Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-22
FORTE-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WEDNESDAY, Nav -.

SENATE.-0n motion Of Mr.. Paddock, the
House bill for the relief of settlers on the pub
lie lands under the preemptiOn laws, was
taken up and passed. 1.-The bill gives pre-
emptlon settlers who have changed their title
to homestead entry, the benefit of the time the
entry
On motion of Mr.. Allison. the bill for the re-
hci OF John Henderson, refundlng 5000 paid
on bond for whisky seized at st. Louis was
taken up and passed.
Mr.. Davis called up his resolution to author
IZe a continuance of the examination OF the
BOOKS and accounts of the Treasury depart
ment py the select committee for that pur-
pose; and in the course of his remarks reiter-
ated ms statement that there had been an in
crease in the public debt statement of over
two hundred million dollars.
Mr.. ingalls, said he was surprised at the re
marx OF the gentleman, for there was an un-
derStanding in the committee that pending a
report TO the Senate nothing should I've made
public. AS far aS he had discovered there was
no Irregularities in the accounts.
Mr.. Davis said il was true, AZ stated that
there was such an understanding. What he
had stated he had SAID was on his personal re-
sponsiblity, and had been stated before the
appointment of the committee.
Mr.. Beck said he would indicate no opinion
on the subject one way or the other, and
would depiecate partial report at this time
lie favored continuation of the committee
in order that the fullest examination of the
books might be made. 1t was important that
ii should be known Just what the facts We're
Mr.. Allison offered an amendment limiting
the powers OF the committee during the recess
TO the examination OF the books of the several
departments of the government.
Fending action. the morning hour expired
ard the matter went over
The District government bill was on the table
as the unfinished business but Mr. Ferry
raised question of its priority maintaining
that there was an understanding tat the bin
10 prohibit the further retirement of legal
tender notes should be taken up. and tempo
rarily laid aside to permit Mr. Lamar 10 sneak
upon the Pacific railroad bill.
Alter discussion, by unanimous consent, the
District bill was laid aside. and Mr. Lamar re.
c0gnlZed as entitled 10 the floor.
HOUSE.-Mr. Harris. VA, from committee
on the Judiciary, reposed bill to authorize
the holding of additional terms of the L. S.
| courts Tor the southern district of Illinois, at
Quincy. Passed.
On motion of Mr Beebe. the Attorney Gene
raj was directed To report to the House the
names OF all persons convicted of crime who
| have been pardOned by the President from
me 4th OF March, 1877, to the 20th of May 1873:
for which the persons severaly were con-
Vlcted, together with all the papers in each
| case.
Mr.. Butler introduced a bill providing for
| TWO additlonal justices OF the Supreme Court
OF the District of Columbia. Referred.
MT Sapp, from the committee OH public
lands, reported back the bill authorizing the
Secretary of the Interior to ascertain the
amount OF land located with military warrants
| IN the states therein designated. Referred to
committee of the whole.
| a l.
tion making the bill TO establish Pacific rail
road commission special order for May 2S
Mr. Price objected. They wanted no more
| special orders.
Mr. Hunton introduced bill to quiet the
titles to real estate in the District of Columbia
Referred.
On motion of Mr.. Patterson. the House took
up and passed the Senate bill for The relief of
settlers on lands devastated by grasshoppers.
THE PRESIDENTS TITLE.
| MI Harrison rose To a question of privilege
! preamble rs
follows:
| Whereas a select committee of this House
| has been appointed to inquire into certain
| frauds alleged TO have been committed i'm the
states of Florida and Louisiana in 1876 in con
necuon with the election of President and
! Vice President: and whereas it is further
! charged that frauds of a like character were
Ommltted at the same time in the states of
South Carolina and Oregon: Therefore,
AZ, aeSosaeG, e i hat the SAID committee be, and
the same herebyls, empowered to inquire into
| he same. if in its Judgment the testimony is
IS of character to justify it.
| ?, ReSotred, Iurther, That the Senate and
| House OF REPRESENTATIVES of the FOrty-fOurth
| congress having counted the electoral votes
iOr President and Vice President, and 1t
having been thereupOn declared that Ruther-
ford b. Hayes had received the largest number
OF said votes for President of the United States
and that VIM. A. Wheeler had received the
highest number of said votes for Vice Pres-
/ ldent OF the United States, il is not now i'm the
power Of Congress. nor is it the purpose of
this House, through said investigation to an
nul or attempt to annul the action of the For
| tyfOurth Congress i'm the premises
. The point was made by several gentleman
that TINS was not question of privilege.
cnhe Inc speaker G pro tenn. Mr.. Sayler( said the
| speaker OF the House had decided i'm a like
| case that 1t was question of privilege but
under the rule he would submit the Question
to the House to determine whether it was a
question OF privilege.
The question was put, and on a division the
republicans as rule refused to vote, and
there was no Quorum, whereupon the yeas and
nays were demanded.
Durlngth the roll call there were consultations
| and good deal of excitement on both sides
| OF the chamber. Mr.. Potter, the chairman of
/ the select committee, was very Indignant TO-
! ward Mr.. Harrison for Offering the resolution.
| The republicans with few exceptions. refused
| to vote. Ten voted i'm the affirmative and three
IN 5he negatiye. The democrats were also di-
| vided in sentiment.
The vote was announced as Il yeas to u
| nays. and the point was made that no quorum
! had voted
Mr.. Harrison-I have no desire to obstruct
the legislation OF the House, [cries of Order,
| 0fder.'l and as gentlemen on the other side
Dy refusing to vote, have left the House with
| out quorum, will withdraw the resolution
Nr. Wilson Immediately rose to a Question
OF privilege, and offered a preamble and reso-
Iqtlon: mat special committee of this
! House has been appointed to investigate al
legged frauds in connection with the electoral
| votes of the states of Louisiana and Florida
therefore, reS0tted, that such committee be,
and is hereby, authorized to investigate
frauds touching the elections aforesaid in any
other state, provided they have probable cause
to believe that such frauds existed.
This created another scene of excitement.
and
Mr.. Cox On moved to refer the resolu-
tlon TO the select committee having charge-Of
the subject, and demanded the previous ques-
tlon.
Mr.. Mills tried to be recognized to make
point OF order that this was not question of
privilege.
On the question of reference, the vote was
so in the Affirmative and lis i'm the negative.
The majority OF the negative vote was made
up of republicans.
Mr.. Cox IN. W then expressed the hope that
the resolution would be adopted unanimously
The question was put, and it was decided in
the affirmative by a viva voice vote, but nearly
all the noes heard We're from the democratic
side.
The Speaker pro tenn. appointed Messrs.
HuntOn, Blackburn and Hendee, the CON
ferees on the part Of the House on the bill reg
ulating the appointment of justices of the
peace of the District of Columbia.
CONSUL GENERAL BRADFORD.
Mr.. Springer, from the committee on expen-
ditureS of the State department. submitted
report on the case of Consul General Brad
ford, which contained ten charges of misde.
meanor in Office while consul general at ShanG-
hae, and recommending that articles nf inn
peachment be preferred against him. The re-
port was referred to the judiciary committee
10 cohslder the matter of impeachment
The RUSSIANS ON THE CIMBRIA!-A dis