The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-06-10
XLVth COngress-Regular Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. June. s


WASHINGTON, June.
Mr.. Spencer of Alabamba submitted a resolution
providing for an investigation by eight Senators into
the charges of frauds Intimidation violence iepa-
ty and other obstacles to free and fair vote
ring at the Presidential election in South Carolina
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Oregon or any other
states; also the Presidential count in the 44th Con-
gress; also the dissolution of the Chamberlain and
Packard governments. The resolution was laid
over
Mr.. Spencer said he would call the resolution up
daily.
Committee reported in favor of the House amend
ment increasing the pension OF Gen. Shields from $50
Messrs. Edmunds, Allison. ingalls,. Hoar. Davis
of Illinois, White and Jones of Florida appoint
ed select committee to inquire into the alleged
connection of Stanley Matthews with the Louisiana
election frauds.
Senate bv 80 yeas to 2 nays passed the bill modi-
flying the contract with James Eades.
Mr.. Wadleigh stated that he believed the re-
mOnstrance against the eight hour law recently
presented by him was forgery.
Discussion on the 18th section of the House bill
bidding the use Of the army as posse comitotus
was resumed. Mr.. Edmuuds argued against the Sec
ton, saying if it had been in force in 1860 President
Lincoln and his cabinet would have been liable to
imprisonment for the defence of Fort Sumter Should
mob assault the Treasury Department while it
was in force the President could not employ troops
to defend it because there special law author
izing him to do so. The House amendment said the
army should not be used as posse comitatus except
when expressly authorized
Mr.. Conkng said he would be very sorry to affirm
disbelief in the principle of this section but he
could not see how the army should ever in any pos
sbe contingency be ued except in the observance of
the constitution and statutory enactments but the
effect of vote for this section would be to admit
that something had been done in derogation of this
principle He would not be accuesd of Partially for
this administration but he would say that it had
shown intention Of doing anything which render
ed such penal statute as this necessary.
The question being on striking out the section as
amended, was rejected. Yeas 81, nays 20, as fol-
lows:
Bruce, Burnside, Cameron of Wis.,, Christiancy
Conkling Hamin, Hoar, Howe Jones of New. ,Kel-
l9gg Mitchell, Merrill, oglesby, Rollins, Saunders,
Nays-Messrs. Armstrong, Bailey, Barnum, Bay
ard, Beck, Butler, Cockerell, Coke. Eaton, Eustis
Fla, Herman, Lamar, McCreery, Maxey, Merrimon,
Plumb, Ransom, sargent, Teller, Voorhees,, Wallace,
Whyte and WitheTs-29.
Messrs. Dawes, Dorsey, Edmunds, Mcmillan, Mat
thews, Paddock, Kirkwood, and Spencer. who would
have voted in favor of striking out the section.
Mcdonald, Randolph, Salisbury, and Mcpherson
who would have voted to retain it.
On motion of Mr.. Blaine the penal provisions of
the section were struck out, yeas %, nays "A,
The section as retained in the bill reads:
From and after the passage of this act it shall not
De- 10 employ any paa 81 tne OF the
the purpose of executing the laws except in such
cases and under such circumstances such employ
ment of said force may be authorized by the const-
tuition or by the act of Congress, and no money ap-
propriated by this act shall be used to pay any OF
the expenses accrued in the employment OF any
troops in violation of this act.
Amendments were adopted for the erection of
suitable buildings at Omaha; increasing the appro-
priation for the manufacture of arms from 100000
to $750,000.
Bill was reported, all the amendments concurred
in and the bill passed.
Conference report the military academy bill was
adopted and the bill passed,
HOUSE.
In the House bill was passed amending the Re.
vsed Statutes in relation to the judicial powers and
functions of consuls.
Mr.. Cobb. from the election committee reported a
resolution in the contested election of 1ilman VS.
Smalls from South Carolina, setting forth there was
no fair and peaceful election in said district and de-
claring the seat vacant.
Mr.. Wait submitted minority resolution declar-
ing Smalls the sitting member, entitled to a seat
Both reports were ordered printed, aud Mr.. Cobb
gave notice that he would call them up for action
Wednesday.
Mr. Cox introduced a bill legalizng the collection
of head moneys alIeady paid
A joint resolution authorizing the Secretary of
State to submit the subject of gOoid coinage. with
exhibits explaining the same, to the International
monetary convention. Passed.
A conference committee was ordered upon the
Mexican award bill.