The Portland daily press., 1877-01-09
Forty Fourth Congressional Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan

WASHINGTON, Jan s.
Mr.. Sherman presented the petition of |
prominent business men and citizens of Gin |
cinnati, members of both political parties, ask |
ing an amioable settlement of the Presidential |
contest. he spoke of the high standing of the !
petitioners.
Mr.. Thurman coneurred in the remarks of |
his colleague
Referred to the special committee of seven
Senators appointed to consider the PRESIDENTIAL |
election,
On motion of Mr. Edmuuds that committee
was authorized to hold sessions during the sess-
ions of the Senate.
Mr.. Morton from the Committee on Elections
submitted report and resolution directing the
President of the Senate to issue warrant for
the arrest of Enos Runyon, for c0ntumacy,
and have him brought TO the bar OF the senate.
The Senate by yeas 30, nays 3. passed the
resolution requiring William M Iurner, man
aeer of the telegraph Office at Jacksonville,
Oregon, to answer questions propound5d to
him as to the messages which passed through
bis office in regard to the appointments OF
Cronin. Those who voted against the reso-
ton wereMessrs. Barnum, Burnside and Eaton
Mr.. Hamln presented petition of the citi-
zens of Bath, Me-, in favor of the passage of
the House bill distributing the unexpended
balance of the Geneva award. Referred to the
Judiciary Committee. In presenting the petit
ton Mr.. Hamlin said he hoped the Judiciary
Committee would consider the matter and re
port the House bill to the Senate in some form.
Mr.. Edmunds of Vermont answered that the
Judiciary Committee would endeavor to give
that matter their early attention.
Mr.. Booth submitted concurrent resolution
prescribing rules FOR the counting of the votes
for President and Vce-President, which pro-
vides that it shall be the right of any member
of the Senate or House of Representatives
when assembled in joint convention to count
the electoral vote, to object to any certificate,
upon which objection the President pro tam of
the Senate shall rule and an appeal may then
be taken from such decision when the two
Houses shall separate aud decide whether the
ruling of the chair shall be affirmed. In case
of a disagreement an appeal can be taken to the
Supreme Court and the confessed vote shall be
decided 10 accordance with the decision of said
court The justices of the Supreme Court in
deciding such contest may receive in evidence
the proceedings of any state officer or board of
state officers, and the report of the congress-
ional committee. Ordered to be printed.
Mr. Booth gave notice that he would submit
some remarks Oh the subject on Friday next.
MIR. Wallace submitted series of resolu-
tons instructing the special committee on the
the Presidential question to report as to the
powers of the electoral college and as to wheth-
er each Honse of Congress may examine both
facts and law to enable it to determine if the
returns are true returns; if the appointment of
electors by the state was in accordance with the
provisions and guarantees of the federal consti-
tuition, and further that when two returns
| come from a state the two Houses acting in
concurrence must determine which is the true
| return, and no electoral vote can be counted
| without the concurrence of both Houses. He
| spoke at length upon these propositions.
| After short executive session the Senate at
| AS adjourned.
HOUSE.
| Bills were introduced and referred to extend
| for two years the Southern Claims Commits
sion; Tor the free coinage of silver dollars and
making the same legal tender; to authorize
| and equip an expedition to the Arctic Seas,
| which authorizes the President to organize and
| send out one more expedition towards the
| North Pole and to establish temporary colo
| ny for purposes of exploration at some point
| north of the 81st degree of North latitude, on
or near the shore of Lady Franklin Bay, to
| detail officers or other persons in the public
service to take part in the same and to use any
| public vessel that may be suitable for the pur-
pose, the scientific operations of the expedition
| to be prosecuted in accordance with the advice
| of the National Academy of'Science, and APP
propriating $4,000 for the purpose; for the fu-
ture redemption OF legal tenders and Q. S. notes;
to utilize the product of gold aud silver mines
| aud to authorize the paper circulation converti-
BILE into gold and silver.
| Mr.. Willis of New York offered a resolution
| instructing the committee on privileges, powers
| and duties of the House in counting the Pres-
| dental vote, to ascertain whether any votes
were given at the recent election contrary to
| the first section of the second article of the
| Constitution forbIdding United States officials
to be appointed electors, and what ought to be
| done with them and whether any and what
| provision ought to be made for securing the
| faithful Observance in the future of such sec
| tons; also to inquire into any facts affecting
the fairness or legality Of any electoral vote
| certified to have been cast at such election with
| power to send for persons and papers. Adopt
| ed without division.
Mr.. Lawrence of Ohio asked consent to offer
| a resolution inStructiDg the committee on edu-
/ cation and labor IN ascertain whnthpr in
| state an equal opportunity for common school
| privileges for equal time is secured to colored
and white children, and if not, to report bill
| to enforcs the Constitution in that respect.
Mr.. Knott of KY, objected.
Mr.. Lawrence moved to suspend the rules
| and adopt the resolution.
h Rejected yeas 49, nays 49, not two-thrds in
| Mr.. Kasson of Iowa offered.a resolution ms
tructing the select committee on the privileges
of the House'in regard to counting the electo-
| raj votes, TO enquire whether any electoral votes
were cast by persons laborlng under political
| disabilities, and if SO what action should be
| taken thereon. Adopted.
! Mr.. Harris of Mass, from the committee on
naval affairs, reported bill to appropriate
4, waiting orders" pay to naval officers whose
| pay was affected by general order No. ZIG, and
| to repeal Sec. 1442 of the Revised Statutes
Referred to the committee of the whole.
| The Speaker announced as the select COM
| mittee to investigate the corrupt or improper
conduct of the Washington police commission
| ers, Messrs. Lemoyue of Illinois, Milliken of
Kantucko, Gambler of Georgia, Banks of Mas
sachusetts and w B. Williams of Michigan.
The House passed bill abolishing the police
| commissioners of the District of Columbia,
| and transferring their duties to the District
/ Commssioners-not negative vote.
| A resolution calling for information as TO the
| purpose for which troops had recently been
| stationed at Washington. was defeated for
want of a two-thjrds majority; so also a reso-
| luton requiring the Judiciary Committee to
! report within two days constitutional amend
ment prohibiting the payment of war claims
| except to loyal persons.
| A resolution offered by Mr.. Mills of Texas,
| denouncing the lawless invasion by an armed
| force of the soil of any state or territory, no
matter under what pretext, as among the
gravest of crimes. was lost for want of two
thirds majority-1O7 to 49, Adjourned.