The Rock Island Argus., 1880-12-10
'ridav, December 10. 1880.
Last Nights Dispatches.
xLvI CONGRESS.

| HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, F. Wood asked
how many days the Republicans intended
to Obstruct business,
Mr.. Couger called him to order for in-
solent. unparliam entary language and Mr..
Wood withdrew it.
Mr.. Conger said there must be limit 10
impertinence- The Republicans were
ready to vote on the funding bill and even
postpone the debate.
| Mr.. Wood thought they might indicate
| the time when they will be ready
Mr., Lane spoke on the electoral resolu-
| ton.
Mr.. McLane then took the foor aud
| proceeded to speak on the Senate concur
rent resolution relating to the electoral
count, replying especially to the speech
made yesterday by Mr. Robeson At the
close OF his speech a disjointed, running
debate ensued, participated in by Messrs.
McLane. Calkins, Hunter, Cox of New
York. Mills and Newberry. The latter
made en- elaborate argument in support of
the proposition that the power to count
the vote was vested in the Vice President.
The proposed rule was Unconstitutional in
that it attempted to take from the Presi-
dent of the Senate certain powers and
rights and vest them in the two houses.
Pending further debate the House ad-
journed.
SENATE.
ESHINGTON, Dec S.-The Vice Presi-
dent laid before the Senate communica-
tlon from the Secretary OF War transmit
ing copies OF the correspondence had with
the legal representatives of the Copfeder-
ate Generals Bragg and:Polk. with view
to purchase OF their private papers relat-
ing TO the late war, as per act OF June l6.
1880. The Polk papers have been placed
in the hands of the government with per
mission to use such as are deemed impor-
tant for publca ion now authorized by law
The price asked for the entire collection is
$4,000. The Bragg papers have been
submitted for the purpose of being
catalogued. No present price is stipulat~
ed for, but they, as well as the Polk
collection, were appraised in 1873 at
$40 600 and could doubtless now be pur-
chased at that sum. The Secretary says
that heretofore no purchases for the
archIeves have been made from federal
officers and only the trans Mississippi.
Sydney johnson and Sheed papers from
Confederate officers. The great bulk of
the acquisitions have been gifts.
So far as the Secretary knows the
the only important collections as yet
obtained are those under consider
alton. 1t is for Congress to say whether
justice to those who have freely given the
most important documents is observed by
the purchase of other collections
The Vice President also submitted a |
communication from the Secretary of
State, transmitting at the request Of |
Madame Theirs, the eighth and ninth |
volumes of the speeches of Theirs, late |
President of the French republic. They |
were ordered sent to the library.
Mr.. Paddock presented petition for |
the extension of copyrights to foreign
authors.
Mr.. Wither. by request, introduced a
bill to provide for the judicial .determira> |
ton of pension claims against the United |
States. Referred.
On motion of NJ. Paddock the Senate |
bill providing for the sale of the remain |
der OF the reservation of the confederated |
Otoe and Missouri tribes of Indians 10 |
Nebraska and Kansas, and for other pur- |
poses, was taken Up. 1t provides for the
sale to actual settlers of said lands, with |
the consent Of said Indians. the proceeds |
to be placed to>the credit of the tribes and |
new reservations to BE- selected for them. |
Passed.