The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-02-23
CONGRESSIONAL
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In the house, on the Sth, after business
was begun in the house Of representatives
to-day, Mr.. Hale rose 10 a privileged ques'
ton and read q letter addressed TO hin from
J. Madison Wells and Thos. c. Anderson,
stating that they were confined in a damp,
dark dungeon, or cellar of the Capitol; that
Yesterday, by order OF the speaker, they
had been transferred to a much better room,
and tn It they had been brought back tn the
cells by order of the sergeant-at-arms, and
that on account Of bad air in the cell, one
of them, Gov. Wells, was now on his sick
bed. Mr.. Cox said 1t was in the same cell
that the republican congress had incarcerated
Stewart and Irwin. The prisoners were con-
fined and in the close custody of the sergeant
| alarms, but they could release themselves by
simply ~purging themselves of contempt of
the house and answering questions which
they had refused to answer. Mr.. Cox moved
to refer the resolution to the special com
mittee on election in Louisiana, with instruc
tons to report speedily to the house whether
such a state OF affairs does not exist as is
stated in the communication from J. Madison
Wells, and the resolution WIS referred
yeas las, nays SO. The house then went
iuto committee Of the whole on the def
cheney appropriation bill. The bill went
over without action, and the house took Il
recess until 10 o'clock tomorrow.
In the house, on the 9th, soon after
midday, 10 which time the recess had been
extended, the deficiency appropriation bill
passed, with the amendment appropriating
$500, 900 for the payment Of claims against
the interior department stricken out. The
| bill providing for the distribution of awards
made in convention between the United
| States and Mexico, passed. Mr.. Morrison,
chairman Of of the special committee on
Louisiana affairs, submitted the report of
that committee, which concludes with a res
olution declaring that the democratic cleo
tors received a majority Of votes IN the
state of Louisiana. The pretended canvass
and complication Of votes for electors by the
board Of returning officers v as without au-
thsrity OF law, fraudulent and void, and that
the vote Of that state cannot be counted tor
Hayes and Wheeler without confirmation
and approval Of illegal and fraudulent ac-
ton Of said returning board. MIR. Townsend
pa submitted the minority report recon.
mending the adoption of q resolution de-
claring that the republican electors have
been elected in Louisiana and that the cleo
ton was examined into, determined, de-
clsred and promulgated by the proper au-
thorities OF said state under all the consti-
tuition Of the United States. Both reports
we're ordered printed and recommitted.
The house took u recess till 10 o'clock to-
morrow.
In the house on the 10th, the speaker
presented a communication similar to that
read in the senate from the president of the
electoral commits ion. 1t was resolved to
receive the senate in joint session at one
o'clock. Mr.. Hale e~ndeavored to fix an
earlier time, but his amendment was de
feated by one hundred and twenty to ninety,
He gave notice that he would call for the
yeas and nays whenever there is another
attempt to delay proceedings. Senate
amendments to the Indian appropriation
bill and military academy appropriation
bill were non-concurred in. Tn speaker
overruled the point of order againts the
right to take a recess, and accordingly the
house took a recesa till ten o'clock Monda
In the house on the 18th Mr.. Field
offered the following: "Ordered, that the
counting of the electoral vote from Florids
shall not proceed in conformity with the
desision Of the electoral commission, but
that the votes of Call, Yonge, Hilton and
Bullock be counted as votes from the state
of Florida for president and vice-president
of the United States" Mr.. Hale moved as
amendment: "Ordered that the counting
of the electoral votes from the state of Flori
da shall proceed in conformity to the de.
cision Of the electoral commission" After
the discussion Of several points Of order,
etc, the house proceeded TO the discussion of
objections to the dv clsion of the electoral
commission. Mr.. McCrary addressed the
house in support Of the report OF the COM
mission. The debate closed at 1:i5, and the
house proceeded to q vote. Mr.Hale's amend
mem was rejected by a vote Of 81 to 1877,
and Fields resolution was adopted. 1t was
then ordered that the clerk inform the
senate of the action of the house, and also
that the house is now ready to meet the
senate in the hall of the house.
In the house on the 18th, the report
Of the committee on the election in Florida,
declaring that the Tilden electors had been
elected in that state, was considered Mr..
Dunnell, who had signed the majority re-
port, spoke in favor OF that report. The pre-
vieus question being seconded, it was agreed
that the vote on the resolutions should be
taken to morrow at twelve o'clock. The
speaker laid before the house a message
from the president, transmitting a memorial
from citizens of New York, asking for the
passage of a law authorizing the proper de-
| partment to set apart sufficient ground on
| either Bedlow or Governors island in the
harbor Of New York as a site for The statue
| OF Liberty Enlightening the World"
| which has been donated to the United States
| bv the French people. Referred. Recess
| till ten a. 10.
In the house on the 14th, considers
| lion was resumed of the resolutions reported
BY the special committee charged with the
| investigation Of the recent election in Fleri.
| da, and Mr.. Thompson, chairman of the
committee, addressed the house.
in the house, on the 18th, the naval
appropriation bill passed after incorporating
che amendm ent Of Mr.. Whitthorne for the
appointment Of a commission to decide upon
the future naval policy oft he United States
tee commission 10 consist Of the admiral
Of the navy, general Of the army, two
senators, three representatives. aud two
rav1l officers, to be designated by the
president. The bin was passed re-
moving the political disabilities Of Joseph
f. Johnston. The speaker laid before the
house a message from the president yetoing
he bill perfecting q revision Of the laws OF