Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-01-16
44th Congress, Second Session.

II tH SUuS ItSSs OCCVuu CCSoAOAs
SENATE.-M Jan. Sth.-Mr.
Sherman presented the petition of lead
ing business men of Cincinnati in favor
of peaceful and legal count of the elec-
toral vote. Mr.. Wallace presented a
similar petition from citizens of Phila-
delphia The resolution declaring thai
w. NJ Turner, telegraph operator at
Jacksonville, Oregon, is in duty bound
to answer certain questions as to mes
sages which passed through his office in
regard to the appointment of Cronin as
presidential elector, was passed by vote
of So to s. Mr.. Morrill, introduced bill
to abolish the board of police commits
sioners of the District of Columbia. Mr..
Wallace (Pa.) submitted propositions in
regard to counting the electoral vote
which led to a discussion involving the
action ofthe Louisiana returning board.
HOUSE. number of bills were intro
duced, including one for paying the
legal-tender debt in harmony with JUS
tice aud the plighted faith of the gov
eminent for the free coinage of silver
dollars, and making the same legal
tender to authorize and equip an ex-
petition to the Arctic seas. A resOlu-
ton was adopted without division in
structing the committee Oh the privileges
and duties Of the House in counting the
electoral vote to ascertain whether the
article of the constitution forbidding the
appointment of United States officials as
electors had been violated; also to in
quire into any facts affecting the fairness
or legality of the late election A
resolution was also unanimously adopt
ed providing for the appointment Of q
= ca1act nf fiyn IN M nj ra in IN
the conduct of the present board of police
commissioners of the District of Column
bia. Mr.. Buckner offered q resolution
to suspend the rules and pass a bill
abolishing the board OF police commits
sioners of the District Of Columbia and
transferring its duties to the commits
sioners of the District The bill passed
without single negative vote.
SENATE.-Tuesday, Jan. 9th House
bill abolishing the board of police COM
missioners OF the District of Columbia,
and transferring it's duties to the COM
missioners OF the District, was passed by
a unanimous vote. A resolution was
passed to bring Enos Runyon, of the
firm of Martin d Runyon, bankers, New
York, before the bar of the House to an
swer for contempt in refusing to answer
questions as to who ordered the check
for S., GOO to be drawn in favor of Ladd
& Bush, of Salem, Oregon. The Senate
then resumed the consideration of the
resolution OF Mr.. Wallace, of Pennsyl-
vania, in regard to the count Ofthe cleo
toral vote, which led to protracted
political debate, Mr.. Sherman defending
the action of the Louisiana returning
board in returning the Hayes electors.
Mr.. Bogy replied, declaring that the al
fidavits Contamination read by Mr.Sher
man were made by villains and perjur-
ers, and claiming that the white people
of Louisiana are as peaceablc and law
abiding as those of any other State.
HOUsE.-A resolution was'adopted by
a vote of l5S to SO directing the Speaker
to issue writ for the arrest of VIM. Or.
ton; president of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, to answer for 2
breach of the privileges of the House in
falling to appear before the special cleo
ton committee in Louisiana with GER
tain kilograms, and to bring him before
the bar OF the House. A bill was passed
permitting officers and men of the army
and navy 20 wear on special occasions
the metal badge adopted By the National
Association OF Veterans OF the Mexicen
war.
SENATE.-Wed Jan. l0th.-Aa
| tCtitiOD y DlISSaiiEO iiOl4i lliS 1)OoCOiA
| board of trade Tor the demonstration of
silver. A bill was introduced to extend
the court OF commissioners Of claims for
two years a bill was also passed author
izing the taking of certain parcels of
land for the public use at the intersection
of Pennsy lvaDia and Mary land avenues,
on the west side of the capitol grounds,
| the object being to widen out the street
at the foot OF the capitol grounds, and
/ make the approach from Pennsylvania
avenue to the capitol more convenient.
A bill was passed for the removal of the
old District jail building from Judiciary
Square.
HoUsE.-fn the House the only matter
of interest was q lengthy discussion OF
the Senate joint resolution authorizing
the President to appoint commissioner
to attend an international conference Oh
| the subject of the relative value of gold
and silver.
SENATE Thursday, Jan. 1lth.-Mr.
Conkling presented 8 memorial from the
Gorham Manufacturing Company and
other companies, asking that party feel
ing and strife may be suspended during
| the determination and counting of the
electoral vote. hir. Enos Runyon, the
New York banker, having appeared be
fore the committee on privileges and
elections and purged himself of con-
| tempt, was, on motion, discharged. Mr..
Spencer submitted minority report of
the committee to frame q government
for the District of Columbia. The de-
ticiency BILL amounting to $54 $40, was
passed. A resolution was adopted au-
thoriZing the Secretary of State to ac-
knowledge the congratulation of the Re
public Of Practoria in Africa, and the
Argentine Republic, in relation to the
American centennial.
HOUsE.-In the House the Senate
amendments to the bill in relation to the
right of dover in the District of Colam-
bia were non concurred in. Several bills
were introduced in relation to the count
of the electoral vote. The consular and
diplomatic appropriation bill was taken
up, the pending question being upon
Mr.. Holman amendment to further re-
duce the salaries Of ministers and con-
suls. This amendment was defeated,
and the bill passed as reported. The
Military Academy appropriation bill
was called up and passed it appropriates
$265, l6I, which is S24 9O4 below the bill
of last session. A bill was also passed
to provide remedies for overcharge of
duties or tonnage On imports.
SENATE. Jan. 12th.-A petit
ton signed by distinguished citizens of
both political parties in Newark, n. j.,
was presented, asking that party feeling
be thrown away in the electoral count.
Mr.. Booth, of Cal, spoke at length in
favor ofhis plan for a count of the cleo
toral vote. 1t proposes that where either
house objects to the count of vote the
question shall be decided by the Supreme
Court. Mr.. Gordon introduced bill to
create sinking fund for the liquidation
of the government bonds advanced to
the Western Pacific, Central Pacific and
Union Pacific Railroad Companies. The
Senate adjourned until Monday.
HoUsE.-In the House e. w. Barnes,
manager of the Western Union Tele-
} graph Company, was arraigned for re-
fusing to furnish the Louisiana investi-
eating committee with certain tele-
grams. Barnes answered that he is not
: now in charge of the office, but that
, should he again be placed in charge OF
that office he would willingly produce
; the kilograms ii he could do 50. \ reso-
: luton was adopted declaring that
| not