Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-12-08

following select committees DE appoint
ell for the present session, with powers
heretofore given to each on the subject
10 which they respectively relate: To
examine the several branches OF the civil
service, Vest, chairman; to consider the
law as ~ the election OF Presi-
dent and the Nice'President, etc,
Mo, gan, chairman; Committee on Epi-
demic Diseases, Harris, chairman; Com
mittee on Alleged Frauds in the Late
Elections. Wallace, chairman: ID In
auire into the Nicarauguan claims. Hamp-
ton, chairman; Freedmans' Bank, Bruce,
chairman; OH bill providing that the
heads OF the departments may occupy
seats on the floor OF the Senate and
House, Pendleton, chairman; Joint
Committee on Library, voorhees,, chair
man; Joint Committee OH Yorktown
Celebration, Johnston, chairman.
The resolution Was agreed TO.
The following select committees are
therefore discontinued: To investigate
the treasury accounts, Davis, of West
Virginia. chairman; on removal OF the
Northern Cheyennes, kirkwood, chair
man; on negro exodus, Voorhees,, chair
man.
Mr.. Blair, Of New Hampshire, did not
hear the Wallace committee named
when the resolution was read, and In
quired il it was intended to discontinue
that committee.
Mr.. Wallace said that was not the in
tention, but that the committee was re-.
yived until its report is finished.
Mr.. Ingalls,, oil Kansas, offered reso.
luton requesting the President to com
muniCate such information IA may be
in his possession relative to the attempt
ed settlements within the limits OF In
dian territory and what steps have been
taken 10 prevent the same. Agreed to,
Mr.. Johnston. OF Virginia, offered a
resolution instructing the Commissioner
Of Agriculture to furnish any intorma.
ton in his possession relating to the
contagious pleuro-pneumon;a Of cattle
aud other contagious diseases OF domes-
ticated animals. Agreed to.
Mr.. Paddock gave notice that on
Thursday next he will ask the Senate
TO consider bill ID provide for the sale
OF the remainder oi the reservation Of
the O;oe and Missouri Indians, in Ne
brsska and Kansas.
On motion OF Mr.. Wallace, the stand.
Ing committees OF last session were con-
tinued, Mr.. Push taking Mr.. Pryor's
place and one or two other slight
changes.
Various communications from the de-
partments were submitted.
The Senate went into executive ses-
sion and when the doors were reopened
adjourned.
The Senate in executive session mere
ly referred To the committee nominations
already made. The House Committee
on Commerce has begun work on the
river and harbor bills II is thought
that the pensions, military academy,
forttications, and consular AMI diplo'
matte appropriation bills will be ready
to he reported Ia the House Thursday.
HOUSE.
Mr. Beliorl offered resolution direct.
ins the Secretary II Interior 10 inform
the House un Ter what law sr warrant
OF authority, Mr. Douglass, sub-chiei Of
the tie tribe OF Indi:na, is confined in
the military prison al Fl. Lfavenworth,
aud what steps, i! any, have been taken
bv the Cnited states authorities TO bring
him 10 trial ior alleged completely in the
murder oi Indian Agent Meek'r
\ hioPtod.
5mmittees we're called Tor reports.
The debate on point of or Ter as to
whether the Senate concurrent resolu-
ton, relative 70 the electoral vo:e, pro-
sented question OF privilege that was
continued at some length, and hnai!y
the Speaker decided that the resolution
presented Il question OF privilege. The
debate was then resumed.
The Republicans are fillibustering
against the resolution demanding un.
limited time frr debate, which the Dem.
ocrats are unwilling to grant.
Mr.. Springer called attention that the
Republican Congress had enacted the
joint rule for counting the electoral vote.
Mr.. Robeson replied that under the
presence oi the war and the re construc-
ton that followed it, the Republicans
had made good OF false legislation; that
they had been weak and precipitatc in
many of their actions and were suffering
from il to-day.
The Speaker-Thc chair desires 10 say
tha. the " eth Article OF the Consti-
tuition provides .o- Tie coEn;iDg Of the
Electoral vote, and Section lis vi the
Revised Statutes provides that the Flee.
toral vote shall lie ascertained and de-
clared agreeb.c and Constltiona. This
law also liyos the time for counting the
votes and fixes this session as the one
at which the count shall made OF the
last election. Uniform practice, GER
taiply recent practice, goes to the ex-
tent OF showing AMI places fair con.
struction on what has been the action
of Congress, that two Houses do count
and have counted the electoral vote.
The two Houses of Congress in the first
session OF the Thirty.eighth Congress
agreed to the 22d joint rule for counting
the vote. The Senate in the first ses-
sion Of the Forty fourth Congress re-
eEacted ali the joint rules
oi the Forty.third Congress,
exc p: the 22nd, and the House taking
no action thereon, the SCnat. declared
there were no joint rules in force. The
Senate decided III the Forty-tourth
Congress 10y vote o. IS 10 that the
President of the Senate had no power
to count the vote. II the chair were to
refuse on techniralities to allow the
adjustment between the two houses as
Ia the government ot the houses when
il joint session such proceeding must
| al to chaos anl confusion and perhaps
c)mmoton, but as far as the question OF
privilege strictly is concerned the chair
is OF the opini, II that i, makes
NJ difference whom tlc votes
sre counted by, ii done by the two
houses IL is the highest duti they
have to the constitution relating u the
election o. President and Vice Presi-
dent, and the very eXls eDCe OF our
form ol government may depend upon
it. Ii countel by any persan. II must
be done in the presence oi the two
house, 80 that all rules regulating the
Join, meeting are the highest privilege
affecting rs they do The exercise OF the
most important functions OF the two
houses. In answea 10 the point made
bv the gentlemen from Michigan and
Iowa (Copger and CpdegratfD as to the
rules OF the House, the CHAR desires u
saw that il is not competent for the
House n make any rule which obstiuCt
in any degree the execution Oi the terms
OF the Constitutions. The Cnsir there