The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-31
UNITED STATES CONGRESS.


Mr.. Davis (Dcn.), of West Virginia, prr-
scented q petition of merchants, bankers and
Others in favor of al amicable settlement OF the
! Presidential contest. Referred to the special
committee appointed to consider that subject.
Mr.. Wallace (Dem.), of PENNSYLVANIA, pre-
sented O similar petition of bankers. merchants
and others of Columbia, Pc. Same reference.
The bill of M. Wright (Rep.), Of Iowa. to
! establish d court for the trial of contested cleo
ton cases was referred to the select committee
] appointed to devise means for the amlcable
: settlement of the Presidential contest.
The question of the privacy Of teleSraplic
DISPATCHES was discussed, being called up OH the
resolution submitted by the committee on prlSl-
legeS al, electors. declaring that WlllIaW VI.
Turner is in duty bound, under his oath TO
! answer the questions propoun1ed TO him by the
I committee in regard 10 the transmission of tele-
graphic messages through his Office at Jackson
Vile. Oregon, and that he cannot excuse HIM
self from answering the same hy reason OF ms
official connection with the Western Union lee
graph Company as the manager Of their Office
! at jacksonville. Oregon. After discussion the
Senate, By vote Of thirty-three to three, passed
the resolution. The Senate thus, by q large
majority. declares that the telegraph company
must answer questions ~propounded to them.
Mr.. Sherman (Rep.), OF Ohio, presented a
pctition of prominent business men and cluZcnS
of Cincinnati, members of both political parties.
asking an amicable settlement Of the lreslden-
tial contest.
After debate the resolution declaring that the
telegraph manager Turner was bound to answer
questions prop0unded to him, was adopted
yeas, thirty-livc; nays, thIce-the negative
votes heinz cast b.: Mcoers. Burnside, Barllum
and Eaton.
Mr.. Booth Rep.L Of California, submitted g.
concurrent resolution prescribing rules for the
counting Of the votes for President ana wee
Preside :, which provide that it shall be the
right of any member of the Senate or House OF
Representatives. when assembled III JOINT con-
! vcntion to count the electoral vote, to object to
any certificate: upon which objection the prcsl-
, dent y,0 tenn. OF the Senate shall rule. and an
appeal HAY then he taken from such decision.
wien the two bodies shall separate and decide
whether the ruling Of the chair shall be aiarm-
ed. IL case of q disagreement, an appeal can
be taken to the supreme court, ana the contest
ed vote shall be decided in accordance with the
decision Of said court. The justices Of the SUI
preme court. in deciding such contests, may re-
ceive in evidence the proceedings OF any state
officer or board of State officers, and reports OF
Congressional committees; ordered to be
printed. ,
The Souate passed without a division the reSo-
luton reported from the committee on priv
l"gej and elections, inStructlnS the president
pro ten. Of the Senate t. issue his warrant Tor
the arrest of Enos Runyon, of the firm OF Martln
& Runvul. bankers and brokers of Wall street,
New York. and have him brought to the bar OF
the Sen. e, to show cause why he should not be
punished for contempt in refusing to answer
questions pronounced to hin by the
rs to who ordered the check of : 5000 in favor
of Ludd < Bush, of Portland. Oregon.
In discussing the resolutions submitted by
Mr.. Wallace DEM J, OF Pennsylvania. in regard
to the count of the electoral vote, Mr.. Sherman
(Rcrl, of Ohio. spoke at length in regard to
Louisiana, claiming that the evidence before
the returning board in that State justified the
board III throwing ont / rms from certain poll
ing III. :cs On account Of the violence and intim-
idaiion Which prevailed. Mr.. Boy (Dcm.), of
Missouri, in reply. said the effort made was to
wrench from the people of Louisiana the free
vote which they gave for Mr.. llden.
House.
Mr.. Willis (Dem.), of New York, presented q
memorial of bankers, merchants and citizens
OF New York city, praying for a peaceful solu-
ton Of the electoral question. Referred.
Mr.. Hewitt. Of Alabama, from the committee
on invalid pensions, reported Q bill granting
pentOus to certain soldiers and sailors OF the
Mcxicana Florida and Black Hawk wars, and
certain widows OF deceased soldiers and sailors
of tho same.
Mr.. Reagan (Dem.). Of Texas, moved to
StrlhS OUT llt MN ScStlOil VI thc I'M, 'ir"H -
c,ldos from its benefits those who are labUrinS
under political disabilities. He argued that
i the bill should be broad and charitable in its
provisions.
Mr.. Rusk (Rep.), OF Wisconsin, opposed the
motion a. ono, the effect Of which would be to
make jefferson Davis a pcnsioner of the gov
ernmcIt.
The motion es rejected, and the bill passed:
The bill allows a pension of IS a month to. oil
who served sixty days in the Mexican war, Or
thirty days in the Florida or Black Hawk war,
and to their surviving widows unmarried
Mr.. F. ". Barnes, the New Orleans manager
Of TIC Western Union Telegraph Company, WA
before tho bar of tho House, and was asked
what excuse he had to offer for the failure to
produce before the House committee sitting at
New Orleans kilograms called for in the sub
pnna serTed on him. He replied that his answer
had teen prepared by his counsel. The matter
was referred to the Judiciary committee, and
the sergeant-at-arms was directed to retain Nh.
Barnes in custody.
Bills introduced By Mr.. Chittenden (Rep.l