The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-02-03
Congressional Proceedings.

Florida, spoke at length on the subject of
Inc election in that State. The Pacific
Railroad Sinking Fund Bill was taken
BIZ, so that It should come up as unfinished
business on Saturday. The Military Acad-
emy and Fertilization Appropriation bills
we're reported and placed on the calendar
After an executive session the Senate ad +.
burned.
In the House the Electoral Vote bill
Fas passed by the very large majority of
l9l to S6-considerably more than a two
birds vote. The House was unusually
full, PIT members being present out Of
293.
.Sdtmddy.--In the Senate the electoral
count bill was presented from the House,
bearing the certificate Of the Speaker that
Il had passed that body; it was then signed
by the President of the Senate and handed
% the committee on enrolled bills to be
delivered to the President of the United
mates. The Military Academy appropri-
ation and fertilization bills were called up,
amended and passed. The bill in regard
ID a Pacific railroad sinking fund was
called up, but its consideration was post.
poned until Monday.
In the House the members of the Lou.
kiana returning board, Messrs. Wells,
Anderson, Cazanave and Kenner, were
krraigned for contempt, and after some
delay presented lengthy paper denying
ihat they intended any contempt, and de.
elaring that the papers demanded by the
House investigating committee had passed
but Of their possession. A resolution was
adopted after debate remanding the priso-
ners to the close custody of the sergeant.
et-arms until they should have purged
themselves of contempt.
Moaddy.-In the Senate James +.
Bailey, Of Tennessee, elected to fill the
Vacancy caused by the death of Andrew
johnson, was qualified, and took his seat.
Dir, Robertson, of South Carolina, called
np the resolution submitted by Mr.. Cor.
Hon, declaring Wade Hampton's the legal
Government in that State, and presented
An argument in support of the resolution,
which was read, A message was received
from the President announcing that he
bad signed the Electoral count bill, and
bud giving his reasons therefore. Mr..
Sargent, from the Committee on Priyi.
leges aud Elections submitted the report
Of the majority of the subcommittee on
the Florida election. The Pacific Rail.
road Sinking Fund bill was considered.
n In the House several bills were intro
duced, among them one by Mr.. Banning,
providing that the first session of every
Congress shall begin on the 4th of March.
The Eads Appropriation bill was consider
ed. A message was received from the
Senate announcing that the President had
Signed the Electoral Count bill. Mr..
Payne gave notice that he would move
10 proceed to the election of the House
Pmembers Of the Commission on Monday.
Iuesddy.--In the Senate n bill was re.
ported for the punishment of persons max.
ping or having in their possession dies for
the manufacture Of counterfeit coin. NJ
Howe introduced bill to amend the
statutes in relation to damages for infringe
ment Of patents. On motion of Mr.
Edmunds, the President of the Senate was
authorized to appoint two tellers to act in
the counting Of the Electoral vote. A
conference report on the bill for the revi.
sion of the statutes was adopted. The
Pacific Railroad Sinking Fund bill was
discussed. The five Senators nominated
by the Republican and Democratic eau
cuses for members of tho Electoral Com
mission were then elected by an unani.
nous vote. A message was received from
the President, recommending the continu-
ance of the Board for Testing Iron and
Steel, and recommending the appropria-
ton Of $40, 900 therefor. 1t was ordered
to be printed aud referred to the Commit
tee on Appropriations.
In the House, the bill approprating
$500 900 to James B. Eads, for the con.
struction of the Mississippi jetties, was
passed. Mr.. Cox, Chairman Of the Com
mittee on Election Frauds in. New York
presented asreport, which was adopted,
exonerating Postmaster james and his
subordinates from all suspicion of tampcr-
ing with the mails. The bill abolishing
the District Police Board was passed over
the Presidents veto-yeas l5S, nays rs.
A message was received from the Presi.
dent, vetoing the resolution thanking the
Argentine Republic and Republic of
Pretoria for their congratulations on the
American Centennial He says that, un-
der the Constitution, Congress cannot
dictate to the Secretary of State what cor
respondence he shall hold with foreign
States The message was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs. An elec-
sion was then had for the FIVE House
members of the Electoral Commission,
and those nominated by the caucuses we're
chosen, Mr.. Garfield receiving % votes
less than the others. A bill was passed
that damages for infringements of patents
shall only be recovered for infringements
which have taken place within one year
preceding the notice of Infringement
The resolution declaring Mr.. Bedford en-
titled to admission as Representative
from Colorado was taken up, aud the
House then adjourned.
Wcdaesddy.-In the Senate the Chair
presented communication from the Jus.
tices Of the Supreme Court notifying the
Senate that they had selected Judge
Bradley to act with them on the commits.
sion for determining questions arising out
of the electoral count. Hon. Frank Here.
ford appeared and was sworn in as senator
from West Virginia. A petition was
presented from citizens of the District of
Columbia asking for the passage over the
veto of the President of the bill to abolish
the police commissioners. The Senate
debated at length, without coming to a
conclusion, the bill to amend the Pacific
railroad acts SO as to create sinking fund
for the liquidation of the indebtedness
due the government by Pacific railroad
companies.
In the House, Senate resolutions were
called up aud adopted authorizing the APP
pointment Of an additional police force for
duty at the capitol during the count Of
the electoral vote A resolution was
adopted providing that on the days for the