Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-25

| was nor nnal, could not be final and there was M
power known TO law which could make it final
| The returning board of Louisiana was confined II
| the face of the returns
1T that were so, and if the votes which IL lefl
out were restored, the election of Tilden q Hen.
| dicks would be assured. The subject was post
| poned. f
Mr. Payne of Ohio, from the committee on
banking and currency reported a bill to amend
the existing law in regard to national banks. He
explained the object OF the bill to be to allow
those banks to issue gold notes to the amount of
w per cent. of their bonds to secure circulation
and to require those banks in California 20 depos-
II with the assistant treasurer at San Francisco
i've per cent. of their circulation as a redemption
fund. The bill was passed.
Mr.. Lamar of Miss, from the Pacific Railroad
Committee, reported back favotably the Senate
bit extending for years the time for the compile
ton OF the Northern Pacific Railroad.
MIR. Holman of Ind made a point of order that
under the rule the bill must receive its first consid-
eration IN committee of the whole, iRasmuch as il
involved the distribution of an immense be - of
public domain-36 100000 acres. -
Mr.. Lamar denied that the bill donated an acre
OF land or dollar of money. 1t simply extended
the time for the completion of the road and re-
lieved the company from the consequences Of It's
not complying with the conditions imposed upon
it.in the law.
The speaker sustained the point of order on the
ground That the bill created new conduons and
that It was therefore not only a measure touching
an appropriation OF property direct but it was
virtually and directly new grant of the property
on new conditions.
lime was Of the essence of the grant. If. how
ever, there were any doubt on the point the don ht
should be resolved in favor of the government for
there was no mutually of interest in the con-
tract.
The point Of order was then therefore well TAX
en-.
The bill was then referred TO the committee of
The Whole on the state Of the Union.
MIR. Lamar then ked the unanimous consent
TO have the bill considered Tuesday next.
Mr. Holman objected declined to withdraw the
objection, though appealed to by Messrs. Kasson
Mr. Lamar also reported bill supplementary
TO and ameDdatory OF the Texas Pacific Railroad
bill of March 3, 1871.
Mr. kasson of Ia, made the minority report
and Mr.. Landers of Ind. offered a substitute
All were ordered to be printed, and referred to
the committee on the whole on the state of the
Union.
Mr. Lamar asked unanimous consent to have
the OH made special order for the 81 of Febru-
Holman.
Mr.. Thockmorton of Texas, from the same
committee, reported bill fixing the rate ef char
yes Tor freight and passengers across the Omaha
RAJ road bridge. Same referred.
Tho House at 3. 20 proceed to business on the
Speakers table and the Speaker again laid before
the House the message from the President in re-
gsrd TO the use OF troops at the late election as
originally presented last Monday.
Mr. Wood of New York asked that as the mes
sage mad been already read, its second reading be
dispensed with.
Mr.. hurlbut Of H., objected. and required that
not only the massage but the accompanying doc
unents be read.
The speaker decided against the right to have
the document read.
He was reminded by Mr.. Horr that that rmling
was IN the very teeth of one made last week.
The spesder declared i as his judgment that
the question on the reading should be referred to
the house.
He put the question and decided the vote in the
negative.
Mr. y God then offered his resolution.
Mr. Banks made point Of order that the pow
er 10 send for persons and papers is not authorized
under the rules, and should only be given when q
COMMITTEE requires it as accessory.
MIR. w ood remarked that if ybody but the
gentleman from Massachusetts had made that
point, he would have suspected that there was
some motive TO prevent investigation.
Messrs. W ilson and Kasson also maintained the
force of the point made by Mr.. Banks.
MIR. Hoar replied to MIR. Woods suggestion as
to motive IN preventing investigation. He said
that on his part there was such a motive. 1t did
not seem TO him TO be a decent thing in the rela-
tons between the different departments of the
government to propose inquiry into the action
of the President, or Of dept of the gov through
the mode Of sending for persons and papers by
committee Of the House, until the ordinary re-
spectful and proper mode of asking for the nfor-
nation had been tried and exhausted. He did
not deny that there might be cases docking TO an
impeachment, or looking to prevention of abuses
In the public servce) in which that mode Of APP
preaching the subject might be proper and cour-
teous, and the duty of the House, but it did not
seem to him that it was for the interest of all
parts of the govt that the courteses the etiquets
the prophecies of official lie thould be preserved
when 1t could be done without sacrificing the es-
sentials Of duty. He did not believe it wise TO
introduce the elements which created and excited
antagonism.
1nls question of what had been the constitu-
tional action of the president in what he (lioar)
conceded to be very grave and important mat
ter. 1t see med to Vim that if there any spe-
clal desire to know any specific fact the proper,
courteous, regular, constitutional method was TO
ask the President about it, and if the President
said be could MT give the information without
INJURY to the public interest, then 1t would be for
the House TO consider whether the answer was
satisfactory or not. The Speaker overruled the
point of order and quoted the rules and manuel
in support of his ruling.
Mr.. Banks appealed from the decision of the
Speaker. and said his only motive in raising the
point of order that the power to send for per-
sons and papers was an abuse of power for which
there had been no cause assigned Under that
power the committee could send all over the l..
). for troops of witnesses who would monopoze
the time and attention Of the House with ques-
tons of privileges, and the House might q
defeat of the appropriation bills and of all impor-
tant matters connected with the Preside ntial
question. 1t was on the ground that this wa,
abuse OF power absolute and unlimimed for
which there was no cause assigned that he made
the point Of order and now appealed for the de-
cision of the chair.
Mr.. Hale of Maine called Mr.. Woods attention
to the fact that the presidents message was ac-
companied by large amount of papers and docu-
ments, and said that If he (Woods) should find on
perusal of these documents thal all information
he desired was not there, it would be then time to
come and ask for power to send for persons and
papers.
Mr.. Wood replied there was in the resolution
nothing offensive to the dignity of the president
The speaker recalled the house to the real ques-
ton before it, which was the question of appeal,
and he again stated his ruling and the reasons for
1t.
Mr.. Cox Of New York replied to the suggestion
of MIR. Hoar as 10 the indecency of the proposed
mode of procedure.
He moved to lay the appeal on the table
Carried, yeas l47, nays 70.
The resolution was then adopted yeas 1874, nays
IS.
Adjourned.
FINANCIAL l. COMMERCIAL.