Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-08
Senate.

WASHINGTON, June THE President pro
TEN. laid before the Senate communication
from the secretary announcing he had been
summoned before the Potter committee to
produce the Louisiana election returns, and
that he had obeyed the subpoena. In conclu-
sion he says: II respectfully request you to
lay this communication before the Senate that
may, if deemed necessary and proper, have
instructions as to my duty in this and similar
cases that may hereafter arise.
Senator Edmunds submitted an order that
the secretary of the Senate attend before the
committee of the House mentioned with the
papers described by the committee, and sub
nit the papers to examination from time to
time according to the convenience of the COM
mittee.
A long discussion ensued, and several Sena-
tors claiming that the proper way would have
been for the House to have requested the
Senate to furnish the papers. Other Senators
argued that the papers were not in custody of
the Senate by any law. They were merely in
possession of the secretary according to usages
! since the organization of the government, and
| therefore the committee had right to summon
the secretary to produce them.
| Finally the order of Edmunds was modified,
SO as to reserve all action touching the regular
|
papers, instrueting the secretary TO attend the
committee, and modified agreed to.
! Senator Mcmillan, from the committee on
privileges and elections. reported adversely on
the Senate bill to declare the true intent and
meaning of the revised statutes so that the
present Legislature Of New Hampshire may
| lawfully elect a Senator for the term com.
mencing March 4, 1878, and it was indefinitely
| postponed.
Senator Bruce submitted an amendment tc
the river and harbor appropriation bill, so az
to appropriate 1856, QUO to close the gaps anC
crevasses IN the levees of the Mississippi river
according to the recommendations of the com
mittee provided for in Senator Cockrell
amendment to that bill.
After the morning business the Senate re
sumed consideration of the army appropriation
bill, and Senator Blaine, in charge of the bill
said the committee on appropriations Thu
morning came to the conclusion it would no
be wise to unite the Indian question with tn
reorganization Of the army under the SAM
commission. He therefore submitted sub
stitute for the House section for transfer o
the Indian bureau to the war department, so a
to provide for the appointment of three Sena
tors and four Representatives, q joint com
; mission to inquire into the expedirncy o
transferring the Indian bureau to the war dc
partment, and to report to Congress before tn
first of January, 1879.
Pending discussion, recess was taken, tina
Senators might attend the funeral of NJ.
Mcdonald, late chief clerk.
The Senate upon reassemblng, the questio
, being an amendment reported by Senate
Blaine this morning from the committee o
! appropriations providing for commission t
! consider the expediency of transferring til
Indian bureau to the war department, wa
agreed TO.
Senator Burnside submitted an amendmer
to the provision submitted by him YESTERDAY
H.
Ject OF army REFORM etc., SO as to provide tt
three Senators on that commission instead {
two. Three mem bers of the House of Repr
> sentatives and three officers of the reguli
. army. Agreed to.
y The committee on appropriations reported
favor of striking out the 29th section of tt
House bill which forbids the use of the arm
as posse comitatus.
Senator Herman, for Senator Bayard, WI
was necessarily absent, submitted amend
ment so to make the section read From al
after the passage Of this act it shall not
n lawful to employ any part of the army of ii
y United States posse comitatus othe
= wise, for the purpose of executing the law
u except in such cases and under such circuu
r stances as such employment Of said force m;
- be expressly authorized by the constitution
. by act of Congress" etc.
o Senator Window opposed the retention
|. the section IN any shape, and argued it w
IF
=. of the President this subject could not
= limited by Congress.
1 Senator Blaine said the only way the arm
J., was used now as posse comitatus was to a
6 the revenue officers. To forbid such actit
b would be to break down all guards again
: illicit distilation.
=. Senator Edmunds opposed the section on II
4 ground that it general legislation in an a
y preparation bill, besides it would be rather 81
gular to say the army shall not be used for tt
e purpose of executing the laws.
q Senator Merrinan said the army had be-
l. used and prostituted time and time again
a control elections. The object Of this sectie
IT. was to prevent a like occurrence in the futur
"a He trusted the President would not use Il
- army for such purpose but he trusted befo
= the President would not and he did use it.
n Discussion as to the lawful use of the arm
S continued at some length by Senators HI
If Edmunds, Wallace, Merrimon and others.
a Senator Hill submitted an amendment
O strike out of the section as above quoted Il
. words 'as posse comitatus'' and Senator II
:: Ter submitted an amendment to strike out t
10 words "for the purpose of executing the laws
Pending discussion adjourned.