Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-04-25
CONGRESSIONAL, SUMMARY.


secretary from Vice Pres. Wheeler, say
ing he whould be unable to attend the
session, and advising the election of u
pres. pro tenn. Sen. 4. q. Thurman
was then elected to that position by
vote OF IS TO Is. 4 few bills were in
troduced, including one 10 authorize an
increase ofthe army in cases of emer-
gency. Adjourned.
TUESDAY, April 10 HouSs-The bill
providing for the purchase of Il retrig-
Grating ship for the disinfection of car
goes, passed. The legislative bill was
then taken up, the pending amendment
being that offered by Mr.. Bragg 10
abolish the southern claim commission.
A long debate followed. Mr.. loung'S
substitute to Mr.. Bragg's amendment
to abolish the commission, and turn
over all claims to the court of claims
was also discussed. Mr.. Bragg made
strong argument i'll support Of his
amendment, and Mr.. Garfield answered
him with mis- usual force claiming that
there We're just claims from the south;
the southern claims commission was
the proper tribunal to pass upon them.
Braggs amendment was lost by vote
Of So yeas to 1l2 nays. Young's sub.
Sttute WAS also lost by yeas, So; nays,
10Y. Mr.. Springer then offered an
amendment providing for abolishing
the southern claims commission and
providing that all just claims shall be
flied with the court of claims, which
body shall report them to congress for
action. Without disposing of the
amendment the house adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, April 10 SeRate-Con-
sideration Of the army bill was resumed.
Mr.. Beck had the floor and discussed
the subject at length III running con-
troversy with Mr.. Hoar. Mr.. Beck
SAID the democrats were not proposing
to either coerce the president, nor We're
they setting up revolutionary measures,
and endeayoring to pass acts which
would deprive the president
fom using the army for con-
stitutional purposes. All they pro-
posed to do, rs would be seen by the
9th section of the bill, was to say to the
president, he should not recall troops
from the frontier, or where they were
placed to prevent invasion from abroad
to be used merely for political purposes,
and that while the courts were open
and all the Judiciary machinery working
in harmony with them, he should not
use troops except on call Of the COVER
nor or legislature OF state III an emer-
gency, contemplated by the con-
stitutlon, nor should he use troops
against tine public will. He quoted
numerous presidents to show
that ~ ,,o,,o1 80 90 al, III,
on neutrality-suspicious. bills. Among
them it was shown that the law relating
to supervisors and deputy marshals was
an amendment on an appropriation bill
bya republican congress and that the
celebrated Drake amendment which
annuled the decision of the supreme
court was made part of an appropri-
alton bill. In conclusion he said the his
tory of the republican rule showed it to
be the duty of democrats to curtal the
military power of the country. Mr.. Hoar
replied briefly, when Mr.. Dawes took
the floor. He argued that the south
had been given fair trial. and it had
shown continued rebellion against
the general government. A large class
of voters in the south were held in alb
ject terror, and refused the right Of
suffrage by the lawless, predominant
race there. Some protection is needed,
and the democrats now desire to re-
move that protection. Mr.. Dawes
Welded the floor to Mr.. Butler, who
stated that his colleague, Wade Hamp-
ton, was ready to be sworn in. Mr..
Hampton then took the oath. After
executive session, adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, April 16.-House. The
legislative bill was further discussed.
The amendments dissolving the south
ern claims commission, and transferring
its duties to the court of claims, was
defeated by the united votes ofnorthern
democrats and republicans. The object
Of the am endment was to place southern
war claims on par with loyal war
claims for compensation. Adjourned.
THURSDAY, April 17-Senate. The
army bill was again taken up and Mr..
Morgan spoke briefly in favor of a re-
peal of the law authorizing the use OF
troops on election day. He WAS follow
ed by Mr.. Voorhees, who made two
hours speech. He declared the pro-
lection of the ballot box had been
NlISAtN lAOllI liIC tlSbpIG dilu SlNGIl
over TO corrupt federal officers who
would use their authority to cheat the
people of their rights. He alluded to the
civil rights bill of 1869, under which he
said the president could use the army
any where under the pretense Of en-
forcing it, provisions; there being
placed under the power of the president
range Of subjects as extensive as the
rights Of man. Under free constitu-
ton the vast scope Of this law places alb
solute power in the hands Of one man.
There was not phase of human affairs
in any state or territory that could not
be interfered with by the army. lie |
then read other laws to show what base
uses military forces might be applied in /
controlling elections. After executive
session, adjourned.
THURSDAY, April 17-House.-some
time was spent in discussing the bill to
substitute legal tender notes for subsi- /
diary silver coins, but no action was
reached. II was agreed that all debate
on the legislative bill should close on
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