The Portland daily press., 1878-12-14
xLvTH CONGRE>s-sECOND SESSION
Passage of Mr. Edmuud,s EIec,nr,l ID :,
SENATE.

SENAIEs
Passage of Mr.. Edmund's Electoral Riu.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-Among the bills intro
diced was one to increase the army in an emer-
geDcy.
Bill to authorize the issue of certain duplicate eg
ls.efeo pon9s 10 the MAMMA tan Savings Institution
Mr. Gordon introduced bill to secure more eff
cient col ecion It revenue I'm Agars. Referred to
the finance Committee w
he Senate resumed considet alton of E]munds,
electoral BILL and Bayard spoke in its favor.
M. bayard said that the great difficulty surround
ing this question of counting the elector vote woud
be readily apparent to any one who would studv the
formation OF the scheme of our government Our
datnefs nag approached Ibis subjecL and always fail.
gent ne now to settle this question ami he held
that the present time was especially propitious be-
different political parties and measure which won1S
receive the assent Of both houses would be "a the
one on this subject should be an non-partizan
measure. This ration needed rest and peace and
not further agitation. The man who woulI serve
his country best woad seek to give her rest o allav
CONFUSION ana compose strife. The country's worst
zoe was the 1omeater of new dscords He viewed
TINS bill as a measure tending TO peace and oniet
tending to restore confidence to the public mind and
less some serious difficulty stood in the way. He
argued that the bill vested new power in the two
81 congress and next referred to the consti-
IMtonai power vested In Congress and in States
The bill met his favor because it rearmed in clear
and explicit terms the power of the State over this
SUBJECT OF appointing electors 1t wiped out ali pre
text of federal supervision over tho selection Of eec
Sos and conhded everything to the State itself The
otate mas ne sole power to execute that act and the
voice OF tne state should be conclusive. He then re-
1erred to the duplicate returns from the States and
SAID that we had, in the unhappy past bitter ex-
OF the kind was known until 1872 Previous to Iha,
tme there had been spirit of honesty which would
tenn pting to overturn the will of the maioritG in
state. Inose who committed or permitted the com
mission OF fraqd would sooner or later perish by
1faud. Inc Dill ought to be in the political interests
OF all the parties. Gradually this country was com.
ing back to acts of reason and justice and the people
were Wegnlhg tne acts OF men and parties Parti-
sahsnip might seek to stay thus era Of god feeling
put u would iall In conclusion MIR. Bayard referred
TO the pest1ence in the South, and said the small
gratitude on the other, hal grown into mighty
river of good feeling. He hoped this bill would 5ass
as Il tended to smooth the path OF progress over
Mr.. Eaton opposed the bill, or any other on this
supJect. In his judgment, there could be copsttu-
ought not to be interposltion by Congress- betwcen
The States and constitution in regard to cbanying
elections II the constitution is defective in this re-
gress would make no. law 10 regard to Counting the
electoral vote. that would bud the next Congress-
HRo ran time bae counting he vote would devolve.
OF last year. and said that the choice of thu peope of
Inc Oolea states was defrauded by the illegal act of
an unconstitutional commission. During a co,Ionnv
between Mr. Eaton and Mr.. Edmunds up IN the de-
bate, MI Eaton spoke of it as "boys play,''
Mr.. Edmunds L thnk il is.
Mr.. EatOn-I think it is and If NV friend fga
muncs won't interfere there will be one less how
engaged in the play. Laughter. ''' IVY
MI Merrman supported the bill at some length
snort opposition speeches were made bV Msssrs
Garland, Hill and Thurman. 's''s'
RI, amer some further discussion between Nessrs.
Vsos az ae ana Edmunds the hi was passed.
After the roll call, Mr. CockereIl said that he t,v
ored a number OF the provisions Of this bill and
could one or two provisions of it be cbano.d ba
would have voted for it. n'
ahe Ii as passed; provides that the electors of
each State on the first Tuesday in Ocober in evru
fourth year and on the same Gay in Octoper. when,
ever there snail be vacancy in both OF the offices of
President and Vice President the electors are to
meet and give their votes for Pres,uent ana V;co
President on the second Monday ia J,nnarv ne axt
ioowng. at such place in each State as the egis-
atufe OF such State snail di ect In case of
In both the ofhces OF President ami Vice PfesiJet
occurring more than Two months preceding the fr.t
Tuesday in October, the Secretary of Safe shall
cause notifcati thereof to be made tn the erecn
tive OF every State II further provides that each
STATE may provide bylaws enacted prior to the day
named for the appointment of eecior.) for he an,
polntment Of SUCH electors for the trial and deter
mloat1on OF any controversy CONCERNING Their an
Rolntmen, before the time fixed for their meeting
the second Monday in January. The electoral yo e
snail be counted by the two houses of Congress on
the second Monday OF February, succeeding every
made IN writing stating the reasons. and be- sana1
by at least one Senator and one member of tba
ouse provides for the separation OF the
TWO houses abb tne action upon all objections after
two hours debate in said house, under The five min
ute rule. No vote objected to shall be count ed ex
cept by the Affirmative voice Of both houses NJ Do
oa,e Is 10 De allowed when the two house, are in
joint session. 0' "'e ~
After the passage of the electoral bill Mr. Rla,no
oVeu 10 take up the resolution submit ted by him on
the first day of the session in regard fo cit1zans
lne deprived OF their constitutional RICH so tbae
would be unfinished bus ness on Monday ~
Mr. Wa ileigh objected and said tnaf The ser.+,
Dl,l 10 revise, consolidate and emend the staiute
relating to patents hal precedence and he wonld
. MI Blaine SAID that if his resolution was to nass
Was important that it should be passed before the
Mr.. Wadlegh said that the resolutio, ,,,,,,
TO discussion while the patent bill would not. -'"u
, MI. Blaine said that the Senator oil NOT know
that the resolution W lud provoke discu<sion "
Mr.. Wadleigh moved to adjourn
IGss' b DiSine Edmunds and others on the Re-
SLUG objected ami called for the yeas and
The q motion to adjourn was agreed toyeas "a
Adjourned until Monday.
HOUSE.
Commassioner DavenpOri-The William.
and Mary College Bill.
A resolution for the investigation of tbe offo;,
conduct Of j. 1. Davenport of New York was odon,
~, ater peng amended so as to make the invest,aa
eAeha 10 ms conduct on the day of registration
MT. henna Of West Virginia rising tn 3 nersoUai
sS p,ahaton referred to the sweeping CHARGES ma%a
~ ne puolc press against the members of The CON-
Of the last session. He denounced snch cb close
false and filed ,he,s, atemenis ~ t as
his statement. 'o III support OF
Inc bills on the Speakers table since 1,s+ sos,;o
we're ieiered to the comm tee except those m ubi
objections were made. ''' " WHICH
Mr. Davis of North Clroina, from tbe committee
"a ciaims reported bill Originally introdncod t
Ar. fhllps OF Kansas amending the act maLina W
,ppropratlon Tor services of the government foretL
isca. year ending June 80, 1872 Passed III inc inc
ioues III tne settfeme mt provided for in tbat In
accounts Tor the service OF laborers etc emnIon
u Dy Tue government between the l0tb of Nov pesn
nd me date when full payment was COMMENCED ,o o.
lgnt hours work By the act approved Nav Az ~
Vnen IL snail be made to appear that the redrct;
a wages ' Va '"o 'eouclon
Inc House went into the committee of tbe Who'll.
n the private calendar. " 'no "hoie
ips plll !or reimbursng the COLLEGE of wi,,ior
nu WARY or property destroyed during the late W.
.as opposed by Air. Keifer of Ohio w1thont INV a.
IRE OF intent OF keeping alive the i'll will enSendafad
y tne iate war; but berause there was No Iooat
rounu ior the payment of the claim and hero6aa
mere ere was no precedeDt for such payment.
Mr. Eden would not vote for fbe hill hooou.,.
1ight establish a dangerous PRECEDENT
Committee rose without action -~.-.---
Mf. Gibson Introduced Joint resolutiop o;,irr
otice 10 terminate tha con vention of In,a ,a75s
'lth the HaWiian Islands. Referred io'''
Mr.. Coat, of tue com mittee on nitaru oao,u.
oIted OH Donating twenty condemned cannon RI
Vest Point Passed. w '.n' custer at
Adjourned till tomorrow