Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-02-03
IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
Graphic Description of the scene when the
Compromise bill WIS PreseItel.

NOmhfonA-t bili WIS Ireeti fe I.
1t cannot be said that the plan of the
committee was received very favorably
by the members of either house, writes
a Tribune Washington correspondent.
Almost every one had ideas of his own
which he desired to have adopted, aud
the passage of this bill supersedes the
pet plan of procedure which majority
of the members hoped to see agreed to-
Notwithstanding the abundance of adj
verse criticism the bill encounters, its
passage may be confidently predicted.
At least such is the plain outlook now.
The men who denounce 1t most strongly
do not say that they anticipate its de-
feat, and do not even propose to make an
open fight against it. They usually
end their criticisms by saying that they
suppose the final adoption of the COM
promise is inevitable.
Nothing was thought of or talked
about at the capitol except the report of
the electoral committee. Although the
outlines of the bill agreed to were gen.
orally known, there was an anxiety and
eagerness manifested not only by the
senators and representatives but by hun
dreds of people who gathered at the
capitol early in the day to hear the text
of the measure read and to learn how it
would be received.
The report was presented to the Sen
ate by Mr.. Edmunds just as soon as the
committee adjourned their meeting, being
apparently for the purpose of carefully
examining the printed copy of the bill
agreed upon. The news that the report
was in spread rapidly through the lob
bies and coat-rooms, and the vacant
chairs in the chamber were speedily filed
Perfect silence prevailed and the closest
attention was given the reading. Every
body recognized the gravity and import
ance of the occasion. The members of
/ the committee had look of serious sat
isfaction-all except Mr.. Morton, who
appeared to be in i'll bumor. Mr.. Conk-
ling neryously washed his hands with
invisible soap and water. Mr.. Ed
munds sat with fingers interlocked across
his vest, twirling his thumbs. Mr..
Bayard took his pen and made an occa-
sional note, Mr.. Thurman wore an i'm
passive and judicial look. Mr.. FIRE.
! linghuysen was more than usually dig
nifed. Not a senator left his seat until
the bill and report had been read. The
excited interest in the subject was shown
/ at the moment the secretary announced
the title Of the report in manner al
most unprecedented in the Senate. A
score of voices demanded "Read,
read" Evidently the report was written
by Mr.. Edmunds, for when the secre-
.tary stumbled once or twice over the
manuscript, Mr.. Edmunds prompted
him. Besides, its language and logic
are characteristic
! When the report had been read
through, the secretary said "Signed
by the members of the committee. ="
Read the Names" insisted at least q
score Of senators III one breath. They
were read, and then it was found that
Mr.. Morton's name was not there. OF
the fourteen members OF the joint COM
mittee, every one had signed it except
the Indiana senator. All eyes were
turned toward him, but he offered no
minority report and said nothing. A
buzz of relief from the suppressed ex-
element that had prevailed ran through
the galleries Mr.. Sargent, who came in
after the bill had been read, insisted OH Il
second reading.
Mr.. Morton stated to one of the House
members of the committee that, although
he should not sign the report, he should
probably say nothing i'll the Senate to
oppose the passage of the bill. He took
strong grounds last session against the
constitutional powers Of Congress to
throw the settlement Of disputed ques-
tons growing out of a Presidential cleo
ton into the supreme court or into any
tribunal outside of the two houses.