Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-25
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
(Second Session.
The Senate.


WASHINGTON, May 24-The president pro tenn,
laid before the Senate a communication from
the president of the Smithsonian Institute re-
commencing an appropriation of $4,000 for
completing the preparation of the scientific re-
suits of Halls arctic expedition. Referred.
Senator Carpenter from the committee on
judiciary reported favorably on the bill regula-
ting the terms of the United States courts in
Iowa. Placed on the calender. On motion of Sen
Ator Carpenter, his resolution providing for
special committee to inquire into the manage
ment of the soldiers home in the district was
taken up.
Senator Burnside moved to amend 40 as to
instruct the committee on military affairs to
make an appointment. Amendment adopted
and the resolution as amended passed:
The bill passed apprOpriating Sl5,OOO for the
statue Of Joseph Henry, late secretary of the
Smithsonian Institute.
Senator Eaton from the committee on ap
propriations reported with amendments of the
House bill, making appropriations for dth,
cheney in the appropriations for payment OF
pensions for the gear ending June 9th inst.
Placed on the calender.
Senator Salisbury for the committee
privileges and elections reported adversely on
the bill to change the day for the election of
representatives and delegates to Congress. Iu-
definitely postponed.
On motion of Senator Beck, OHuse bill
amending the revenue laws, known as the Car
Isle BILL was taken up. After short debate,
Senator Morrill, moved to strike out the seven
teenth section providing for allowance for loss
in warehouses. Rejected. The bill then
passed.
Anumber of bills granting pensions passed.
The morning hour having expired, the Senate
resumed consideration of Senator MOrgan's
resolution providing a rule for counting the
election vote. Senator Teller, member of
the select commtte from which the resolution
was reported said he would not support it. 1t
was placsble on its face, but not fair in fact.
1t was a mere temporary expedient and might
even be abrogated by the action of either house
during progress of the count. This would in
dcate the advisabilitY OF passing bill
instead of revision, but he did not insist on
this point. In his opinion the principle of the
mersure was bad. 1t was the first step toward
an arrangement by which the two bouses
should not only count the votes returned. but
go into the whole question of the qualification
OF electors and all the facts connected with
elections; perhaps the presumption was that
Congress would act justly, but it was danger
Gus to place this power and temptation in the
hands of a politically divided party.
He believed the measure tended
toward confusion and anarchy
He wished the adoption of some measure
providing for fair count, but was opposed to
any measure taking the decision of the role OF
the State out of its own hands.
Mr. Ingalls, spoke against the resolution. He
thought joint resolution insufficient. There
should be q statute, or an amendment, to the
constitution, and he preferred the latter Some
immediate action was necessary. There never
would be another electoral commission. The
next disputed election would not be decided by
a iuggle trick. 1t would be settled by law
or by force. To test the sense of the Senate
upon his view of the question he proposed the
following substitution for the pending reso-
luton.
I'm deciding upon any question that may
arise upon receiving certificates or counting
votes, the votes shall be taken by States, with
out debate, the representatio from each State
in both houses having one vote quorum
for this purpose shall consist of two-thirds of
the States, and majority of all States shall
be necessary to decision.
Senator Ingalls, held that the moment a dis
pute arose a regular procedure was entirely up
let and there was no constitutional provision
covering such cases, except that by analogy
the House should then decide the question by
its State representatives..
Senator Uonkling, in commenting upon In
CALLS position, said he understood that the con-
stitution plainly directed that he who received
a majority of the electoral votes shall not only
be declared but shall be president. If there
be no such person, the house elects president.
Debate ensued between Ingalls,, Conkling,
Thurman, Edmunds, Eaton and Morgan.
At the close of the debate Ingalls, having
Withdrew his amendment, Senator Edm unds
moved to substitute for the pending resolution
his own bill recently reported adversely from
the committee. 1t provides that each State
may try and determine before the time fixed
for the meeting of its electors any controversy
concerning their appointment, and such deter
mination shall be conclusive eV-
idence of lawful title of electors.
and shall govern in counting the electoral votes
as provided in the constitution and by subse
quent sections of the bill The amendment
was reiected-yeas 13, nays 27; party vote
Republicans voting yea, Democrats no.
Senator Edmunds then moved to insert In
the Senator Morgan resolution the second
section of his bill, being substantially the Ian
guage given above.
Debate followed, after which the amendment
was rejected. Yeas, IA; nays, 26. A party
vote.
Senator Teller offered an amendment that
nothing in the rules shall draw in question the
number of votes on which any elector has been
appointed. Rejected by party vote.
The resolution was passed. Yeas, %; nays,
IA. A party vote.
At 1850 Senator Bayard moved to take up the
bill introduced by him and reported favorably
from the judiciary committee March 10th, to
define the terms of Office of certain officials OF
the United States 1t provides that supervisors
of election shall be appointed by the President,
by and with the advice of the Senate, and that
their terms of Office shall endure two years.
The Republicans resorted to!fllibustering by
refraining from voting, and finally adjourned
without taking any action.