Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-12
WASHINGTON.
Congresslonal Proeeedinrs.

WASHINGTON, December l2-SENATE
I'm the morning hour a great number
of petitions and many bills we're pre-
ssnted and referred.
Mr., Edmunds submitted a resolution
authorizing a select committee to take
into consideration the state of the law
respecting the %sscertaining and declara.
ton Of the result Of elections of Presi.
dent and Vice-President of the United
States; to also consider and report upon
the best manner of electing those officers
aud the duration of their terms Of Office.
Agreed to.
AT the expiration Of the morning
hour consideration was resumed of IN.
finished business-the resolution of
Matthews declaring the right of the
government to pay bonds in silver-and
Chaffee submitted the following as a sub
%stitute: THAT all bonds Of the United
States issued or authorized to be issued
under said acts Of congress heretofore
recited, are payable, principal and inter.
est, at the option Of the government in
coin OF gold or silver of the standard
value when such bonds we're issued, and
to restore to its coinage such silver coin
as legal tender coequal with gold coin is
in violation of public faith, nor in
derogation Of the rights OF a public
creditor" Ordered printed.
HOUSE, The committee on Pacific
railroads this morning voted that Mr..
Throckmorton has succeeded to the
Craftsmanship under the rules of the
house, and that the committee decline
to excuse him from acting.
The house foreign affairs committee
to-day agreed to the bill prepared by the
sub committee, providing for immediate
distribution by the state department of
the first installment received from Mex.
leo on account Of awards of the mixed
claims commission, excepting those for
We'll and Laobra, claims which the
President is authorized to suspend for
the present in order to make them sub.
jects Of diplomatic correspondence or
possible investigation, if such q course
shall be found desirable.
Mr.. Stephens introduced a bill repeal.
ing the iron.clad oath, when has to be
taken by applicants for pensions. Re-
ierred.
NJ. Harris, chairman of the election
committee, called up the Colorado con.
tested election case. The majority re-
port was signed by Democratic members
declaring that Patterson was elected,
and the minority report by Hitchcock,
Wait and Thornburg declaring Belford
duly elected.
Mr.. Cox, of Ohio, submitted another
report declaring that there had been no
valid election.
Immediately after the reading Of the
journal, Mr.. Morrison said be noticed
the speaker yesterday appointed several
members to different committees in
place of other members excused. he
desired 10 know when those members
had been excused. The speaker said he
had asked permission to fill certain
vacancies. Mr.. Morrison replied that
that was not his question. The
house had never excused those
gentlemen from serving on com
mittees. Could a member excuse
himself2 The speaker answered that it
had been the uniform practice to excuse
gentlemen who did not wish to serve
The matter here stopped.
The President nominated J.. c. Ban.
croft Davis, Of New York, judge of the
Court Of Claims, vice Loring, retired;
William A. Brand, postmaster at Ur.
bans, o., and F. c. Gibbs at Ports.
mouth, o.