The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-16
XLIvTH CONGRESS--Second Session
WASHINGTON, December 10, 1876.

SENATE. "
In the Senate, on motion OF Mr.. Thur.
| man, the bill was taken up which provides
| for the establishment OF sinking fund to
| liuuidate the Indebtedness due from the Pa
cifc railroad companies. .-l't IS
Mr.. Steiier (Rrpublican), elector from
Missouri, was before the Committee OF
Privileges and Elections to contest the vote
OF General Frost, Democratic elector, who
has Andy Johnson's pardon, but no other
relief from political disabilities.
No witnesses appeared in the New Jersey
case. . .r.............t.-
Mr.. Wright gave notice that he would to-
morrow introduce bill to provide for con-
tested-election cases OF President and Vice
President. .a
A resolution allowing three dollars Der
day and FIVE cents mileage to congressional
witnesses was passed. p
The consideration of Mr.. MitchelPs Ore
con resolution was resumed. 4f.j S.,
Mr.. Thurman opened the discussion by
saying that his object was to contribute
something to the history OF this Oregon
case, and to show there were two sides to It.
This was resolution calling for an inYesti-
CATION by the Committee OF Privileges and
Elections. and he was surprised that the
chairman Of the committee, Mr. Morton, had
prejudged the whole case. a.t :,
Mr. Thurman, in conclusion, sent TO the
Clerks desk and had read lengthy opin-
ion Of Judge George Hoodley, OF Cincin-
natl, as recently published in the Cincln-
natl Commercial, sustaining the course OF
Governor Grover. When the Clerk read
the paragraph in regard to an alleged plan
to have Mr., Sherman, Of Ohio, made presi-
dent OF the Senate for the purpose Of count
ing the electoral vote, Mr.. Sherman said he
wished to say that this whole story about a
conspiracy to elect him president of the
Senate was simply u q newspaper roorback, .
without one word OF truth whatever.
Elaborate arguments, involving law and
precedent, followed. z No action. ~ !. "a
Mr.. Edmunds. OF Vermont, called up the
message from. the House announcing the
passage Of a resolution providing for the
appointment OF q committee TO act with O
committee of the Senate TO- devise. some
method of counting the electoral vote, and
submitted resolution referring the mes-
| sage OF the House to select committee, To
be composed of seven senators, with power
to prepare and report, without unnecessary
delay, such measure as will secure
proper count OF the electoral vote, ana tna'
said committee have power to confer WIN
the committee OF the House OF Represen ",
tiyes. Laid over until Monday and ordered
to Reprinted. +. 80 80 " Z.
Adjourned to Monday. - , III 81
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Bills for the removal OF the political disa'
biIities OF William Sharp, Lloyd >. Beali,
and James Shepperd, OF Virginia, were
passed.
A bill making appropriations for the ex'
penses Of the investigating committees WIZ
amended by increasing that for the House
committees from s21, 600 TO $50, 900, and re
ducing that for the Senate committees IRON
s5O, 900 to $50, 000. The discussion on the Dii
took a political turn, and was carried on OF
the Republican side by Mr. Hale OF Maine
principally, and on the Democratic side .!
Mr.. Holman, OF Indiana; Mr.. Cox, OF New
York; and Mr.. Spencer, OF Louisiana.
The report OF the visiting Democrats .
Louisiana was read from the clerks desl
| 40 as to be incorporated in the toagrss
/ sicnat Record. 3. 81. ss,5s, -,
/. The post-ofiice appropriation bill Wa
/; taken up and discussed until adiournmen
without final action.