Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-01
X Horsr.

and O'BIien simultaneously made q motion TO
take recess till IL o'clock tomorrow fore noon.
The speaker promptly ruled the motion not in
order. lie would not entertain dilatory mo-
lion.
Sbeakley sppealed from the decision.
Wood OF New York moved 10 lay the appeal on
the table.
Wilson of Iowa said the chair need not enter.
tain the appeal
Speaker-The chair knows that. but entertans
the appeal. The Houses might as well ssy now
whether the Speaker is right or wrong.
Mr.. Spiinger-ls not the appeal debatable
Speaker-Il is not.
Springer-i desire to give my reasons for sus-
tanning the appeal.
Spesker-Debatc is not 10 order
O'Bren-I rise TO point of order.
The chair decided against him, and when he
again attempted to speak, Brown of Kentucky
effort made by Springer and O l}reb - ~ uearJ,
but the chair would not hear them, and they we're
greeted with derisive laughter.
On the motion to lay O'Brien's appeal on the
table the yeas and nays were ordered and result
ed, yeas 1884, nays 81, so the appeal was laid on
the table.
Wood moved the House proceed to a consider
alton of the decision.
sheakley-I move that the House take recess
I'LL 10 80 O'Clock tomorrow morning.
Speaker-The chair cannot entertain the mo-
ton. The speaker also remarked that the decis-
ion of the commission had been taken Oft by
somebody.
The decision having been restored the clerk
was proceeding TO read it, when he was inter-
viewed by Springer, who objected to the action
on the part of the Speaker in refusing to enter
tain motion for recess. He said it the
duty of the char to decide the motion out of or
der, and that it was the privilege OF any member
to appeal from that ruling.
The speaker again refused to entertain the mo-
ton, citing authority for the same.
q Rr. again N a IN Ii m 70
and was greeted with jeering laughter.
The Speaker intimated that these interruptions
only had the effect of delaying business.
The clerk was again proceeding 10 read the de-
cison when he was again interrupted by Spring
er, who insisted that it was the duty of the chair
to enteita any parliamenta motion submitted,
and to rule upon it, and il was the privilege Of
House to override the decision. [shouts Of sit
down, shut up, order, etc
The decision was then read.
Springer moved that the evidence be read but
after struggle this motion was defeated. only Sc
voting for it.
Tue clerk then proceeded with reading of de.
csions thereto When it was concluded, Mr..
Phillips called for reading of the testimony
MIR. Wood objected on the ground that 1t would
take five days
The speaker stated that under the rules he
would submit to the house the question whether
the testimony should be read.
A standing vote showed 80 yeas. 1888 nays.
yeas 81 nays III.
As soon as the vote was announced, Mr.. Wall.
ing of Ohio moved to reconsider the vote.
MIR. Wood Of New York moved to lay the mo-
ton to reconsider on the table.
The yeas and nays were again ordered on Mr.
Woods motion. Yeas III, nays77.
Mr.. Walling moved that parts one and two of
the South Carolina testimony be read
The Speaker-The house has refused TO have
any of the testimony read, and therefore the mo-
tion is not in order.
Mr.. Franklin Of Mo-, moved that the report of
the South Carolina committee be read.
The Speaker-lt is not before the house.
MIR. Sprnger-lt is a part of the papers that
have been sent to the clerks desk.
Speaker-The house has refused to hear them
read.
MIR. Sprnger-But the house may desire to
have portion Of them read.
Speaker-The gentleman from Illinois will not
say that the house having refused to have the
to entertain motion TO read portion Of it, The
real difficulty in this matter is the law. The law
binds the chair. The chair had nothing to do
with the reporting of that law bat the chair is
bound to abide by its terms.
Mr.. Sprnger-To that do not object.
Speaker-The chair hopes not, because the gen
tleman reported the law. Laughter)
Mr., Luttrell-Ies, and he wishes now that he
had not. Laughter)
After some further attempts at delav, Mr..
lOCuth0e Oh "a. OuSIGu u RESOLUTION IQal the de-
cision Of the electoral commission on the votes Of
South Carolina be not sustained by the house, and
be not counted.
The discussion was opened by Mr.. Hooker Of
NJ ISIS, who declared that in the of South Car
DINA as in the cases of Florida and Lou isana the
commission had refused to perform the functions
with which it had been invested, and had refused
to take evidence on the subjec matter and that
therefore the house was not bound by its action.
MIR. Lspham of New York defended the action
of the commission.
Mr.. Goode of Virginia declared unhesatingly
that the duty OF the democ ats now in reference
to the commission was to do unto others as they
would have Others do unto them under like cir
cunstances.
Mr.. Lawrence of Ohio defended the action of
the commission.
Mr.. Franklin of Missouri opposed to action of
the commission.
The discussion was closed by Mr.. Tee,e ofNew
Jersey, who spoke in favor of acquicsence.
The house proceeded to vote on the resolution
offered by Mr.. Cochrane.
Mr.. Walling moved to add to the resolution the
words. "ln conformity with the decision Of said
Mr. Jones of Kentucky offered as substitute,
that decision be not concurred in.
Mr.. Hale of Maine made q point of order
gainst the amendment and the substitute. that
under the electoral law tue main question must be
At once put.
The speaker overrulcd the point.
he question was 1rst put on ordering the main
question. and it was six o'clock before the result
was announced
While the vote was being taken efforts were
made by membe.s on both sides to arrive at some
basis for compromise. because it was evident
that hours would yet be consumed in the yea and
nay vote before the point of the reassembing of
the two houses in JOINT meeting could be reached.
No compromise however having been effected Mr..
Walliug, as soon as the result of the vote order
ing the main question was announced, moved to
reconsider that vote.
Nj. Wood Of New York then offered PROPOSE.
ton of comp omise, which was at the suggestion
of the speaker reduced to writing as follows:
The amendments now pending to be withdrawn
and the house to come to direct vote on the orig
nal resolution, the senate 10 be then invited to
meet the house for the purpose of continuing the
count, aud that when the state of Vermont shall
he reached and the two houses separate, the house
then TO take a recess till ten tomorrow.
There was no opposition made, and the propo-
sition was agreed to.
Mr.. Cochrane's resolution that the vote OF South
Carolina he not counted, was then adopted, and
the senate notified.
In CONVENTION.
At 6 20 the Senators came into the Hall and
the action of each House on the decision having
been read, the presiding officer announced that
the two houses not concurrng otherwise, the
electoral votes of South Carolina would be count