The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-23
CONGRESS-.
DISCUSSION OF THE PACIFIC RAIL
ROAD BILL IN THE SENATE.
Exciting scenes in the House Attempts
to Extend the Election JnvestlxatlOn.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, May Platter the regular
morning business and halt hour s controversy
as to the order of business, Mr.. Lamar ad-
dressed the Senate In advocacy OF the Pacific
Railroad bill, the bill for the government OF
the District Of Columbia having been tempo
rarily laid aside.
the Senate proceeded to the consideration OF
the bill for q government for the District OF
Columbia, but, after agreeing upon the first
section and slightly amending the second, at
4:10 .. IN. went into executive session, and
after an hours session adjourned.
House,
Mr.. Harrison, of Illinois, rose to q question
Of privilege and offered q preamble and resO
lutions, providing for an investigation Of
alleged frauds In Oregon and South Carolina,
in the presidential election OF 1876, and de-
claring that it was not in the power Of this
Congress to raise the question Of Hayes title
to the Presidency, that question having been
finally settled by the Forty-fourth Congress
The point of order was made that this was
not q question Of privilege.
The Speaker pro TEN. (Mr. Sayler), said
that the Speaker had decided In a like case
that 1t was aquestion Of privilege, but under
the rule he would submit the question to the
House to determine whether 1t was ques-
ton of privilege.
The question was put, and on division,
the Republicans, as rule, refused to vote,
and there was no quorum, whereupon the
yeas ana nays were OGInAUuPu.
During the roll call there was q cOnsulta-
ton and q good deal of excitement
Mr.. Potter, chairman of the select commit
tee was very indignant toward Mr.. Harrison
for Offering the resolution.
The Republicans, with q few exceptions. re-
fused to vote, ten only voting in the affirma-
tive and three in the negative. The Demo
Gratis were also divided In sentiment.
The vote was announced as II yeas to 80
hayes, and the point was made that no quo
rum had voted.
Mr.. Harrison-I have no desire to obstruct
the legislation of the House Icries of orderl,
and as the gentlemen on this side by refusing
to vote have left the House without quo
rum, | will withdraw the resolution.
Mr.. Wilson, of West Virginia, Immediately
rose to q question OF privilege, and offered
preamble and resolution that special com
mttee Of the House has been appointed to in
vestigate the alleged frauds In connection
with the electoral votes Of the States Of Louis
lana and Florida; therefore
ResOtped, That such committee be and Is
hereby authorized to investigate the frauds
State, provided they have probable cause to
believe that such frauds existed.
This created another scene of excitement
and Mr. Cox, OF New York, moved to refer the
resolution to the select committee having
charge OF the subject, and demanded the pre-
viouS question.
Mr.. Mills, of Texas, tried to be recognized
to make the point OF order that this was not
a question OF privilege.
On the question OF reference the vote stood
80 in the affirmative and lis in the negative.
The majority of negative votes was given by
the Republican side.
Mr. Cox then expressed the hope that the
resolution would be adopted unanimously
The question was put, and it was decided
in the affirmative by uiUG uOce vote, but
nearly all the voices heard were from the
Democratic side.
Mr.. Springer, OF Illinois, from the Com
mi n N ha Stnfa +
mept, submitted articles of impeachment
against o. d. Bradford, late consular Judge
and vice consul general at Shanghai, for high
crimes and misdeameanors In Office Referred
to the Judiciary Committee for report.
The House went into committee of the
whole on the army appropriation BILL and
Mr.. Schleicher OF Texas, made speech in
favor OF keeping the army up to the present
standard.
Speeches were made by Messrs McGinnis,
Foster, Throckmorton, Mills and Patterson
in opposition to o reduction OF the army,
and by Messrs. Southland, Wright and others
in favor Of such reduction, until 80 p. m,
when the House took recess until Z 80.
The House reassembled at 80 o'clock for
general business.
Mr.. Dunnel, from the Committee on Com
claring and defining the jurisdiction of the
United States over the rivers and harbOrs OF
the United States. Ordered printed and re-
committed.
MI SOutnard, OF OnlO, from Jlle COInmlttee
on the Electoral Count, reported a bill amend
ing the constitution OF the United States in
relation to the election OF President and Vice
President The bill was ordered printed and
recommitted,. and Mr.. Southard gave notice
that he would call 1t up on June t.
Mr. Butler Of Massachusetts, called up his
motion to reconsider the vote recOmmitting to
the Committee on the judiciary the bill to
provide means for giving official notice OF
acts of government and TO provide s,o Tor the II,
partments Of the government.
Mr. Butler explained that the bill proposed
that all the acts of the government, laws, pro-
posals, advertisements, orders, decisions OF
a paper, to be published at the government
printing Office, weekly, to be called the official
Gazette. He thought it would result in a say
ing of half a million dollars which was now
expended in advertisements In newspapers.
The motion to reconsider prevailed.
Mr.. Atkins, of Tennessee, hoped that the
bill would be recommitted, as it was not well
understood.
Mr. Butler said it was considered by the Ju,
dietary Committee three times, and he hoped
it would not be recommtted, but If 1t went
back at all that it would be sent to some other
committee.
Mr.. Atkins said that the member had not
had time to read and consider the bill.
Mr.. Butler said he thought the gentleman
could follow the lead Of the Appropriation
Committee. All their bills were not read
and sometimes the more we read them the
less we know of them
Mr.. Foster, of Ohio, said that this was no
doubt measure Of reform, but there was an
oainous silence on the part of the other mem
bers of the committee.
Mr.. Butler said that the committee exam
ined the bill. Ii you had reported an appro-
priation bill, you would think it unconpl
mentary If | should talk about an ominous
silence Of the other members.
Mr.. Foster would say candidly that he had
heard rumors that the committee had not
agreed to the bill.
Mr.. Butler said 1t was unworthy Of the
gentleman to repeat the rumor. He said it
was Endorsed by the committee. There is the
chairman of the committee IL voucher is re-
quired. The gentleman from Ohio may want
a voucher before he dies.
Mr.. Knott said the committee Endorsed the
bill.
Mr.. Harris, of Virginia, said the report was
authorized, but he reserved the right to vote