Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-16
HOUSE.

J anu huNHoIlLluR tue secretary oil tue treasury u
prepare per cent. bonds of the denomination o
$40, $50 and 500, payable in standard coin at tn,
expiration of forty years, to be exchangable q
no less than their face value into United State
legal tender notes.
BY Mr.. kimmell-To provide mode for try
ing and determining.
by the Supreme Court of the United States
The title of the President and e-President Of
the United States to their respective offices, wheI
then election to such offices is denied by oil
more States of the Union.
MIR. swan presented the resolutions of the Mary.
land Legislature, known as the Blair resolutions
reopening the Presidential question.
After the reading of the resolution Mr.. Garfield
raised question OF consideration. He objected
to its reception now. This was matter settled
by the authority of Congress. The majority OF
the House could refuse to receive it.
The Spesker-There is no consideration asked
| for it, Mr.. alfeld 1t is to be referred to u com
mlttee for consideration. Under the rules Of the
House it is not allowed for consideration.
MIR. Ga hed-lt Is NV only method of Oblectng
TO the consideration of the paper at this stage II
1t were brought into the House and offered for &C.
ton we could raise the question of consideration
Now II is put in trim for action, aud my only way
OF raising the question Of consideration is to OBJ
ject to its reference.
Mr.. Cox of New York read rule 1870 of the
House which provides that bills introduced dur
ing the morning hour be referred without debate
MIR. Garfield said the House always the con.
troller Of its own business. For instance, if bill
was introduced to subveit the Government the
House could refuse TO refer that right. The
House had never given way.
Mr.. Stephens-Iu such a case as that, when any
bill is introduced into the House, the question Of
lec ption may be raised by any body, and 1t may
be rejected on It's first reading. That takes pre-
cedehce of the question of reference.
The Speaker-Wll Ii the gentleman direct the at
tentlon of the chair to any such rule.
MIR. Stephens-l spoke of parliamentary law
la this case, however, wish to say to the gentle
tleman from Ohio (Garfeld) that / trust he will
withdraw all objection to this measure and let the
resolution be referred TO the Judiciary Committee
MIR. Cox-No motion to reject can be made The
States have some rights yet left. When they pre-
sent resolutions We are bound TO receive them
The right OF petition on the part the people and
States rs equal aud cannot be abiogated.
Mr.. Springer read section OF the electoral
commission bill which provides that nothing in
the act shall be held to impair or affect The right
OF any person TO test the title of person declared
to be elected, If any such right exists.
Mr.. Garfield demanded vote on the question,
and called for the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Thompson of Penn.-li it will be in order
move that this memorial and all the accompany
ing papers be referred to special committee of
fifteen members appointed by the Speaker
Mr.. ONel-l hope my esteemed colleague
CrhompsoD) will withdraw his motion. Such mo.
ZION gives Importance to subject which in my
opinion is insulting TO the House and designed to
create unrest IN the country upon the settled
questions of the Presidential title.
Mr.. Oliver argued that the resolution wa, mel
ther petition nor a memorial. 1t asked nothing
of Congress. 1t was simply notification that the
Maryland Legislature had considered the subject.
MIR. Springer hoped that the gentleman IRON
Iowa would not dictate to the Legislatures of
States what kind of q petition they should send to
Congress. 1t was the province Of States to send
them to Congress, and they should be received in
a respectful manner.
Mr.. Garfield insisted on the right of the House
to. say whether paper be referred 10 q committee
or not. II it was not referred, then it remained
upon the table OF the House.
Mr. KTmell introduced bill providing mode
for trying the title of President and Vice Presi-
dent.
Tue Committee on Coinage heard the report of
the subcommittee TO whom efe1red the sub
ject of goloid coinage. The report was submitted
by Vance, and provides reference of the matter
Tor further consideration to an International mon
etary conference, to which the ri esidept has been
authorized to invite delegates.
A long discussion took place on psrliamc ntary
question, in which Stephens Of Georgia took the
ground that the House had right, under parlia-
mentary law, to refuse to receive petition but
that the question presented here was whether il
wise to refuse to receive it. He thought tha,
as the memorial was respectful one, and pre-.
sented q subject of very grave importance il
should be received, and referred to a committee
The speakers generally conceded in that view
hut before determination of the question the
House at O'Clock under the rule took up the
bdsiness of the District of Columbia rs q special
order.
house then proceeded to the District of Columbis
the first bill taken up being the bill to provide q
permanent form Of government for the district
The bill provides that on the third Monday in
April 1873, today there shall be elected or APP
pointed three persons commissioners of the
ID al ('olumbia WhO shall pyercise all
ers and authority, with certain exceptions, now
vested IN commissions, one OF the comm ssloners
is TO be an officer of the engineer corps of the
| army with lnea rank above that of captain, and
who is to be detailed by the President for three
years, and is to receive further compen sat ion
than bis regular army pay. The second commits
soner is to be elected by the house of representa-
| tives, and the third commissioner to be elected by
the senate, their terms To be for and two
10 be determined by lot, and their successors are
to be elected for three years. The house and
senate commissioners must have been actual resi-
dents OF the districts for ten years.
There Is 10 be a council OF twenty four mem
bers each of whom must own property in the
district OF the assessed valuation of at least three
thousand dollars, ana been permanent resident
| OF the district for five years. No person who
holds Office under the L nitcd States or district
government or Is int, rested in any contract with
either for work in the district Is TO be eligible.
Every male iuhabitsut of the district over twen-
ty-one years OF age and a citizen of the United
States, is to be entitled TO vote for councilmen.
lie must however be a bona hds resident for three
years, and must have paid his poll tax
No conn ensaton IS to be paid to members OF
the council. Its secretary may be allowed one
thousand dollars year. The annual estimates
arm to be presented to congress and to the extent
to which they shall be approved
Mr.. Conger demanded that the motion should
be put would the house now consider the motion
to refer.
The Speaker-Tbe chair thinks that it is not a
proper motion. This paper has right to refer
ence.
Mr.. Conger-That is question that the house
and not the chair is to decide.
Mr.. Cox of New York contended that under the
rule, petitions like all other matters coming up in
the moroing hour of Monday must be referred
without debate.
The speaker stated that under the standing rule
which assigns the third Monday in the month sf-
ter two o'clock to business, must now be taken up
and that the pending question will have to 60 over
for the present.
Without action on the District of Columbia bill
the house at six o'clock took recess until 80
o'clock p. NJ, the evening to be for debate on
the tatif bill.
In the evening speeches were made by Messrs
Mckinley of Ohio, Bridges and Evans of Penn,
Bacon of New York, and Brewer of Michigan
against the bill.
Adjourned.