The Portland daily press., 1885-02-12
XLVIIIth Congress--2d Session

In the Senate today the army appropriation Dill
was placed on the calendar.
bill providing permanent reVervation for the
Indians of Northern Montana was passed.
The Senate refused to take up the joint resolution
to refer the settlement Of the Venezuelan awards to
the President.
bill to quit the title of settlers on Das Moines
river lands was taken up and read.
The District of Columbia appropriation bill with
the Senate amendments was reported back and con-
ferees appointed.
At 1.25 p. M, the Senators returned to the SEN
ate chamber and the president pro tenn of that
body having resumed the chair telers@ on the part
OF the Senate (Messrs. Hoar and Pendleton) ap
peared and in their behalf Mr.. Hoar reported the
result OF the electoral court When the tollers'
port was completed the president Of the Senate re-
peated verbatim the closing sentence of the an
nouncement made by him in the House relating to
declaration OF the VOTE That sentence was as fol
follows: 'And the president of the Senate makes
this declaration only as public statement in pres
ence Of the two Houses of Congress of the contents
OF the papers opened and read this OCCASION and
not as possessing any authority in law to declare
any legal conclusion whetever''.
Mr. Conger said he desired as one of the members
OF the Senate to say that he entirely dssented from
the declaration that the president of the Senate
vice president had no other power in announcing
that vote than TO announce the fact and he did
know by what authority the sentence quoted had
been made part of the declaration.
Mr. Sherman said: II believe the vice president
of the United States declared and exercised con-
stitutional power when he presided over that body
today and counted the votes and that his announce
ment OF the vote is conclusive end of all argument
upon the question. and that in doing he not only
gave his opinion as to the result of certain pa
pers gwen to him, but he made the only constitu.
t1onal declaration provided for under the existing
law of Who is to be President of the United States
after the 4th of March?' After remarks from
Messrs. Hoar, Lapham. Wilson and Ingalls, on the
subject the chair MIR. Edmunds said ahe regarded
the Senate as in no way responsible for the declara
ton made by him. He had performed his constitu-
tonal duty and had his own responsibility made
the declaration referred to.
Mr.. ingalls, then offered the following resolu-
Resolved: That the Senate does not assent to the
concluding declaration of the president of the Sen
Vice President of the United States made in the
presence of the two houses Of Congress this day.
Mr.. Bayard-Let that go over till tomorrow The
resolution went over accordingly.
Mr. Hoar then offered the following:
whereas the Senate having met the House OF
Representatives in accordance with the fifth sec
tion OF the act of March, 1892 relative to the
election of President and Vice President of the
United States, and the electoral votes having been
opened by the President of the Senate in presence
OF the tive Houses of Congress and counted by
tellers appointed on the part of the two Houses,
and it appearing that the whole number of electors
appointed to vote for President and Vice President
of the United States is 401, of which majority is
20l; and it further appearing that Grover Cleve
land Of New York, had received 219 votes for
PRESIDENT OF the United States, and that Thomas A
Hendricks of Indiana, had received 219 votes fol
| Vice President of the United States, which is a
majority OF the whole number of electors appointed
| and the same having been duly declared by the
resident OF the Senate in presence of the two
Houses; therefore
| Resolved, that the Senate is of the opinion thai
Constitution and laws have been duly executed an6
that no further declaration of these facts is nee
essary
| Messrs. Conger and Ingalls.-Let that stsnd eyel
| till tomorrow. 1t went over accordingly.
| The Senate resumed consideration of the bill tx
| repeal The preemption and timber culture laws
but pending discussion the Senate went into execu
| tive session and later adjourned.
HOUSE.
On the House being called to order, Mr.. Keifer o
Ohio offered resolution recitng the result of tn
joint convention of the two houses, and declarn,
| IL the sense OF the House that the Constitution
| and laws had been duly executed, and that no fur
| ther declaration of these facts is necessary.
| Mr. Springer of Illinois, said it seemed from tn
announcements of the presiding officer of the join
| convention, there was no declaration of the vote
Contrary to all precedent the Vice President ha
| simply declared that it appeared from the coun
made by the tellers that Grover Cleveland receives
certain number of votes, but had disclaimed an
intention to make any official declaration of the re
suit OF that vote. He preferred that the matte
shall De referred to the judiciary committee, wit
instructions to report such resolution as may b
necessary for the purpose of making known the re
suit of the election.
l. The Speaker pro tem-The presiding officer of th
joint convention, in making the announcement 0
the vote, announced the resut that had been foup,
and simply added disclaimer of any AUTHORITY O
his part as presiding officer of the Senate or of tn
joint convention to make any declaration at all.
| MI. Springer-I move that the whole matter b
referred to the judiciary committee.
The Speaker-ln the Judgment of the Chair th
| uSciarAtlOu maze Dy Inc presiding officer was el
aetly what it should have been
| Mr.. Springer-I have not asked the Speaker fc
his opinien. [ desire to state my own
The Speaker-The Chair acting as the officer rel
resenting the House in the joint convention woui
have made protest ii any Improper declaration
the presiding officer had been delivered
MIR. Randall Of Pennsylvania, said that the vol
OF the electors had been announced and that an
ministerial proceeding was not essential to IL
main fact that Grover Cleveland had beon elected
Mr. Springer withdrew his motion and Mr.. Co
New York stating that tho Constitution decla
! ed who had been elected President and Vice Pres
dent moved to lay the resolution on the tabl
Agreed to 135 to 1I5.
Mr. Clay of Kentucky. then offered the followin
concurrent resolution.
Resolved That three members of the House
Representatives be appointed by the House, al
two members of the Senate 10 be appointed by tn;
| body, to wait on Grover Cleveland and notify hi
. that he has been duly elected President OF Il
United States; and also to notify Thomas A. He
bricks of Indiana that he has been duly electt
wee President. Agreed to.
i The House Went INTO committee on the post Off
| appropriation bill.
Mr.. Horr of Michigan offered an amendment i
! creasing from S4, 100000 to- $4,535, 900 the a
preparation for the letter carrier system. Agree
to.
Pending further action the committee arose, al
at go the House adjourned until II O'clock t
morrow.