The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-05-15
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

In the Senate, May 5, shortly after
assembling, consideration was resumed of
the bill to prevent the introduction of con.
tagious or infectious diseases into the
United States. The bill was recommitted
for amendment. Eaton introduced a bill,
similar to that in the House, to prohibit
military interference at elections Referred
to the Judiciary Committee: A bill extend
passed. Adjourned......In the House,
under the Call of States, bill was
introduced by Mr.. Ladd, to prohibit military
interference at elections, and it it was
referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
The following is the text Of the bill:
Whereas, The presence of troops at the
polls is contrary to the spirit of our institu-
tions and the traditions of our people, and
tends to destroy the freedom of elections,
therefore, be it enacted, etc, that it shall
not be lawful to bring to or employ at any
place where general or special election is
beiIg G held in State, any part of the army
or navy of the United States, unless such
force be necessary to repel the armed ene-
mics of the United States, or to enforce
Section 4, Article 4, of the Constitution of
the United States, and laws made in
pursuance thereof, on application of the
Legislature or Execui i've of the State
where such force is to be used, and SO much
hereby repealed"
In the Senate, May 6, Mr.. Mcdonald re-
ported from the Committee IN Judiciary,
with amendments, the bill introduced yes
terday by Mr.. Eaton, making it unlawful
to use any part of the army and navy at the
polls, etc. He gave notice that he would
call it up tomorrow. The judiciary Com
mittee has added two amendments. The
first provides that the bill's prohibition
against bringing to or employing troops
at the polls shall not apply to the use
of a military force when necessary
to protect the State against invasion.
The other amendment inserts the words
"when the Legislature can not he con.
vened," after the clause which exempts
from the prohibition the employment of the
army or navy to enforce the fourth section
| laws made in pursuance thereof, "Upon az.
| plication of the Legislature or Executive of
| the State" Beck reported from the Com
| mittee on Appropriations, with amend.
ments, the Legislative, Executive, and Ju.
dicial Appropriation Bill, and gave notice
that he would call it up at an early day.
The principal amendments made by the
Committee on Appropriations are those
which we're agreed upon by the
Committee yesterday, including the
omission of the House clause, directing the
ten million reserve to be issued in payment
of arrears of pensions. resolution au-
thorizing the taking of testimony in re-
lation to the claim of Spoford TO the seat
of Mr.. Kellogg was continued.........In In
| the House, Mr.. Knott reported back with
out amendment the bill introduced
yesterday to prohibit military interfer-
ence at elections. Mr.. Robeson offered a
substitute, making it unlawful to bring to
or employ at any place where general or
special election is being held in a State, any
| of he and 1u1prS Suoh m,
ployment shall be necessary to carry out
the provisions of the Constitution or over
come lorcible obstruction to execution of
laws made in pursuance thereof, and making
any violation of this act penal ofense.
The substitute is entitled "a bill to further
protect the freedom of elections" Mr..
Robeson's substitute was defeated-yeas,
90; nays, 121. Only one Greenback (Ford) }
voted aye; eight Ode La Matyr, Jones, Ladd,
Lowe, March, Stevenson, Weaver and
Yokum) voted no. Republicans fill
bustered on the bill to prevent in.
but Chittenden, Kelley, Killinger and Nor
ton declined voting, while there were not
enough Democrats present to constitute a
quorum. The reason for filibustering was
the refusal to allow Conger to offer an
amendment. A second call was ordered
At 40 filibustering ceased, and vote was
taken on the biil-yeas,, 124: nays, 90-a
!
voting in the Affirmative with the Dem.
ocrats.
In the Senate, May Z, on motion of In
gals, a resolution was adopted, calling Ell
the President to communicate to the Senat,
what measures had been taken to preven
: the occupation of the Indian Territory by
white settlers. House Bill to prohibit mil
tary interference in elections, was reat
twice, and by vote of "a against 81, tn
| -
Edmunds to refer it to the Committe
: on Judiciary. and then laid it on the table
to be called up hereafter. Consideration
was then resumed of the resolution askin
, for authority to take testimony in the con
tested case of Spoford against Kellogg, an
? Mr.. Carpenter supported Kellogg's right t.
his seat...In the House. Mr.. Chalmer
! resolution offered by him for an investigator
into his conduct at Fort Pillow. The sui
: ject occcpied the attention of tn
l. House for a long time. and
r one period there were indies
,. tions of trouble between Chalmers an
made by Chalmers to some canvass cri
icisms against Burrows for his own condus
in the war. Mr.. Chalmers, however, di
claimed any personal knowledge on th
subject saying he had his Information frol
8 Washington newspaper. Mr.. Burrov
j | DrdnOeQ Tue dileSatlOu ds utterly uuIIu
?. Finally the whole subject was laid on tt
& table. The Eight Hour Law Bill went ov,
! on expiration If the morning hour, and bi
. relating to coinage and coin and bullion W,
= taken up, and Clafin spoke in oppositi on
= In the Senate, May 8, consideration ",
L resumed OF the House bill, prohibiting mil
q tary interference at elections. Morgan a
? vocated its passage, arguing that the frame
t of the Constitution, with view to the pr
1f 1yn
distinction between the regular army az
. militia, AID thet the latter should be eI
s. ployed to enforce the laws. Mr.. Morgs
r criticised the Presidents veto in seve
e terms......In the House the Eight Ho1
n Law was taken up as busine
= laid upon the table-103 to 80. A vote "
IL then taken by yeas and nays on the motto
q to lay on the table the motion to reconsld
W the vote by which the bill was laid on Il
n table. The vote resulted I27 ayes, 81 not
s. .thus effectually killing the bill. The Silv
II Bill was taken up. Mr.. Kimmel offered
~ amendment, fixing the weight of the silv
y dollar at AGO instead of 41214 grains. N
tc Fisher favored the amendment, and o
posed the bill, arguing in favor of a sing
standard. Other members spoke, amol
whom was Mr.. Chittenden, who severe
denounced the measure.
p In the Senate, May 9, House bill, provi
~ ing for the payment OF money heretofo
1t appropriated to James B. Eads and his q
m sociates, for the construction of jetties al
r. other works, at South Pass, Mississip
a River, was passed, with an amendmel
a Consideration of the bill prohibiting mi
o. tary interference at elections was then
In sumed. Messrs. Blaine aud Chandler ma
I'd speeches against the bill. A vote was tn
n. taken. and the bill was passed in the preci
~ form in which it came from the House
r. yeas, SO; nays, 80. The following pal
y were announced: Carpenter and Davis.
aS Illinois; Dawes with Hill, Of Georgi
al Jones, OF Nevada, with Farley; Ferry vii
w Bailey, Paddock with Gordon, Bell wi
Id Williams, Hamlin with Mcpherson, Blail
ra and Wallace, and Kirkwood with Why
- Grover and Sharon were absent. On mott