Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-15
The House Disperses the Ghost which
has Haunted the Postmaster General
Day and Night since the Passage
OF the Potter Resolutions, by
The Almost Unanimous Adoption OF the
Resolutions Declaring Hayes's Title
Unassailable by Congress or the
COurts-Other Business in
the House.
The Senate DispOses OF an Immense
Amount or Miscellaneous Work, In
Guiding Appropriations and other
Important Business.



WASHINGTON, June IA bill was passed
authorizing tbs settlement Of the claim Of
Rear Admiral j. A. Dahlgreen.
Mr.. Reagan moved to suspend the rules
and take from the speakers table the river
and harbor bill for the purpose of non-co
CURING In the senate amendments. Agreed
to.
The conferees on the legislative, executive
and Judicial appropriation bill reported a
failure to agree. The point of difference is
the claim of the senate to fix the compensa-
iIon Of its own employees, whose rates are
considerably higher than those of the house.
Mr. Waddell moved to suspend the rules
and take from the speakers table the post
route bill for the purpose of non concurring.
Mr.. Eden said he understood the senate
amendments involved very important princi-
piles of legislation and contained the Brazil
ian subsidy, and if the bill was sent to con-
terence committee it would be placed In q
position where it could be reported at any
ume and put on its passage without discus
sion.
Mr.. Waddell's reply was lost in the con-
fusion.
Mr.. Cannon, rising to a question of con-
.titutional privilege, offered a resolution di-
recting that the post route bill, with the SEN
ate amendments, be returned to the senate,
As portions of these amendments were in the
nature of a revenue bill. Among the objec.
aonable items are the Brazilian steamship
subsidy, a provision for carrying books
through the mails under the postal union
treaty free of duty, and other matters.
Mr.. Cannon asked the house to adopt his
resolution, vindicate its rights, and send the
bill back to the senate with the information
that that body had no right to trench upon
the prerogatives of the house. After discus
sion the resolution was adopted-yeas, I68;
nays, 68. The bill was sent back to the SEN
ate. The speaker announced Messrs. Rea-
gan, Kinney and Dunnell as conferees on the
harbor and river bill.
MIR. Burchard moved to suspend the rules
and adopt the following preamble and reso-
iutions:
WHEREAS. At joint meeting of the two
houses OF the forty-fourth congress, convened
pursuant to law and the constitution, for the
votes for President and Vice-President for the
term commencing March 4, 1877, on count
ing the votes Rutherford B. Hayes was de-
clared elected President, and William A.
Wheeler was declared elected Vice-P resi
dent for such term; therefore
ResOlred, That no subsequent congress and
neither house has jurisdiction to revise the
action of such joint meeting, and any at
tempt of either house to annul or disregard
such action or title to the office arising there
from would be revolutionary, and is disap-
proved by this house.
Various suggestions were made to vote for
the resolution without a preamble, and to
strike out the word revolutionary, and to
refer to the committee, ETC., but the speaker
ruled that the motion to suspend the rules
shut out all other motions. The question
being put to UiUa r0ce vote, there was but
few voices IN the negative, but Mr.. Mills said
It was question in which>there should be
record by nays and yeas. He therefore de-
manded the yeas and nays. While the vote
was progressing there was great commotion
and excitement on the Democratic side, and
the members of that side gathered together
in whispered consultation SO as to
give rise to suggestions on the
Republican side that there should be
recess to allow Democratic caucus. The
vote was finally announced-yeas, 215; nays,
81. The last vote was that of Mr.. Springer,
who voted nay. Mr.. Finley had voted nay,
but at the last moment changed his vote to
yea, amid much laughter. Mr.. Springer
wanted to delay the announcement of the
vote until the chairman of the investigating
committee, Mr. Potter, should come into the
hall and vote, but there was no parllamenta-
ry reason for such a delay.
Mcssrs. Hunton, Morrison and Stenger,
Democratic members of the Potter commit
tee, voted aye, and all the Republican men,
bers of it, except Butler, who was not pres
ent. The only members of the committee
who voted nay were Messsrs. Blackburn and
Springer. Negative votes were given by
Messrs. Blackburn, Bliss, Boone, Bragg,
Cook, Cox N. Y. ], Elan, Teller, Hamilton,
Hardenbergh, Henkle, Henry, Hewitt IN.
Y Mayhan, Phelps, Pridemore, Robertson
- Smith iGa. Springer, Southard and
Warner.
AS soon as the vote had been announced
Mr.. Harbridge rose to make report on the
same subject from the judiciary committee.
H. oaI h1rs hot ba ,~fa 10
have made the report this morning, but as
the chairman of the committee knott was
detained in his bed by sickness, and as he
had asked him to put off the report till to-
morrow, SO that Mr.. Knott might make
dissenting report for himself, he had yield
ed as a matter of courtesy, but as this matter
had been brought up he desired to make his
report now.
After the report and the resolution accom-
panying it were read, Mr.. Springer made an
effort to have the consideration of the re-
port postponed till tomorrow, but the prop
ositIon was repealed by shouts of mo, mol"
Vote, vote!' The vote was then taken.
Before the result was announced Mr..
Springer desired to give an explanation of
MS vote, but was prevented by calls to order,
and he was informed by the speaker that he
had no right to make such statement, ex-
cept by unanimous consent.
The speaker was then about to announce
the result of the vote, when he was inter-
rupted by Mr.. Springer, who claimed his
right to vote amid shouts Of Then vote!'
The clerk was directed to call Mr.. Spring
er's name, and he answered "NoE'
Then AIR. Cox asked permission to explain
his vote, and said something. Amid confusion,
and during great uproar, the vote was an
nounced as follows-eas, 234; nays, IA, the
following being the negative votes: Black
burn, Bliss, Boone, Cook, Cox n. Y. /,
Hamilton, Henry, Kimmel, Mayham, Pride
more, Robertson, Smith [Ga.l !, Springer and
Warner.
The remarks which Mr. Cox partially made,
but which were rendered unintelllgible by
calls to order, were: 81 want to know whether
it is the intention to count Mr.. Hayes in any
more. This is the third time, but it does not
seem TO avail. As quiet citizen | am con-
tented, but | don't want it done too often;
hence my vote"
The statement which Mr.. Springer vainly
strove to be permitted to make, and in which
Mr.. Bliss and Mr.. Robertson La expressed
their concurrence, was: 81 am opposed to all
proceedings in reference to the inValidation
Of the Presidents title which are illegal, I'M
constitutional or revolutionary. If the title
Of the present incumbent Is valid and unas-
sailaDle, 1t needs nc action of congress to
quiet It; but it. on the contrary, it is fraudu-
lent, and the investigating committee of this
house should so find and report, it would be
dishonorable on our part to attempt to make
1t good, or declare by bill or resolution that
it was sacred. If the title is good, it needs
no defense; II bad, | can never vote to make
it better For the I=ccs | vote mo-"
Nr. Stephens, vhs '.,: been absent when
the two last votes - ken, had his chair
wheeled into the -. .--.- ..sked leave to have
his vote recorded in the affirmative on both
votes, and leave was granted.