The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-10
FOrty-sixth COngress-Tbird Session
WASHINGTON, December 0, 1880.

SENATE.
On motion OF Mr.. Pendetion, so much Of
the Presidents annual message az refers 10
the civiI-scrvice reform and nOn-assessment
OF Government employee for political pur-
poses, etc, was referred TO a select commit
! tee TO examine the several branches OF the
civil service, with instructions to report at
an early day by bill or otherwise.
On motion of Mr.. Davi-, Of Illinois, the
Senate resolved that to-day's adjournment
! be until Monday next.
| Mr.. Pendleton introduced Joint resolu-
! ton for the purpose OF obtaining the privi-
lege Of opening the road aud highway from
the Canada line Of the United States end
British America through British Colombia
10 Forts Wrangell ard Sitka, in Alaskl. Re-
! ferred TO the Committee on Foreign ReIa-
| tons.
| The Vice-President laid before the Senate
communication from the Secretary OF War
trans hitting a copy OF the correspondence
with the legal representatives Of Confeder-
ate Generals Bragg and Polk, with Il view
| TO the purchase Of ther private paprrs re-
latino TO The late war. The price asked is
0,000.
Mr. Burnside announced that he would
on Tue. day ask consideration OF the bill TO
apply pat of the proceeds Of public lands
to public education.
At 2:40 p. NJ. the Senate went into eXecu-
tive session, and when the doors were re-
opened adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. Baker, OF Indiana, from the Commit
tee on appropriations, reported the foriiii-
cation appropriation bill. 1t was ordered
to be printed and recOmmitted. 1t appro-
priates 100000 for the protection and re-
| a. ia f,ra r ms
menf, ETC., OF Notifications, and $4,000 for
the purchase OF tOrpedoes.]
Mr.. Kelly. of Pennsylvania. introduced a
BIN rcpealing The tax on check-Stamps,
medicines, friction matches, Dank capital,
and bank deposits. Referred. Also, bill
relating to general hospitals in the District
of Columbia. Referred.
Mr.. Aidrich, of Illinois, introduced bill
amending The law in relation to the tax on
savings banks. Referred.
On motion OF Mr.. Chittepdeu, OF New
York. till was passed granting permission
70 the Chamber of Commerce to erect u
statue in the b-Treasury building in the
CITY OF New York.
On motion of Mr.. Talbot, OF Maryland,
all action which bad yesterday been taken
or the toll for the relief Of j. NJ. Heiskell
was vacated.
| On motion OF MI. c'bSictou, vi mSH'S'
s;nni. Senate amendments to The bill regu-
lating the award Of public printing IN the
District OF Columbia were not concurred in.
The House then resumed the c0nsldefa'
tion If the Senate concurrent resolution re-
latiye 10 The electoral count.
Mr.. McLaue, If Maryland, took the
Aoor and spoke on the electoral-count reso'
. lutiop. in reply to the speech made yese
dny by MIR. Robson, OF New Jersey. DE
conte1ded that the House was empowered
Inv the CONSTITUTION TO count The electoral
vote. and IN certain contingency TO eleSl
the President. The House must Judge
when the contingency arose, and II coulo
moi Judge of that contingency unless II
verified every vote. Gentlemen on the
, other side were endeavorine to give thu
vice. President the power to count The
3 votes. This, he said, was an attempt a.
usurpation which looked to the future, anC
anv LEGISLATIVE action was iustibable to de
feat that attempt.
Mr.. Lapbam, OF New York, said there
. was evidently some political purpose lyinl
hack of this resolution. What was 1t? Dlt
a Democrats cling to 1t with such tenacity be
cau.e IL would enable them 10 throw out tn
vote az anv State? Under its provisions
the House might reject the vote OF any STAT
= N more than one list of electoral votes, o.
e papers purporting to be such lit, should b.
o presepted. II did not say official papers
7, ANY papers would do, received from an.
state. The Republicans, he said, would re
Z sort TO every eXpedient known TO parlii
mep,ary usage before they would PERM
= the passage OF such resolution as this.
NJ. Herbert, of Alabama, argued IN op
, postion to the theory that the Nlce-Presl
dent had right TO count the vote. lie de
Q MED that there was any political motlv
r which induced the Democrats TO press thi
: matter, unless q desire TO prevent the theor
that the Vice President has the power l
declare who was his successor from passin
into precedeut were political motive.
!, MIR. Newberry, Of Michigan, made o.
. elaborate argument IN support OF the propo
4 sition that the power TO count tue Voles Wa
A vested In the Vice-President.
Pending further debate the House, O
Ans p NJ adjourned.