Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-23
Senate,

lancous.
Senate.
WASHINGTON, May 22.-Sena tor Davis of
West Virginia called up the resolution submit
ted by him a few days ago authorizing the Sc
lcct committee appointed to investigate the
reports, books and accounts Of the treasury de-
partment, to contine it's investigation and sit
during the recess. An extended discussion
followed.
Pending the discussion on the resolution of
Senator Davis, the morning hour expired, and
Senator Iugalls called for the unfinished
business-the bill to provide permanent form
of government for the District of Columbia.
Senator Ferry said the understanding Of the
Senate yesterday was the House bill to forbid
further retirement of legal tender notes would
be taken up at the expiration of the morning
hour to-day and then laid aside informally to
allow the Senator from Mississippi Namar) to
address the Senate on the Texas Pacific railroad
bill.
Another long discussion ensued as to the
agreement of yesterday. All the Senators con-
CURED that the understanding was that Lamar
should be heard on the Texas Pacific bill. FL
nally, Senator Ferry said he would not insist
consideration of the bill to forbid further
retirement of legal tender notes to-day if the
gentleman from Delaware was not permitted
to speak.
The bill to provide a permanent form of gov
eminent for the District of Columbia was then
taken up and laid aside informally, and Mr..
Lamar then made speech i'll favor of the Tex
as Pacific railroad bill.
Senator Lamar said the whole amount of
bonds to be issued could not exceed thirty-two
million dollars. The whole amount Of interest
to be guaranteed by the government, could not
exceed in round numbers, two millions per
annum. He argued that the government would
be secured for the aid extended by mortgage
upon the entire road by all the earnings of the
road and by all the dues from the government
for transportation of it's mails, military sup
plies and troops. He then spoke of the objec-
tions to the bill, and said the single question
before the Senate was, whether the
government would expend two million
dollars annually for the purpose
of constructing this road, the value Of which
could not be measured in dollars. The amount
asked was not half of that appropriated annu-
ally for rivers and harbors. 1t was not as much
us the government expended before the war for
mail trans portation alone to the Pacific coast,
and that at Il time when We had but thirty
millions or people, and the postal demands
of the country were not what they are now. 1t
was not Il fair statement of this case to say the
passage of this bill committed the government
to great debt. Take the appropriations for
the army for the next fifty years
We're they regarded now Us a debt? They
brought no remuneration. But in the case of
the railroad the government became the cred
already invested million dollars in the road
and built AS miles, but they We're unable to
build more. The legislature of every State IN
the South had passed resolutions favoriEg gov
eminent aid to the road. He spoke Of the
labor troubles in the country, and said what
we needed was the Inauguration OF new enter
prises to employ labor. In conclusion, he ap-
pealed to Senators from New England es-
pecially, to support the measure work of
national Importance in the interest Of the
whole American people.
Senator Paddock called up the Senate bill for
relief of settlers public lands under the pre-
emption law, and in explanation thereof said
it to give settlers who had been on public
lands two three years under pre-emption
laws the benefit Of that time upon changing
their claim so as to be under the homestead law
bill. Passed.
Senator Allison, from the conference COM
mittee on the Indian appropriation BILL sub
mltted a report, which was agreed to and the
bill passed.
The Senate then resumed consideration of
the bill providing permanent government for
the District of Columbia and the first section
recognizing the District as municipal corpo-
ration, ETC., was agreed to without amend
ment.
Senator Bayard moved to amend section two
providing for the appointment of commission
crs, so as to provide that the two cOmmissiO,l-
crs to be appointed from civil life shall have
been actual residents of the District one year
instead of three years the Senate committee
proposed. Agreed to, yeas 20, nays 49,
After an executive session the Senate adj
journed.
House Of Representatives.
WASHINGTON, May 22.-Mr. Harris, from the
judiciary committee, reported bill for term
of the United States court at Quincy, Ill.
Passed.
Mr.. Beebe offered resolution calling for in
formation as to Presidential pardons of crimi
mails since March, 1877. Adopted.
Senate bill for the relief of settlers on pub.
lie lands whose crops were injured by grasshop.
pers. Passed
Mr.. Harrison offered the following as cues
ton of privilege:
WHEREAS, A select committee of this House
has been appointed to inquire into certain
frauds alleged to have been committed i1
Florida and Louisiana in November, 1876, ir
connection with the return of votes for electors
for President and Vice President; and
WHEREAS, 1t is charged that frauds of like
character were committed at the same time IL
the States of Oregon and South Carolina; there
fore be it
Resol,vd, That said committee be and it i,
hereby empowered to inquire into the same i
in it's opinion testimony thereon of a substan
tial character shall be presented to it; and b.
it further
ReSolUed, The Senate and House of Repre-
scntatives of the Forty-fourth Congress havin,
counted the electoral votes for President ant
Vice President, and it having been declared tina
Rutherford B. Hayes had received the highes
number of votes for President, and VIM. A
Wheeler had the highest number of votes 70
Vice President, it is not now in the power o
Congress, nor is it purposed by this hous
through said investigation to annul or attemp
to annul the action of the Forty fourth Con
gress in the premises.
The point having been presented as t.
whether the resolution involved question o
privilege, the Speaker pro ten,., Mr.. Saylel
submitted the question to vote. Both side
manifested dlsinclination to take ground o
either side, and the vote, taken by yeas an
Republicans voted, and net nearly all tn
Democrats. The members of the select com
mittee who voted at all, were Messrs. Potter
Cobb, Cox, of Ohio, Morrison and Stenge
who voted in the affirmative.
Objection being made that no quorum ha
voted, Mr.. Harrison, amid storms Of calls I
order, withdrew the resolution, stating that b
was not DESTROYS of obstructing business.
Mr.. Wilson then offered resolution autho
izing the select committee to investigate ele
toral frauds i'll any State where there was pro1
able cause to believe such frauds were pra
iced. Mr.. Cox, New York moved to refer tt
resolution to the select committee, and d
mandi'-g the previous question, which WI
seconded, and then, apparently in consequent
of a hint from Potter, Cox offered to withdra
his motion. This, however, was objected to 9