The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-12-16
NO 20

form OF the non-asscSSments of gov
ernment employees for political pur-
poses, etc, was referred to the Sem
ate committee TO examine several
branches of the civil service with
instructions to report at an early
day by bill or otherwise.
On motion of Davis of Illinois.
the Senate resolved that to day tho
adjournment be until Monday next.
Pendleton introduced joint res
olution for the purpose OF obtaining
the privilege OF opening road and
highway from the Canada line of the
United States and British America
through British Columbia TO Fort
Wranglc aud Siika, in Alaska. Re
ferred TO Committee on Foreign Re-
lations
The Vice President laid before The
Senate a communication from the
Secretary Of War, transmitting
a copy Of correspondence with legal
representatives of the Confederates,
Gems. Bragg and Polk, with view
TO the purchase of their private pa
pers relating 10 the late war. The
price asked is $4,000.
Burnside announced ho would, on
Tuesday, ask for a consideration of
the bill to apply part of the pro-
eeeds of the public lands To pub
lie education.
WASHINGTON December 9.-iIoUsE
Baker of Indiana. from the Com
mittee on Appropriations, reported
the foItificaiion appropriation bill,
etc, which was ordered printed and
recommitted. tappropriates $780,
coo for the protection md repair of
fortificatioA, $iOO. COO for armament.
ETC., of forlificaIions, and $4,000 for
the purchase cf, tcrpedCcs.
Kelley of Penns> lvania intro
duccd u bill upholdins the tax on
bank stocks. medicines. friction
matches, bank capital and bank de-
posils. Referred. Also II bill re-
lating TO the general hospital in the
District of Columbia. Referred.
| Aldrich of Illinois introduced a
bill amending the law in relation to
the fax of saving banks. Referred
On motion of Chittcnden of New
York, bill WAS passed granting
permission TO erect statue on the
Sub-Treasury building in the city of
New York
On motion OF Talbot OF Mary
land, the action which had been
taken on the bill for the relief OF
j. NJ. Haskell was vacated.
On motion Of Singleton of Missis-
sippi, the Senate amendments to the
bill regulating the award of public
printing in the District ofColumbia,
were non-concurred in.
Tho HAnSa thor, 10 ..n,
sideration of the Senate concurrent
resolution relative to the electoral
count.
McLane OF Maryland took ths
floor and spoke on electoral count,
and presented a resolution in reply
to the speech made Yesterday by
Robertson Of New Jersey. He con-
tended that the House was empow-
cred by the constitution 10 count
the electoral vote, and in certain
contingency 10 elect President.
The House must judge when the
contingency arises. and II could not
judge Of that contingency unless il
be verified by every vote. The gen.
tlemcn on the other side were
endeavoring to give the Vice Pres
ident the power TO count the votes.
This, he said, was an attempt at
usurpation which looked to the fu-
turc, and any legislative action was
justitiable TO defeat that attompt.
Lapham of New York said he saw
there was evidently some political
purpose lying back of this resolu-
ton. What was it9 Did the Demo-
Gratis cling TO it with such tenacity
because it would enable them to
throw out any of the states? Un-
der its provisions the House might
reject the vote of any state If more
than one list of electoral votes, or a
paper purporting to be such list,
should be received from any state.
1t did not say what was an official
paper; any paper would do. The
Republicans, he said, would resort
to every expedient known to parlia-
mentary usage before they would
permit the passage of such resolu-
ton as this.
Herbert of Alabama argued in OPP
position that the Vice President
had a right to count the vote. He
denied that there was any political
motive which induced the Demo
Gratis 10 press this matter unless a
desire 10 prcyenI the theory that the
Vice President had the power to de-
clare who was his successor from
passing into precedent were po-
litical motive.
i Newbury of Michigan made an
elaborate argument in support of the
proposition that the power to count
The votes was vested in the Vice
President. Pending further debate,
the house AT 4:O5, adjourned.
WAsHINGToN, December 9.-At a
meeting of the House Committee on
Ways and Means this morning quite
lengthy discussion took place on
the proposition TO remove the inter-
nal revenue tex Eow imposed on
banks, matches and patent Incdi-
cines. The motion was finally re-
fcrrcd TO the subcommittee on inter
J. nal revenue, with Instructions 10 con-
slider and report on tho same at u
future meeting.
The report OF tho subcommittee
on tho Notifications appropriation
bill was accepted by thc iull Commit
tee on Appropriations AT their meet
ing this morning, and the chairman
was instructed 10 report the bill at
oneo TO the House.
WASHINGTON, December 10
IoUsE-Ilubbell of Michigan, from
the Committee on Appropriations,
reported the pension appropriation
bill printed and recommended. 1t
appropriates 4S,400,0 600 for the pay
ment or army pensions Sl,100,0O0
for the payment Of navy pensions ;
$25O.o00 for the payment of fees to
examining surgeons. and $250,0O0
for the payment of salaries.
Herbert of Alabama, from the
Committee on judiciary, reported
back the bill allowing marshals and
deputy marshnis 10 take bonds on
certain cases. Referred.
Bicknell OF Indiana called up the
} privilege question, which was the
; Senate electoral count concurrent
resolution, but the House refused TO
consider IL and went into the COM
mittec Of the whole.
In the private calendar q number
OF private bills for the relief Of VA
rious individuals were passed and
several unimportant communica-
tions were laid before the House by
the speaker. The House then adj
journed till Monday.
/ CHABLEsToN, s. G., December o.
The second day Of the South Caro-
lima Jocky Club at the Washington
course attracted large attendance.
The weather was fine and the track
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