New-York tribune., 1878-05-14

co1rasS and failure TO investigate 80 far from securing
Will ieopardze the peace and security oi the country
THE FIRST POINT OF ORDER DEFEATED
The sPEAKER-The issue involved Is new one III 'ne
history of this country and examination OF tne pss
ON bicb the nreombl. and resolution introduced IL
The Legislature of the state of Maryland paseu
Joint resolution touching the subject treated ol n @
preamble and resolution just read coPy yyttod ~ ~ IN
resolution of the state Maryland has been renteu
this House and has been referred to committee anu 10
within the knowledge of members OF the House IN "os
not been given to tile electoral vote cast by the
State or Maryland on the 6th day OF , o,
Dy OF fraudulent returns 'laie rom 1tIin
aud allowed to DC counted proYiSlOny oy tne E"UtV
Commission aud subject 10 judicial re1Iscn d Viorda
ther alleges that the returns frOn L)nlsah ana %
which east for the present occupant OF te rres
dental chair were fraudulent and void Here is rae ap
peal OF state OF TINS Union 10 tne Soo
power for the correction OF a niBh oiHnoS S
said to have been committed In the states ..
Florida and Louisiana against the rights Oh t1c o2, 3s
of Maryland in having. by fraud in sand states states
pesuit m the election OF a President and Vice
President from that actually decreed by the
tbese questions eau be sustained by proof il is not Tor
the Chair TO consider IL IS enough t0r the NIair W
limits is Iecognized as sovereign by the Constitution,
aud that the issue involved runs to the welfare OF t
prOpriey for the Chair express opinion as TO now
far such an investigation should go IN s order TO TO
ses ses'T upon one it. higher privilege than ilo
Involved and broadly and directly presented, as
TO the rghtf occupancy of the Chief Executive chair
Of the Government aud as to the connection of high
Government orclas with the frauds alisgeu te Unalt
among the questions OF privilege set dopn IN rn
Manual the oowng & heeton t or yhg and reso
tOn embrace questions Of privilege OF the hlghest
Senema from from NewYor YORK to r the same hpplaGse
on the Democratic side of the chamberI The other
points are, OF course, neld in reserve.
SIR. CONGER rep. MIch) appealed from the decision
Mr. POTTER Dem. n. " moved to lay the appeal on
the table.
MIR. POtters motion was agreed tO-Yeas, 12S nays,
10S-a party vote. with tnc exception OF MI. Fort
QIcp. nL), Mr. Mitchell (Rcp, PENN, aud Mr. But;
ier tIsep, MassD who voted with the Democrats ana
Who 1,iii Voted ei' with the RepE6lic1Rs
Mr. REAGAN Dem., Tex) desiring TO JUSTIFY bis vote
with lis colleague QIr. Mills that tile re-tral of the
Presidential question could not be had by the House.
the resolution, in alleging that great frauds had been
perpetrated raised question OF the highest privilege.
FOUR MORE PARTISAN RULINGS.
Mr. CONGER (Rep., Mich) raised the point OF order
that, as the resolution gave the committee unlsua,
powers to during and to report at any time
and for the charmen OF the subcommittee to ad-
minister oaths, it could not be adopted by mere
majority vote also that the resolution provided for
expenditure OF money 1t must be nrst cOnsIdeteu III
Committee OF the Whole.
cbuld by simple majority vote, be authorized 10 slt
during He quoted IN support OF tnat view pre-
redcnt In the of the famous Gardner investigation
lie admitted, however, that IN that case the question
mad shown 10 precedent that bad any force lie had
never heard II claimed that proposition TO- sid during
recess could be adopted by mere majority vote.
The SPEAKER ruled, rs TO the rlght Oi chaifmeh OF
sub.cOmmttees TO administer 0aths, tnat t3s u mat
Ter TO be decided bY the committee Itself II IL IS con-
trary law then IL does not matter whether Tue power
is given by two-lhirds vote or by majority vote.
Mr BUTLER rep, Mass) cited the case OF a sub-com"
~, Of Prrsidenf Johnson where a recu-
SAM witness refused answer under Oath ana wAeie
TIE House ruled tnat he was bound To answer.
Mr. THOMSON { ep, Penn) argued that lnasmuch
~ a
recess it require suspension OF the rules TO give
Mr' sHYIER Dem, ohio) challenged him to indicate
the rule prohibiting committee from sltuhsduihE Tue
Mr.. .THOMPsON quoted the 72d rule which provides
that no committee shall sit during the session OF the
MR. CAsWEII (Rcp, WIS., stated that that rule had
nothing TO do whatever with the question I'm Whlch
statement the Speaker coincidod) but that the rule
which applied the parliamentary rule that neither
House could continue any portion OF ltseI III cNtece
beyond the OF session without the coSeut0 the
Mr. sAYLER Dem, Ohio said the rule applied to the
adjournment Congress- not recess between one ses
The SPEAKER oyerruled the point OF order as to the
power OF che committee to sit curing the recess
The point discussed and decided was on the rsht
OF chairmen Of subcummitecs To administer oatns
scrib,s who may administer oaths, and in
cludes the chairman OF committge. Ihe ru'es
committee. the first named member Of a committee
and in ms absence the next IN order and 80 on me
House cannot by simple resolution say llineIen'y
from the rcs) that the chairman OF subcommittee Is
lp q "A
The sPEAHER oycrrulcd the point OF order the
ground thai the House should authorize the appoint
e1r en %, 40 ,r s9bcommittces would have powers
under the very words OF The statute 10 administer 3Ins
lie 30 oycrrulcd the point reAi'o 10 TIE expenditure
" Mr. IT, GARFIELD Rcp ohioD then made the point of
orcr that il required twOthirLs rOtc 10 give tue COM
Iniitee the power to report at any time.
TIE SPEAKER stained that point OF order. -, ..o
Thcreupon Ar. POTTER struck ont that part OF the
resolution.
POTTER MOVES THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
Mr. HALE CRep. Me) asked Mr. Potter to yield TO him
to offer amendment
Mr.. POTTER-The gentleman from Michigan or.
Conger) intimlted that 1t was impertinence on my
mart to Introduce this resolution. Very few gentlemen
i'm the House. THINK would take the responsibility of
introducing a resolution OF this character and
OF this magnitude, without being requested to
do so. | introduced 1t at the request of
my political associates. made 90 me TINS morn
iug-gC utemcu whose wish did not feel myself AT
liberty TO refuse. Few gehtlemen asked by sucl asso
ciacs would have felt themselves al liberty TO refuse TO
Introduce the resolution IN question want 10 add
further, III view OF something that was said ny
resoton contempatcs nothing but an inquiry into the
facts uf the electoral votes IN the States VI Florida ana
in connection with the alleged frauds there
what can be done after the inquiry Is completed
say only after the inquiry has been had For myself
have purpose IN thar respect, and know OF none
for myself that l have no wish 10 disturb
Tho neoce Ind 1uIet and prosperity OF the country,
which, nope, now beginning to revive, and that
have fear that this Investigation can result IN disturb
ing IT, The Government of this country was made by
h3 people aud they competent to preserve 1t with
out Violence, and TO right peaceably the wrong that
should be righted; or, II need be-, to submit
for season 20 wrong if the public interests
demand that it should be submitted TO; but repeat
what said before that 10 refuse To inquire into success
fu frauds their continuance, and III the end
jeoparzc. and not to secure the public safely Now,
as the subjectmaIer OF the resolution is familiar TO the
House, shall the previous question upon it, and
ths House can determine by lts vote on that motion
whether tlle matter shall be further debated.
UITP Urges HIS AMENDMENT.
Mr. HALE Qep, Me)-I have an amendment TO offer
which Is clearly gcrnauc to the resolution; and sub
nit that in all fairness should DE permitted 10 offer It,
hope considering the magnitude OF the subject, which
has been well referred TO and acknowledged by the