The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-09

adODt meth0dS OF trlal IOr determining Ine
rights of individuals; quo acarTanto proceed
ing involves trial by jury, and the common
law interposes 4 barrier to the Commission
assuming to 60 into such an issue; as to the
alleged ineligibility of Humphries, one OF the
Florida electors that has been looked into by
the State Canvassing Board, which has exam
ined him under oath and found him to be
qualified; there is no act OF Congress for ascer-
tanning whether an elector is qualified or not;
Congress cannot entertain questions OF proof;
if a disqualified elector passes the observation
of the voters and the guards of the State law,
his vote must stand unchallengeable; if the
certificate should show that the electors were
Senators or Representatives in Congress, their
vote could be rejected because no element of
extraneous proof would be needed, but the dis
qualification would be matter of ocular and
personal knowledge; tie instituting of quo
Warranto proceedings in State Court while
duly appointed electors are performing their
duties cannot affect the legality of their action:
no power can TOUCH arrest or reverse their vote
after it is sealed up and sent forward. The
bottom of the system Of electng President is
that the whole business shall 60 forward with
out delay, aud the office be filled at the ap-
pointed time If every step in the process can
be hindered by judicial proceedings, the sover-
eighty of the people will be supported by
government of judges. and there is no resort
but that which the Children of Israel had-to
pray for king.
Thursday the Commission met to further con-
slider the Florida case, and Wednesday the
question as to the admission of evidence was
discussed A decision on the case is not ex-
pected before the close of the week.
CONGRESS.
In the Senate Thursday the credentials of Fl.
M. Teller, Senator from Colorado for six years,
were filed. A set Of resolutions, said to have
been adopted at mass meeting of white and
colored citizens of Barnwell county, S. c., was
presented by Senator Robertson; after sharp
debate, several Senators opposing their reading
because they were not couched in respectful
language, they were read and referred. Several
bills and petitions of little public interest were
introduced, after which the Senate adjourned.
In the House little business was transacted ex-
cept the introduction and reference Of the re-
port of the House committee ON the Florida
election.
The Senate did nothing Friday but discuss
the bill to amend the Poetic Railroad acts, so
as to create sinking fund for the liquidation
of the indebtedness due the government by the
Pacific roads. The House spent the day in COM
mittee of the whole on the legislative appro-
priation bill A sharp debate sprang up on the
paragraph which fixes the compensation of
Senators at $4,000, in which Waddell Of North
Carolina, charged Holman of Indiana with
two Cent economy, and Kelly said that the
present Congress was the most expensive one
| in the history of the country. The bill was
not completed.
Saturday the Senate did nothing of any con-
sequence. The House spent the day in COM
mittee of the whole on the legislative approprl-
alton bill. A motion to fix the salary of the
President at $50 900 instead of S25 900 was lost
The amendment fixing the salary Of Senators
at $4,000 was agreed to. The bill was then
passed.
Monday the Senate further considered the
bill establishing sinking fund for the liquida-
| ton of the Pacific railroad indie btedness. Mr..
to the letter of Gov Wells of the Louisiana
Returning Board. The House did nothing but
on-concur in the Senate amendments to the
| Notification and military academy bill.
Tuesday the Senate discussed the sinking
| fund bill and refused by vote of 80 to % &c
| pass over the Presidents veto the bill abolish
| ing the Board of Metropolitan Police Commits
sioners. The House was in committee of the
whole on the deficiency appropriation bill but
did not dispose of it.
Wednesday the Senate discussed the Pacific
railroad bill but took no action. House amend.
ment to the printing bill providing that govern
| ment printers be paid no more than printers in
| New York, Baltimore and PHILADELPHIA, was
lost.
| The House held short and unimportant ses
sion.
| The Oregon investigation continues to bring
| to light more evidence of Democratic trickery.
Evidence in the Mississippi investig alton
| shows that the Democrats carried the State by
fraud and intimidation.
Judge Mackey has recognized Hampton as
Governor Of South Carolina.
Continued dscredit is thrown upon the testi.
| mony of Littlefeld, Maddox and Pickett in the
| Louisiana case The members of the returning
board swear that the charges are false, and
bring forward evidence that the Democrats at
| tempted to bride the board and failed. Maddox
| has been denounced as a swindler by men
whom he once cheated by selling them forged
| bonds. Pickett is the fellow who stole the
in several trickey operations, while Little6eld
II =
drel generally.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
Keeper Caster of the Albany (Y. " peni.
| Tertiary, was attacked by VIM. Barr, convict,
known as "Whistle SAM Thursday, and hor-
ribly mangled about the head, causing instant
death. The convict was insane.
The locomotive house of the Pennsylvania
Railroad at Trenton, n j., with eight first
class locomotives, was burned Friday. Loss
over $4,000.
The officers of the Security Life Insurance
Company have been indicted for perjury.
Steamship George Washington, on the line
between Halifax and ST. Johns N. F., has been
lest with all On board, twenty in number. Sew
eral bodies have been picked up as Cape Race
BRIEF MENTION.
Alexander 81. Stephens is improving.
Phoebe A. Hannaford has been removed from
the pastorate of the Universalist church in
jersey City, because most of the congregation
preferred a male. Some, however, will secede
and start new church for her.--Yale Uni
versity Boat Club has voted to decline Cornel's
challenge to row the winner of the YaleHar-
ward race.-Secretary of State Chadwick has
been installed Governor of Oregon, vice Grover,
resigned.--MGst of the troops sent to South
Carolina has left.--The hat-sizers of Newark
are on strike.--Gen. Sherman opposes the
fastening upon the War Department of the
Signal Service. Rear Admiral Alden, U. S.
n, died in San Francisco Tuesday. --The
original Declaration of Independence is to be
transferred from the Patent office to the State
Department. Apaches are plunderlng
and killing the settlers in Southeastern Ari-
IONA. Gen. Miles defeated Crazy Horse Janu-
airy s. The Indians lost heavily. Miles lost
four men.