The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-15
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Senator Hoar ReintroduOes His Bill Providing
for the Presidential Succession.

WASHINGTON, Dec. IA THE Chair laid
before the Senate joint resolution of the Leg
islature of Connecticut urging Congress to pass,
without unnecessary delay bill to provide for
the presidential count
Mr.. Plat briefly called attention to the inn
portance of the subject covered by the joint
resolution, saying that the people of his State
had requested him to bring the matter to the at
tention of the Senate.
Mr.. Hoar was rather of opinion that Mr..
Platt's State was responsible for the failure in
the House. of the bill already three times passed
in the Senate to meet the difficulty. AT least,
distinguished representative of that State had
been chairman of the House conference commit
tee on the bill in the last Congress, and the con-
ference report was not made to the House till so
late IN the session that IN the pressure Of other
business nothing was done by the House. The
Senate. Mr. Hoar said, had done everythi that
was possible in the premises and was not re-
sponsible for the failure of the bill to become a
law
The Chair also laid before the Senate me-
mortal from the State executive committee ap-
pointed by constitutional convention of the
Territory of Dakota, praying for the admission
OF southern Dakota as State of the Union, and
transmitting draftof constitution for the ap-
provai of Congress.
Mr.. Harrison said he had only awaited the re-
ceipt of this memorial in order to introduce a
bill providing tor the admission of the Territory
named, and that he would introduce such bill
at the earliest opportunity.
Mr.. Hoar, from the committee on privileges
and elections, reported favorably original bill
providing for the performance of the duties of
President in of the death, resignation
or inability of both the President and Vice pres
ident. He said it was substantially the same bill
that had been acted on last year by the Senate
and gave notice that he would call it up to-mor-
row for consideration
Mr. Edmunds expressed the hope that it's
consideration might be delayed for a day, in
order that he might have opportunity to attach
to it, as an amendment, the bill already intro
duced by him regulating the count of the presi-
Dental vote.
over one day, when he SHALL to morrow have
submitted some remarks on its subject-matter.
This was satisfactory to Mr.. Edmunds, and
the bill was placed on the calendar.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Morgan was
agreed to- requesting the President, if not in
cate to the Senate the report of an actual nstru-
ment survey of line for ship railway across
the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. and of any canal
or canals designed to connect such ship railway
with the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific ocean.
On motion of Mr. Allison. it was resolved that
until the expiration of the Forty ninth Congress
the committee on appropriations shall consist of
ten members. and the chair appointed Mr. Lo-
gan as the additional member.
Mr.. Sewell, at his own request, was relieved
of the craftsmanship of the committee on militia
ry affairs, and Mr.. Logan was, by the chair, ap-
pointed to that position. Mr.. Henderson was,
at his own request, relieved from service on the
committee military affairs. Mr.. Sherman
was. at his own request, relieved from service on
the committee on privileges and elections and
the committee on the library. Mr!sSewell was
appointed chairman of the committee on the IL
brary and a member Of the committee on privi-
leges and elections.
Mr.. Hoar, from the committee on judiciary,
reported favorably the bill fixing the salary of
United States district judges at $4,000, and the
bill was placed on the calendar
Mr.. Frye, from the committee on rules, report
ed favorably joint resolution providing code
of joint rules for the two houses which was
placed on the calendar. Mr.. Frye gave notice
that he would call it up tomorrow. 1t is ident
cal with the code reported last session by Mr..
Frye, except that the proposed joint rule 13, re-
lating to intoxicating liquors. is struck out.
The Senate went into executive session, and,
when the doors were reopened, adjourned.