The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-12-08
House.

Washington, Dec. 7-Mr. Ward, of
Pennsylvania, introduced bill for the ap-
pointment of an assistant secretary of war
Referred.
Mr. Beford, of ColoraGo, offered resolu
ton directing the socTelery of the interior 10
inform the house under what law or warrant
of authority Douglass, q sub,chief Of the Ute
tribe Of Indians, Is confined in the military
prison at Fort Leavenworth, and what steps,
If any, ave 6een taken by the United States
authorities to bring him to trial for alleged
completely in the murder of Indian Agent
Meeker. Adopted.
The speaker proceeded to call the COM
miltee for reports.
The call having been concluded without
presentation Of any reports, Mr.. Blcknell
called up, as question Of privilege, senate
resolution relative TO counting tho electoral
votes.
Mr., he for raised tho point of order that
the resolution did not present Il question OF
privilege
Debate ensusd, in which Me.sr;. Biok-
nell and Springer maintained that
whatever related to the consti-
tutonal right of tho two houses 10 declare
the electoral vote was " question Of privi'
lege The house had certain powers rela'
tive to the election of president, and il
alone must determine, when the contingency
arises, what was contemplated in the constitu
! tion, or when it, the house, must act on the
matter and choose president.
Messrs. keier and Robinson
coAtended that the concurrent res
olution, purporting that n join
rule to prescribe tho mode Of count
ing TIE electoral vote, was not question o
privilege. The president of the senate alon
had the rgh! to count the electoral vote
The house could not make II contingency
and then declare that it had arisen, and pro
cacd to elect q president. Tho house, the,
maintained, had nothing 10 do with the max
ing of the contingency.
Mr.. Springer replied that the house wa
the sole Judge of the question whether or no
contingency has arisen. II must determip,
when, under the constitution, II must choos
a president, and presidents so chosen will b
tho president of the United States.
Mr.. Reagan, of Texas, argued that tn
matter presented was question of pri ilcge
land thatthe president of the senate was merel.
"a vehicle or medium between the elector
Iand the two houses of congress v'---.-~.
After some further debate, in whicl
Messrs. Conger, of Michigan; Hooker, .
Missi.aippi; UpdegraG, of Iowa, and Whit
tho,ne, of Tennessee, participated, tn
speeker said that the uniform Irsctico Ger
tainly the recent practice, goes to the ex,en
of showing that the two houses do coun
snd have counted the electoral vote
the chair were to refuse ol
chnicslites to allow an adiustnen
between the two houses as 10 the govern
ment of the houses when in joint session, /
might lead TO confusion, chaos aud perhap
commotion. In the opinion of the chair /
made no difference by whom the votes are
counted, if done BY the two houses. 1t is tn
highest duty they nave to perform. II don
by any ether person it must be done in th
presence of the two houses, SO that any rul
relating to Joint meeting Isl function Q
TIE very highest privilege, and he must 8
rule.
Mr.. Bicknell then demanded the prsviou
question. and the democrats refusing 10 al
low the republicans unlimited time for dc
bate, the latter fllibustered TO prevent
vote. For time it seemed as If the hous
would come to deadlock, but Mr.. Keife
. finally withdrew his demand for the prev
ous question, and delivered written argr
= ment against the pending measure, whic
he characterized as measure OF usurpstio
and fraud, and one which might lead
bloodshed s,d war.
At the conclusion Of his speech the sui
ect was laid over for the present and Il
house adjourned.