The Worthington advance., 1879-05-01

Editor and Proprietor.
FORTY-SiXTH CONGRESS.
Extra Session.
The Senate.
RECEIVED AND REFERRED.
WASHINGTON, April 28.-The legislative. exc
cutive and Judicial appropriation bill was re-
ceived from the House and referred to the
committee on appropriations.
REPEALED.
The House Joint resolution to repeal certain
clauses in the sundry civil appropriation acts
of March Sd, 1870, passed. 1t makes appropri-
.atiOus for the extension of military telegraph
lines in Montana and Texas, and repesls the
authority heretofore given tho secretary of war
;, to lease the water power at Moline to the Mo-
line Water Power company.
METAL MONEY.
Senator Williams introduced a bill to rcgu-
late the legal value of metal money AID pro-
vide for free and unlimited coinage of gold and
silver bullion, aud to restore coin to circula-
ton. Referred. 1t proposes, in its first sec-
tion, to make all gold and silver coin, includ-
ing the trade dollar, equally legal tender for
all debts, public and private, to any amount,
and at their nominal value. The bill next
provides that the silver dollar of 4l2L troy
grains of silver, ninc-tenths fine, shall here
after be the standard unite value; that all sub
sidiary coin shall be exactly proportionate
to its weight and fneness; that the
gold eagle shall consist Of 258
Troy grains gid, nine-tenths fine, and all
other gold coins, including a $50 piece, of pro-
portionate value; that gold and silver bullion
shall be purchased by the United States mint
at the market price and without restriction as
to the amount, aud be paid for either in law
ful money or in coin certificates Of deposit,
which shall also be legal tender, and result
ing coins shall be paid out for all demands on
debt, as fast as they can be coined. The
bill also provides that after $780,
100000 Of silver COIN shall have
baen issued the treasury department shall
provide for tho casting of silver bullion into
which shall be iull legal tender for all debts,
public and private, at the rate of 4l213 troy
grains to the dollar.
REvoKING A LAND GRANT.
Senator Vest introduced q bill granting to
the State of Missouri the lands heretofore
granted the St. Louis l. Iron Mountain railroad
company and repeating so much of the act a.
places q limitation Oh the grant.
EDUCATION OF THE RED MAN
Senator Pendleton introduced bill to in
crease the educational facilities and establish
normal training schools for the benefit of the
Indian tribes who have educational claims on
the United States. Referred
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS.
The bill giving seats on the floor of the
Senate and House to heads of departments
was taken up and Senator Pendleton made
speech in its advocacy.
Senator Pcndleton said that the measure
appealed to no partisan interest. 1t trenched
on no partisan susceptibility. 1t awakened no
party spirit. 1t touched the relations Of two
great pussers in the Senate and sought to i'm
prove their methuds of communication with
each other. After explaining the provisions of
the bill Senator Pendleton made a sound con-
stitutional argument defining the relations of
the Cabinet t. the executive and legislative
branch, and showing that the presence of the
Cabinet in Congress and oral statements by
them were contemplated by the founders
Of the government ehd are perfectly Within the
powers Of Congress to ordain. The conven-
fence aad benefits of the proposed change were
considered at some length. The bill, he said,
proposed a change Of methods only, not of
powers. If the secretary should refuse to
obey this law the power of mpeachment would
cree obedience, as in all other cases Of official
delinquency. Clay resented the idea that de-
partments were part of the constitutional ex-
ecutive. He declared they were creations of
Congressional enactmentS, and therefore were
absolutely bound to obey its provisions. Prof.
Lieber declared that while members of Con-
gress cannot he made heads Of departments,
yet that heads of departments can be admitted
to the floor with the right of debate. Judge
Starr, with that fullness of learning and elo-
quence which marks all his works. has main
tanned the
CoNsTrrUr1oNALlTY AND ExPED1ENcY
of . law such ~ l propose. "Aping British
~
not British way. 1t is the way Of the gov
ernment of every civilized nation in the world
which has legislature and executive except
our own. 1t is the reasonable, intelligent,
progressive way, the way Of improved legis-
lation. No nation has ever abandoned it for
the old way, more than farmer has given up
, mower and reaper for the scythe and sickle.
The conclusion of Senator Pendleton's re-
marks were greeted with applause.
SENATOR MORRILL,
said the departments were no creatures of Con-
eress to be extended at will, but we're created
by tho constitution. The trainers of the con-
stitution we're particular in providing against
minQling the executive with legislative func-
" tions, and those who passed the Law organizing
the treasury department were jealous in guard
ing against such result. Senator Morrill, then
argued that it would be inexpedient to paSs
this bill, saying, among other things, that
ambitious that they could not initiate and pass
measures without calling upon and asking aids
of the heads of executive departments. 1t
WAS no argument in favor of the
bill that foreign governments admitted
their cabinet officers to their deliberative az.
semblies. We should adhere to the methods
known to free governments, and not adopt
those observed in monarchies. One of the
MOST SERIOUS DANGERS
to be apprehcnded from such legislation as was
now proposed was = new and facile method of
change of rule.
i Senator Pendleton moved that his bill be laid
on the table to be called up hereafter. Agreed
70, and the Senate took up and passed the bill
providing for the publication Of the supple
ment to the revised statutes.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
The bill to prevent the introduction of con-
tagious and infectious diseases into the United
State, WAS then taken up, pending which the
Senate went into executive session, and when
the doors were reopened, adjourned.
THE TEST OATH.
DECISION OF THE SUPREME COURT.
WAsRrNoToN, April 28.-Decision No. 235.
George Burt, plaintiff in error, vs. Maria NJ.
Honjoud in error to the circuit court of the
United States for the northern diatrict of
Florida. This was an action of ejectment
brought to recover possession of two lots of
land in St. Johns county, Florida, which de.
fendant in error claims under certain deeds of
CONVEYANCE, and by virtue of alleged prior
possession. Among the reasons assigned was
tho ruling of the lower court, to the effect that
= certain Henry Holmes, called to be
juror in this case, was not
obliged to answer questions touching his quail
ifcations Is juror, under section 82O of the
revised statutes. Under this ruling Holmes
declined to say whether he did or did not par
tioipate in tho rebellion. He was CHALLENGED
on the ground that he was diaouali1iad nnder