The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-16
The Presidents recommendation as to Civi
Service reform was referred a select committee
HOUSE.

In the House the Speaker called the house to
order at 10 noon, and prayer was offered by
Rev. Harrison. The number OF members an
swering the names at the call of the roll, was
227. After the appointments of the customary
committees, the Speakers called the States for
bills and resolutions.
Thirty-one bills and resolutions were intro
duced. Mr.. Converse introduced bill fixing
the salary of the President at 1926, 900 payable
monthly. Mr.. Bennett of Dakota asked for the
admission Of Dakota into the Union. Hurd, OF
Ohio, introduced joint resolution on the
tariff question.
The Presidents message was received and
read, and by the time it was half concluded,
the greater portion of the members had left
the House.
rhe chief feature of the proceedings in til.
National House was a debate upon the resolu.
ton passed by the Senate providing for Joint
rule for counting the votes of Electors for
President and Vice-President Republicans
strenuonsly resisted the adoption of the rule
on the ground that it substantially gives to
of electing the President-a thing not
contemplated by the Constitution Fill
bustering was resorted to by Republicans
to defeat the scheme, and the debate developed
considerable partisan feeling. Remarks made
by Southern MEMBERS however, are under
stood as meaning that any attempt by the
Democrats to create trouble in the Electoral
count will not receive the united support of
the South. Gen. Keifer, of Ohio, made the
leading speech on the Republican side. At the
conclusion of his speech the matter went over
for future consideration.
Mr.. Buckner introduced bill providing for
the issue of $500, 900, 900 Treasury notes in
stead of the bonds authorized to be issued for
| the payment of the and 6 per cent. bonds
maturing in 1881. The debate was continued
| on the proposed new rule to regulate the count.
| Mr.. Willitts was the first speaker. He argued
in opposition to the theory that the right to
! count the Electoral vote was vested in Con-
| gress. Mr.. Robeson said the present resolu-
| ton involved the question whether the cleo
| ton of President should - made by the
| Electors appointed by the States, or whether
it should be practically left to the irresponsible
will of a legislative assembly. After debate,
he offered the following as q substitute: "Re-
solued, That the two Houses will assemble in
| the Chamber of the House of Representatives
| on the second Wednesday in February, 1881,
at 12 o'clock; that the President of the Senate
shall be the presiding officer; that two persons
shall be appointed Telers on the part of the
Senate and two on the part Of the House Of
| Representatives, to make q list OF the votes as
| they shall be declared; that the result shall be
declared by the President Of the Senate, who
shall announce the state of the vote and the
persons elected to the two Houses assembled rs
| aforesaid, which announcement, together with
o list of the votes, shall be entered on the jour
nails of the two Houses"
A tedious discussion on the RESOLUTION living
| Congress the control Of tho Electoral counf
was continued in the House, the principal
speeches being made by Judge Lapham of New
York, and Congressman Newberry, OF Michi-
tives McLane and Herbert on the Democratic
| side