Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-22
FORTY-SIX7H CONGRESS-.
WEDNESDAY, December %.

and ALLISON, as members OF the board OF Wis
ttors TO attend the similar examination at the
L. s. naval academy.
Mr.. Booth, from the committee on public
lands, reported favorably on House bill for The
relief OF settlers on restored railroad lands, and
II was passed.
MIR. Bayard introduced a bill 10 amend sec
tlon 9l,l and repeal section SIG Revised Stat
uteS. Referred.
THE ELECTORAL COUNT.
Mr. Morgan stated his desire TO call up and
speak upon the resolution offered by him on
June 18th last, declaring that the President OF
the Senate Is not invested by the constitution
or the United states, with the right to count
tne votes OF electors for President and Vice
President OF the United States so as to deter
mine what votes shall be received and counted,
or what votes shall be rejected.
MIR. EGmundS hoped that the Senator from
Alabama would not insist upon taking up this
resolution In the last moments before adjourn
ment, when there was no opportunity for de-
bate, and when no quorum was present
MIR. Morgan said it was rare to refuse to a
Senator the courtesy of allowing him to speak
upon resolution offered by himself He re
garded the matter as OF sufficient importance TO
warrant his speaking upon 1t at this time
MI Edmunds said there was practically no
opportunity for debate upon the resolution to
day, In view of the necessity for an executive
session TO transact business essential to the
proper conduct of The government.
Mr.. Morgan replied that his remarks woul1
DE brief, and II any other Senator wished TO
speak upon the resolution he would not insist
on its consideration to-day. but would move its
reference 10 the select conmitt9 On the electoral
count.
Mr.. Edmunds reiterated his objections. bIt
did not further oppose the calling up OF the
resolution 1t was therefore taken up. ana
Mr.. Morgan spoke in It's support. He pointei
to the obscurity in the language Of the conStt-
tuition On this subject, and cited the WeIl-known
legal principle that In the absence OF definite
wording legal instrument must be interpreted
Ia the light OF the purpose for which it was
formulated. Upon this principle he based an
argument that since the election of the Presi-
dent and Vice President is by the electors, the
president OF the Senate is not entitled to count
The votes. There was purpose in separating
the functions or the president or the Senate
from that of the other actors in the matter.
lie is directed 20 open The votes, not TO count
them. After he opens them they shall then
be counted"
After further remarks by Mr. Morgan and
remarks 10y Mr.. Edmunds- The Senate al 1880 p.
H.. went into executive session. The doors
were reopened at p. m and number OF pri-
vate bills were passed.
HOUSE-After prayer by the Chaplain. the
speaker, as is usual directed the Clerk to read
the Journal of yesterday, whereupon Mr. Bow.
man rose to question of privilege relative TO
the disgraceful proceedings which mad occurred
in the House yeSt erday.
The Speaker said that the Chair would prefer
that the gentl leman should wait until the Jour
nal should have been read.
Mr.. Bowman said that it was on that poini
that he wished the Speaker to rule. A rule OF
the House stated that members should not b.
held to answer nor be subject to the cenSure OF
the House for anything said In debate, Ii further
debate or business had INTERVIEWED He desired
to know whether the reading OF the JournaI
could be construed as such Intervening bust
ness as would shut off 1urther proceedings by
the House for the gross violation OF its dignity
The Speaker said that the reading OF the Jour
nal would take from the House none OF its priv.
ilege,
Immediately after the reading Of the Journal
Mr. Mclane rose, and as d question affecting
the dignity Of the House, called attention TO the
scene OF disorder which took place On the floor
yesterday, and which he characterized as Often
SlVe derogatory and diScredltable TO the House
as parliamentary body. He called upon botn
the offending members before any other bust
ness was entered on to relieve themselves OF
that offence by an ample apology. No response
having been made by either or the members
Immediately concerned, Mr.. Bowman rose TO
present what he called substantive proposi-
tion. He spoke OF the scene OF yesterday as
crime and as an insult offered to the House. 10
congress, and TO the country. There was not.
be said. a man present who did not yesterday
hang his bead In shame. and did not regard
that scene as personal disgrace. And all over
the country and the world men were readi,,c
this morning OF the pothouse Drawl. the gam
bling house quarrel, and the fight wrich fsfS
t{erdsy. tes 'e''' y '''''' 'l'' 'o0H place yes
Mr.. Harris (va) suggested that perhaps both
offending dc mperS We're now willing TO make
an 2poiogy, and II so they ought TO have an
Ms. Haskell suggested that other members
mad been guilty or conduct equally worthy OF
censure.
Mr. NeLafe Insisted on his question OF privi-
legs. and offered resolution requiring the two
offending members to apologize to the House.
In the course OF Mr. McLaneS remarks be
recognized that most OF the members present
yesterday were partly responsible for the scene
OF yesterday.
To that remark MIR. F. Wood IN. " took ex-
ceptiOn, and said that he had interfered in the
discussion yesterday and endeavored to conflne
al-
the scene as the most shameful exhibition that
had ever taken place on the floor.
MT. McLane concluded his remarks and said
be would yield to the gentleman from Iowa
{Mr. Weaver II he were now willing TO make an
apology.
Mr. Haskell objected to that proceeding and
declared that In his opinion the House should
rather make an apology TO the country than
{having suffered the adjournment to take place
yesterday without taking action try to cast Off
its own shoulders the ObiOquy that belonged
there and single out two members as Scape-
goats for its SinS
Mr. bowman again took the floor, and quoted
the remark OF Mr. F. Wood as to the chara. ser
OF yesterdays incident adding that II the Two
on the sidewalk they would have spent the
night in the Tombs, and be brought before the
police court In the morning. He felt that the
House should now take action that would be
warning in the future. He would therefore, he
said offer a resolution OF eXpulsion-a punish
ment which would only be commensurate with
the offence.
After further discussion In the same vein and
after the reading OF an extract from the Con
qrpSSiOnal Record covering the question OF
offence Mr.. Bowmans resolution was read de-
claring that for gross breach Of privileges
rules and dec0rum Of the House the TWO mem
bers be expelled.
Mr, Browne moved, as substitute, that a
special committee Of be appointed TO report
without delay what proceedings should be
taken by the House.
Mr.. Reagan and Mr.. Converse Indicated some
errors In the report OF the Congressional Record
but they were not very material.
Mr.. BlOunt suggested that Mr.. mel lue's res
s.permitted" instead OF required" to make an
apology, He understood that both gentlemen
desired to do SO.
The resolution 10y Mr.. McLane's conSeno was
nodlfled accordingly.
Mr.. Harris {va) made the point of order, and
argued. that the precise words of which the two
members are held TO answer must be set out be
fore they could be censured or expelled. 1t
would not do to refer generally to thirty printed
pages OF the record.
Mr. Bowman argued that there was nothing in
the point, as the offence was not words but
actions.
The Sneaker overruled the point OF order.
Alter further discussion the queStlon was nrst
taken on the substitute offered by Mr.. Brown
Qnd.) referring the matter 10 selecs ocm-
m1ttee,
The substitute was agreed to-9o to 43.
Before proceeding further an opportunity
was. on motion Of Mr.. Conger, given 10 MessrS
Weaver and Sparks TO make any sta0ement