Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-15
TUESDAY, April Is.

TUESDAY, April Is.
SENATE.-The Secretary OF the Senate, be-
fore the reading OF the journal, read the follow
ing note from the Vice President:
WASHINGTON, April Is, 1879.
SRA telegram received this morning ad
v1seS me of the dangerous Illness OF sister.
and summons me home. 1t will, therefore, be
necessary for the Senate, on its meeting to day,
to elect President pro tenn. Respectfully,
w. A. WHEELER, President, etc.
To the Secretary OF the Senate.
The reading of the note having been concud
of the Senator"
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, said that as there
was a comparatively small number of Senators
10 attendance. he hoped there would be delay
OF proceedings, In order to enable aosentees to
arrive.
At the suggestion OF Mr.. Wallace, the Senate
took an informal recess.
1t was discovered at the time the note was
read that there were larger number OF repub-
lican than democratic members present.
A messenger was dispatched for Senator
Thurman, whom the democrats Intended to
elect president pro tenpOre. At twenty minutes
past twelve, however, that gentleman erGered
the chamber he having been on his way to the
him.
The Senate having resumed Its session
Mr.. Bayard offered the following resolution:
Resolced, That in the absence of the Vice
President, Hon. A. G. Thurman be, and he is
hereby chosen president OF the Senate pro tenn
Mr.. Anthony moved to strike out the name OF
Mr.. Thurman and insert that OF Hon. Thomas
W. Ferry. This amendment was disagreed to-
yeasls, nays 2s; and the resolution was then
passed.
Mr. Thurman was conducted to the chair by
Mr.. Ferry; the former remarking to the latter
on his way thither "Turn about Is fair playn
Mr.. Thurman, on taking the chair, said:
Senator's: 1t is only necessary for me to say
in the fewest possible words, sincerely thank
you for this mark OF your confidence.
WQ
On motion OF MIR. Wallace, 1t was resolved
that the Secretary Of the Senate walt on the
President of the United States and inform him
that in the absence of the Vice President, Hon
A. G. Thurman has been elected President pro
tenn. Of the Senate, and that the Secretary
make similar communication to the House of
Representatives.
Mr. Cockren presented the resolutions of the
Missouri legislature, asking for the erection OF
stable government In the Indian territory.
The The following, among other bills, were intro
BY Mr.. Allison-Authortzing the Secretary of
the Interior to allot lands in severaity to In
dfans, and to issue patents therefor.
BY Mr. Plumb-Proyidlng for the increase of
the army in an emergency.
The army appropriation bill being again
taken up Mr.. Logan addressed the Senate He
thought the question now before the body
more important than any other that has arisen
since 1861, when the same sentiments which
prompted the present legislation expressed by
many OF the same men now utterlng them led
lcgISl1ClO0
as bad in itself and as being attempted by un-
parliamentary practices. II republicans had
erred In the same direction by placing general
legislation on appropriation bills this was no
excuse for Its being done now, but he denied
that the precedent which had been cited In sup.
port OF the action Of the opposite side were
similar In character to this attempt. The spirit
In which legislation was attached to apprOpria-
tfon bills was OF more consequence than the
legislation itself. The republicans had passed
laws to save the government, but the present
though its immediate result would not be fatal
1t would open the way to further irregularities
which would overthrow our institution. He de.
tended the propriety of the use of the veto
accompanying his veto OF bill In 1885, to show
that democratic doctrine had then guarded the
independence of the executive as wholesome
check on legislation, This legislation would
obliged to resort to violent means TO pass whaF
was repugnant to all friends of good govern
ment: The people would not be SO deceived
All the provisions now advocated to pr0tec
together with another provision to keep peace
at the polls. which latter was now to be stricken
out, making the whole law imperative. Wha
good citizen would object to having peac
RACES be suppressed on election day
as well as ali other days? Can it
that the promoters of this bill have an in
He thought it looked SO. An officer OF the peac4
is not an object OF terror or hate to good men
There are already laws preventing military in
that the real aim ofthis bill is to get rid of civil
officers OF the United States at elections. No
prov lsion Is now made to prevent the presence
OF state troops at the polls, and the underlying
theory OF states rights which has assumed
so many forms to suit the different
times aL which it has been advocated.
The right OF the general government to pre-
serve It's own existence could not be abrogated.
In former days fugitive slaves were recovered
from states which did not recognize slavery
racy as the authority OF constitution
dominating all the states. He had read
by the Clerk President Fillmore's proclama-
fugitive slave, and then cited the celebrated
Burns fugitive slave case, and asked where the
doctrine OF state rights had been In the days
when slaves were pursued BY the forces of the
general government into states whose citizens
wished TO protect them from degrading bond
age. The same black man once hunted down
now asked protection In rights guaranteed him
by law, but states rights now were set up to
take away his protection In the exercise of his
privileges.
HOUSE. Immediately after the reading Of the
journal, the Speaker proceeded to call commit
tees for reports.
Mr.. Henry, chairman OF committee on ac-
counts, made report specifying the commit
tees which are entitled to clerks. The total
number OF clerks allowed is thirty five, exclud-
Ing those who receive yearly salaries.
COMMITTEES ENTITLED TO CLERKS
The following are the committees which are
entitled to clerks:-ElectiOns; Banking and Cur
rency; Pacific Railroads (and Civil Service Re.
fOrm); Commerce; Post Offices and Post Roads;
District OF Columbia; judiciary; Private Land
Claims; Public Expenditures (and Library;
Agriculture (and Manufactures, and Militiaj;
Indian Affairs; Military Affairs; Naval Affairs;
Foreign Affairs land Census); Territories; Rail
ways and Canals; Epidemic Diseases; Education
and Labor; Revision OF the Laws {and Mines
and M1ning); Coinage, Weights and Measures;
Patents; Public Buildings and Grounds (aDd
Expenditures on Public Buildings); Accounts
(and Mileage); Expenditures in State Depart
ment; Expenditures in Treasury Department.;
Expenditures In Navy Department.; Expendt-
lures In War department (and Revolutionary
Pensions); Expenditures in Post Ofice Depart
ment; Expenditures in Interior Department;
Expenditures In Department OF Justice; Missis-
sippi Levees; Ventilation of the Hall; Labor
Comm1ttee Printing (and state OF law on Presi-
Dental ElectiOns); and Enrolled Bills.
The report was adopted.
On motion OF MI. Young, (Tenn..) chairman
Of the committee on epidemic diseases, Senate
bill authorizing the Secretary or the Treasury
10 contract for the purchase or construction OF
a refrigerating ship for the dlsinfectton OF ves-
sells and cargoeS, was taken from the Speakers
table for consideration.
short debate followed, in the course Of
which Mr. COnUpr III that Th0lIUh he lyO!ltd