Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-14

J MIR. Regain desiring to justify bis vote in sup
port OF the resolution stated that while he
agreed with his colleague (Mills), that a retrial
OF the presidential question could not be had
by the House, the resolution in alleging that
great frauds had been perpetrated raised this
question Of the highest privilege.
} Mr.. Conger raised the point Of order that as
the resolution gave the committee unusual
power to sit during recess, to report at any
time, and for the chairmen Of sub-com mittees
to administer oaths, it could not be adopted by
mere majority vote. Also, that as the resolu-
ton provided for an expenditure of money it
must first be considered in committee of the
whole.
Mr.. sayler argued that the committees could,
by simple majority vote, be authorized to sit
during recess, and he quoted in support of
that view the precedent In the case Of the
famous Gardner investigation. He admitted,
however, that in that case the question had not
been raised.
MIR. Garfield claimed his colleague had shown
no precedent that had any force. He had never
heard that a proposition to sit during recess
could be adopted by mere majority vote.
The speaker ruled that the right of the chair
man OF q subcommittee to administer oaths
was matter to be decided by the committee
itself. II it was contrary to law then it did
not matter whether the power was given by a
two-thirds vote or by majority vote.
After argument as to the rule applying to the
case, in which Messrs Thompson, Butler, Saw
Ter and Caswen participated, the speaker over
ruled the point of order as to the power of the
committee to sit during recess.
The next point discussed was the right of
chairmen of subcommittee to administer
oaths: Mrs. Conger said the statute prescribed
who might administer oaths, including the
chairmen of committees, and the rules declared
who should be chairman, the first named mem
| Der of the committee, and in his absence, the
next IN order, and SO on. The House could
not, by simple resolution, say differently
from the rules, that the chairman of sub
committee was chairman of a committee.
The Speaker overruled the point of order on
the ground that if the House should authorize
| the appointment of subcommittee in the
manner provided, the chairmen of such COM
mlttees would have the power, under the very
| words of the statute, to administer oaths. He
also overruled the point as to the expenditure
Of money.
Mr.. Garfield then made the point of order
that it required two-third vote to give the
committee power to report at any time.
The speaker sustained the point, whereupon
MIR. Potter struck out that part of the resolu-
| ton.
Mr. Hale asked Mr.. Potter to allow him to Of
fer an amendment.
MIR. Potter said he introduced the resolution
at the request of his political associates made
this morning, gentlemen whose wishes he did
not feel at liberty to refuse. The resolution
contemPlates nothing but an inquiry into the
facts Of the electoral votes of Florida and
Louisiana, and into the participation of Off
GERS of the government in connection with al
legged frauds there. What can be done after
the inquiry is completed, what ought to be
done, should be determined only after the in
quiry has been had. MIR. Potter then moved
the previous question, saying the House could
determine by its vote on that motion whether
the matter shall be further debated.
Mr.. Hale said he had an amendment to offer
which was clearly germaine to the resolution,
and he submitted that in all fairness he should
be permitted to offer it. He hoped the gentle
man Potter would not seek here and now to
stlfe further debate or to prevent the Republic
can side of the House from offering amend
ments that would make the investigation more
exhaustive and searching. He therefore asked
the gentleman to yield to him to offer his
| amendment.
state the nature of his amendment, 1t may
be that in the form of amendment he merely
wants to get in a speech.
Mr.. Hale-The better way is for the gentle
man to allow the amendment to be read.
Mr.. Potter-The gentleman from Maine is
exceedingly familiar with parliamentary law,
| is able to state the nature of his amendments
and when he states it then will allow it to be
offered.
Mr.. Hale-Then will read this amendment
Mr.. Potter did not ask the gentleman to
do that. I asked him to state what the nature
of his amendment was.
MIR. Hale-I think L may be allowed to say
that this matter has not come up suddenly. It
was considered for a long time by the gentle
men and his associates, but it was never known
when 1T would be sprung on the House. Find
| ing that it becoming, of course, q party
matter, I consu lted with the speaker and re-
ceived from him the assurance, and am glad
to say that in these matters the speaker is al
ways ready to give the minority chance to be
heard that this side of the House should be
ra,N ,toI %l4 %Ao, ln,x,
opportunity of presenting it's propositions.
ALI that will come from the gentlemans
| yielding to my cOrteOus request that my
amendment may come in here, is an opportu-
nifty to vote on it. He and his associates may
vote it down if they WILL then vote upon the
resolution. He will see. however, that my
resolution is germaine to the resolution, is in
the direction Of an stigation, and that SO
Tar from narrowing the investigation or sitting
it in the least degree, it sends to this select
committee appointed for purpose, subject
matters only connected with the subject mat
ter Of the orig inal resolution and that it de-
parts not one iota from the great subject mat
matter of the investigation of alleged frauds
attendant upon the Presidential election in
1876. I ask him now, he seeks a full inves-
tigation, that he yields the power which he has
Of managing this resolution, to throttle the
right of this side of the House to offer an
amendment.
The speaker-The chair desires to say in cor
roboration Of the gentleman from Maine that
the chair did state this: ''That if the gentle
man from Maine desired to submit an amend
ment he would be recognized by the chair fol
that purpose, provided the gentleman who was
in charge of the proposed resolution gave him
an opportunity to offer it" Then the gentle
man from Maine, asked whether an amendment
being germaine to the subject matteriwas not as
much a question of privilege the Original
resolution itself. and the chair told him if the
amendment was competent question Of
privilege the chair would give him the privilege
of offering the proposition in his own right.
Mr.. Hale admit clearly that the RESPONSE
bility is not with the chair, but with the gen
the other side. My amendment is here, hold
) ing it in his hand, and desire to offer it.
2 Mr.. Potter accept all the responsibility,
! that belongs to me to the question determin
: ing whether the amendment should come in
: do not weld to allow the amendment to b.
offered. The fnalresponsibility however doe
t not rest on me, but on the House which ma,
e refuse to second the previous question. Blu
the gentleman made no answer to my reques
+ to state what his amendment relates to, an
more than that he says it relates to the genera
Z subject of the alleged presidential frauds.
I MIR. Hale-Will the gentleman let it be read
! and then he will understand what it is. vii
/ send it to the clerks desk. [Shouts of no, ne
Q from the Democratic side
). Mr.. Potter-The gentleman from Maine cal
# answer if he chooses, and if he refuses to ar
$ swer and insists on giving me answer in quir
s. of foolscap then say it is not such an appes
!, to my country as I ought to yield to. Fc
q ought know it may refer to other States tina
t. the States of Louisiana and Florida.
II Mr.. Hale-Then the gentleman seems to linn
# his investigation to selected States, and WI
re not allow it to go outside. If that is the re;
/ son why he will not admit my amendment,
Is tell the gentleman plainly my amendment
IS not confined to the States of Florida and Lo,
le isiana.