The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-12-16
news BY TELEGRAPH.

the amendment giving Congress the
authority 10 establish rules and reg
ulatiOns for certifying. transmitting,
receiving and opening the votes ofthe
electors, and for counting such votes
by the two houses and for declaring
the result OF the election and for the
government of the body while con-
vened. Such laws are not to be en-
acted, altered, amended or repealed
within one year-befOre the time fixed
for the appointment of electors in
any state Referred TO a select COM
mittee on elections of President and
Vice President.
The Vice President submitted a
, communication from the Secretary
of the Treasury, recommending the
appropriation of Sl62, 600 for defici-
ency in the curren. years appropria-
uons, for interest and sinking fund
on the S65 districts loan, caused by
redeemiug the outstanding board OF
audit certificates in such bonds. Re-
ferred.
! Herman introduced bill 10 pro-
vide for the rcfunding of cerlain
taxes in conformity with the decis-
ion of the Supreme Court.
| The Senate considered private
bills during the morning hour.
|, The Vice President submitted a
communication from the Secretary
of War, recommending action by
Congress on the estimates of the
Mississippi river improvements
The commission for certain initial
work is estimated at $5.l3S,O0O.
Randolph gayo notice of an amend.
ment in the nature of a substitute
for tho relief of Fiiz John Porter.
Atl p NJ. the Senate went into ex.
ecutiye. session. When the doors
were opened the Senate adjourned
HoUsE-After the reading of the
journal lShelleyof Alabama presented
The credentials of Newton NJ. Glenn.
ent, the member elect from the sixth
congressional district of Alabama
and that gentleman appeared at tho
bar of the House and qualified. tax.
ing tho required oath.
| Wood of New York said that al
the last session he had given notice
he would this day call up the fund
| ing bill for consideration, but as the
gentlemen were desirous of finish
ing the debate on the question which
had been under discussion yester.
day, he would omit calling il up until
the electoral resolution had been
disposed OF.
Conger of Michigan requested
Wood TO repeat his statement
In reply Wood said he proposed
the House should do its work and
exclude from its deliberations every.
thing of partisan character. Itwas
his intention to call the pending bill
up Immediately after tho electoral
resolution had been disposed OF.
Conger-The gentleman proposes
10 call 1t up this session.
| Wood-1 propose to call il up u,
soon as the gentleman and his friend,
will have exhausted discussion upoI
another proposition.
! onger-Why should the gentle
man wait discussion Of politica
question?
Wood am not obliged TO answer
that question. and | now move tt
dispense with the morning hour.
This motion was defeated by thu
Republicans, and the Speaker pro
ceeded to call the committees. bu
no bills of a public character were
got through with.
! McCook of New \ ork introduced
joint resolution authorizing rht
President TO place U. S. Grant OF
the retired list Of the army, with tn,
rank and pay of general, as recog
milton of his eminent services. Re
ferred.
Buckner of Missouri, chairman Of
the Committee on Banking, intro
duccd a substitute for the funding
bill, the bill authorizing the Secre
tary of the Treasury to issue treas
ury notes in denomination of $1(
and upward to the amount of 5000,
0O0, 900, such notes TO bear interest a
rate not exceeding four per cent.
and to be exchanged or used in pay
ment of the five and six per cent
bonds of the United States maturing
in 1881; also, providing that all coli
in the treasury in,eXcess of 100000,
600, which is TO be held for the re
demption of legal tenders, shall bt
used for the purchase or redcmp
|
bonds maturing in 1881. Referred
to Committee on Ways and Means
The House then resumed eonsid.
Grafton of the Senate concurren
resolution relative to the electora
count. -....
Robinson made an argument o
considerable length against tina
the two houses of Congress has th'
right to count the electoral votes
His objection to the present res
olution was founded on the fact
that congress had no power TO aet
ljudicially upon, to reject or 10 receiy,
the vote of any state.
Hunton Of Virginia asked wha
was to be done in case q committe,
of the House reported that the cleo
toral vote of any state was a forged
certificate, who would have tn,
power to pass on the question O.
forgery.
Robinson replied that in his opin
ion neither tho vice-president mol
the two houses had any inheren
authority or authority given by tho
constitution to pronounce judicial,
on the question.
Hunton said the point he wished
10 make was, whose power to coun
did not carry with IL the power Il
determine what was 20 be coun,c cd
Suppose the gentlemen were sent lC
count O flock of sheep, and some
goats had gotten mixed up in II
wonld they count the goats5 In hi
(Hunton's) opinion,whoever counted
the electoral vote must actjudicialiy
Robinson continued to deny tha
Congress had any power whatever
in the matter, and said if the power
to throw out fraudulent or forgeC
certificates rested anywhere, i
rested with the Vice President of the
Senate. All Congress was author
lied, by the constitution, TO do, wat
to be present where the Vice Presi
dent Of the Senate, ns the ministe
rial Office, performed his function
Robinson then gave notice that ht
would offer q substitute for tht
pending concurrent resolution.
Reagan of Texas gave notice that
as soon as the pending question wal
disposed of, he would ask for the
consideration of the interstate ,om
merce bill. Adjourned.
WASHINGTON. December 6.-Tht
following nominations were sent tC
the Senate to-day: Col. Nelson A
Miles to be brigadier general, vice
Gen. Ord, retired; Col. VIM d. Ha.
zen to be chief signal officer, with
rank Of brigadier general Tomlin.
SON T. johnson, collector of custom.
of Savannah; j. Mason Rice. collee.
1 ~