The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-11
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
SENATE.

PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
SENATE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1878.
Mr.. Spencer ep) of Ala, was in his seat today for
the FIRST time this session.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate COM
munication from the Secretary of War in regard to
the loss of officers property by the sinking of tho
steamer J. Don Cameron. in 1877. Referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Also message from the President, enclosing q
report from the Secretary of State in answer the
Senate resolution of the 27th of May last relative to
certain claims against the government of Nicaragua
by citizens Of the United States 1t ordered that
it be printed and referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
Mr.. MAxEY (dem.) Of Texas, presented the memoria,
of the Baptist Association of Texas asking that certain
Indians in that State homesteads set apart for
them. Referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs
Bills were introduced and referred Us follows:-
BY Mr.. JONES, (dem.) Of Fla.-by request-Grantinc
the right Of way to the Florida International Ship
Canal Company and authorizing 1t to build and
operate telegraph line along said canal Referred
to the Committee on Public Lands.
coNrEpERATEs IN THE ARMY.
Mr. SPENCER, (rep) of Ala. from the Committee on
Military Affairs reported favorably the Senate bill
uutnOrlzlnB appointment OF Dr. JunluS L. Powell
assistant surgeon in the United States Army, and
his motion the Senate proceeded to consider the
BILL In explanation Of the bill he said DIR. Powell had
already rendered services assistant surgeon put he
could not be regularly appointed because he served
in the Confederate army when q minor. During a
brief debate the bill Mr.. BECK of Kentucky gave
notice that tomorrow he would introduce q
Statutes Of the United States. which provides
that mo person who has served in any capacity in
the military naval or civil service of the so-csled
,f Nf tka
rection during the late rebellion. shall be appointed
to any position in the army of the United States"
The bill WAS read third time and passed-yeas 80
nays 21-as follows:--
,yEAs-Mcssrs; Armstrong Bailey Bayard, Beck Burn
aide =, Butter Chstse Cgrsssl Cohs Ccnoysr. Davis
Hereford Hill jehnstSn Jone. Of Florida Esrnan Lamar
eaerheas @aaee %Syse and S WisRcrss spencer
sssss; P.Ss;, Ea%qsas fssf; hs%n Ms%s I"E.'I:
Plumb, Rollins, Saunders, Teller and Windom-ai.
Mr. WHITE, (dem.) Of Md, introduced bills grant
ing pension to the widow of General Robert q. Blu
Captain Edward s. winder, United States Army Re-
ferred to the Committee on Pensions.
SPRINGS INQUIRY.
Mr.. CAMERON. rep) of Wis, of the select committee
to inquire what connection Senator Conover had with
the omission of the Hot Springs clause Of the Sunry
Civil bill of last session. submitted RESOLUTION
authorizing the committee to employ stenographer
and have the testimony printed from day to day as
taken. Agreed to.
authorize the exchange of subsidiary coin for trade
dollars. Referred to the Committee on Finance.
States shall be interchangeable for trade dollars at the
rate of 100 cents for each Of said dollars and they
shall forthwith be reconcd into subsidiary CON- and
the gain, IL any be made may be used by the Secre
tary of the Treasury pay the expense of sending
subsidiary coin to such persons or banks as may de-
sire the same in exchange for other funds. The
coinage of trade dollars shall from after the
passage of this act.
Mr.. ALLISON, (rep.) of Iowa. from the select COM
mittee appointed at the last session to inquire into
certain charges against Stanley Matthews, Of Ohio
submitted the following
Resolved That the House of Representatives be respect
timony Of James f. Anderson relating to the Hon
stanley Matthews member Of tho Senate from tho State
committees of the House. Agreed to.
Mr.. SPENCER, of Alabama from the Committee on
Military Affairs reported substitute for the Senate
bill to provide for the settlement of accounts with
certain Southern railway companies. Placed on tho
calendar.
authorize the issue Of certain duplicate registered
bonds to the Manhattan Savings Institution Referred
to the Committee on Finance.
Mr.. BoorH trcp.) of Cal, introduced by request
bill to confer the United States Court of Claims
jurisdiction certain Alabama claims. Referred
to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. HAMLIS. trep.) Of Me- calcdiup the House res
olution providing for the participation of Congress
in the service to BIO observed Thursday evening
January 16 1872 in honor of Professor Joseph Henry
late secretary OF the Smithsonian Institution Agreed
to.
The morning hour having expired the Senate re-
sumed consideration of the unfinished business being
the bill to amend sundry provisions of chapter 1.
title g. of the Revised Statutes OF the United States
relating to Presidential elections and to provide and
regulate the counting of votes for President and Vice
President, and the decision Of questions arising
thereon.
Mr.. MORGAN. (dem) of Ala, said after the full and
clear statement of principles upon which the bill
rests. made yesterday by the Senator from Vermont
(Nr. Edmunds, there remained but little to be said
by the friends of the bill. He concurred with tho
Senator mfr. Edmunds) as to the wisdom Of this
measure and had no doubt IL would the country
from trouble in the future The bill not shaped
with reference to the interests of any political party
He then spoke of the present system, and said il
was dangerously obscure and fearfuly alarming
some occasions. He argued that the bill now be-
fore the Senate did not interfere with tho rights Of
the States or the electors but IL provided such
sonablc and just rules to enable each State to APP
point its electors. He could conceive of no plan
than the bill pending. Every state could save
its vote IL 1t would do so. Should this bill become
law the States would see the Importance Of using
their rightfu authority to provide tho settlement
Of contested questions in the appointment of electors
The country had had some struggles which should
aimonsh Congress to enact laws correct in principle
and just in their provisions. Public opinion would
then sustain them. Congress should legislate upon
this question far 10 could in advance the next
count OF the votes. Nothing could he more
disturbing TO the country than to aggravate the
anxiccs of the people in regard to the electoral
In conclusion he said the passage of this bill would
insure just count and place the power in possession
OF the man whom the people may select by their APP
pointed agents.
JONES, FLORIDA, IN OPPOSITION
Mr.. JOKES, tdeni) of Fla, opposed the bill, upon
the ground that II left open the question to the
Legality of choosing electors after the day of their
selection. The constitution provided who should
be electors, and there should be question as to
their election after the day Of election. Under this
bill contests over elections could 20 on from the
first Tuesday OF October 10 the second Monday in jan
nary following No one would be able TO tell who was
elected President until after the contests electors
should all be settled. He was well satisfied that IL
would be unwsc for Congress to thus give its
ton 10 the settlement Of electoral contests He
ferred to the recent election for President and said
he had witnessed the visiting statesmen leaving the
pomforts Of home and awning and cringtpa before.