The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-02-16
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

an amendment the Senate bill To enable Indians
to become citizens. Messrs. Hamln, Dorsey and
Davis were appointed the new conference COM
mittee on the part Of the Senate ON the bill in
voving the restoration Of the fast mail trains
and the franking privilege. The Senate dis
cussed, without action, the bills to pay Capt
Eads S5000O0 for his jetties, and 70 amend
the Pacific Railroad acts to create a
sinking fund for the liquidation Of the indebtedness
due the Government by the Union Pacific. The
Senate refused, by vote of 20 yeas to % nays to
concur in the House amendment to the Deficiency
bill ordering reducing of the price of composition
in the Government Printing Office.
HousE.-The House considered the Deficiency APP
preparation bill. An amendment was adopted pro-
hibiting the Congressional Printer from paying more
for composition than the average paid in New York,
Baltimore and Philadelphia Mr. Blount, from the
a5s BILL The Dill 'ppr'pri'''S w. 49,
THURSDAY, Feb. S.-SENATE.-The credentials
of Senator-elect Garland of Arkansas were filed.
-. The bill to pay Capt. Eads for his Mississippi
jetties indefinitely postponed. The Indian APP
preparation bill discussed, amended and passed.
HousE.-Mr. Hale read letter addressed to him
by the members Of the Louisiana Returning Board,
stating that they were confined in a dark damp
dungeon of the cellar of the Capitol, and offered
resolution directing that they be removed to better
quarters where their health may not be endangered
After a lengthy discussion, the resolution re-
ferrcd. The Deficiency Appropriation bill .
der discussion when the House adjourned.
FRIDAY, Feb. 9.-SENATE.-B were intro
duced appropriating $1,000 to defay the expenses Of
the Electoral Commission, and to authorize and equip
an expedition to the Arctic seas, according to the
plans suggested by Capt Howgate The bill to
courge and promote Geographic communication he
tween America and Europe was passed. IL incorlo-
rates company to construct new Atlantic cable,
with the American end at Baltimore. The bill to
amend the Pacific Railroad acts was debated.
III. I-s.
praton bill, and the bill to provide for the dstribu
ton of the Mexican claims awards Mr.. Morrison,
Chairman of the special committee on Louisiana
affairs submitted the report of that committee,
which concludes with resolution declaring that the
Democratic electors received a majority of votes in
the State of Louisiana that the pretended canvass
and compilation of votes for electors by the Board Of
Returning officers was without authority Of
law, fraudulent, and void, and that the
Hayes and Wheeler without the confirmation and
approval of illegal and fraudulent action by said Re-
turning Board. Mr.. Townsend submitted a mi
nority report recommending the adoption Of
luton declaring that the Republican electors have
been elected in Louisiana, and that the election
examined into, determined, declared and promu-
gated 10y the proper authorities of said State under
all the forms of law, and in compliance with the
sttution of the United States. Both reports were
ordered printed and recommtted.
SATURDAY, Feb. 10.-JoINT SEssIoN.-Precise-
ly at o'clock the Senators took their seats in joint
session with the House members, and President Ferry
took the chair. The decision of the Electoral Com
mission having been read, written objections were
made TO il by Field the part of five
Senators and twelve Representatives, and then the
two houses separated.
SENATE.-The Chair presented communication
from the President of the Electoral Commission, in
forming the Senate that it has decided upon the
matters submitted concerning ,he electoral votes
from Florida. The objections to the decision of
the commission submitted by Mr.. Field were read
long debate took place to the form OF the ques
ton sustaining overruingNhe objections filed by
Field, and an order submitted by Mr.. whyte
that the Senate do not concur in the decision
made by the commission created under the
act approved Jan. 20, 1877, but that
the votes cast by Wilkinson, Col Robert Bullock,
J. +. Yonge and r. Il. Hinton the electors of
Florida the true and lawful votes for President
and Vice President of that State. and should be
counted as the electoral vote of the State, de-
isa,ed by strict party yotenah the Democratic
the Republicans in the negative. The following
resolution offered by Mr.. Sherman, then adopted
by strict party vote-44 to 25 "Resoiced, That
The decision of the commission upon the electoral
votes of the State Of Florida stand the judgment
of the Senate, the objections made thereto to the
contrary Notwithstanding" The Secretary was di-
rected to notify the House that the Senate had
reached determination in regard TO the Electoral
Commission and ready to meet the House for
the purpose of proceeding with the count.
HoUsE.-After the Senate had retired from the
hall Of the House a motion made by a Demo-
cratic member to take recess. Hale made the point
OF order that a recess could not now be taken. A
long discussion followed, participated in by Messrs
McCrary, Kasson. Wilson and Banks, Republicans,
and Warren, Jones and Sayer Democrats-the
former opposing and the latter advocating a recess
Speaker Randall maintained that according
to the spirit of the Electoral Commission act il was
competent for the House to take recess, and
ruled the point of order. Mr.. Hale appealed from
the decision. Mr.. Cox moved to lay tire appeal on
the table, which carried-156 TO 76 The mo-
ton to take recess till Monday was then carried
163 to 10S.
MONDAY, Feb. 12.-SENArE.-No business
was transacted in the Senate At 2:2o p. m, in re-
Spouse to notification from the House, it proceeded
to the Representatives Chamber for the purpose of
resuming the count of the electoral votes.
HousE.-Mr. Knott offered a resolution TO re-
mission Messrs. Hale and Wilson raMed points of
and that the House had power TO refer
anything to the commission The Speaker stis-
tanned the point of order, and said that only the
joint convention of the two houses could refer the
matter to the tribunal The debate ON sustaining
the decision was then begun, and was carried on
with much warmth and earnestness ON both Sides
The Speaker sustained in his decision the vote
standing 167 to 81. The resolution declaring the
Tildcn electors in Florida elected agreed to by
vote of 16s to 1903. resolution then passed in
forming the Senate that the House ready to pro-
coed with the count.
JOINT SEssIoN.-The Senate entered. and the
Joint convention called to order. The resolu-
ions of the Senate and House in reference to the
vote of Florida were read, and Mr. Ferry said that
ls the houses did not agree, the decision would
tand. The tellers then recorded four votes for
Hayes and Wheeler. The convention then pro-
,eeded to count, the State of Georgia being first
Ifter Florida. No objection being interposed
o the vote of Georgia, the eleven votes were |
counted for Tiden and Hendricks. Next followed |
succession, the State Of Illinois, with twenty-one
otes for Hayes and Wheeler; Indiana with fifteen |
otes for Tilden and Hendricks; Iowa with eleven
otes for Hayes and Wheeler Kansas, with Ave |
otes for Hayes and Wheeler Kentucky with twelve |
otes for Tilden and Hendricks. Then came a GER |
ihcate from Louisiana, showing eight votes for |
Iayes, authenticated by Kellogg az Governor: this
7as followed by the opening of another
ertifcate showing eight votes for Tildep
by McEnery as Governor still third |
ertifcate was read purporting TO be authenticated
y Desl9nda, Secretary Of State with votes for
Iayes. The presiding officer opened and presented
mother certificate received by mail, no correspond
ig one having been received by messenger. II
as obvious from the first ser nee il was mere
urlesque. II commenced by certifying that John
NTH had been chosen elector from the First
district; John Smith No. 2 from the Second:
DIN Smith No. from the Third: John
NTH No. from the Fourth; John Smith No s
om the Fifth; John Smith No. 6 from the Sixth
nd John Smith and John Smith TO be electors at
rye. IL followed the usual formalities and certi-
ed that the eight electoral votes of Louisiana had
zen cast for Cooper and Cary. The paper pur-
'rted 70 be signed by "John Smith, Company q
s.lIl |