The National tribune., 1883-01-11
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
Passage Of the Presidential Succession
"Bill by the Senate.
SHERMAN'S WHISKY BILL.
The Civil Service Reform Bill
Passes the Senate.

In the Senate, on Thursday, the 4th instant,
the internal revenue bill was reported, flor ab-
stract, see capital topics and resolution was
adopted directing the Secretary of War to re-
port, as soon as possible, the number, caliber,
weight and value of all condemned cast-iron
cannon not already disposed OF.
Byunanimous consent the West Point appTo-
priation bill was then taken up and passed.
The unfinished business, the Porter bill was
laid before the Senate. After o brief discussion
it was unanimously agreed that the bill should
be set down for further consideration on Thurs
day next, after the morning business and that
the vote on its passage should be taken at 2
o'clock on that day.
The Senate then, on Mr.. Sherman's (O.) mo-
tion, by avote of 50 yeas to 16 nays, took up
the bonded whisky bill.
Mr. Hale Me moved to amend so as to limit
the proposed extension of time to whisky en-
tered before January 1, 1881. The amendment
was rejected after debate by a vote of II to "a.
Mr.. Hale then offered another amendment,
providing that any bond taken under the pro-
visions of the act shall be for an amount suth-
Cent to cover all taxes due and any accrued or
accruing interest upon the same. Agreed to.
The bill was then passed by a vote Of 23 yeas
to 20 nays.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Friday, the 5th instant on
motion Of Mr.. MahOnc, VA a resolution was
adopted instructing the Secretary of the Treas
ury to send to the Senate a statement showing
the number and size of the farms or plantations
in Virginia sold under the act of 1862 for the
collection Of direct taxes in insurrcctiOnary
States the prices realized, the persons to whom
they were sold, and the amount of money re-
ceived from the sales above the taxes, and now
in the treasury.
The presidential succession bill then came
up as the unfinished business.
NIr \ cIyo br;o ;,,e op
the bill, saying that the scheme which it en-
bodied was the one urged strongly by the House
of Representatives under the lead of Madison
in 1892, when the original legislation on this
subject was enacted.
Mr.. Garland Ark also advocated the bill.
In the course of his remarks he expressed the
opinion that the President S term of office ought
10 be made six years.
Mr.. Edmunds (Yt.) moved that the bill be re-
committed to the Committee on the Judiciary
with instructions to report, as soon as may bo,
a bill to further provide and regulate the du-
ties of the President of the United States by
the President of the Senate pro temp0re and the
Speaker of the House Of Representatives, re-
sDectively, in case of q vacancy in both the
Offices of President and Vice-President Of the
United States, and for the administration Of
the duties of the office of President of the
United States in cases in which 1here shall DO
at the time being neither a President OF the
Senate pro tempGre nor q Speaker OF the House
of Representatives.
Mr.. Blair IN. H offered an amendment pro-
viding that the Cabinet officers named, lin sue
cession,) instead of acting as President in the
cases contemplated in the bill, shall so act only
until Congress can come together and provide
by law for filing the Presidency.
Mr.. Jones (Fla.) offered an amendment pro-
viding that no Cabinet officer shall succeed to
the acting Presidency who would not be ehgi-
bic for election as President.
The Senate adjourned without action on the
appointments.
SATURDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Saturday, the 9th inst, the
bill to afford relief 10 Congress and the EXecu-
tive Departments by referring claims to a court
of claims for decision was taken up. Mr. Gar
land (ArlI.) said he knew nothing that was
more needed than such relief, but he doubted
whether this bill would give it. Therefore he
moved TO strike out section 4, which provides
that in any case of q claim for supplies taken
by or furnished to the army or navy during
the war the petition shall aver that the person
who furnished such supplies or from whom
they were taken was loyal, and making the
question Of loyalty juriSdictional fact. This
provision, he said, would work in many cases
an absolute denial of Justice
The bill was discussed until o'clock, when
the presidential succession bill came up. The
question was on blr. Edmund'S motion to send
the bill to the Committee ON the Judiciary,
with instructions to report bill based on the
existing law.
Mr. Lapham N. " said this bill opened Up
the whole question of succession in the dis
charge of the duties Of the presidential office,
and it was fortunate that the subject could now
be discussed free from the excitement and en-
bawassment which surrounded it at the time
OF the shooting Of President Garfield. In his
(Lapham's) judgment the inability Of Presi-
dent Garfield began when the assassin'5 shot
had been fired, and the Eice-President would
have had right to assume the performance Of
the duties and powers of the Office at that time,
and the fact that he had fOrbornc to do so was
a sufficient answer to the intimations made in
some quarters that he had been disposed 10
grasp at the power and emoluments Of the pres
idcncy.
Mr. Jones (Fla) asked Mr. Lapham whether
the Fice-President was TO judge of the exist
ence Of such an inability" on the part of the
President as would justify him i'll assuming the
duties of the office.
Dir. Lapham replied, by the express terms of
the Constitution and as q matter Of necessity
the Nice-President was to be the judge III such
q case; and if, after the inability of President
Garfield began, necessity had arisen for is5u-
ing proclamation like that issued in April,
1861, and the FiCe-President had refused to
issue it, he could have been impcaChed for such
refusal. lie was not bound to take any other
oath than the one administered to him as tho
Vice President, and if he (AIr. Lapham) had
been in Mr. Arthurs place he would have de-
Clincd TO take any other oath
Mr.. l0ar Mass asked him whether, upon
his theory, he would not feel bound to decline
also to receive the salary provided by law ex-
pressly for the President OF the United States?
| Laughter.
IIr, Lapham said yes he would have drawn
the salary and given it to Mrs Garfield if tho
American people had not provided for her SO
MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Monday, the 8th inst, Mr..
Van WycIl (Neb.) introduced bill to repeal SO
much of the law of August last as provided for
the establishment of post routes from Niobara
to DeadWood and from Chamberlain to Rapid |
City. In connection with the bill he of |
fercd q resolution directing the Postmastcr- |
General to suspend or withdraw approval Of |
for mail service on these routes until |
the bill should have been disposed Of
The bill to prohibit the use of the Capitol |
for other than Legitimate purposes was reported |
by Mr.. Rollins iNt.) from the Committee on |
the District Of Columbia, and WAS passed.
At the close Of the morning hour the un- |
finished business, the bill to afford relief to |
Congress and the Departments i'll investigating /
claims, came up.
Mr.. Brown (Ga.) addressed the Senate in /
favor OF the general principle of the bill
At 2 o'clock the presidential succession bill |
came up as the unfinished business The bill |
was discussed at length by Senators Beck KY, |