Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-12-24
FOETY-sEyENTH CONGRESS.

Dec. 14.-Mr. Garland from the committee
OFT territories, reported favorably, with a
written report, bill to iegalze the election
Of the territorial legislature of New Mexico
held i'll 1880.
On motion of Mr. Sherman. the committee
on the Garfield memorial services was in
creased by two members.
BY Mr. Camden, for further appropriation
to continue the Improvement of the Ohio
river in West Virginia. also for the construc-
ton of two ice-brcakers in the Ohio river,
near Parkersburg, W. ga.
By Mr. Davis (W Va.) for courthouse and
pfstoftiee building at Parkersburg, W. Vn.
By Mr.. Plumb, amending section 254 Tsc-
vised Statutes, providing for the issuance o
gold certificates. 1t substitutes the worC
directed for 'authorized," so as TO make i
mandatory on the secretary to issue certif.
oates upon deposits of gold coin and bullion.
Resolutions were submitted as follows
BY Mr.. Jones (Fla.) requesting the secre
tary of War to communicate information or
evidence on file i'll the war Office relating to
the construction Of ship canal across the
peninsula of Florida.
By Mr.. Butler, directing the secretary of
the treasury to forward to the senate state
ment showing the number of farms or planta-
tons, with the number of acres in each, sold
| in the state of South Carolina under the act
for the collection of direct taxes in insurrec-
tionarv districts, etc, approved June I, 1862,
| to whom said farms or plantations belonged
at the time of the tax sales, etc. Adopted.
! Mr.. Hoar's resolution for a select committee
on the rights Of women was taken M.
Mr. Vest said he could see no nee sssity for
committee on the subject, and regarded the
| resolution as step toward the reco gnition of
woman suffrage, to which he was opposed On
| principle.
Mr. Hoar replied, but had not concluded
when the floor was claimed by Mr.. Beck, to
whom it had been awarded upon the untin-
lshed business. Action on the resolution was
therefore deferred.
The subject of the presidential succession
in the event of the removal, death, resigna-
ton or inability of both the president and
vice-president was considered, the resolutions
introduced by Messrs. Beck and Maxey and
the bill Of Mr. Garland being before the senate
for discussion. Mr.. Beck spoke at length,
forcibly illustrating the urgen y for legislative
action.
Mr.. Garland then obtained the floor, when
the senate, at 315 ?. NJ, went into executive
session, and after referring the nominations
received to-day, at 3:35 2. NJ. adjourned.
DEC. 15.-On motion of Mr.. Anthony, an
adjournment over until Monday was provided
tor-thirty to nineteen.
Mr.. sherman, from the committee on
finance, reported favorably, with amend
monts bill to provide for the issue of three
| per cent bonds.
Bills were introduced as follows:
BY Mr.. Hoar, four bills making apportion-
mont OF representatives in Congress among
| the several states unuGT tl1e tentl census.
By Mr.. Coke, to regulate interstate COM
morcc and to prohibit unjust discrimination
| by common carriers
BY Mr.. Miller, to incorporate the Maritime
Canal Company Of Nicaragua.
BY Mr.. Plumb, to authorize the issue OF
silver certifca tes and standard silver dollars
on the deposit of silver bullion.
Resolutions were submitted as follows:
By Mr.. Morrill,, instructing the District
commissioners to inquire into the eXpedency
of reporting some provisions of law by which
| the sale and advertising of lottery tickets in
| the District of Columbia shall be made unlaw-
tul and subject to proper penalties He spoke
OF the evil as growing one affecting the en-
ployes of the departments, male and female.
Adopted
BY Mr.. Ingalls,, instruchng the committee
on pensions to inquire and report what in
crease ofpension, if any, should be allowed
the widow of Abraham Lincoln. Adopted.
The discussion Of the presidential succession
i'll the contingencies provided for was re-
sumed, and Mr.. Garland addressed the Sen
ate. He said the President pro tenn of the
Senate and Speaker of the House had been
held to be ''oticors'' in the sense in which
the word is used in the clause of the constitu-
ton, inasmuch they were officers of their
houses respectively. But enough of doubt
had been thrown upon it to require the mat
ter to be placed beyond further cavil. As to
when the presidential inability arises, or as
to who is to determine that inability, he said
Congress is unable to determine, and the only
means for a determination Of that question
would be a constitutional amendment. The
clause of constitution simply gives to Con-
Gress the right TO say what officer shall act,
and neither in that or anywhere else is it en-
powered to pass upon the inability.
Mr.. Coke urged the duty of Congress to
provide promptly for averting the complica-
tlon with Which the country was threatened
under the law of 1892 in the event of the
death of the acting President of the United
States. He maintained that pending q pres-
Dental disability the Vlce-President dis
charges the powers and duties of the eXecu-
tive Office not as President, but as Vice-Presi-
dent, and returns to his normal position and
functions when the inability ceases to exist or
the Presidents health is restored
Mr.. Jones (Fla.) argued that the constitu-
| tion never intended remotely or otherwise,
to touch the question of temporary inability,
and that according to the letter of the instrll-
ment and the spirit of its trainers, the presl-
dental Office docs devolve absolutely upon
the Vice-President pending the disability of
the President, as in the other contingencies.
At this point Mr.. Jones temporarily yielded
the floor for an executive session.
| DEC 17.--Both houses of Congress were in
session yesterday. In the Senate Mr.. Hoar's
resolution for a special committee Of seven on
the rights of women was taken up. Mr.. Vest
wished it referred to the committee on revo-
lutionary claims, whilst Mr.. Bayard wanted
it to go to the judiciary committee, but the
morning hour expired and the resolution
went over. Mr.. Voorhees, spoke on silver
| coinage, etc. In the House there WAS another
avalanche of bills, covering almost every sub
ject of legislation. The House adopted res
olution for holiday recess from December
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