The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-01-13
Congressional Proceedings.

onssion the question was taken on the
resolution and resulted, yeas 80, nays 3.
No quorum voted, aud the Senate, in
accordance with previous order, adjourn
Cd until Monday
In the House, the Senate amendments to
the Invalid Pension bill were concurred in.
i. W. Barnes, the New Orleans Manager
Of the Western Union Telegraph Compa-
nv, was brought before the bar of the
House, and the Speaker asked him what
excuse he had to make for failing to pro-
duce the kilograms called for by the House
: Committee at New Orleans. Mr. Barnes
presented long answer, in which he stated
that the papers were not in his possession
when called for, having been previously
sent to the Superintendent at Mobile, and
also pleaded the inviolability of telegraph
messages, his duties as an employe of the
company, the fact that the paper served
on him as general warrant, and also the
fact that the laws of Louisiana made the
disclosure Of kilograms misdemeanor.
When the paper was read, resolution
was offered by Mr.. Knott, referring the
whole matter to the Judiciary Committee,
with instructions to report as early as practi-
cable. The resolution was adopted and Mr..
Barnes was remanded to the custody of
The Sergeantat.arms. The Contingency
Deficiency bill was passed in the House.
Satarddy.-The Senate was not in
session
In the House, Mr.. Douglass, Of Vir-
ginia, Chairman Of the Committee on
freedmenS Bank, reported bill author
King the Freedmen's Bank Commissioners
70 buy in property under foreclosure to
secnre debts of the bank, and sell the same
at public or private sale when it is for the
Interest of the bank to do so. The bill
was passed. Mr.. Lane, Of Oregon, from
the Committee on Public Lands, reported
bill for the sale of desert lands in Cali.
fornia, Oregon, Nevada aud the Territories.
Il was passed The Diplomatic Appro-
priation bill was considered After dis
posing of business of the District of
sColumba, the House adjourned,
Monddy-In the Senate Mr. Edmunds,
ln reply to some remarks of Mr. Hamln,
ssan the Judiciary Committee would try
TO give early attention to the House bill
for the distribution Of the unexpended
balance of the Geneva award. Mr.. Sher-
man presented petition Of citizens Of
cincinnati, n favor Of a peaceful and legal
.count of the Electoral votes After some
sremarks by him and Mr.. Thurman, it was
Preferred to the Select Committee having
,charge of the subject Mr.. Wallace pre-
ssentad similar petition from citizens of
philadelphia. Mr.. Morton presented a
resolution for the arrest Of Enos Ruuyon,
= banker of New York, for contempt in
re- 6using to answer certain questions in the
Ore. -on Investigation. He gave notice
that h., would call up the resolution on
Tuesday The resolution declaring Tur-
per the Oregon telegraph operator, in
coptemnt W IS then agreed to by vote of
IS to j. Mr. Boob, of California, sub,
mitted a Joint r. solution presenting rules
for the counting /, Z the Electoral votes.
Ii was ordered To e prleted, Mr.. Booth
giving notice that he would speak ON the
subject on Friday. vi wallace, OF
Pennsylvania, submitted resolutions m
strueting the special conn. Nitee a. Inc
Presidential question to repor, IL 70 she
+ powers Of the Electoral College; SheAer
Congress can examine the facts af'o Inc
law to determine which are the tn re re-
turns, and whether no Electoral vote eAh
be counted without the concurrence /"
both Houses. He spoke at some length
upon the subject. The resolutions went
over. and, after an Executive Session, the
Senate adjourned.
In the House, bills were introduced by
Dir. Chittenden, of New York, for the pay
ment of the legal-tender debt, in harmony
with the pledged faith of the Government;
BY Mr., Bright, of Tenn, for the free
coinage of silver dollars and making the
same legal tender; by Mr.. Hunter, of
Indiana, appropriating $50, 900 for all ex-
petition to the Arctic Seas, aud by Mr.,
Buckner, Of Missouri, to provide for a
paper circulation convertible into gold
and silver, and to provide for counting the
Electoral votes. On motion of Mr.. Will
lis, of New York, the Select Committee on
Privileges of the House in counting the
Electoral vote were instructed to inquire
whether votes were given during the re-
cent election in violation of the constitu
tional prohibition against choosing United
States officials as Electors On motion of
Mr.. Kasson, of Iowa, the same committee
were instructed to inquire if Electoral
votes were cast by persons laboring under
political disabilities; and if so, what &C.
ton should be taken. The rules were
suspended, on motion of Mr.. Buckner,
and bill abolshing the Police Board of
che District of Columbia, and transferring
lis duties to the Commissioners Of the
District, was passed unanimously. Mr..
Mills, Of Texas, moved to suspend the
rules aud adopt resolution denoun cling
s'the lawlcss invasion, by armed force, of
the soil Of any State or Territory, no mat
ter under what pretext, as among the
gravest of crimes" Some of the Demo
Gratis disappearing the policy of offering
such resolution, motion to adjourn was
made, but it was rejected. The motion to
suspend the rules was then lost for want
Of a two.thirds vote, the yeas being l07,
she nays SO. The House then adjourned,
7aesddy.-In the Senate, the House
BIZ abolishing the Police Board of the
District Of Columbia was passed unani-
nlously and goes to the President. Mr..
Morton called up the resolution for the
arrest Of Enos Runyon, the recusant wit
ness before the committee on Privileges
and Elections, aud it was agreed to with
out division. Mr. Wallace's resolutions
segardng the counting of the Electoral
vote introduced on Monday, were consid.
cred, and Mr. Sherman spoke on the
Louisiana question. After remarks by
Mcssrs. Bogy, Boutwell, and Whyte on
8 the same subject, the resolution was laid
over.
In the House several new bills we're
Introduced, among them one by Mr.. Free
man, of Pa, for the appointment Of
commissioner to distribute the unexpended