Morning journal and courier., 1881-02-08
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Feb.

SENATE-Messrs. Hamlin and Thurman ] were elected tellers on the part of the Senate
 to act in connection with the count of the vote for President and Vice President Mr. Butler, in accordance with a previous
 notice called up the report of the Secretary
 of the Interior in relation to alleged fraud in South Carolina and addressed the Senate in a prepared speech, showing the official vindi- cation of the census of 1880 and gross errors in the census of 1870. He referred to the charges made by partisan papers and orators during the late political canvass, and said these charges made during the political con- test had never been withdrawn, although dis proved by the ablest testimony. Without personal aIlusion he referred to the speech made in September by Senator Conkling as one of this class of attacks upon South Caro- lima.
 Mr. Conkling at the close of MT. Buffers remarks said he had heard but a small DOT tion of the speech, his attention having been called in another direction. But from what he had heard he considered it as an assault upon him. The vaporings of the Senator from South Carolina had no concern for him. He had alluded to speech made by him in September. He had taken five months to re- ply Having had no notice of the intended assault he would take at least until to-mor- row, when he could read the Record. and if he found printed there what seemed to re- quire reply he would endeavor to make a reply. If he was satisfied that he had in any way done an injury to the Senator or any of the people of South Carolina, or to any other State or people, he would find suitable occa- sion to recall it, and as far as he could, cor rect it.
 Mr. Butler said the Senator from New York could rest assured that whatever he thought of the vaporings of the Senator from South Carolina, the swaggering insolence of the Senator from New York had no concern for him. z...--
 MT. Conkling said he had no desire to ban dy epithets here, especially with the Senator from South Carolina, and therefore had noth- ing more to say.
 After some discussion as to what the regu- lar order was, the pension bill was taken up. MT. Kirkwoed addressed the senate, defend ing the official conduct of the Commissioner of Pensions, and advocated the passage of the 'tsixty surgeons bill as an amendment to the appropriation bill.
 The discussion on the merits of the amend ment was continued for some time, when a vote WAS taken as to it's being in order and it was decided not in order without divi- sion. MT. Plumb offered an amendment ap- propriating $2OO, GOO for an increased cleri- cal force, to which 8 point of order was raised and the amendment discussed until 5:30. when by vote of 30 to 25 1t was de- cided in order. The Senate then adjourned.
 HoUsE.-At the conclusion of the call of States the Speaker announced the appoint ment of Messrs. House of Tennessee and Crowley of New York as tellers on the part of the House to make a list of the votes de- clared for; President and Vice President on Wednesday next.
 MT. Bowman, of Massachusetts,, moved to take up and pass under suspension of the rules the joint resolution for the appointment of commissioners to ascertain and report the basis for reciprocity treaty between the United States and the British provinces. This bill was reported from the Committee on Foreign Affairs and there were two long re- ports, one from the majority and one from the minority, the areading of which would have occupied four hours, and other gentle men who wanted to suspend the rules re- sisted the reading. The whole question was settled by the House refusing to second the demand for suspension of the rules.
 MT. Robeson, of New Jersey, introduced preamble and resolution, which was referred, in relation to the Transvaal republic. It re- cites that the people of the United States have learned of the troubles in the Trans vaal and regret the misunderstanding that has occurred between the inhabitants thereof and the British government, and requests the President to convey forthwith to her Britan- nic Majesty the good wishes of the people of the United States in respect to her colonies
 
 their hope that no more blood may be shed and the British officers be successful in for the truth of matters alleged to be misunderstood and that her majesty may see fit to accord to the inhabitants of the Transvaal republic their independ- not desired to surrender their independence to her. The Secretary of State is requested to transmit to Congress all information in his possession respecting our diplomatic and commercial relations with the people adher- ing to a republican government in South Af rica, together with his opinion whether more intimate relations with said people should be obtained through further consular or minis terial representation
 MT. Aiken, of South Carolina, moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill to erect 8 bureau of agriculture in the Executive de- pertinent. After 6 short discussion vote was taken The roll call was watched with much interest, and at the close the vote stood 163 yeas to 84 nays, when MT. Camp changed from no to aye and that would have passed the bill by one vote, two-thirds being re- quired, but Bliss changed from aye to no and that defeated the bill.
 On motion of Mir. Frye, of Maine, the House suspended the rules and passed the Senate bill to amend the law relative to the seizure and forfeiture of vessels for breach of the revenue laws, so as to provide that vessel shall not be subject to seizure and for feitgre for carrying contraband goods unless it shall appear that the owner or master of the vessel was consenting party of privy thereto at the time the illegal act was com mitted.
 MT. Reagan. of Texas, moved to suspend the rules and pass the river and harbor ap- propriation bill. MT. Reagan addressed the House in favor of the bill
 A vote was taken, and to the surprise and disgust of great many members, and the members of the Committee on Commerce in particular, the bill was defeated by a vote of 16O to S6, two-thirds, as required, not voting in the affirmative. An analysis of the vote shows that g Democrats, 63 Republicans and 3 Greenbackers voted in the affirmative, and B Democrats, 50 Republicans and 8 Greenbackers in the negative. Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin voted so1idIy in the affirmative 1 All were present and voting from Connect cut. Lcuisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia, and also voted that way Kansas, Nebraska and New Hampshire voted no, and one cast from Vermont was on that 1 side also Arkansas. California, Georgia, D. ]