The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-01-18
FORTY.FOURTH CONGRESS.


In the Senate, January 5, Mr.. Morton
called up the resolution submitted by the
Committee on Privileges and Elections,
Wednesday last, declaring that William M.
Turner is in duty bound, under his oath, to
answer the questions prepounded to him by
the Committee in regard to the transmission
OF Geographic messages through his office at
Jacksonville, Oregon, and that he can not
excuse himself from answering the same by
reason Of his official connection with the
Western Union Telegraph Company, as
Manager of their Office at Jacksonville,
Oregon. The question was discussed
at length, and, finally, vote was taken,
which resulted, yeas, 80 +; nays, 3; no quorum
voting. The President laid before the Senate
the memorials OF the National Board of
Trade OF the United States, praying re.
vision Of the bankrupt law, aud OF the tariff
and internal revenue laws. Referred to the
Committee on Judiciary and Finance. The
Senate then adjourned until Monday ........
Iu the House the question of the
recusant witness, Mr.. Barnes, the New
Orleans Manager of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, was taken up. Mr..
Barnes was before the bar of the House, and
submitted, in. writing, his answer, as pre-.
pared by his counsel, the answer being
under oath. The answer of the witness,
and all questions relating thereto, have
been referred to the Judiciary Committee.
The Sergeant-at-Arms was directed to retain
Mr.. Barnes in custody. The House then
went into Committee of the Whole on the
Contingency Deficiency bill. After about
two hours the committee rose and the bill
was passed, aud the House adjourned till
tomorrow.
In the House, January 6, the Bank Com.
missioner was authorized to bid in certain
property Of the Freedmen's Bank, and sell
the came afterward at public or private
sale, In order that something might
be realized to the creditors of the
bank. The House went into Commit.
tee of the Whole on the Diplomatic Appro.
priatiou bill, and Mr.. Holman, of Indiana,
offered an amendment reducing the salaries
OF the Ministers at all the principal courts
OF the world. The subject was debated, but
without taking any action the Committee
rose, and the House, after passing q few bills
of local import, adjourned.
In the Senate, January s, by vote of yeas
80, nays 3, the resolution passed requiring
VIM. NJ. Turner, Manager of the Western
Union Telegraph Office at Jacksonville,
oregon, to answer questions propounded as
to messages which passed through his Office
In regard to the appointment OF Cronin as
Presidential Elector, and the check of
$4,000, alleged TO have been drawn in New
York, in favor af Ladd & Bush, of Salem,
Oregon. Mr.. Sherman presented the petition
of prominent business men and citizens
Of Concinnati, members of both politial
parties, asking On amicable settlement of
the Presidential contest. 1t was referred TO
the Special Committee considering the
Presidential question. Mr.. Sherman pre-.
scented the petition of citizens of Ohio, ask.
ing Congress to adopt measures to secure
cheap biography. Referred. After a
short executive session, adjourned .
In the House, under the call of the States,
bills and resolutions were introduced and
referred, including the following: For
paying the legal.tender debt in harmony
with justice and the pledged faith of the Gov.
eminent; to extend for two years the South.
ern Claims Commission for free coinage of
silver dollars, aud making the same legal
tender; to authorize and equip an ex.
petition to the Arctic seas.
A resolution instructing the Select Com.
mittee on Privileges of the House, i'm regard
to the counting of the Electoral votes. to
inquire whether any Electoral votes were
cast 10y persons laboring under political
disabilities, and, if so, what action should
he taken thereon was adopted. On motion
the Select Committee was authorized to
inquire into the alleged improprie,ies
OF conduct on the part of the Police
Commissioners OF the District of Columbia.
Passed without single dissenting voice.
Mr.. Mills, of Texas, moved to suspend the
rules and adopt the following: "Resolved,
That the maintenance of the inyiolate
rights OF States, and especially the right
of each State to order and control its
own domestic institutions according to its
own judgment exclusively, is essential
to the balance of power, on which the per-
lection and endurance of our political fabric
depends, and we denounce the lawless in.
vasion by armed force of the soil of any
State or Territory, no matter under what
pretext, as among the gravest crimes" This
was lost by vote of yea, 10Y; nay, 80: not
two-thirds voting in the affirmative.
In the Senate, January 8, the House bill
abolishiDg the Board of Police Commission
ers of the District Of Columbia, was passed
without dissenting voice. A resolution
authorizing the arrest Of RuDyan, the New
York banker, who refuses to answer certain
questions concerning the Oregon Electoral
matter, was also unanimously passed. A long
debate then ensued on the state of affairs in
Louisiana and the South generally. Mr..
Sherman made an eloquent speech, which
Mr.. Bogy gave notice he would answer......
In the House. a resolution ordering the ar.
rest of Mr.. Orion, for contempt of the
House, was passed. A number Of bills were
introduced and referred to the proper COM
mittees.
In the Senate, January 10, a large number
OF bills and resolutions were introduced
and referred......In' the House, by a vote of
"a to 1873, the bill to authorize bridge
across the Ohio River, between Covington
and Cincinnati, was defeated. After dis.
cussing the amendment to the diplomatic
appropriation bill, reducing the salaries Of
Ministers of the first class, the House al.
journed.
In the Senate, January ii, Mr.. Mitchell
stated that he would soon propose to renew
a bill for the relief of J. Milton Best, of Ken.
lucky, which had been vetoed. MIR. With.
ers announced his intention TO make a
speech on the occupation of Petersburg,
Va, in the late election. The revised stat
utes were taken up and amended to require
ordnance officers and officers having charge
OF ordnance to make quarterly reports......
Ia the House, Mr.. Hclman's amendment to
the Consular and Diplomatic Bill was lost
by vote of 100 to 80. Consent was given
for the printing of election testimony. Mr..
Willard offered a substitute for the Silver
Commission Bill, which authorizes the Pres
ident to appoint three members Of an Inter.
national Convention, the purpose Of which
may be to fix the relation Of gold aud silver,
and, also, authorizing him TO extend invita-.
tons TO countries in which gold aud silver
are both in legal use.
Movements OF New Orleans Militia.