Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-09
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
EDMUNDS WANTS UNIFORM
LAWS ON THE SUBJkCT.

Blair Speaks in Behalf of Fsmaie Sur-
frage-BreckinridgeG Gets HOutellc ou
the Hip In IA Little Taeih 1iit-Mr.
ntbbl @ speaks on the Electoral Count.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Sin the Senate
to-day Mir. Edmunds presented memo
rial in favor of a constitutional amend
ment empowering Congress to pass uni
form laws on the subject OF marriage aud
divorce. 1t was referred TO the Judiciary
Committee.
After the Introduction OF a number OF
bills the Senate proceeded to considera-
tion of the bin reported by Mr.. Blair,
from the select committee on woman suf-
frage, (Feb. s, 1867 proposing an amend
ment to the constitution of the United
States extending the right of suffrage to
women, and the Senate was addressed by
Mr.. Blair in support OF the bill.
At the close of his speech Mr.. Blair
gave notice that he would at an early day
ask action on the bill. There were not
over score OF ladies in the gallery dur
ing its delivery, although notice of IL had
been given yesterday.
message was received from the Presi-
dent, and the Senate Immediately Cat l 40
O'Clock } went into executive session and
afterwards adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day, after reading the
journal, the Speaker laid before the House
a letter from the Director OF the Mint in
closing q draft of a bill for the issue OF
subsidiary silver coin. IL was referred.
MIR. Boutelle, OF Maine. asked for unani-
nous consent to put upon its passage the
bill admitting, free ofduty, material to be
used in rebuilding the town OF Eastpurt,
Me-, which was destroyed by fire Oct. IA,
1886.
Mr. Breckenridge, of Arkansas, OBJ
jected to immediate consideration Of the
dill, expressing the opinion that the peO-
pie of the whole country were as much In
need OF relief from taxation as the people
OF Eastport. He was glad TO fnd the gen
teman from Name confessing that the
tariff was a tax, and he would insist that
the bill should take its regular course
and be sent to the committee whicn had
charge of the subject of taxation.
Mr.. BOutelle was not surprised that the
gentleman should take every occasion to
air his views on the tariff.
Mr. Breckenridge admitted that he was
always ready to stand here In defense OF
the rights OF all the people.
The bill was referred to the Committee
on Ways and Means.
MIR. Herbert. OF Alabama, on behalf OF
the Committee on Naval Affairs, called
up the resolution making the bill for the
consolidation OF certain bureaus of the
Navy Department the continuing special
order for Monday, Dec. Is. After discus
sion Mr.. Herbert amended the resolution
so as to provide that the bill should be
considered in committee OF the whole, and
as thus amended, the resolution was
adopted.
THE ELECTORAL COUNT.
AT the conclusion Of the morning hour
the House resumed consideration OF the
electoral count bill.
MIR. Dlbble, OF South Carolina, a men,
Der of the Committee ON the Electoral
Count, advocated the passage of the bill
reported by the minority as drawing
more distinctly than either the Senate
bill, or the bill OF the majority, the line
Of demarcatiOn between State and Federal
powers and the rights in connection with
the casting aud counting of the electoral
votes. he could not agree to the prop
osition OF the majority, providing that
ln case OF more than one return or paper
purporting to be return from a
state, whenever State has failed
by any determination OF its
own to designate and certify
which Is its real vote, that those votes
aud those only shall be counted which
we're cast by the electors, whose appoint
ment shall have been duly certified under
the seal OF the State by the executive
thereof in accordance with the laws of
the State, and also providing that
by concurrent vote of both
houses this lawfully certihed vote
may be rejected. thus disfranchising a
State when there is a certificate under its
seal duly certified by It's executive ao-
cording to law. He could not subscribe
to a recognition of such a power in the
two houses. After several other gentle
men had addressed the House the subject
went over for the day, Mr.. Caldwell
giving notice that he would call the pre-
viOus question on the bill tomorrow.
The House then adjourned.