The true northerner., 1886-07-22
CONGRESSIONAL
The work q the Senate and House
a Representatives


aud the Lake Superior and Iron Company Canal
was agreedsto-yeas, 35 nays, II. The amend
ment in relation TO the Calumet River was
agreed 20. The amendment accepting the grant
of TIE Illinois and Michigan Canal, and for
the construction OF the Hennepin Canal
The House passed Col. Morrison's Joint resolu
tion directing payment OF the surplus in the
Treasury on the public debt. The vote stood
2O9 yeas TO 65 nays. In the debate preceding
the passage of the resolution Mr. Hewitt IN ~
denied that the passage OF this reso,
lpsGe sIsSIe SS wSnd 1Ssteaa gSe sTns
ployment 10 100000 men, 100000 men
would be dismissed from employment on
the very first day that the public realized that
the stability of the Treasury was impaired Mr..
Randall Pa said this was not silver question
at all. IL was question whether we had the the
agRinEt which there is no legitimate claim, TO
the extent OF S50,0OOOO1 or 900 that might
be used in liquidation OF the public
debt Mr.. Mckinley Ohio thought the sesolu-
tion remarkable one. II was a proposition
coming from the party in accord with the
administration 70 compel the President OF the
United States and the Secretary OF the Treasury
to do that which they had always had the
power TO do. He stated that in sixteen months
the Democratic administration had called but
$50 600, 900 of Government bonds for redemption,
and compared il with each sixteen months OF
Republican administration since 1881, which
had averaged sl53,OOOOOO. Mr.. Mckinley
stated that the Democratic majority in
the House appeared 70 be at odds with the
President. The only thing upon which that
party was in positive accord was in getting the
Offices Mr.. Morrison-And We are getting
along only middling at that. Mr. Henderson OF
Iowa favored the resolution because il en-
forced Republican proposition Now that
the Democratic party had determined
passed, he was in favor OF paying out the
surplus on the public debt. Mr. Morrison, OF
Illinois, denied that the resolution was q con-
demnation of the administration
THREE reports from the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections upon the Payne case
were submitted TO the Senate on the 18th inst
The report signed by Senators Pugh. Salisbury
Vance, and Eustis, the Democratic members OF
the committee. sets forth at length the public
history OF the case, recognizes the transccndent
importance of throwing around the Senate OF
the United States the highest safeguards
against seating member whose title was pro-
cured by bribery, fraud, and corruption, and
describes the processes by which the signers
| reach the conclusion that thcre 10 40 ground for
| further proceedings against Mr.. Payne. The re-
port says the committec's first act was TO COM
| ply fairly with the hr-t request OF the ONO
/ House OF Representative 10 make an oNamina-
tion OF the testimony taken by the select com
mttee at Columbus. Upon this testimony Mr..
/ Hoar made Il report 20 the committee thut, after
careful reading, 40 evidence, opinion or state
ment whatever was found personally inculpat-
] ing Mr.. Payne in any way with the corrupt
OF money in connection with his cleo
/ tion. Neither did such examination show that
enough had been found to justify the charge
that the election was procured by the corrupt
/ use Of money. This report asks that the COM
mttee be discharged from further considera-
! postponed. Senators Teller, Evarts, and Logan
unite in a report in which, after rcciting the
! circumstances surrounding the Senatorial elec-
! ton in Ohio in 1884, il is said that action
/ taken by the State Legislature
/ which elected Senator Payne calling in
! question the validity Of his election, but
/ that the new Legislature in January OF the
! present year had adopted the resolution under
which the investigation OF Donovan charges
had been made. The Senate committee had
found il proper 10 accept the presentation of tho
case set out in the majority and minority re-
/ ports OF the select committee OF the Ohio House
Of ReDreSentatiyeg.
warrant for an investigation in a case like that
! presented is in the clause making each house OF
/ Congress the Judge OF the qualifications OF its
own members, and the clause comforting
the right of expulsion. The signers of the re-
! port do not find that n case has been present
ed that would affect Mr.. Payne with such tur-
! pitude would tolerate his expulsion from the
| Senate, nor that testimony is accessible that
| touches the subject of the personal Inculpation
! OF Mr. Payne. They therefore turn their atten-
tion TO the question OF the validity Of his cleo
tion to the Senate. The report holds that the
evidence in such q case must show that the
/ fraud which it alleged committed en-
! braced enough in number OF the voting electors
TO have changed the result. The testimony
/ presented by the Ohio House Of Represent
atives shows the number OF members of
the General Assembly that have been brought
into inculpation and the weight OF evidence
against him. Senators Hoar and Frye in n
separate report state that they cannot concur
/ with the views expressed by the other members
of the committee, and say they think case Is
presented in which il is the duty OF the Senate
! to permit the petitioners 20 present their
evidence and to authorize the issue OF proper
/ process TO aid in procuring the attendance of
| witnesses. The Senate is the only court which
can have jurisdiction OF the question. The re-
! port concludes with a resolution directing an
/ investigation OF the charges, and with a
recommendation that it be adopted.
THE amendment 10 the river and harbor bill
/ increasing the appropriation for improving the
/ harbor ut Chicago from S75, 900 10 $4,000 was
rejected by the Senate on the 10th inst, ag also
| the amendment increasing the appropriation
I for the Missouri River from 1915 OOJ TO $500 OOO
] An lttf ont fhea n for
/ the Mississippi River, from the passes to Cairo,
/ from slGS7, 800 10 s2, 100000 was tabled The
/ amendment reducing all appropriations in the
bill Is per cent. was then agreed to and tho meas
ure put on its final passage and adopted. The Sen
ate also passed the naval appropriation bill. In
/ the House OF Representatives nn effort 10 pass
/ the pension bill Of Elizabeth Luce tho
! Presidential veto was lost by a vote OF llG yeas
20 ia nays Similar action taken on the
! measure pensioning Catherine Mccarthy, the
/ vote being yeas 122, nays "a, bnt in the
case OF Joseph Romiser the bill wns
passed over the veto-yeas l75, nays 3S
\ Quite n sensation was created in the House by
personal encounter between Messrs. Cobb
! DEM OF Indiana, and Laird Rep of Nebras-
ka, growing out OF the charges made by the
former on the floor OF the House, to the effect
that the Nebraska member had been concerned
in a land ring. Mr. Laird made an attack upon
the Public Lands Committee, of which Mr.
Cobb is chairman. The latter undertook to
defend the committee and in the course OF his
remarks charged the Nebraska member with
having been memOer OF n land ring who re-
torted by calling the gentleman from In
diana liar. Mr.. Cobb declared that
Mr.. Laird did not dare 10 come outside and
repeat his language. Mr.. Laird is said to have
replied that the gentleman could not get out
soon enough for him. With this the pair started
through the lobby into the basement Some one
called Mr.. Payson's attention TO their exit, with
the statement that they were going outside to
fight il out Thercupon Mr. PHyson hurried
through the doorway and coming up with
the would-be cOlnbatauts on the stairway
caught Mr. Cobb by the collar and remon-
strated with him for pursuing so bOyish
aul foolish n course. He succeeded in getting
Mr.. Cobb 10 retrace his steps so far the west
door Of the lobby, Mr.. Laird following. when
the controversy broke out afresh. Recurring To
the charges Mr. Cobb had made against him in
n speech several weeks ago. Mr.. Laird angrily
declared that he (Mr. Cobb was - liar"
Mr. Cobb rejoined that Mr.. Laird was IA -
--periurer," but the words had hard
! ly passed ns lips before Mr.. Laird struck
him heavy blow on the mouth aud nose.
stream OF blood tricklcd down Mr.. Cobb face,
and he was thrown backward against the door
way. crowd which had collected interposed
at this juncture and the cOmbatants separated,
Mr.. Laird taking his seat in the House and Mr..
Cobb reclining in easy chair i'm the lobby,
where he was surrounded 10y friends. There
was every reason TO believe that, IL interference
had not come i'm the shape OF Mr. Paw