The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-01-26
CONGRESSIONAL
HOUSE.


In the house on the 18th, after the call o
committees for reports of a private nature
the house went into committee of whole OF
the private ~calander, Mr.. Wilson Iowa il
the chair. Mr.. Knott, chairman of the Judi
ciary committee, reported on the case OF
Barnes. the recalcitant manager OF the New
Orleans Western Union telegraph off q, tina
the house has a right to compel the produc
ton of kilograms by the officers of the tele,
graph company. Mr.. Barnes was brought
before the house. lie declared that he is moi
now in charge of the New Orleans Office,
but that should he again be placed in charge
of that office, and should the kilograms
demanded be there, he would willingly pro-
duce them. Witness made further answer,
declaring that he was perfectly willing to
produce the messages if he could do so. Mr..
Knott then offered a resolution declaring
the response of with ess not sufficient,
and renanding him to the custody of the
sergeant-at-arms until he shall have produced
the kilograms or heen discharged by order
OF the house. A~dopted-yeas, 131; nays, 70.
Mr.. Knott, from the committee to ascertain
privileges of the house in the counting of
the electoral vote, made a report from that
committee, recommending the adoption of
the following resolutions: Resolved, That
the constitution of the United States does
not confer on the president OF the senate
" to examine and ascertain the votes to
be counted as electoral votes for president
and vice-president of the United States.
Resolved, That the only power which the
constitution confers on the president of the
senate in regard to the electoral votes for
president and vice-president, is to receive
the sealed lists transmitted to him by the
several electoral clerks, and keep safe and
to open all certificates, or those purporting
to be such, in the presence of the senate and
house of representatives Resolved, That
the constitution does confer on the senate
and house of representatives the power to
examine and ascertain the votes to be
counted as electoral votes. Resolved, |
That In the execution of that power in re. |
spect to the counting of the electoral votes,
the house has at least equal power with the
senate. Resolved, That in the counting of
the electoral votes no vote can be counted
against the judgment and determination of
the house of representatives. Resolved, |
That the committee have leave to sit again
and report hereafter further matter for the
consideration of the house of representa-
tlVes. The report, together with the minority
report submitted by Mr.. Burchard TILi.
was ordered printed. Mr.. Knott gave notice
that he Eould call up the resolution for &C.
ton on Wednesday next. Mr.. Knott also
asked that two additional members be ap.
pointed on the committee to ascertain the
rights and privileges Of the house of repre-.
sentatives In counting the electoral vote.
The spea ker appointed Messrs. Field and
as such additional members. The
speaker laid before the house a message
from the president, stating how the money :
appropriated by the river and harbor biiI a
has been expended. After a speech by Mr. q
Reagan, in which he severely criticised the :
action OF the president in regard to the bill, y
message was referred. Consent was .
gwen TO print The testimony taken by the :
on elections in South Carolina q
The house then adjourned until Monday. =
In the house on the 18th, VIM. Orton, d
OF the Weston Union telegraph :
ompany, was before the bar OF the house, i
o answer the charge of being in contempt
I the house in not appearing before the n
investigating committee and pro- t.
uclng certain kilograms. Mr.. Orton's an. :,
yer Pleaded illness as an excuse for his '
on attendance. Tn answer and the whole p
after was referred TO the judiciary commit L
e, and Orion was r~emanded to the custody n
the sergeant-at-arms. Mr.. Atkins intro a
iced a bill for the improvement OF Tennes- /
e river. Adjourned. r
In the house Oh the 10th, the reselu- o
IN to permit the committee on privileges !,
ID duties, of the house, to send for papers n
ID persons and to sit during the session of t.
use, was adopted. Yeas, 149; nays, 20
Lynde, from the judiciary committee, b
ade a report relative to the refusal of n,
Wells, Anderson, C~assansye and :,
erner, members OF the Louisiana return. tf
z board, to produce before the committee ia
elections In Louisiana, certain papers de- til
anded by said committee. The report con- ag
udes with a resolution directing the ser. Gu
.at>atarms to take into custody and bring of
fore the bar Of the house the above named tn
A long discussion followed, and pa
e resolution went over until tomorrow. he
diourned. eS
In the house on the 18th, a good deal
time was occupied In deciding the pre-
ninary question as to whether the house w
ould proceed to the consideration of the ~
solution reported last Friday from the p
mmittee on privileges and duties of the !,
use in counting electoral Votes, or that of n
compromise plan proposed. The repub. ~
ans favored the latter and the democrats tn
E former. Finally a vote by yeas and NAYS ID
IS taken, and resulted in yeas 141, nays 81 1T
favor OF proceeding with the resolution tN
ported by Mr.. Knott, chirman of the com W,
ttee on privileges, and Mr.. Knott addressed
E house. Adjourned.
In the house OF the 18th, a discussion ii
* place upon the resolution reported by wi
judiciary committee in relation to the n
ussl OF the members of the Louisiana re- va
ming board TO produce certain pap ers ~
the Louisiana special committee. Mr.. =, ~
Z, of New York, closed the debate bv pa,
ing that the state of Louisiana lies pros
te, bit she is just as necessary now to the ee,
al west, TO the great north, 70 the whole SUI
lntry as she was, and has q potential voice bar
determining for this people who shall be the