The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-05-30
CONGRESSIONAL.

In the Senate, May 20, the Judiciary Com
mittee reported back t House bi pro-
viding for admitting any woman to the bar
of the Supreme Court who has been a mem.
Der of the highest courtin any State or Terri
tory for three years, with the statement that
there was no law prohibiting a court from
admitting women to the bar, and therefore
no necessity for legislation. Placed on the
calendar, with adverse report. The bill to
amend the 105d article of war, so as to pro-
vide that no person shall be tried or pun
ished by court martial for any offense com.
mitted more than two years, or in case OF de-
sertion three years, before the arraignment of
such persons for such offense, was passed. On
| motion of Mr.. Window, the Senate insisted
upon its amendments to the Indian appro-
priation bill. Agreed to and conference
asked for. The same course was taken on
the pension appropriation bill. While the
bill to repeal the Specie Resumption Act
| was under discussion, Mr.. COckreu moved
to postpone the pending order, and take up
the bill authorizing the President of the
United States to appoint James Shields
Brigadier General in the United States
Army, on the retired list. Agreed to, and
General Grant on the same list, with full rank
and pay. Agreed to-yeas, 80; nays, %.
lin the House, Mr.. Sayler occupied the
chair. A number of bills were introduced
and referred, and the House went into Com
mittee of the Whole, Mr.. Springer in the
chair, on the Army Appropriation Bill:
Mr.. kinneH made a speech mainly directed
to the danger of a standing army in time of
peace. Mr.. Humphrey took opposite
grounds, and argued that in a republican
country standing army was not menace
to the liberties of the people. The speech
of Mr.. Humphrey was interrupted by the
arrival of the hour for considering bills re-
lating to the District of Columbia. When
the committee rose, several District bills
were passed, and the House adjourned.
In the Senate, May 81, Mr.. Ferry said that
he was instructed by the majority of the
Committee on Finance to report back the
House bill to forbid the further retirement
of United States legal tender notes without
amendment, and to recommend its passage.
He gave notice that he would cali it up for
consideration tomorrow. 1t was placed on
the calendar. A further debate took place
on the bill to place Generals Shields and
Grant on the retired list, and it was finally
defeated by a tie of yeas, 80; nays, "a.
Tae House bill to provide permanent form
was cslled up. Pending discussion the
, Senate went into executive session. When
. the doors were reopened Mr.. Teller entered
, a motion to reconsider the vote by which
the bill to place Gen. Shields on the retired
: list was rejected In the House, in Com.
E priation Bill there was long and animated
discussion. Speeches were made by Sparks
. Banning, Butler, Garfield and others. A
night session was held, and the committee
arose without action on the bill.
In the Senate, May %, Mr.. Paddock called
r up the Senate bill for the relief of settlers
on public lands under the pre-emption law
, ;, and in explanation thereof, said it was tt
give settlers who had been on public landl
e tuo throQ un6ar tho mr. rn,,fs NJ
f laws the benefit of that time, upon chang
: ing their claim SO as to be under the home
v stead law. The bill passed. Mr.. LANAI
:. made speech in favor of the Texas Pacif,
u Railr ad bill. Mr.. Allison, from the Con
e ference Committee on the Indian Appro
It priation bill, submitted a report, which wa
e agreed to, and the bill passed. The Senat
g then resumed consideration of the bill pro
. viding permanent form of governmen
:, : for the District of Columbia, and tn
n first section, recognizing the Distric
l. as a municipal corporation, ETC.
- After executive session, adjourned........L
the House, Mr.. Beebe offered resolution
8 calling for information as to Presidents
pardons of criminals nee March, 1871
d Adopted. The Senate bill for the relief Q
a. settlers on the public lands, whose crop
If were injured by grasshoppers, was passeG
. Mr.. Harrison offered the following as
. question of privilege:
IL WHEREAS, select committee of this House hi
j. been appointed to inqu into certain frauds aege
D. to have been committed in Florida and Loui-
= IN November 1876, in connection with r-turns
t. votes for electors for President and Vice Presden
|. and.
= ~HEREAs, 1t is charged that frauds of like cha
acter were committed at the same time in the
, of Oregon aud South Carolina, therefore be it
- Resoired That said committee be and is hereb
IN empowered to inquire into the same it, in its opiI
ion, testimony thereon of a substantial charact
shall be presented to it. and be il further
ResO!ftpd That the Senate and House of RaDr
sentatives of the FOrIy-Fourth Congress, haviI
counted the electoral votes for President and vi
President, and it having been declared that Ruthe
ford b. Hayes had received the highest number
mr. votes for Pr. sident, and William A Wheeler Il
'A highest number of votes for Vice President, 1t
be not in the power of Congress- Is it the pu
H. pose of this House through said investigation,
-, annul or attempt TO annu the action OF the Fort
III Fourth Congress in the prem ses
go The point having been presented as
whether the resolution involved questic
cd of privilege, the Speaker pro tenn. (Sayle
n, submitted the question to the House on
LIS standing vote. Both sides manifested q di
te- inclination to keground on either side, ar
rt- the vote was taken by yeas and nays, al
in resulted: Yeas, IL nays, 90. But fe
lin Republicans voted, and not nearly all Il
=" Democrats. The members of the sele
nc committee who voted at all--Potter, Cob
M Cox, of Ohio, Morrison, and Stehger-vot
in the affirmative. The objection bell
or made that no quorum voted, Mr.. Harris,
-, amlu u STORM OIL Calls 10 order, WltnureW u
w. resolution, stating that he was not desire
rd of obstructng business. Mr.. Wilson tn
re- offered a resolution authorizing the sele
u.s. committee to investigate Electoral frau
ed in any State where it has probable cause
~ believe that such frauds were practice
~. Mr.. Cox, of New York, moved to refer t
'rd resolution to the select committee, and {
'ut manded the previous question, which "
seconded, and then (apparently in con
80 quence of hint from Potter) Cox offer
VI to withdraw his motion. This. howev
rs was objected to on the Republican 81,
lie, The motion to refer was defeated--ye
or 80; nays, 115. The resolution was tn