameron, of Wisconsin, introduced q
ment the United States shall receive legal
tender notes at par in payment of import du'
ties and all dues and revenues Of every kind
The Senate then resumed consideration OF un-
finished business, being the joint resolution
of Edmunds proposing an amendment to the
constitution providing that the electoral vote
for President and Vice-President be counted
by the Supreme Court. An amendment was
adopted providing that the electors shall vote
viva voce, instead OF by ballot. Edmunds ar.
gued in favor of the proposed amendment Al
length, and was followed by Morton, who op
posed it. Without action the Senate adj
journed.
! In the House on the l1th, under thu
call of the States the following were the NOR,
important bills introduced: Reducing lettel
postage to two cents; tor the purchase Of silve
| h,111i0n and ita cnina into 1n11Aro IN 1o 4