Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-18
FORTY.FIFrH CONGRESS-.
Extra Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, October IL.
Beck introduced q bill authorizing the payment
of so per cent of customs aud duties in legal ten
der notes. Referred to finance committee.
Thurman presented the credentials of Henry NJ
Spofford, Senator FROM Louisiana, for six years
from March 4th. 1877, and asked that they be read
and Spotford now be sworn in. The credentials
having been read, Mitchell moved as substitute
for Thurman's motion, that the credentials be re
ferred to the committee on elections. .sulasg
Quite lengthy discussion on points of order
followed. tae e4l ,as,t4e....
Anthony presented petition OF the mayor and
citizens Of Providence in favor Of increasing com
pensation Of letter carriers. Other similar petit
tons were presented and referred to the post of.
fee committee. f-. 4Ie.1fl.,t7 l.-
After the motion of Mr.. Thurman to have Spot
ford sworn in was laid over until tomorrow. Ed
munds moved that the com nittee on elections be
discharged from further consideration of the Gre
dentials of William Pitt Kellogg as senator from
Louisiana. Laid over until tomorrow At request
Of Thurman.
McCresry introduced bill to repeal the bank
rupt law. Heat ,
Grover of Oregon, at his own request. was ex.
cused from further service on the committee Of
enrolled bills t
On motion of Morrill, Of Vermont, q resolution
filing vacancies the committees as follows, was
agreed to: 10 n'ifei4
Messrs. Matthews of Ohio, and Wallace Of Pa,
on foreign relations. Cameron Of Pa. on military
strong of Mo. on railroads. Grover on private
land claims. Armstrong on enrolled bills. Ferry
Of Mich, was made chairman of the committee on
post Offices and post Dads, in place of Mr.. Ham,
lin, who retains his place on the committee as q
member, and Mr.. Hamlin was made chairman of
the committe on foreign relations in place Of Nor
ton, who retains his old place Is chairman Of the
committee on privileges and elections. % 9lsd
Morrill, stated that it was the W ism of the sena-
tor from Indiana (Mortou) that this latter change
be made.
After the executive session at 80 P. NJ. the
doors were opened aud the senate adjourned till
Tomorrow. -fEt elA lia gF
.4 HOUSE. agH
The House proceeded to the consideratiouiof
the disputed election from the 4th district of
Louisiana, the question being upon the resole-
ton offered by Leonard, referring the claims of
Elan and Smith 10 the committee on elections, to
decide who has prims facie right to the seat. ~
Gibson of La offered q substitute for the reso-
luton, providing for the immediate swearing in of
Mr. Elan. ae .-at ..t. - ..r
After debate the substitute was adopted; yeas
IA. nays ll9. Mr.. Elan appeared at the bar of
the house and took q modified oath. i
MIR. Frye offered . resolution, reciting that C.
Z. Nash had presented q certificate of election
signed by Gov. Kellogg. the then duly recognized
and acting Governor of La, but that the clerk of
the house had declined to place Nssh's name on
the roll of members, but had substituted Z. W.
Robertson, on the authority Of paper signed by
Gov. Nichols, and directing that the name Of
Robertson be struck off the roll, aud that Nash be
sworn in.
After debate substitute was offered by Mr.. e.
lis of La. that Robertson be now sworn in, which
was agreed to and the modified oath was admins
tered to Robertson.
The case of Mr.. Pacheco of California was then
called up, when Garfield moved that the oath Of
office be administered.
Springer of ILL.,, who had made objection on
Monday, offered to withdraw it, but the Speaker
ruled that as the objection was on record it must
be acted on.
Garfield stated that the question Of election had
been carried into the courts, and that on appeal
to the Supreme Court Of the state, that court "a
majority Of whose members were democrats) had
found that MIR. Pacheco was legally elected, and
under that finding the Governor had given him
legal certificate, so that Mr.. Pacheco might be
sworn in was not only prima facie but absolutely
unquestioned fff. aH
Luttrell denied the accuracy of Garfeld's state
meat IS to majority of judges of the Supreme
Court being democrats.
Garfeld-Did not majority Of the judges who
acted the question belong to your party at that
timer .d
Luttrell-A majority of the judges were elected
in opposition to the democratic majority. .
Garfeld-That does not answer my question.
Cox of N. Y. read q written statement embrac-
ing the facts in the case claiming that by the al
teration of one vote frsudulently the election had
been given 10 Pscheco. In conclusion he said it
was as big sin to steal vote % to steal rail-
road or the presidency. s..4--.s5
Mr.. Springer remarked that he had objected to
the swearing in of Pscheco, but on examination of
the papers presented to the clerk de did not see
how the clerk could have done otherwise than put
Pschece's name on the list; still he would call at
tention to the fact that although the certificate
WAS regular on its face, it was based on forged
election return from the county Of Monterey. Id
that connection he sent to the clerks desk and
had read an extract from Blacks article on the
electoral commission, to show that fraud vitistes
everything. t..s
Garfeld-Whie It is true that fraud vitiates ev-
erything, it is not true thst the allegation of fraud
vtiates anything. ai
Garfeds motion was then agreed to with divis-
ion, and the oath of Office (iron-clad) was there
upon administered to Pscheco.
Pacheco then desired to make some statement,
but was informed by the Speaker that the question
had been disposed of. iabY
The house took up the Colorado case, which A.
ter Q short debate went over without action.
The house at o'clock adjourned till Saturday,
with the understanding that no business should Be-
done that day. Hf