Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-22
WASHINGTON.
Caucuses.

WASHINGTON, January 20. The democrats in
congress held caucus to-day. Nothing was said
against the plan to settle the presidential ques-
ton.
The republicans also held caucu, TODAY. but
nothing in the proceedings indicated the degree
OF approval which the presidential bill will meet
with at their hands.
Personal.
Senator Edmunds in statesmanlike effort in
the senate to-day appealed to senators to support
the com mittees plan for settlement of the presi-
dentiol question.
Mr.. Edmunds was listened to by large and at
tentive auditory, and on its conclusion he was
congratulated by his fellow senators. His speech
was entirely extemporaneous.
Credentials.
Senator elect Kelloggs credentials were pre-
sented in the senate o-day.
The Presidential Question.
The chief subject Of conversation is the CON-
mittee plan for adjusting the presidential compli-
eauon, which is to be taken up by the senate to-
DAY. There are evident signs of weakening among
the opponents of the plan, which is due to the
TACT that the country at large seems to be accept
ing it heartily.
The republicans who oppose it say they have
elected Hayes, and have the law and power in
their own hands; and therefore disapprove of &C
ceptlng an uncertainty for q certainty.
The democrats who oppose it say they have
elected Tilden, and that the house has the power
to make him president, and ought not to surrender
their powers.
The trends ofthe plan reply that as il is evident
there is serious difference Of opinion as to who
has the power under the constitution to ascertain
the result it is the part of wisdom and patriotism
to go to an impartial tribunal to decide these diff
ferences.
1t is understood that the commission will not
undertake to investigate the elections in the three
daputed states that will 90 to them, for probably
South Carolina will be conceded to Hayes, but
uflll sttnpr lAnlx -. -.
cordance with the laws of congress and the laws
OF the several states Thus the first state to 20 to
the commission will be Florida. and that must be
decided before another state is taken up.
The five senate and five house members of the
commission are to consist Of three republican and
two democratic senators, and three democratic
and two republican representatives-each to be
nominated by caucuses of the members of each
party. The intention is to put on the commission
the ablest and farest men on each side.
The fifth judge must be either Swayne Davis
Hunt or Bradley, and as only Davis among these
toui sympathizes with the democrats, the chances
favor the selection of q republican.
Investigation.
The committee on privileges Of the house on
counting the electoral vote had before them TO- day
Oswin ID. Roberts, who test fled he was cashier Of
the Second National Bank of New York. He eY-
hibted two certificates deposited in the bank by
u. Chandler, dated Oct. 81 1876 one of $4,000, the
other $1,000. They were made pay able on his own
order, on the return Of the certificates.
The endorsement read:
PAY ). Is. Packard or order.
T. CHANDLER"
Pay james +. Aver. 5. Is. PACKARD"
And james E. Aver transferred the order to
Winslow, Lanier & Co.
He could not state how the fact of these deposits
was made public. He did not know whether any
transactions Of money were made through his
bank by leading democrats for political purposes
Besides the certificates of deposit above referred
to, there was account Of Z. Chandler as chair
man of the national republican committee. An
account was also kept in'that bank by Gov. Nc
Cormick.
q. W. Partridge, the private secretary Of 2.
Chandler, was asked whether he had in possession
or under his control any letters or tie egrams writ
ten or sent by Y. Chandler to any person in Flori-
d. South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana and
Oregon, or any letters or kilograms received by
him from persons in those states.
Witness in reply produced copies Of letters
which were previously examined by the commit
tee, when two Of the letters were read and put in
evidence. They were written respectively ty J.
b. Stockton, dated New Orleans, Nov. llth, TO the
effect that if steps were Immediately taken, the
athdavits of ten or twelve Thousand republican
voters could be obtained showing that they were
deprived of the exercise OF the ballot by violence
and intimidation.
Queston-Do you or not know whether the OBJ
struction of votes made by the returning board
changed theIresult of the electioni
Auswer-I cannot without the figures CORE CITY
answer.
Mr.. Field remarked That the witness refusing
to answer categorical question he would move
to make the fact known to the House.
MIR. Field-Did you eliminate abstract from
the total vote as many as ten thousand votes
Al do not know.
Q.-Did you abstract one hundred or one
thousand votes
Al do not known.
Q-Iou spoke of intimidation and murder.
N eff he
returns OF the supervisors OF elections.
A.-No.
The Louisiana Complications.
There is no present prospect of q change of
government policy concerning Louisiana. The
President to-day repeated in effect what he has
heretofore repeatedly said on that subject, name
iy, that he was not prepared to recognize either
state government pending the Congressio nal
investigation, but would be prepared to suppress
disturbance and preserve the peace.
To Be Pressed.
The house committee on electoral vote will press
vote Wednesday fornoon, on the bill reported
from that committee.
Senator Anthony Recovering.
The condition of Senator Anthony was so
much improved this afternoon that he sat up con-
versing with friends. He expects to be out to-
morrow. Some of his friends attribute his sud
den illness to his having eaten partridge at Bati-
more which birds feed on laurel buds when the
snow is on the ground, and thus became poison
Gus.
Confirmed.
The senate to. dsv confirmed the nomination of
Pascal Deeomis to be consul at Cayenne.
The Election Committee.
The committee on elections to-day continued
the examination of Gibbs, the democratic presi-
dental elector from Mississippi. No new facts
regarding the conduct Of the late election in that
state were elected.
Satisfied
E. A. Burke, accredited to Washington by
Nichols of Louisiana, visited the President this
morning, accompanied by the democratic Louis
lana congressman.