Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-31

the Counting OF the Electoral Vote
in the Senate-The Indian Land 1n
SeTcralsy Bill = The Government
Rate for Telegraphfc Messages
EadA' Ship Exa1lwaY-DemOeraI
Senatorial Caueus-The Next Inter-
national Regatta.
WAsHINGToE, January 2o.-In the House,
the morning hour having been dispensed
With, the consideration OF the North Caro-
iGa contested election case was resu med,
Ar. Jones, Of Texas, taking the foor with
an argument In favor OF the claims Of the
sitting member (MartiD).
He made very strong statement of the
facts 6 the caae, and his speech was
listened to with more than the usual atten-
ton which is paid to arguments relative TO
an election case. He spoke for the Green
back party, which, he asserted, was an i'm
partial party, and which. IL 1t voted with
the Republicans on this occasion, did so be-
cause IL would not permit them or anybody
else to outstrtp It IN the support Of & free
ballot and free count.
Mr. Bisbce, sf Florida, also supported the
claims OF the sitting member, and at the
c0aclusion of his remarks the previous Ques-
tion was seconded and the main question
was ordered.
Mr. Bettzhoover, of Pennsylvania, then
closed In spe ch In support OF the con-
testant, Yeates, after which vote was
taken on the minority resolution declaring
the cOntestee, Martin, entitled TO his seat.
This was Tejected-Teas TIC, nays III; a
party vote, With the exception of Messrs.
FELTON, and Stephens, OF Georgia, who voted
with the Republicans IN the affirmative; the
Greenbackers, with the exception of Mr..
Lsdd, OF Maine, also voted in the affirma-
1--WE.
An unusually large number OF pairs were
announced previous to the declaration OF
this vote. The question then recurred upon
the fret resolution of the majority report,
declaring that j. j. Martin Is not entitled
to seat. Agreed to-yeas III, nays lo6.
A resolution declaring j. j. Martin en-
titled to a seat was adopted-yess lis, nays
l03, and that gentleman appeared and took
the oath Of Office. TIE House, st 4:45, ad-
tOUrned.
La the Senate, the Vice President sub.
mltted 8 communication from the Secretary
OF the Interior, transmitting ore from the
Superintendent OF the Census, in response
TO resolution OK Mr.. Conkling, inquIrlRg
as 10 the number Of, compensation, etc OF
census officials.
Mr.. Edmuuds submitted a resolution
which was adopted without dissent, instruct
ihg the Judiciary Committee to inquire and
report its opinion regarding the constitu-
tional legality of the votes of any electoral
college given for President and Vice Presi-
dent Of the United States on the day for the
casting OF votes OF electors In sil the States.
Mr.. Lamar presented the credentials of
Jas. z. George, Senator elect from Missis-
sippi, as successor to Bruce, for the term
beginning March 4, 1881.
On motion OF Mr.. Ingslls, his electoral
count resolution for counting the vote II
the Senate chamber was taken up.
Mr. BsyRrd moved to refer it to the Com
mittee on the Electoral Count.
Messrs. Bayard, Morgan and Hill, of
Georgia, favored the reference, holding
that the Senate should adhere to the posi-
tion it had taken on the Morgan rule now
pending IL the House. The last named re-
marked that the latter was merely one of
formsliiy; that General Garfield was con-
stitutionally elected, and would be peacea-
bly, insugurated, and that no reason existed
for the slightest apprehension to the con-
trarY.
Messrs. Ingalls, and Eimunds opposed the
motion, claiming that as the time had ar
rived for some provision for the meeting of
the two houses definite regulation was
necessary.
Mr. Bayard's motion finally prevailed
yeas 20, nays Ia party vote.
The Indian land in severslty bill came up
as the regular order aud occupied the re-
mainder of the day, and at 4:30 the Senate
adjourned till Monday.
THE GOVERNMENT RATE FOR TELEGRAPH
MESSAGES.
A decision was rendered by the
law officers of the Post Office De-
paTtment to-day, IN which 1t is held
that the law governing the rate to be
paid to the telegraph companies for the
Transmission of the govern nent's business
required that in the event OF the reduction
Of rates by any Telegraph company, the gov
eTnment tariff for business over the lines Of
the competing companies to points that can
be reached by the company making the re-
duction shall be the same. The decision
was given In answer to an inquiry from the
Secretary OF the Treasury relative TO the re-
duction of rates by the American Rapid
Telegraph Company and its effect thereof
over other lines.
The Postmaster General has forwarded a
reply to Secretary Sherman, In which he
says: "The clause quoted By you from the
order Of the Postmaster General fixing the
rates at which telt ltgraphic communication
OF the government shall be seut for the cur
rent fiscal year, was intended to cover the
case mentioned by you, snd all
similar cases Of reduction Of
rates bY any company between any
points below established government
rates. The paragraph Of the order referred
to is as follows If a. any time, from COM
petition or otker causes, telegraph rates
should be reduced, SO that q message of
ten words may be sent for the public at 8
less rate than that above mentioned for q
twenty Eve word message, then and in that
case this order shall be changed to meet
such lower public rate, it being intended by
this proEiso that in no case shall the
government be compelled to pay more for
twenty-five-word message, including ad
dress aud signature, than the public is re-
quired to pay for twenty-word message,
exclusive of such address and signature
The law requires the rate to be fixed an
nuslly, and the modification or alteration of
tie order after the rates had been fixed for
the year would be Of doubtful legality.
This clause was Inserted for the express
purpose of enabling the government 10 take
advantage Of any reduction between any
given point that may be made without issu
ing a new order, and under 1t no company
should be paid greater price for gov
ernment message OF twenty five words than
that charged to the public by any
of It's competitors for a teE-word
message. It is not, therefore,
necessary fer this department to take any
further action. 1t Is supposed by the de-
p8FtLOenb bUhb IL 10 WieHil SL6 yOhCI VI tAO
Secretary of the Treasury to instruct audit
ing and disburEiDg officers not to allow the
rates IN excess OF those indicated when
notified OF a reduction by any company be-
low the government rste as originally estab-
lished for the current year,
DEMOCRATIC sENAToRIAL CAUCUS.
The Democratic Senators held a caucus
this morning for the purpose of inter
changing views upon various pending
matters Of legislation. No formal caucus
action was taken, nor was any binding
agreement proposed in regard to any
Of them, but It was virtually de-
termiued that Mr.. Ingalls, resolution con-
cerning the electoral count should be re.
feTred to a select COMMITTEES on that sub
iect. II seemed to be the general impression
in the caucus, however, that the mode OF
procedure for the count may yet be fixed by
the House of Representatives adopting Mr..
Morgan's joint resolution.
The subject of a Congressional reaper
tionment was also discussed, and It was
generally agreed that some bill for that pur-
pose ought 10 be passed By this Congress.
The funding question was not brought up
for discussion at to daY's caucus.
EADs' SHIP RAILWAY.
Alta meeting of the House Interoceanic
Canal Committee to day the sub committee
on Eads' ship railway bill reported 1t back,
according to the instructions given bT the
committee, with the guarantee section
stricken out. They accompanied this report,
however, with a Recommendation that the
committee, IN lieu Of the omitted