Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-15

of money bills Is the most important
power guacanteed 10 the lower cham
ber by the constitution, and tbs
lower chamber proposes to hold the weapon
in abeyanca til the exigencies of the Presi-
dental fghi make its Use advisable and
proper. DiEerent reasons, and bringing up
the same central question, have checked the
progress Of investigation. The inquest into
affairs of tae naval department ia the only
one which now promises immediate and tan
gible result. and that Mr.. Whitthorne has
decided to delay till after the recess. 1t Will
be discontinued or pressed then upon cir
cumstances Independent Of the main ques-
ton. Other Investigations sleep. Commit
tees and subcommittee meet no longer
You could well-nigh reckon the meetings
that have been held for all purposes on your
fngers The senate is no better off, There
are no committee meetings and there ia need
for none. Put upon the defensive by the ac-
ton of the lower chamber, the senate
has not even shown such sign OF
life rs m;ght consist in sending COM
mittees south to ascertain the real
Presidential question. All general Legislation
of a resolution, the ruling Of presiding Of
fcer, all have their possible and future bear
ing on the main question and are judged ac-
cordingly. Neither side gives or takes. The
speaker has decided one way on the joint
rules and the president of the senate another,
and on the formal question, matter for FIVE
minutes consideration, question of method
and not Of principle, debate two days long
dragged itself YEARLY away In the upper
chamber. More or less remotely all debate
turns upon the same central question. Mat
ters of finance, protection and administrative
reform receive no time and small countenance
in either house. Both begin on Monday to
debate upon two separate propositions for
avoiding a deadlock IN the count next Febru-
airy. Both plans propose an ap-
peal to the supreme court, but the members
of that body have failed TO keep out of the
whirlpool which eddies and turns around one
disputed point. The Chicago Times has pub
Hshed an interview, real or pretended, with
one of the supreme bench, which expresses
opinions both on the fact and law of the case
at issue. Wholly aside and independent
of this published statement, the capitol Is full
of floating rumors that the court is pre-
Judged and partisan body. Extreme advo-
Gates on both sides hesitate to carry their ex-
treme views into its cool atmosphere, and
some Democrats habituated at the south to
the political decisions of political judges
bought and paid with price by dual or
constructive bribery may be pardoned for
hesitation in accepting without challenge the
opinion of a court to which only one party has
made appointments for sixteen years past. 1t
will be strange if in un atmosphere where
the dominance of the Presidential question
brings the business Of the legislature to a
deadlock, some expression of opinion from
the Judges does not preclude an appeal to the
only impartial arbiter left In a government
where the executive has bent all his energies
to the election of a successor, where the legle
lature is house divided against itself, and
the judiciary the creature Of partisan appoint
ment. Whatever result may come, it ls clear
none will be reached tall the actual count has
loomed within sight Of the Legislature. Mean
while, both chambers are drifting into ire
formally divided Oh the Joint rules. In
formally, they have divided upon the power
to count the votes. The quiet current of de-
bate in the senate chamber tends to give the
president of the senate absolute power and
lacking willingness to execute an eXtraOrdi-
nary, if not an extra unconstitutional power,
Ferry is to be displaced. Debate and deduc
ton are more violent In the lower cham
bePsand they assume the equal power of the
house unchallenged save of its own motion.
With the Joint rules out OF the way, the
speaker Will claim coordinate jurisdiction
with the president of the senate, and, claim
ing that, Mr.. Speaker Will have the oppor-
tunity to challenge andpreVent all which Mr..
President may attempt-and for some three
centuries of English parliamentary history
Mr.. Speaker, at the head of his house, has
been a man no power could turn from the
execution of the behests of the body over
which he presides.
Congressional Proceedings.
SENATE.
WAsHIsGToS, December 14.-In the morn
ing hour the resolution to print extra copies
of the Presidents message, and the accom-
panying documents in regard to the late cleo
ton in Louisiana, was taken up. Senator
Thurman moved to amend, so as to have
printed with the message and documents the
memorial of Messrs. Bogy, Stevenson and
M'Donald, embracing the report OF
the Democratic committee, which witnessed
the counting of the vote by the returning
board. long, angry and heated discussion
ensued, participated in by Senators Sherman,
Wheeler, Randolph, Withers, Thurman,
West, Morton and Bayard. The resolution
to print one thousand eight hundred and fifty
copies, az amended by Senator Thurman, was
agreed TO without division. The senate then
took up the joint resolution to print ten thou
sand extra copies of the message of the Presi-
dent and accompanying documents in regard
to the Louisiana election. Senator Thurman
submitted the same amendment which he
offered to the former resolution, which was to
have them printed, stitched and bound with
the message and documents and the
memorial Of Senators Bogy, Stevenson and
NJ Donald, embracing the report Of the Dem
ocratic committee which witnessed the count
in New Orleans, which was agreed to, and
the joint resolution passed as amended.
The chair laid before the senate a message
from the President III answer to the resolu-
ton of the senate Of the sixth instant In regard
to troops being stationed at Petersburg, Vir-
ginia on election day. Ordered printed and
to lie on the table. Also, a communication
from the attorney general In answer to the
senate resolution of the twelfth instant in re-
gard to the employment of deputy marshals
on election day. The attorney general says
that the information called for ID not In his
possession, and can only be obtained from the
marshals of the United States, who have the
power to appoint deputies; but he will seek
to procure information at as early day as
prdctlCdDle. OTuCIcu pIluGtu duu W no On
the table.
Gn motion Of Senator Mitchell tho senate
took up the resolution in regard to the Oregon
ele ctor 80 as to have it come up as unfinished
business tomorrow.
Senator Bayard presented a statement
compiled by an officer of the house of repre-
sentatives in regard to the count of the
electoral vote hF that body since the fOrma-
ton of the government. Ordered printed.
After executive session the senate adjourn
cd.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, December l4.-Mr. Knott,
chairman of the Judiciary committee. report
ed a resolution as a substitute for Mr.. NJ 'Cra-
rvs resolution about the counting OF The cleo
toral votes, 1t provides for committee of
seven to act In conjunction with any similar
committee that may be appointed by the sem
ate, to report without delay a measure best
calculated to accomplish the desired end.
Also another committee of seven to report
what are the privileges, powers and duties of
the house in counting tbs electoral Fotes
The resolution gaa adopted under the opera
tion Of the previous question without debate
or division.
In accordance with the ruling OF the chair,
which was sustained by the house, the reso-
luton By Mr.. Lemoyne was taken up In or.
der, for the appointment Of joint commit
tee to present 10 the supreme court the i'm
pOrtant questions on the subject of counting
the electoral votes Mr.. Wood IN. Y / raised
a question Of cO, 1pratioD and II xas dacid