The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-11-03
UNITED STATES SENATE.
SESSION EXTRAORDINARY.

On THE oath the President pro tenn. laid be-
fore the Senate communication from the
Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting copy
of the report of James F. Meline to the
Treasury Department. Laid upon the
table and ordered printed. Mr.. Edmunds,
on behalf of the Judiciary Committee,
stated that in the opinion of that com
mittee there was great doubt whether the law
warranted the method which has been followed
for the disbursement of moneys for the ex-
penses OF the Senate since the death
of Secretary Burch. He then Of
fered as an individua1 act resolution
for the appointment of Chief Clerk Shober as
Acting Secretary of the Senate until the va
cancy caused by the death of Secretary Burch
should be filled, and empowering him to per-
form all the official duties pertaining to the
Office of Secretary. Mr.. Pendleton stated he
had been prepared to offer similar resolution.
The resolution was adopted without division.
The President pro tenn. laid before the Senate a
message from the President transmitting q
communication from the Secretary of State in
response to the Senate resolution calling for
information as to whether any action has been
taken by the government since the last Con-
gress toward protecting the rights and interests
Of the United States in the Panama Canal.
Referred to the COMMITTEES on Foreign Relation,
and an executive session followed.
On the oath the oath Of office was admins
tered to Acting Secretary F. E. Shober. Mr..
the Librarian of Congress to receive and pre-
serve the papers of Count de Rochambeau, to
await the action of Congress on the propo-
sitlon to sell the same to the United States
Government. Mr.. Sherman stated that the
papers were now in the city, and consisted Of
about fourteen hundred original letters and
military papers from the hand Cf Wash
ington, Rochambeau and others, of which
mt more than fifty have ever been pub
lished. They contained, >also, fifty-nine
riyin al nf fOrfc ofn tan
cost of the papers is $4,000. After a
lengthy debate, in which Senators Cockrell,
Voorhees,, and Sherman favored the purchase,
and Senators Edmunds and ingalls, opposed it,
as "fatulent sentimentaiism, Mr.. Sherman
offered q resolution, which was laid over under
the rules, directing the Finance Committee to
investigate the accounts for expenditure of the
several appropriations for contingent expenses
of the Treasury Department since July 1, 1871.
In THE Senate, on the 26th, Mr.. Butler
offered resolution directing the Committee
on Printing to inquire why the Agricultural re-
ports for 1880 have not been distributed to
Congress. Adopted. Mr.. Sherman called up
the resolution offered by him 25th, for
| an investigation into the disbursements
| of the Contingent Fund of the Treas
| ury Department, after having modified it SO as
| to read as follows " "ResoEoed, That the Com
mittee on Appropriations be directed to investi-
| gate the accounts for expenditures for the sew
| eral appropriations for contingent or other
expenses OF Jne several departments, In
Guiding the methods of making such dis
bursements, the character and disposition of
| purchases made and the employment Of labor
paid from such appropriations, and to report
ut as early day as practicable what further
| legislation is necessary to secure the proper
disbursement of snch appropriations, and that
the Committee have leave to send for persons
and papers, and to sit during the recess of the
Senate. The resolution was adopted, and or
Mr.. Sherman's motion the Meline report wal
referred to the Committee on Appropriations
ON the 9th on motion of Mr.. Ingalls, o reso
lution was adopted continuing during the I'd
cess Of the Senate the authority conferred upor
the Committee on the Judiciary to examine intt
the subject of bankruptcy, and directing
the committee to report December next
ON the 2sth contest over the nomination O
Clifford Stratham postmaster at Lynchburg
Va, produced deadlock. Mr.. Hill, of Geor
gia, spoke in opposition to the confirmation TO
two hours. The debate was then continued b,
Messrs. Morgan. Hoar, Merrill, Sherman AM
Others at erea. length the political feature of th
case and the importance attached to its probabl
bearing upon the result of the impending cleo
tion In Virginia being openly expressed an
distinctly emphasized. Tho speeches were in
terspersed with q number Of rolls-calls and mo
tons to adjourn, and other dilatory proceed
ings, and were also diversified by a spirite
colloquy between Messrs. Logan and VOORHEES,
rs to which Of the two had heretofore show
himself the better friend Of the Union soldier