The Portland daily press., 1880-12-08
BY TELEGRAPH.
xLvIth CoNGREss-2d Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Z.
The credentials of Thomas c. Manning, ap-
pointed by the Governor of Louisiana as
Senator, vice 81. NJ Spofford deceased, until
the next meeting of the Legislature, were read
and filed.
Resolution instructing the commissioner of
agriculture to furnish information relating 10
contagious pleuro-pneumonia of cattle and
other contagious diseases of domesticated cattle
waslagreed to.
Bill fixing the duty or barley malt at %
cents a bushed was re-committed.
Bill to authorize local taxation of legal ten
der treasury notes was referred to the finance
committee.
Several bills amending the bill to ratify the
Ute agreement were referred; as also a bill
authorizing the issue and providing for the
exchange and redemption of fractional rule.
The standing committees of last session were
continued with the exception of Mr.. Pugh of
Alabama taking Prior's place.
The Senate went into executive session and
when the doors were re-opened adjourned.
HOUSE.
Bill for the appointment of an Assistant
Secretary OF War was referred.
A resolution was adopted inquiring into the
authority upon which Douglas, the Ute chief,is
imprisoned, and as to what steps have been
taken to try him for alleged completely in the
Meeker murder.
for counting the electoral vote, as matter of
privilege, gave rise to long debate.
Mr. Conger made an elaborate argument to
show the matter did not present question of
privilege. He relied principally on the fact
that the late revision of the rule nine, which
specified what were questions of privilege, did
not include this subject If the Speaker were
to go beyond rule nine and declare this ques-
tion OF privilege on some wild theory, because
the government is Republican, because great
interests stake hpcauSa tho pracidaptial al
question is an important matter, because the
country has been on the very verge of revolu-
tion and had barely escaped, because that
same danger threatened it again and again the
Speaker himself would be acting in revolu-
tionary manner.
Mr.. Whitthorne Dem) of Tennessee, said
the attitude of the gentleman on the other side
informs the Speaker as we'll as the country
that there is claim under the constitution
that the Vice President alone has the right or
authority to count the electoral vote. The
Speaker and country are informed by the past
legislative practices and customs heretofore
prevailing that the House of Representatives
and Senate have asserted their right to do this
thing. The pending proposition is one going
directly to the highest privileges of this House.
The attitude of the gentlemen on the other
side is a denial OF that right. The Speaker is
aware that the House must decide the question
at this session; It is therefore right before the
Speaker, and submit that the proposition in
wolves a question of privilege, but arise
merely for the purpose OF saying that the ques-
ton involved here has no reference to the
pending Presidential election. 1 declare to
you and the country (and 1 speak for the peo-
pie of my state and believe for the Democrat
ic party of the country that the proposition
has nothing to do with the election of Mr.. Gar
field. He has been elected by the people and
for one shall see TO it that he is inaugurated.
Mr.. Springer Dem.) said Republican Con-
gress had enacted the joint rule for counting
the electoral votes.
Mr.. Robson replied that under pressure of
war and reconstruction that followed the Re-
publicans had made good deal of false legis-,
lation and were suffering from it today
The speaker then decided the matter ques-
tion of privilege on constitutional grounds.
long discussion ensued as the limitation of
debate, the Republicans demanding it be
without limit and the Democrats refusing to
yield Unlimited time. No agreement was
reached and after Kefer (Rep.) had delivered
an argument against the pending measure,
which he denounced as one "of usurpation and
fraud and one which might lead to bloodshed
and war;" the matter went over
Indictment of officers and owners of the
Seawanhaka were read before the House.
Reprinting was ordered of the interstate,
commerce and refunding bills and the joint
resolution making the Presidents term six
years and Represe ntatives three.
Adjourned.