The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-10-26
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS,
The senate.

WASHINGTON, Oct 25.-The Sen ate met at L
M, the Vice President in the chair, and prayer
The Chair laid before the Senate q communi
cation from the Secretary of War transmitting
Chief of Engineers as to the cost Of removing
the obstructtons from the harbor of Pensacola
Several resolutions were offered by different
senators, asking for an increase in the pay OF
as er Mheh referred to the Com
!, By Mr.. Conkling:: 4 petition for the repeal oI
the banking law. Referred to the Committee on
By Mr., White: A memorial for the relief of
VICES VICES during II the war Referred to the Com
! By Mr.. Herman A bill re-establishing the
Court Of Alabama Claims, and further dstribu-
, Ion of the Geneva h award Referred to the
BY Mr.. Plumb: TO create an additional ar
tielle ttL'ls Of war Referred to the Committee on
BY Mr. Gordon: A bill to provide for the con-
strnetion. of a ship channel from Mobile to the
gull. Referred to ths g ,mmittDe on Commerce.
fishing the debates, of the Continental CON
gress., Referred 10 the Commit tee on Printing
Al be amended $, as to pr,yide for a Committee
on Banking and Currency, to consist of seven
members. Referred to the Committee on
BY Mr.. Mitchell: resolution that the Com
mittee on Privileges and Ele 'tions be author
ster % oahs IN the Of spd Fs sn a K@ner
BY Mr.. Dorsey: A bill to aur hor re thA sale Of
@ part of the Fort Smith Military Reservation in
Arkansas. TO the Committee on Military AT
fairs.
Also, a bill TO establish q pension agency at
Little Rock. TO the G Committee on Pensions.
by MIR. Tburman reSO ution calling upon
the Secretary of the Treasury for any + ports
made by companies in relation to the colstruc-
Mr.. White moved that ,wt when the Senate ad
iourned to-day 1t be to meet on Monday next to
allow the House to get its committees appointed
On motion of Mr. Conkling the Senate at ;25
adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25,-Mr. Mills. of Texas, re-
Sumed the debate on the Colorado question.
He said there were three, aues Hons to be de-
cided in reaching a conclusion. Filst, had The
Goyernor a right to issue the cert hcate sec
ond, has the Governor of the State right to re-
wise his action after 1t has once been ken and
third does the certificate furnish prinsd facie
evidence Of right 10 q seat He cited authori-
ties showing that the Governors certificate was
l,filad fdoie evidence of right to seat as he
had maintained the ,other day in the South
q member had no right 10 object to the admis-
sion Of another who came with the same cre-
dentials and certificate of his Governor.
On the next point h argued that when any
officer had q certain duty to pe form at a fixed
time. and had performed that duty according
TO law. his power was exhausted aud he had no
further control in the mat er. In the present
case he maintained that the decision of the
House must be on the papers presented, and
H.
ing the election which was held on the Sd of
October, he said this time for holding an eec-
ton was not in accordance with the constitu-
fore void. He saw no occasion for reference to
the committee. but thought the House should
aeJpt a resolution that Belford was not entitled
to q seat. and dismiss the case.
0n motion OF Mr.. Wood it was ordered that
when the House adjourns to-day it be to meet
Mr. Banks thought the present good time
when there were no important interests in
VOWED VOWED 70 review the action of the Clerk in the
Mr. Belfords certificate. He referred to the ap-
Hosa that f is duty prescribed BY law and
Iere with MN IN the discharge of duties thus
prescribed. and said there was no authority In
were the direct Representatives of the people |
Mr.. Banks agreed to that: there was no evidence |
before the House, that ths Governor of Colorado |
tifcate aud it was due to ''s the goyernment V m len
and the State to give fqll faith to the official act
eery o59ef H b s. ess ae Td M not % vote for the
the committee. The election was held on Oeto.
ber 3, and he declared the general statutes did
State organization of Colorado was effected
MIR. Walker of Virginia. thought the subject
was surrounded by such degree of doubt as
hoped the House would not be governed by Re-
publican precedent, but do what was exactly
Just and right.
Mr. Buckner contended that the House was
bound to take notice whether the said election
was held on any other day than that fixed by
law. and proceeded to argue that the Sd of Octo-
ber was the day so fixed. He denied the right of |
Congress to delegate the. power OF fixing date
for a State constitutional convention.
Mr Bragg. of Wisconsin. said his vote had
heretofore been in favor of seating members
whose certificates have on their face prima
sired to give his reason for voting against seat
ing Mr.. Belford.
Grave doubts had arisen as to whether the Sd
Df October was the proper day. He was not pre-
pared to say it was not the proper day. and until
his question was settled he could not decide as
q the prima facie claim. To be enlightened on
his subject he desired the Judgment of the COM
nnsition 81 deciding the case and irving II "a after.
wards He thought the question was a legal
)ne. turning upon the point as to whether the
lay on which the election was held was the
e0sl one, and that it should be considered By
he Jndicinry Committee, and he offered an
amendment to the resolution providing for its
.oference to that committee.
pendinr IT'S consideration. Mr. Clymer. Of I