San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-06-01
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.

suit OF the late Presidential election in Flori'
da and Louisiana, introduced In the House by
Mr. Potter OF New York:
| WHEREAS, The State of Maryland has, by
Its Legislature, formally declared that due
effect was not given to the Electoral vote cast
by the State on the 9th day of December, 1915
by reason OF fraudulent returns In the Elec:
toral votes from the States OF Florida and
Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, An affidavit by Samuel b. McLin,
Chairman of the Board Of State Canvassers
of the State of Florida for the election held
In that State In November, 1916, for the cleo
been made public, alleging false amt fraudu.
lent returns of the votes for such election in
that State, whereby the choice of the people
of that State was annulled and reversed that
the action Of the State Board of Canvassers
in making such returns was influenced by the
Noyes, now Minister to the Government of
France, and
WHEREAS, 1t is alleged that a conspiracy
existed in Louisiana, whereby the Republic.
can vote In all the precincts OF the parish OF
East Feliciana and In some precincts OF West
Feliciana, ut the general election In Novem.
Der, 1876 was purposely withheld from the
polls to afford a pretext for the exclusion by
the Returning Board of that State of the
President and vice.President, and that
James =. Anderson, superintendent OF
Registration of East Feiciana, and d. A.
Weber. Supervisor of Registration In
Cnc DdTiSH VI VcSt cllCiuilb, III ctutCp III
furtherance of that conspiracy, falsely pro:
tested that the election in such precincts had
not been fair and free, and that the State Re.
turning Board thereupOn falsely and fraudu-
lently excluded the votes of said precincts,
and by means thereof and of other false and
fraudulent action of said Returning Board,
the choice of the people of that State was an.
nulled and reversed, and that such action OF
said Weber and Anderson was induced or
encouraged by the assurances of Hon. John
Sherman, Secretary of the Treasury of the
United States; and
WHEREAS, The gravity OF these charges,
are reported to be based, and the official
dignity and position of the persons named in
connection with said frauds, make 1t proper
that the same should be inquired into, to the
end that the honor of the Nation may be win.
Dictated and the truth as to such elections
made known,
Resolred, That committee, consisting OF
eleven members of the House, be appointed
to inquire into the aforesaid allegations as to
the conduct of persons In office aforesaid,
in respect Of said election, and into the alleged
false and fraudulent canvass and return OF
votes by State, county. parish and precinct
officers in said States of Louisiana and Flor
ida, and into all the facts which, in the !adg-
ment of said committee, ARE connected with or
pertinent thereto. and that said committee,
for the purpose of executing this resolution,
shall have power to send for persons and pa
pers, to administer oaths and to take testi-
mony, and in their discretion to detail sub,
committee in every particular, with power
to sit in Florida and Louisiana; which sub
committees shall be committees of this
House, and the Chairmen thereof shall be
authorized to administer oaths; that said
committee and sub committees may employ
stenographers and be attended each day by
a deputy Sergeant at Arms, and may sit dur
ing the session of this House and during va
cation, and that said committee proceed In
their inquiry, and have leave to report ut any
time.
In the Senate, on the 18th, the House
amendments to the Senate bill authorizing
citizens of Colorado, Nevada and the Terri
tories to fell and remove timber on public do
main for mining and domestic purposes were
cOncurred in and the bill passed: The POST
office Appropriation bill having been consid.
cred in Committee of the Whole was reported
to the Senate, amendments made in commit.
tee were cOncurred in, and the bill passed.
A communication was received from James
b. Eads suggesting certain notifications
in the act authorizing the construction OF
jetties at the mouth of the Mississippi.
Referred. Consideration was resumed of the
bill to repeal the Specie Resumption act, and
of repeal. Senator voorhees, gave notice that
when the bill should be taken up again he
would insist on its consideration from
day to day till vote was reached; A
communication was received from Chief
Justice Waite, of the Board of Regents OF the
Smithsonian Institution, announcing the
death of Prof. Henry, and the Senate agreed
to a concurrent resolution adjourning both
House Immediately after the reading OF the
journal, demands for the regular order were
made on both sides of the House, and the
Speaker announced the regular order to be
secondary to the demand for the previous
question on the resolution offered yesterday
by Mr.. Potter. The Republicans refrained
from voting, thus leaving the House without
aquorun, as there were but Ill Democrats
present, l46 being necessary to make quo.
rum. Mr.. Wood then said: "As the factlous
minority seem determined to obstruct
The motion was opposed by the Republicans,
but was carried-yeas 100, nays 1N..... At
Democratic House Caucus, held Immediately
after adjournment, it was resolved
That the ho sn0aa
amendment from the Republican side
should be entertained; that all the Demo-
return to Washington, and that, after due
NOTICE, all existing pairs be declared at an
tnd.1
In the Senate, on the 18th, number OF
bills were introduced and referred, among
them one by Senator Eustis for the estab-
lishment of a semi monthly mail steamship
service between the United states ana Bra
zil to be paid by the Government S3o per
mile; also, one by Senator Beck anthorlZing
the Postmaster General to place mail service
on any public highway. river or railroad,
wherever the public service requires 1t......
In the House, Mr.. Wood called up the Senate
concurrent resolution for final adjournment,
and moved that its consideration be post
poned till Wednesday, the 29th OF May
Agreed to-yeas 1870. nays l06. division was
then called for on seconding the previous
question on Potter's investigation reso.
luton, and the call showed only
lIs members present-2o less than
a quorum. All the Republicans refused
to vote. After several more Intellectual ef-
forts to secure vote, on motion of Mr.. Potter
the House adjourned. ....lA Republican
which the following resolutions were adopt
ed:
Rssolred, That the resolution now pending
in the House is an attempt in form unlusti-
fable and illegal to reopen the question OF the
Presidents title a question solcmnly settled
by the action of tile Forty fourth Congress,
alana had Jurisdiction. and is there