Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-04-01
FOrty-sixth Congress..Extra Session.

SENATE March 24th.-A
large number of bills were introduced
including one by Mr.. Whyte to provid,
for the payment of certain advances mad,
to the United States by Maryland ant
Virginia. A resolution was passed re
quiring the Secretary of the Treasury t.
furnish amount paid supervisors of cleo
ton in 1876 and 1878 in excess of thu
amount allowed for circuit court com.
mlssloners. A resolution was also pass.
ed calling upon the Secretary of the
Treasury to furnish elaborate informa.
ton concerning the negotiation of Uni
ted States securities, the amount of in.
terest paid, &c. A motion to proceed tc
the election of officers of the Senate LED
to long debate, after which the nomi.
nees of the democratic caucus were elect.
ed and sworn in.
SENATE.-Tuesday, March 25th.-Mr
Hoar spoke in favor of his resolution de-
claring the democratic programme in
regard to the appropriation bills uncon.
stitutional and revolutionary. At thi
conclusion of Mr.. Hoar's speech a mo-
ton from the democratic side to adjourn
because of the absence OF Senator Thur.
man, who has this matter in charge, was
adopted by a strict party vote-yeas 81,
nays Is.
HOUSE.-Mr. Harris asked leave to of
fer resolution directing the committee
on Judiciary to inquire into the facts
connected with the action of Alexander
Rives. judge of the United States Dis
trict Court for the western district Of
Virginia, in interfering with the action
of the State judges holding State courts
in accordance with the laws of Virginia,
but objection was made from the repub.
lican side, and Mr.. Conger announced
that he would object to the introduction
of anything unless it had reference to
appropriation bills.
SENATE.-Wednesd March 26th.-
Mr.. Pendleton introduced bill allowing
cabinet officers to occupy seats on the
floor of the Senate and House, with
privileges of participating in debate on
matters affecting their departments
After brief session the Senate adjourn
ed.
HOUSE.-The House was in session
but few minutes, and failed to transact
any business of interest.
SENATE.-Thursday, March 27th.-
Mr.. Groome introduced bill to aid in
the construction of the Maryland and
Delaware ship-canal. Mr.. Hoar's reso-
luton denouncing as revolutionary the
the proposition of the democrats to en-
graft political legislation on the appro-
priation bills was taken up, and an
hours morning debate ensued, in which
Messrs. Bayard, Blaine, Beck, Voor-
hees and others participated, after which
the Senate adjourned until yesterday
Monday.
HoUsE.-In the House the army ap-
preparation bill, with the amendment
prohibiting the use of troops at the polls,
was introduced. and most of the ordi-
nary provisions of the bill were disposed
of.
SENATE.-Friday, March 29th.-The
Senate was not in session Friday, hav-
ing adjourned over from Thursday to
Monday.
HoUsE.-The session of the House was
devoted to the consideration of the army
appropriation bill. the section repeating
the statutes allowing the military to pre-
serve the peace at the polls precipitatiug
the House into debate which promises
to be protracted.
SENATE.-Saturday, March 29th.-
The Senate was not in session.
HOUSE.-The debate was continued
on the clause in the army appropriation
bill forbidding the presence of troops at
the polls. Mr.. Conger's point of order,
made on Friday, that the clause was
new legislation and not in the interest
of retrenchment was overruled by the
chairman. Mr.. Conger appealed from
the decision, but the House sustained
the ruling by a vote of l25 to 1o7. Gen.
eral Garfield then took the floor and pre-
sented the republican case in o long
speech. Messrs. Stephens and McMa-
hon were the principal speakers on the
democratic side.