Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-02-07
From Washington.

transferred since our last issue from Congress to
the commission selected 10 settle which electoral
votes In the contested states shall be counted.
The commission has been filled by the choice Of
Judge Bradley Of New Jersey, as fifth United
States Supreme Court Judge. Judge Bradley's
circuit is mostly in the Southern states and he IL
supposed to be thoroughly conversant with mat
ters in that section. lie has for several years
spent his summers at Stowe, and is well known
to many people in this section, who have the
highest opnipn of his honesty, and ability. The
selection is an excellent one. The commission is
as follows: Senators Edmunds, Morton and Ere
lnghuysen Republicans and Thurman and Bay
ard, democrats; House, Messrs. Payne of Ohio
Hunton OF Virginia, Abbott Of Massachusetts,
democrats, and Garfield OF Ohio and Hoar Of
Massachusetts,, Republicans. The judicial mem
hers are Judges Clifford, Field, Strong, Miller
and Bradley. The two former are reckoned as
democrats, and the three latter Republicans. We
have already published the bill under which the
commission are to act. They had their first meet
ing on Wednesday, when they met and were
sworn, and adopted rules for their future guild
ance. These embrace the main features govern
ing the proceedings of the Supreme Court. The
sessions for hearing arguments are to be held in
public in the Supreme Court rooms The dura-
ton OF oral arguments is limited to two hours for
each side on objections, and four hours for each
side on the main points at issue in each case.
The limitation as to the number OF counsel who
shall he recognized as conducting the case is two
for each case. All these limitations may, how
ever, be enlarged at the discretion of the COM
mission, whenever the majority deem the point
in controversy Of sufficient Importance to war
rant It.
TUESDAY, January 30th.
In the Senate the Presidential electoral COM
mission were elected, and but little other bust
ness was transacted.
In the House the bill paying five hundred thou
sand dollars to Captain Eads for the Mississippi
jetties was passed The report generating Post
master James of New York, and his subordin-
ates from the charges of tampering with the mails
was read and adopted The members Of the
Presidential commission were elected The House
| then took up the bill in relation to damages for
infringement of patents It provides that dam
ages can only be recovered for infringements
which shall have occurred during the term of one
year preceding notice Of infringement; passed.
Several petitions were presented asking for a
sixteenth amendment of the constitution. With
out action adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, January 31st
| In the Senate the session was almost wholly
consumed by the consideration Of the Pacific rail-
road bill, upon which, however, no decisive action
was taken. After an executive session, adj
| journed.
| In the House resolution was adopted that
none be admitted to the electoral commission ex-
cept by ticket; also that the members of the com
mission be allowed to sit during the session OF the
House The Colorado case was taken up and
Mr. Belford Republican, was admitted to his seat
thus defeating desperate democratic trick to ex.
clude that state from voting in the electoral col.
lege Mr. Waldron, from the appropriation com.
mittee, reported the deficiency appropriation bill
which was made special order for Saturday. IN
appropriates five hundred and two thousand seven
hundred and thirteen dollars and ninety cents
In the evening after brief discussion of the ap
preparation bill, an attempt was made to intro
duce the Florida reports and memorials, whicl
was resisted by the Republicans by datory mo
tons, and at thrty-five minutes past ten o clock
the House ad journed.
THURSDAY, February lst
In the Senate various resolutions of public
bodies relating to affairs in South Carolina ant
Louisiana were received and referred. Invent,
thousand dollars was appropriated for the relic
of the poor of the District Of Columbia. A com
munication was received from Judge Clifford
President of the electoral commission, stating tina
the commission was duly organized, and wa
ready to proceed to business. The Presiden
pro tenn said it was the intention of the chair t,
appoint as teilers on the part of the Senate I,
count the votes one Republican and one demo
crat but noticing the action of the House of Repre-
sentatives. he had determined to appoint two Re
publicans. He therefore appointed the Senate
from California (Mr. SARGENT. and the Senate
from Iowa (Mr. Allison. Mr. Sargent was. a
his request excused, and Mr.. ingalls, of Kansas
mt In his place The Senate then proceeded t,
the Uouse where n Joint session before the com
mission was held On their return Mr. Mitchell
from the committee reported that Mr. Frost
democratic elector from Missouri, was ineligibl
under the statutes of his state. Exceptions wer
taken by democratic Senators
In the House the chair appointed a. tellers i
counting the electoral votes Messrs Cook tdem
ocrat Ga and Stone democrat MOI The actio
of the Sneaker in Amounting two democrats wa
severely centured by various Republican member,
The Florida resolutions were passed over unit
Saturday
At the ioipt session of both houses before tn
electoral commission the galleries of the Hous
were crowded in every part More than half {
the OCCUPANTS were ladies A large number G
distinguished personages were ON the floor. il
Guiding nearly all the members of the Cabin,
and the counsel engaged by the national con
mittees of both parties to represent them A
two minutes past one Senator Ferry called tn
body 10 order and the votes of the states
alphabetical order were opened and read Tn
returns from Alabama were read for Tiden) ant
no objection being made. were ordered counted
r The same ceremony was observed in reference
the next state Arkansas The result was Al
nounced that the six votes of the state of Arkar
I sas were given for Tden and Hendricks Tn
next state was California, and the result was Al
nounced as six votes for Hayes and Wheele
. Then followed in succession Colorado, with thre
votes for HAYES and Wheeler; Connecticut, wit
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