National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-02

in the hOpo that II would defeat the other,
and resulted IN cheating both. The Demo
Gratis would never have consented to It IL
they had not supposed that the fifteenth
man would favor Tilden. It happened that
David Davis had been sent to the United
States Senate and so taken of the United
States bench, and so the eight to seven be-
came changed to seven to eight. IL the DEM
ocrats had then seen as much as they see
now they would never have consented TO the
commission.
Mr.. Ingalls, inquired how any provision
passed now by Congress could bind the
great body that was tocount the vote Of the
next President. The count was political
function, and no matter how Il was looked
AZ, no act could antecedcntly be passed that
would be binding on the great body TO
which the constitution committed the count.
Although Mr., Ingalls, reprobated the decla-
ration made by the presiding officer of the
Senate on the occasion of the last presi-
dental count, and although IL was practical
abdication Of the power of the Senate,
still Mr.. Ingalls, admitted that tho presid-
ing officer had the right to make that
declaration. No sovereign had ever laid
down scepter and crown moro absolutely
and unnecessarily or more In violation of
what Mr.. ingalls, conceived to be the proper
functions OF the presiding officer on this
subject, than was done by the senator from
IL
IL had never been determined by any au-
thority that the president of the Senate,
being for the time the custodian Of the
votes, did not also have the right to count
them. In the great contests of the future
emergencies might arise, under the state of
the law on the subject, when Il might be
well for us not TO be confronted with that
pernicious precedent.
After reviewing the genesis and history
nf IN md tltn
effected by the people in It's practical opera
ton and effect, Mr.. Ingalls, characterized
the whole affair as at present conducted as
rubbish. Ever since party conventions and
caucuses had undertaken the work OF nom
mating party candidates, namely, since
1900, the whole electoral system provided
by the constitution was debris; and the
electors were like the marlonettes In
"Punch and judy show. The country
had outgrown the thing, and the people
had repudlated 1t. Why, then, SHOULD we
tinker with itp 1t had no longer any Sig
niflcance or substance. Any attempt to
patch IL up or 10 plaster over its deformi-
ties was merely delaying the action which
the people must finally take with regard
to ~.
In criticising the bill Mr.. Ingalls, referred
TO the certificate given by the governor of
Oregon In the election OF 1S70-giving to
the Republicans two Of tho electors, and to
the Democrats the third, and commented
on the effect of such proceeding under the
provisions Of Mr.. Ioars amendment.
After further debate Mr. Evarts obtained
the floor, but gave way for motion by Mr..
Honr that the Senate go into executive ses-
sion. The motion being agreed to-, the
Senate, at 4:25 p. M, went into executive
session.
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 Prcsi-
dent. At 5;45 the doors reopened and the
Senate adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
Mr. Hanback,, of Kansas, inaugurated
proceedings In the House yesterday by aris-
ing to question of personal privilege, and
then proceeding to make sundry Democrats
uncomfortable bytrying TO read an editorial
from the New York World In regard to the
Pan Electric telephone disclosures. A long
wranglc ensued, in the course CT which Mr..
Breckenridge, OF Arkansas, and Others made
repeated efforts to seat Mr.. Hanback, on
points OF order The result of the affair
was that the speaker finally decided him
out or order on the ground that no question
of privilege was involved, but not until Mr..
Hanback, had forced the adoption OF reso-
luton directing the committee on eXpendi-
lures in the Department of Justice to inyes-
tigate the Pan-Electric scandal.
Mr.. Brady, of Virginia, then tried to make
a personal explanation, but was prevented
by Mr.. Hammond's objection. His object
was to reply to statements made by Mr..
Wise in the Norfolk navy yard debate.
Personal explanations out of the way,
the call Of the roll of states for the intro
duction OF bills and resolutions was entered
upon, and large number of bills and reso-
buttons were introduced. When the call OF
states was completed several motions to adj
lourn were made on the Republican side,
but they were all voted down; and Mr.. Mat
son, of Indiana, having secured the floor,
moved to suspend the rules and put upon
Its passage the bill increasing the pensions
of soldiers widows from SO to $12, with an
amendment providing that this act shall
apply only to widows who were married to
the deceased soldier prior to its passage,
and to those who may hereafter marry prior
to or during the service of the soldier.
Mr.. Browne, of Indiana, inquired whether
the effect of the passage Of the bill under a
suspension of the rules would be to put TO
one side the amendment which was pend
ing to the bill repeating the limitation on
the arrears of pension acts, aud on recelv-
ing an affirmative reply moved that the
House adjourn.
The motion was lost-yeas 9S, nays III.
Mr.. Matson briefly stated that the object
in bringing up the bill at this time was
that 1t should have chance to be consld-
cred on its merits.
Mr. Browne, of Indiana, said that he had
supposed that the House was ready to con-
slider the important question Of the limta-
ton repeal. Political parties had been pos
ing in the presence of nearly 100000 of
men who went out TO the battle fields of the
republic. If any one promise had been
crystalli2ed In political speeches and party
platforms 1t had been the pledge to repeal
the limitation to the arrears act and put all
wounded soldiers of the country on plat
form Of perfect equality. A very respect
able political party had resolved to do this
thing in the national convention, and, but
Tor rum, Romanism, and rebellion,h that
party would probably have been In the as .
tendency to-day. He had offered an amend.
ment 10 the bill 30 as to provide for repeal
OF the Limitation, and, since he had done
this, the House had been astounded by the
report of the commissioner of pensions
estimating that its adoption would
100000. Even were this estimate
correct the expenditure would run over a
period OF ten years, and would amount to
less than z per cent. of the annual revenues.
The gentleman from Indiana Mr.. Matsou)
had spoken about stripping this bill from
everything eXtraneous. He would call the
attention OF the gentleman to the fact that,
IL there were enough members to vote the
repeal amendment on the bill, there would
be enough TO pass the bill when amended
The House had been told the other day that
the repeal would be brought IN as a separate
proposition. Was any gentleman prepared
TO say that any committee would report
such a measure and permit the peoples
representatives to vote upon it9 Would
any gentleman dare to say that that meas
ure had not gone to the Congressional Gem,
etery-that II was to die in the pigeon hole
He paused for reply.
Mr.. Bragg, Of Wisconsin. VIII the gen
tleman. permit me to ask him n question:
Mr.. Browne: No, sir; am asking ques.
tions now. Whatever might have been the
prospect then, the hope is utterly dlsslpated
now. The country knows it. 1t is not 1
secret 1t is in the public prints. 1t is OF
tho tOQnlln of aVnrV OantlamaD WhO die