The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-01-25

mission shall make its own rules, keep a rec
ord Of its proceeding, and shall have power to
employ such persons as may be necessary for
the transaction Of its business and the execu.
tion Of its power.
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Proceedings of the Second Sessio
In the Senate, on the 18th, Mr.. Win
dom asked leave to make q personal explana-
tion, and had read at the clerks desk an ar
ticle published in the Washington Union to
the effect that last summer charges were
made against William McMicken, Surveyor
General of Washington Territory, Of alleged
malfeasance in Office. and that he was retained
II H. Office through the influence OF Senator
Window also that he had paid money to
Senator Window for his appointment and re-
tention in Office, but no action had been
taken upon them, and there was a dispo-
sltion to keep them quiet until after MIR. Win
dom's reelection as Senator. It was true
(Windom} in the Department II the Interior
within the past day or two, by one H. J.
Chapman, of Washington Territory, or Ore
gon. Last summer there was conference
relative to the removal OF McA1icken. Chap
man came here to get the appointment, and
| charged McMcken with malfeasance in office.
| de (Windom) having known McMicken
many years did not believe the charge to be
true. He went to the department, and at his
request an investigation was made The re-
suit was that McMlcken was vindicated
Since then Chapman had notified him that
unless he withdrew his opposition to the re-
moval Of McMicken he would let loose the
was the result. Among the charges filed
against McMicken was one that he
| PAID SENATOR WINDOW MONEY
for having been retained in office. He WIN
dom this morning called on the grand Jury
now in session in this city, and presented the
case, and the individual (Chapman) would
have an opportunity of proving the charge he
made, or would be indicted. Mr.. Windon
| moved that a committee OF three Democratic
Senators be appointed to investigate the
! charge. The resolution was unanimously re-
iected, many Senators expressing themselves
as unwilling to thus dignity the assault upon
the Senator.
Mr.. Patterson, in the Senate on the
10th, submitted a resolution recognizing the
Chamberlain government in South Carolina
as the lawful government, and declaring that
it shall be Recognized by the general govern
ment. Mr.. Johnston spoke at length on the
Presidents communication regarding the
presence OF troops at Petersburg, Va, on
election day. No business wastransacted.
The House, on the 10th, had up a
proposition by the judiciary committee to
send for Wells, Anderson, Kassanave and
Kenner, of the Louisiana returning board,
during the consideration of which a running
debate was had which was interrupted at in
tervals by applause in the galleries. The de-
bate was most bitter political wrong for
which we have no space even for a summary.
In the Senate, on the 18th, Mr.. Nor
+o,~ Al>nkA A.
vestigations had been exhausted, and an ad-
ditional amount asked for which was refused
by action OF the House. Mr.. Morton also re-
piled to the Senators from Virginia in their
charges against the President ior quartering
troops at Petersburg There was no business
before the Senate
In the House, on the 18th 4 bill was
introduced organizing the Territory of Okla
hama, also a bill extending the time for pay
have been destroyed by grasshoppers. A Bit
ter discussion occurred over the proposition to
compel the Louisiana returning board 10 pre-
duce certain documents before the House, and
the order was made by strict party vote, and
the arrest OF the returning board was ordered.
After presenting the report of the
joint committee on counting the electora
vote on the 18th, Mr.. Bogy yielded the floor
OF the Senate to MIR. Anthony, who offered a
resolution to print ten thousand extra copies
of the report. Mr.. Hamlin introduced bill
to change the basis Of fixing the salaries OF
p0stmasters of the fourth class to the number
of stamps cancelled instead of the stamps
sold. The amendment to the pension law al
| lowing pensions to those once in the rebel but
afterwards federal army, was passed.
Senator Edmunds reported the bill agreed
upon by the joint committee Of both houses
for the settlement of the Presidential dispute.
| The bill provides that the two houses meet
| in Joint convention on the first Thursday in
February and that the President Of the Senate
be appointed " no shall read the returns after
they are opened by the President, in alphabet
ical order. Whenever there is but one return
| from State, it shall be counted unless OBJ
lection is made, but whenever dispute arises
and the Senate and House, acting separately,
| fail to agree, then the disputed returns are to
be submitted to the committee of five Senators,
! five Representatives and five Associate Justices
Of the Supreme Court; the two houses to elect
| their respective referees. The Justices to be
those of the first, third, eighth, and ninth
circuits with such other as they may select.
The referees are to take a special oath, and
their decision in each case presented is to be
final, unless the two houses, acting separately,
shall concur in ordering otherwise. The bill
would occupy too much OF our space to give it
at length, but the above synopsis contains the
main points shorn of technicalities.
In the House, on the 18th, Mr.
Knott spoke at length on the powers and du-
ties of the House in counting the electoral
vote, after which a resolution was offered by
the Republicans, declaring the power to count
the votes to he vested in the President of the
Senate. Mr.. Burchard supported the resolu-
tion in all extended speech. The resolution
went over without action.
In the Senate on che 10Th Mr.. White
OF Maryland proposed to adjourn over to
Monday, but Mr.. Edmunds called the atten-
ton OF members to the fact that the bill for
| counting the electoral vote must be decided
| in oHe week, and he insisted on the Senate
meeting on Saturday and that the bill be ta-
ken up at once; if the bill was to be killed let
it be done in an open manly way and not he
smothered or postponed. A sharp tilt was
had between Senators Bogy and Sherman.
the former calling Governor Packard OF
Louisiana, an infamous robber.
The House on the 10Th discharged
VIM. Orton from custody. Wells and An
derson, of the Louisiana returning board
were brought before the House to answer for
they preferred not to answer until the re-
mainder Of the board should arrive. An ef-
fort was made to pass a resolution inquiring
Of the President what removal OF arms are
being or have been made, and how many
troops are at Washington and for what pur-
pose. 1ne resolution WaS nOt Ill OrQer ana
was withdrawn.
In the Senate, on the Goth, Mr.. Ed
munds spoke at length on the bill for count.
ing the electoral vote, and said the bill made
no new law but only created commission to
decide on the old law. Mr.. Morton presented
the credentials of VIM. z. Kellogg as U. s.
Senator from Louisiana, and asked that they
lie upon the table.
In the House on the 28th, the Senate