The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-01-28
NIGHT REPORT.
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

EfN 3 SENATE. q 8
Washington, Jan. 27.-The military
academy and the fortification appropri-
alton bills were passed with the COM
mittee amendments, without discussion.
The bill creating sinking fund for
the liquidation of the Pacific railroad
companies Indebtedness to the Gov
ernment was laid aside. i r>t--Fte
The bill ratifying the agreement with
the Sioux Indians and with the North
ern Arapahoes and Cheyennes was
taken up, with the understanding that
the Pacific railway bill should precede
it at any time.
Messages were received from the
House announcing the passage of the
electoral compromise bill, and that the
Speaker had signed enrolled bills to be
delivered to the President.
Allison introduced a bill to amend
section IL of the Pacific r. r. act of
July 1st, 1862, and to determine the
relation of the main line and branches.
Referred.
Wright called up the Senate bill to
extend for two years from the 10th Of
March next the act establish ing the
board of commissioners of Southern
claims. Passed. The bill provides
that the Union Pacific railroad and
the Burlington Sc Missouri railroad
shall pro-rate with each other on terms
to be established by the Secretary of
the Interior, after making due investi-
cation. The bill also empowers U. S.
circuit courts to compel the observance
of such regulations as he may establish
on the subject.
The bill to ratify the ageement with
certain bands of the Sioux nation of
Indians and with the Northern Arapa-
hoe and Cheyenne Indians was then
passed.
The Pacific railroad bill was again
called up and read at length, when
Thurman, in charge of the bill, yielded
for executive session, and when the
doors were re-opened the Senate ad-
journed.
Washington, Jan. 27.-Knott, from
the Judiciary committee, in the case of
Belford, the Colorado representative,
reported favoring his admission, and
said he would call it up for action on
Tuesday.
Four members of the Louisiana re-
turning board were presented at the
bar of the House, but owing to Repub-
lican members being absent in caucus,
were temporarily withdrawn.
The House then went into committee
of the whole on the Indian appropri-
alton bill.
The committee, without adopting
any important amendments, rose and
reported the bill to the House, and it
was passed.
The four members of the Louisiana
returning board were again presented
at the bar of the House, and the Speaker
put the formal question to Wells as to
what excuse he had to make. He re-
piled that two members Of the board
had just arrived, and asked time for
conference to make their answer. The
other members of the board made the
same reply, and Lynde thereupon Of
fered two resolutions, one adjudging
the witnesses in contempt, the other
ordering them to appear before the in
vestigating committee and produce the
papers called for, and in the meantime
that they be kept in the custody of the
sergeant-at-arms.
After one vote by yeas and nays on a
dilatory motion, Hancock proposed
that the previous question be with
drawn, and that the witnesses have
half an hour to confer and to prepare
their answer. That arrangement was
assented to on both sides, and the foul
| witnesses retired to committee room
to confer together.
The four members of the Louisiana
returning board were again presented
at the bar of the House. They sent up
| to the clerks desk their answer, which
was read, declaring that in all their
acts they acted with sincere respect to
the dignity and authority of the House
and its committee, with a desire of sub
mitting in all good faith to every law
full requirement of the House and its
committee, and if their acts were q
breach of privilege of the House, it was
not so intended and was without the
purpose of fraud or disobedience to law.
full authority, and was solely in al
honest purpose to discharge theil
official duty faithfully; that they have
not in law or fact violated the privileg,
or the House, nor rendered themselve
amenable to be treated as in contemp
of its authority. The answer gives the
law governing the Louisiana returnin,
board, which requires all papers to b,
deposited with the secretary of stat
when their duties are ended, and the,
state if they are to be punished tn,
guarantees Of the Constitution are
cruel mockery. The resolution tha
they be adjudged to be in contempt fo
violation of the privileges of this Hous
was again read and adopted by yea
145, nays S7-a party vote with the ex
ception of Carr (Ind. J, who voted no.
The second resolution, ordering then
to produce all election statements O
every polling place in Louisiana, etc.
and remanding them to the custody O
the sergeant-at-arms, wasthen adopted
The consideration of j. B. Eads
jetty bill was then resumed, when tn,
House adjourned.