The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-01-21
CONGRESSIONAL.


sented petition of male and female
residents of California, asking the adop-
tion of sixteenth amendment to the
Constitution preventing the United
States from DISTINGUISHING persons on
account of sex. Referred to the COM
mittee on privileges and elections. In
presenting the petition Sargent said the
influence of women at the polls would
purify elections and give us a better
class of public officials, and that the
state would be benefited by comforting
the right of suffrage upon women.
This movement was growing year by
year, and had already passed the period
of ridicule, both in this country and
England. Sargent also presented Pc
tition of various powder manufactur-
| ing companies in favor of the passage
of bills recently introduced by him to
| allow them to purchase land within the
limits of Salt Lake. Referred.
Sherman submitted a resolu lution ill.,
structing the sergeant-at-arms to ar
rest without further orders anybody
who, by applause OF dissent in the gal
leries, shall interrupt the order of the
Senate. Laid over.
Morton presented the credentials of
Kellogg as senator from Louisiana.
Read and laid on the table. They are
signed by Gov. Packard. Woman suf-
frage petitions were then presented.
Dorsey submitted resolution instruct
ing the committee on Indian affairs to
investigate whether any portion of the
school fund of the five tribes in the In
dian Territory has been misapplied and
whether those tribes have incurred any
debts, and what legislation is necessary
on the subject. After the morning
hour, on motion of Edwards, the COM
promise electoral bill was taken up.
Edmunds spoke of the close election
and argued that any result reached
through calm and orderly administra-
tion of the law would be most desira-
BILE and benifcent act, worthy of the
Republic and failure to accomplish
such satisfactory adjustment would
cause our posterity to feel that Con-
gress had failed in the performance of
great duty The committee had laid
aside partisan feeling and solemnly
united in reporting the bill as just
one. He explained at great length the
provisions of the bill. -.-.
Speaking of the President of the Sem
ate, Edmunds said that if the power to
decide which were the legal certificates
of electors was reposed in the President
of the Senate, he could say nobody
would desire any better judge than the
present occupant of the chair, but if no
such power was delegated, its exercise
would be an invasion of the rights of
constitutional government. He argued
that if it was intended by the trainers of
the constitution to give that officer
such power, it was most unfortunate
that they didn't sayso. 1t staggered hui
man credulity to believe that the inten-
tion was to make him the judge on the
most critical case that could befall the
Republic, and should n OF say so. If his
power to open the certificates implied
| the power to decide which were correct,
| then he could make President. Ed
| munds denied the implied power The
Constitution allowed congress to pass
any law making its provisions effec-
tive. He read from Supreme court de-
cisions to show that the bill was consti-
tutional, and that neither the Presi-
dent of the Senate or either House had
the right to decide on returns until
law was passed expressly providing for
| it. He denied that the President of
the Senate had always opened and
counted the vote. The bill didn't take
away from the House or the President
of the Senate any powers, and was
therefore not unconstitutional. He ap-
pealed to Senators to inquire whether
it was better, by stimulating doubts in
their own minds, to send this Republic
like mountains tumbling into a shore
less sea, or to settle the matter fairly
and equitably.
After short executive session the
Senate adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE.
Washington, Jan. 20.-The report of
the committee on the privileges and
powers of the House, etc., was again
taken up, and Willis spoke at length.
The subject was then postponed and
the House went into committee of the
whole on the Indian appropriation bill.
Payne said he would call up the bill re-
ported from the electoral committee ON
Tuesday. next, and on Wednesday
evening call the previous question. In
committee of the whole speeches on the
political question were made by Tar
box and Chittenden. The bill making
appropriations for the support of the
Indians was considered by sections.
Without disposing of the bill the COM
mittee rose and the House adjourned.