The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-24
Forty.sixsh Cosgress..sesend session
WASHINGTON, May %, 1880.

WASHINGTON, May %, 1880.
SENATE.
The President pro tempore laid before ths
Senate a Communication from the Secretary
OF the Treasury answering the Senate
resolution Of inquiry regarding the method
adopted I'm the revenue service 10 sub
tracing tare on foreign sugars imported In
boxes. The Secretary reports that IA PEI
cent. Is allowed In such cases. This rate Ia
thought to represent the average tare, but
the importer may insist upon an ascertain
ment OF the actual tare In any case.
When the morning hour expired the un-
finished business--the resolution for Joint
rule for counting the electoral vote-was
taken up, and Mr.. Morgan spoke In its sup
port.
Mr.. Morgan expressed The hope that the
discussion upon the measure would be en-
tirely bipartisan, as the subject was recOg-
nized as OF general public Importance. The
statutes already provide as fully as advisa-
BILE ia regard to the formation OF the eectO-
raj college and the forwarding Of the lists
OF votes. II had not heretofore been
thought by Congress, except in the case OF
the Electoral Commission, that rule could
be adopted governing The discretion OF the
houses when met 10 count the votes rs to
what lists should be received or rejected.
In 1865 joint resolution was passed by the
two houses which affected the rights Of GER
tain States lately in rebellion to be repre-
sented in the electoral college. There
was some doubt as 10 the opinion CT
the President as to the propretv OF
his participation in legislation affect
ing the electoral count, and on the
next day after the passage OF the Joint re-
solution, and before 1t went TO the Presi.
dent, the two houses adopted It's provisions
"a Joint rule. This was the day before the
electoral meeting In which Lincoln was
counted in for the second term. A few
DAYS after President Lincoln returned the
Joint resolution signed, but accompanied
by message stating he did not think that
legislation providing the method OF count
ing the vote required the concurrence OF
the Executive, and believed that his sigma
ture bad no effect one way or the other. He
(Mr. Morgan) referred to this fact at the
outset OF his remarks because ii might be.
come significant In the debate. 1t was
claimed by many that the President OF the
Senate had authority to open aud count the
votes although he might be personally in
teres'ed I'm the result. Lincoln had in the
case referred to declined to participate in q
law which DISTINGUISHED eleven States
which would otherwise have been counted
against him. Mr.. Morgan hoped this exam
pie, so well in accord with the princi'
ples OF our free Government, would be
ALWAYS regarded with respect, and the
opinion CT Lincoln on this important sub
ject be given the weight IL deserved
The Joint rule formerly in force had been
abandoned by the party adopting il,
whether for political reasons or not he
could not say. A new one was demanded
for the safety OF the people. He thought
the one proposed by him iudicously de-
fined the duties OF the presiding officer as
to LAYING the votes before the houses. The
rule heretofore in force requiring the con-
currence OF both houses in receiving vote
was palpably in violation OF the Constiu-
ton. Ii gave either house the right to dis
franchise State arbitrarily. The proposed
Joint rule left each house free In deciding
all questions arising. The theory Of the
rule is that the States pass upon the validity
OF the returns so far as their validity depends
upon State laws. In the joint meeting OF
the two houses, in which the States are
also represented, their validity is decided
upon under the Constitution, and il one
house uphods the action Of the State, there
is majority OF that house and the State as
against the other house.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
On motion OF MIR. Turner, OF Kentucky,
bill was passed so amending the 9th sub
division Of section 3244 Of the Revised
Statutes as to provide that dealers in lea
tobacco who do not sell or c0nsign for sale
leaf tobacco to an amount not exceeding
%, 900 pounds in any one special-tax yeal
shall pay license OF but IS.
A resolution was adopted for printing
6, 900 copies OF the report OF the Yellow
Fever Commission and 5000 copies Of the
report Of the National Board OF Health.
The morning hour was dispensed with
and the House went into Committee OF The
Whole upon bills reported from the Com
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds
There was good deal Of opposition in The
House and committee to proceeding to thu
consideration OF bills for the erection o.
public buildings. 1t being evident that nc
business could be transacted the committee
rose, and the House, at $40 Z. NJ, adj