Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-02-04
FIRST EDITION.
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
nE5r EoRrY-sIxTH CONGRESS
paoort of Proceedings in Senate
and House Of Representatives.
SENATE.
SENATE. .
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.
11.3O p. M

WASHINGTON, feD. 5.
Mr.. Kirkwood, from the committee
on post offices and post-roads, re
ported back Senator Logan's joint
resolution for the extension of the
franking privilege to communications
received by members of Congress
from executive departments on bust
ness of their constituents. He said
the committee were equally divided
on the merits of the proposition, and
had concluded to report it back with.
out recommendation and asked that
it be placed on the calendar. Sc
ordered.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Plumt
to grant the right of way through
the Fort Bliss reservation to the Ric
Grande and Ell Paso Railroad Cons
pany, was referred to the committee
on military affairs.
On motion of Mr.. Morgan, the
concurrent resolution introduced by
him June Is, 1880, declaring that
the President of the Senate is not
invested by the Constitution of the
United States with the right to count
the votes of electors for Presi~
dent and Vice President of the
United States SO as to determine
what votes shall be received and
counted or what votes shall be re-
iected, was taken up.
Mr.. Morgan briefly explained the
resolution, adding he was prepared
to vote upon il.
Mr.. Edmunds opposed the resolu-
ton as halfway measure. It did
not cover one-third of the whole
question involved.
Mr.. Thurman favored action on
the resolution without debate.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to lay the
resolution on the table, but the mo-
ton was rejected by party vote of
80 to %.
At the expiration of the morning
hour the consideration of the calen-
dar was postponed and the discus
sion of Mr.. Morgan's resolution
continued.
After a speech by Mr.. Conkling,
Mr.. Edmunds moved to amend the
resolution so as to make it read
''In the opinion of the Senate, neither
the Senate, nor the Senate and
House, nor the President of the
Senate, is vested by the Constitution
with the right to make the count"
This amendment was voted down,
ayes Is, noes 28, a party vote.
While said duty of the President
of the Senate was a ministerial one,
and that the Constitution had made
no provision for the exercise of
judicial power in case of two re-
turns from the same State" This
omission he thought it was the duty
of Congress to supply. He should
vote against the resolution.
Mr.. Conkling, in reply to Mr..
White, took the ground that Con-
gress had always exercised quasi
judicial power in all matters per-
tanning to count, and that the whole
history of the government was a
C ,ntradiction of the idea that the
President of the Senate could decide
anything on which might hinge the
ascertainment and declaration of the
Presidential vote.
After further remarks by Messrs.
Blaine, Morgan and Thurman
a vote was taken upon
agreeing to Mr.. Morgan's resolution.
1t resulted, ayes 80, noes /, Mr.
White, of Maryland. Tue Republi-
cans, with the exception of Mr..
Conkling, who voted with the Demo
Gratis, refrained from voting
The roll was then called to ascer-
tain whether q quorum was present.
Forty Senators responded to their
names. There were indications at
this point of protracted session,
the Republicans seeming determined
to adhere to their obstructive tactics
Mr.. Morgan. however, finally
moved to adjourn and the motion
was carried.
on WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.
Mr.. Anderson, of Kansas, offered
a resolution providing that every
day, after the morning hour, one
nour snail be set aside, during which
members may ask for unanimous
consent Tor the consideration and
passage of bills. Referred ''nN
Mr.. Brigham, of New Jersor
offered resolution requiring t5o
committee - elections to peport
upon contested election cases with
in thirty days of the fling of papers
in such cases. Referred.
The House then resumed the con-
side alton of the apportionment bill
Mr.. Cox, of New York, offered an
amendment fixing the number OF
Representatives at 3O7, and it was
ordered printed and considered pend
ing.
Mr.. Sherwin, of Illinois, q member
OF the Census committee, took the
floor upon the bill. There was no
reason that an apportionment
should not be made at This
session, since all the data was
IN on which to make calculation
comparing the various bills which
had been nronneod HI IL