Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-12-15
F0rty-Sixth Congress.

TUESDAY, December I, 1880.
In the senate Tuesday, MIR Mcdonald of Indi-
ana introduced resolution providing for taxa
ton of legal tender notes in the states and terri
tories at rate not exceeding the tax on gold and
silver. In the house q long debate occurred as
to whether the senate joint rule regulating the
count Of the electoral vote, presented a question
OF privilege, which was finally decided in the af-
firmative by the speaker. This joint rule pro-
vides that where there are dual returns Of the
electoral vote from any state, the concurrent vote
Of both houses shall be necessary to decide which
votes shall be counted This rule passed the SEN
ate and came to the house for concurrence. Its
object was in the event of close vote, 10 throw
the election into the house The Republicans
iillbustered on its consideration before the house
until within half hour before adjournment
last summer, when the matter was postponed till
the first day of this session. The Republicans
oppose the rule on the ground that it undertakes
to settle constitutional rights by a joint rule,
which is merely bylaw to regulate the proceed
IRE of the two houses It also, even II admissi-
BILE, enables either house to defeat the choice Of
the people and by thus throwing the election into
the house OF representatives gives that body the
power Of electing president. The Democrats
endeavored to prevent discussion Of the rule by
demanding the previous question, which was
finally withdrawn and the matter dropped for the
present
WEDNESDAY, December 8.
In the senate to-day joint resolution was intro
duced proposing amendment to the constitu-
ton giving congress authority to establish rules
for receiving and counting the electoral votes for
president and vce-president. bill was intro
duced for the admission OF Dakota into the Union
In the executive session large number Of ap-
pointments were received and referred. A reso-
luton was introduced in the house authorizing
the president to place General Grant on the re-
tired list Of the army with the rank and pay Of
general. The secretary Of war submitted esti-
mates aggregating So 1888 900 for initial improve
ments Of the Mississippi river and its tributaries,
! and the chairman of the banking and currency
committee introduced bill providing for the
issue of 5000 900, 900 of treasury notes, in denom-
nations Of not less than $40, bearing not more
than four per cent interest (only $50 600, 900 Of
said notes to mature each year, for the redemp-
ton Of the five and six per cents of 1881. The
bill also provides for fund OF S100000 600 for
the redemption OF legal tenders. The balance Of
the session was consumed in discussing the cleo
/
making a two hours speech
THURSDAY, December o.
The senate passed a bill providing for the sale
Of the remainder of the reservation of the Otoe
and Missouri Indians iG Kansas and Nebraska,
and after the transaction of some business OF
minor Importance an adjournment to Monday
was made. In the house the discussion of the
joint rule regulating the electoral count was re-
| sumed. Arguments were made on the Democratic
side by Mcl-ane and Herbert, and by Lapham and
Newbury ON the Republican side. A joint Re-
publican caucus on the subject of the discussion
of this electoral measure was held in the senate,
and the resolution reached to use every means
known to parliamentary tactics to obstruct the
passage Of the joint rule.
FRIDAY, December 10.
The senate not in session. The electoral ques-
ton was not discussed in the house, Friday being
set apart for the consideration of private bills
Twelve bills out of more than one thousand on
the private calendar were passed, and an ad.
journment was made to Monday. The electoral
votes of Massachusetts and New York were pre-
scented to Vice-President Wheeler. The pension
bill has been reported to the house Last yeal
the appropriation for pensions was S32 100000
This year the amount called for is S500OO0OO
the increase being mainly due to arrears of pen
sons. President Hayes is going to send a commits
sion to the Ponca Indians to investigate their case
and ascertain what justice and humanity require
to be done