The Portland daily press., 1880-12-09
XLVIth CONGRESS-2d Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. s,
A joint resolution was introduced proposing
constitutional amendment giving Congress
authority to establish rules and regulations for
certifying, transmitting, receiving and opening
the votes of electors and for counting such
votes by the two Houses, for declaring the re-
suit tof election and for government of the
body while convened, such laws not to be en-
acted, altered, amended or repealed within one
year before the time fixed for the appointment
of elections in any State. Referred to the Sc
lect committee on election of President and
Vice President
Private bills were considered during the
morning hour. and at / o'clock the Senate
went into executive session, after which it ad-
iourned.
HOUSE.
Newton NJ. Clements of the Sixth district
of Alabama, was sworn in
Amendments to bill authorizing the disposi-
tion of part of the Fort Dodge military res-
ervation were concurred in.
MIR. Wood of New York stated he would not
call up his funding bill until discussion on the
electoral count resolution was finished.
Mr.. McCook of New York introduced joint
resolution authorizing the placing of U. S.
Grant on the retired list of the army with the
rank and pay of general. Referred.
Mr.. Buekner presented the following substi-
tute for the funding bill which was referred:
Be it enacted, etc.: First, that in lieu of
ly IA, 1870, entitled "An act to authorize the
refunding of the national debt" and acts
amendatory thereof, the Secretary of the
Treasury is hereby authorized to issue Treas.
ury notes of the United States, in an amount
of not more than 5000 900 900, in denomina-
ton of not less than ten dollars, land bearing in
terest at a rate not exceeding4 per cent.per an
mum, of which said notes not more than $780,
100000 shall mature each year from the date of
their issue, and said notes shall de disposed of
r. A.. IT,
than par and the proceeds thereof shall be
applied to the payment of the 5 and per
cent bonds of the United States maturing dur
! < 1877; or the Secretary may exchange said
Treasury notes for said bonds on such
terms as he may deem advantageous. to the
United States.
Second-Thet the Secretary of the Treasury
is authorized to make suitable regulations for
disposing of said Treasury notes to the best
advantage to the government, and all eXpen-
ses attending the same shall not exceed / of
per cent. of the notes SO disposed of or
exchanged.
Third-That the sum of 100000 600 of coin
in the Treasury of the United States be set
apart as fund for the redemption of the notes
known as legal tendertnotes and any surplus
OF coin over and above said sum and belonging
to the United States remaining in the Treas
ury shall be used by the Secretary of the
Treasury in the purchase or redemption on
account of the sinking fund of any Of said 6
per cent. bonds maturing in the year 1881.
A bill was passed without amendment re-
movin gthe political disabilities of j. M. Hes-
kell of Maryland
Mr.. Conger said he understood the bill had
another object than the removal of disabilities
and asked that it be retained on the speakers
desk. So ordered.
House resumed the electoral count resolu-
ton.
An interesting debate ensued during which
MIR. Robeson (Rep.) made speech of two
hours duration against the proposed measure
He declared that ethe Vice President neither
thority had right to pronounce judicially on
the question of the validity or inyalidity of
any vote and that the two houses of Congress
in convention assembled had no right to de-
eide at all either iudicially or otherwise.
Mr. Hunton Dem.) supposed a case of a Ger
tificate known to be forged being presented say
ing the point he wished to make was whether
the power to count did not carry with it the
power to determine what was to be counted.
MIR. Kiefer (Rep) called attention to the
fact that the proposed joint rule was merely
intended to give Congress the right to reject
properly certified votes and not to de-
eide as to whether the certificates were genu-
inc.
Mr.. Robson lin reply to Mr.. Hunton) de-
MED that Congress had power to count the
votes. If that power resided in either the
Vice President or in the two houses it resided
in the Vice President. He did not say the
Vice President had that power, but if the GER
tihcate were in compliance with the authenti
cation prescribed by law then it was the duty
OF the Vice President to open them.
Mr: McLane (Dem.) contended that as the
constitution authorized the two houses to par
ticip, to in the counting of the electoral vote
and as such counting included the exercise of
the judicial power, therefore the two houses
did possess judicial power.
MIR. Robeson gave notice that he would pre-
sent substitute for the concurrent resolution
providing for the declaration of the electoral
vote by the Vice President in the presence of
both houses the second Wednesday in Febru-
ary. Adjourned.