Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-02
.YLIT. CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, February l, 1886.

WASHINGTON, February l, 1886.
Senate.
The Chair laid before the Senate a
letter from the Secretary Of War srans-
hitting his report on the militia forces
Of the United States. Also letter
from the same Secretary transmitting a
communication from the president of
she Board of Commissioners OF the Sol
diers' Home recommending that au-
thority be given by Congress for the dis
position by commissioners of the effects
Of the deceased inmates of the Home.
Appropriately referred.
Mr. Call submitted a resolution,
which, at his request, was laid over for
the present, directing the Committee
on Military Affairs to report bill pro-
yidiDg that ex-Union soldiers shall not
be required to submit to civil-seryice
examination before appointment to any
position embraced in the ciyil-seryice
law.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Ingalls,
was agreed to directing the Secretary
of the Treasury to inform the Senate
what proportion of bonds called for re-
demption March LIST is held by national
banks as a basis of circulation.
This information was given to the
Public by the Treasury Department to-
day about the same time Dir. Ingalls's
resolution was offered. 1t is published
elsewhere
At 2 O'Clock the electoral-count
bill came up, and Mr.. Hoar moved the
amendment Of which he had previously
given notice. 1t inserts in the fourth
section OF the bill a clause providing
that in case Of more than one return, or
paper purpOrtiDg 10 be a return, from
State, if there shall have been no de-
termination of the question in the
State, then those rates only shall be
counted which appear to have been cast
by the electors whose names appear
on the lists certified by the Executive
Of State, in accordance with the
provisions OF section 1876 Of the Re-
yised Statutes, as amended by this
till /; but in case Of vacancy in
the Board of Electors so certified, then
by persons so appointed to Gil such va
cancy in the mode provided for by the
laws of the States but if there be no
such list, OF if there be more than one
such list purporting to be so certified,
then those votes, and those only, shall
be counted which the two houses, act
ing separately, shall concurrent,y de-
eide to be the lawful votes of the legal
disappointed electors Of such State. 1t
also adds to the bill an additional sec
tion making it the duty of the Executive
of each State to cause three lists of the
names of the electors in his State to be
made and certified under the great seal
of the State and to be delivered to the
electors on or before the day on which
they are required to meet.
Mr.. Hoar supported his amendment
in long speech, broken frequently by
debates with senator's who interrupted
with questions and points against Mr..
HOar's argument.
Mr.. Sherman was prominent in these
discussions, and considerable amusement
was afforded by the warmth and eager
ness with which these two met and
answered each other, sometimes before
their points had been fully stated.
Messrs. Maxey, Ingalls,. Logan, and
George took part in the discussion.
Mr.. Eyarts obtained the floor, but
gave way for a motion for an executive
session, which was carried.
Before the doors were closed Mr..
| Allison offered resolution, which was
agreed to, directing the Secretary Of the
Senate to pay the funeral expenses Of the
late Vice-President. In the course of
the days proceedings an understanding
was arrived at that the Dakota bill, on
which Mr.. Logan has the floor, should
be taken up Immediately after the dis
posal of the electoral-count BILL. The
Senate galleries were crowded all day,
the audience at first apparently antici-
pating a warm talk from Mr.. Logan on
the Dakota bill. When that measure went
over, however, the debate on the cleo
toral.count bill had already become
sufficiently warm to interest the gal
leries.
At 5:45 the doors were reopened and
the Senate adjourned.
House of Representatives.
In his opening prayer the Chaplain
said: We commend to Thy infinite
pity and tenderness Thy servant, the
Secretary Of State, who sits with his
children in a home desolate because
twice within fortnight death hath en-
tered. In this time, when earthly state
and human sympathy avail so little,
may the spirit of the living God come
to cheer and comfort them"
Mr.. Bland, of Missouri, offered for
reference to the Coinage, Weights, and
Measures Committee a resolution CALI
ing on the Secretary of the Treasury
for information as to whether any ar
rangement was effected by the Trea-
sury Department with the Clearing
House Committee of New York to pre-
vent the circulation Of silver, and if so,
by what authority Of law that Depart
menI assumes to virtually suspend the
coinage of silver by boarding money in
the Treasury. 1t also calls for infor-
nation as to the amount Of silver dol
larS in the Treasury unrepresented by
outstanding certificates on 4th Of March
last, and what Is the amount to-day !;
also, what amount of Understanding
debt is now subject to call, and what
policy is to be pursued in the payment
OF silver thereon and on other dues.
By Mr.. Brumm, Of Pennsylvania !:
To provide for further coinage Of the
standard dollar; also, to simplify
the currency, to strengthen the coin re-
serve, to prevent contraction, and to
] ~.~,;l> e.. i. ~>c.~~1 ,nrraa "A of circu-