Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-10-25
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.

PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
In the Senate on the 18th, large number
of bills and petitions we're presented and re-
ferred to appropriate committees. Among
the petitions we're many from various parts
of the country in favor of increasing the
compensation of city letter carriers. Mr..
Beck, of Kentucky, introduced bill for the
removal of all disabilities imposed by the
18th amendment to the Constitution of the
United States. Mr.. Beck also introduced q
bill to repeal the act of July 2, 1862, and
such sections of the revised statutes of the
United States as perpetuate the iron clad
oath. Both bills were referred to the judi
ciary committee. A resolution continuing
the committees of last session until further
orders, was adopted. Bailey, of Tennessee,
presented petition of the Southern Metho,
dist Publishing House, of Nashville, for an
indemnity for use and consumption of its
property in 1864-65. Referred to the COM
mittee on claims. In the House, after a
struggle for the precedence, the case of Raj
ney, of South Carolina, was taken up, when
Mr.. Cox sent to the chair, to be read, papers
from Governor Hampton. Mr.. Hale spoke
at length in favor of seating Rainey and
Cain, while Cox, of New York, Bright, of
Tennessee, and other Democrats argued that
the question should be referred to the COM
mittee on elections, as in the Kentucky cases
some years ago. Mills, of Texas; Potter, Of
New York; with Banks and Butler, of Mas
sachusetts; and Hale, argued that inasmuch
as Rainey and Cain presented prima tacie
case, they were entitled to be sworn in and
then to have the question of the validity
of their rights referred to- the committee
The House took the latter view by vote of
1s1 to Ss, and Rainey and Cain were &C.
cordingly sworn in. Objection was withdrawn
in the case of Darrell, Of Louisiana, and he
was sworn IN.
In the Senate on the 18th, Mr.. Beck intro.
duced bill authorizing the payment of DO
per centum of customs duties in legal tender
notes. Referred to the committee on finance.
Mr.. Thurman presented the credentials of
Henry w. spoaord, elected United States
Senator for Louisiana for six years from
March 4th, 1877, and asked that they be read
and Mr.. spofford now be sworn. The Gre
dentials having been read by the Clerk, Mr..
Mitchell moved as substitute for Mr.. Thur
mans motion, that the credentials be referred
to the committee on privileges and elections.
Quite lengthy discussion on points of order
followed. In the House, Elam and Robert
son. Democrats from Louisiana, we're seated
by vote of IA to 119. These gentlemen
took the modified oath. Pacheco, Republi.
can, of California, was also seated. The
Colorado case was opened, when the House
adjourned to Saturday, with the understand
ing that no business was to be done that day.
The Senate, on the 18th was occupied ex-
clusively in debating the senatorial case from
Louisiana, involving the seating of spoford,
when finally his credentials were referred to
the committee on privileges and elections.
In the Senate, during the morning hour, on
the 10Th, number of bills were introduced,
and among them one by Mr.. Merrimon of
North Carolina, to amend section 146 of the
revised statutes, relating to vacancies in the
Offices of the President and Vice President
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, submitted resolu-
ton ipstructing the committee on pensions
to inquire and report by bill or otherwise, re-
ducing and properly adjusting salaries and
fees of pension agents. An amendment, sub
mitted by Mr.. Ingalls,, directing the commit
tee to inquire into the expediency of abolish
ing all pension agencies and having pensions
paid from Washington, was agreed to and
resolutions passed at the expiration of the
morning hour The Senate resumed consid.
Grafton of the resolution, submitted by Mr..
Thurman on the previous day, to discharge
the committee on privileges and elections,
from further consideration of the credentials
Of J. P. Eustis, as United States Senator for
the State of Louisiana, for the term COM
mencing March 4th 1873, and Mr.. Thurman
spoke at length in favor of the claims of Mr..
Eustis. Adjourned until Monday.
In the Senate on the 22d, Mr. Beck intro
duced a bill to repeal section 3 of an act to
provide for the resumption of specie pay
ment, approved July IA, 1875. Mr.. Here
ford, of Virginia, introduced bill to repeal
the act providing for the resumption of spe.
Gle payments. Mr.. Jones, of Nevada, intro
duced bill to authorize the coinage Of dol
lar of 412s grains Of standard silver, and
for other purposes. Mr.. Edmunds' resolution
providing for the appointment of commit
tee of seven Senators, whose duty it shall be
to take into consideration the statute law res
pecting the ascertaining and declaration of
the result of elections of President and Vice
President of TIE United States, and that said
committee have power to report by bill or
otherwise, was taken up. Mr.. Edmunds
moved to amend by adding the words "and
that said committee have power to confer
and act with any committee of the House of
Representatives that may be charged with
the same subject" The amendment was
agreed to, and the resolution passed as amend
ed. A number of other bills Of no special
importance we're introduced and referred to
the proper committees. The House was oc-
cupied the entire day with the contested seat