Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-05-15
wednesday May I5, 1878.
The Conference.

euCt VI uciupSlS Va tuc uSiliOStdtiC SOh-
gressicnal committee, with several
prominent members Of the House, in
GLIDING Speaker Randall, was held this
morning, and the form Of the resolution
Of investigation into the Flerida and
and L ,uisians frauds was finally deter
mined upon. 1t was agreed, with the
concurrence Of Mr. Potter, that the reso-
luton should be offered to-day, and by
him.
THE SCENE IN THE HOUSE.
When the House met to-day there
was larger attendance than usual in
the galleries, although they were not at
all crowded. There was an idea among
spectators and among members that
the long talked Of resolution might be
introduced. but there had been so muc'l
disappointment about it day after day
that no great interest was manifested
en- the subject. After the call Of the
States for bills and resolutions had con.
Guided, Mr.. Potter rose with the reso-
luton in his hand and sent it to tb 2
clerks desk to be read. From yir
Potter's manner it was assumed that
the long talked Of resolution WAS To he
offered at last, and this Inference
was found 10 be correct as soon as the
clerk had read few words. The read.
ing Of the resolution was listened to
with great attention by both sides of
the House and by those in the galleries.
As soon as the reading was concluded
Mr.. Hale, Of Maine. rose TO a question
Of order, ard made the point that the
resolution was not privileged one.
He was followed by General Garfield
on the same side and the rear was
brought up by the irrepress IDLE Conger,
of Michigan. Mr.. Mills, Of Texas,
agreed with the republicans that the
resolution did not involve a question OF
privilege. and his remarks to that effect
elected loud clspping Of hands from
the republican side. The discussion Oh
the point Of order was not at all ami
mated, and there was very little ap-
pearance Of excitement on either side
of the House.
TIP SPEAKERS DBCIsIoN.
When Speaker Randall oyerraled the
point and decided that the resolution
involved a question Of the highest priyi-
lege. there was O significant exchange
Of smiles on the republican side, and a
wise shaking Of heads as it was whis-
pered around that be was reading his
decision from manuscript, prepared, Of
course. before the point Of order was
raised. When the Speaker had finished
the reading Of hIs decision there vas
loud applause on the democratic side
and in the galleries. From the decis-
ion Of the Chair an appeal was taken by
Mr.. Conger, which Mr.. Potter instant
~ moved to lay on the table. This mo-
ton was carried by vote Of l2S to l0S,
Gen. Ben. Butler and Mr.. Fort, of ILL.,
nos, voting with the democrats in the
affirmative, and Mr.. Buckner, Of Mis-
souri,, and Mr.. Mills, Of Texas. with tho
republicans in the negative, Mr.. Con-
ger then raised several other points OF
order, all Of which were successfully
overruled by the Speaker. Gen. Gar
field made the point that it required a
two-thirds vote to authorize commit
tee to sit during the recess, and procee-
ded seriously to argue the point, al
though he was reminded Of the fact that
there were any quantity of precedents
where the House, by majority vote,
had authorized committees to sit during
the recess.
REMARKS by wM. Z. CHANDLER.
Mr. William f. Chandler, who sat in
the reporters gallery, an interested
spectator OF the proceedings. remarked
that the republicans were acting in an
absurd manner by making such weak
points, on which they could not posi-
bly, sustain themselves. 1t was soon
apparent, however, that the republicans
we're not sincere in their action, but
we're only bent on mterposlng all pos
bible obstacles to the final consideration
of the resolution.
MR.. HALE's LITTLE AMENDMENT.
After they had reached the point
where it was not possible to raise any
further parliamentary objections to the
resolution. Mr.. Hale. acting for the re-
pnblicans, rose with the resolution o.
which mention was made last night 10
relation % Oregon. Mississippi and
other States. and desired To- submit it as
an amendment. The republicans then
res0rted to hlihustering, and declining
to vote, the House was left without q
quorum. A call of the House was or
dered, but before the roll-call was com.
pleted it was announced that quorum
was present, and proceedings under the
call were dispensed with. 1t was ap'
parent, however, that the republicans
would repeat their tactics aud refuse &c
t0vote on the demand for the previous
question and as there were not enough
democrats present to constitute quo
rum motion TO adjourn was made and
carried.
DEATH OF PROFESSOR joseph
HRSRy.--Professor Joseph Henry, Of
the Smithsonian Institution, as Wash.