River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-01-25
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Proceedings of the Second Sessio


Proceedings of the Second Sessio
Mr.. Patterson, in the Senate on the
10th, submitted resolution recognizing the
Chamberlain government in South Carolina
as the lawful government, and declaring that
il shall be Recognized by the general govern
meT . Mr.. Johnston spoke at length ON the
Pr -ident's communication regarding the
u essence of troops at Petersburg, Va, on
election day. No business wastransacted.
The House, on the 10th, had up a
proposition by the Judiciary committee to
lend for Wells. Anderson, Kassanave and
Kenner, of the Louisiana returning board,
during the consideration OF which a running
debate was had whichwas interrupted at in
tervals by applause in the galleries. The de-
bate was most bitter political wrong for
which we have no space even for summary.
In the Senate, on the 18th, Mr.. Nor
ton announced that the appropriation for in
vestigatiOns had been exhausted, and an ad-
ditional amount asked for which was refused
10y action of the House. Mr.. Morton also re-
piled to the Senators from Virginia in their
charges against the President tor quartering
troops at Petersburg. There was no business
before the Senate.
In the House, on the 18th bill was
introduced organizing the Territory of Okla
hama, also pill extending the time for paw
ment of public lands in cases where crops
have been destroyed by grasshoppers A BIT
ter discussion occurred over the proposition To
compel the Louisiana returning board 10 pre-
duce certain documents before the House, and
the order was made by strict party vote, and
the arrest OF the returning board was ordered
After presenting the report of the
Joint committee on counting the electora
vote on the 18th, Mr.. Bogy yielded the floor
of the Senate to Mr.. Anthony, who offered q
resolution to print ten thousand extra copies
of the report. Mr.. Hamlin introduced bill
to change the basis of fixing the salaries Of
postmasters OF the fourth class to the number
of stamps cancelled instead OF the stamps
sold. The amendment to the pension law al
lowing pensions to those once in the rebel but
afterwards federal army, was passed.
Senator Edmunds reported the bill agreed
upon by the joint committee of both house:
for the settlement of the Presidential dispute
The bill provides that the two houses NEE
in Joint convention on The first Thursday il
February and that the President of the Senate
shall be the presiding officer. Tellers shall
be appointed who shall read the returns ate
they are opened by the President, in alphabet
ical order. Whenever there is bit one return
from State, it shall be counted unless oh
lection is made, but whenever dispute arise
and the Senate and House, acting separately
fail to agree, then The disputed returns are t
be submitted to the committee Of five Senators
five Representatives and five Associate Justice
of the Supreme Coult; the two houses to cleo
their respective referees. The Justices to b.
those of the first, third, eighth, and nintl
circuits with such other as they may select
The referees are to take a special oath, anC
their decision in each case presented is TO b.
final, unless the two houses, acting separately
shall concur in ordering otherwise. The bil
would occupy too much of our space to give
at length, but the above synopsis contains tn,
main points shorn oftechnicaities.
N InnGn
Knott spoke at length on the powers and du
ties of the House in counting the electora
vote, after which q resolution was offered bJ
the Republicans, declaring the power to count
the votes TO lie vested in the President of thu
Senate. Mr.. Burchard supported the resOlu.
tion in an extended speech. The resolution
went over without action.
In the Senate on che lC III Mr.. White
of Maryland proposed to adjourn over Il
Monday, but Mr.. Edmunds called the atten.
| ton OF members to the fact that the bill fol
counting the electoral vote must be decided
in one week, and he insisted on the Senat-
meeting on Saturday and that the bill be Ia
| ken up at once; il the bill was to be killed lie
| 1t be done in an open manly way and not bl
smothered or Postponed. A sharp tilt wal
had between Senators BOgy and Sherman
| the former calling Governor Packard o
| Louisiana, an infamous robber
The House on the 10Th discharged
/ VIM Orion from custody. Wells and An
| derson, Of the Louisiana returning boarC
were brought before the House to answer fo
| CONTEMPT in not obeying its summons, bu
| they preferred not to answer until the re
manner of the board should arrive. An eff
| fort was made to tass a resolution inquirin,
OF the President what removal OF arms ar
| being or have been made, and how many
troops are at Washington and for what pur
| pose. The resolution was not in order ant
was withdrawn.
In the Senate, on the Goth, Mr.. Ed
munds spoke at length ON the bill fer count
ing the electoral vote, and said the bill mad
no new law but only created commission t
| decide on the old law. Mr.. Morton presented
the credentials of VIM. p. Kellogg as U.
Senator from Louisiana, and asked that the.
| lie upon the table.
In the House on the Goth, the Senate
amendment. to the bill for the revision OF tn
laws ofthe United States were non-concurreC
| in. Mr.. Tarbox in speaking OF the Indian APP
| preparation bill, touched upon the politica
| question ofthe day, when he was interrupted
by Mr.. Wilson who held that he should con
| fine himself to the question The chair sus
tanned Mr. Tarbox, and Mr.. Banks sustained
the decision OF the chair, saying no one coulC
| tell but Mr.. TarboX was about to suggest tina
| the whole Presidential question be referred L
a council OF Indian chiefs.
On the 22d Mr.. Merrimon submitted
| a resolution in the Senate declaring it is no
| within the lawful reach OF the Senate to charg
| committees 81 the Senate with duties to b
| performed away from the capitol while Con
gress is in session. He said that recently on'
State was without representation, and twelve
others with only half their usual representa-
ton. Mr. Morton addressed the Senate a
length IN opposition TO the bill for counting
the electoral vote He believed the Republi
cans had conceded everything in consentinl
that the counting of the votes should be takeI
from the President of the Senate. Mr.. Cam
eron also opposed the bill.
The House. on the ODD, defeated a
resolution to inquire why the troops are being
removed from the frontier. A bill was intro.
duced by Mr. FRYE TO establish court tol
the trial Of contested elections for tie Office Of
President and Vice President. 1t provides
that the court shall consist of the Chief JUS
tice of the Supreme Court anu six judges o.
the U. s. Circuit Court, TO be selected by the
Chief Justice. Mr.. Hunter moved to suspend
the rules and pass the joint resolution to
amend the constitution by providing that No
claims snail ever be allowed for property lost
in the rebellion, unless the person was loyal
70 the government-lost, lis to y, not two
thirds.
When young and inexperienced man
has been invited to dissect turkey,
and is in a cold perspiration over the
uncertainty as to which end the wish
bone is situated in,nothing pleases him
so much as to have the scientific person
who is present request the company to