The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-17
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS-.

Platt submitted resolution for reference to
the committee on rules, and it was so refer
red, providing that executive nomna-
tions shall hereafter be consid-
cred in open session.. Mr.. Vest
spoke against the admission OF Dakota as q
State. In conclusion he said he would here
after submit proposition to divide the ter
the lOlst parallel Of longitude, so as to pro
vide for the keeping of the unsettled western
side in territorial condition.
TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY.-Mr. Call submitted
a resolution, which, at his request, was laid
over for the present, directing the COMMITTEES
on military affairs to report bill providing
that Union soldiers shall not be required
to submit to civil service examination before
appointment to any position embraced in the
spoke upon the electoral count bill, the latter
saying that the electoral commission Of 1876.
II was contrivance that would never be re-
peated. After the debate the Senate went
into executive session. So
TWENTY NINTH DAY.-Mr. Riddleberger
offered in open session the following resolu-
tion, which he had introduced on the previous
day in executive session: "Resolred, That
it Is the sense of the Senate that the execu-
tive of the United States is not restricted by
constitutional law in removing or sus-
pending appointees; that the Senate
has no right to require that reasons
shall be given for such removals or suspen-
sion; that it is the right OF the Senate to call
for any paper relating to the conduct OF re-
moved or suspended appointees, or to the
qualification and fitness of all persons whose
names are presented to the Senate for con-
firmation or rejection, and it is the duty OF,
the executive to comply with all demands for
the same" Mr.. Pugh offered as substitute
~ fho OFF
power of appointment to office is q power to
be exercised by and with the advice and con-
sent Of the Senate, and that the power Of re-
moval or suspension from Office is vested IN
the President independently Of the Senate;
that when the President removes public
official from office no law compels him to
give reasons for such removal to the
Senate, or authorizes the Senate to ask
for such reasons or documents in support OF
them; that while either House Of Congress
may request the President to furnish infor-
nation or documents necessary to enlghten
them in the enactment of laws, yet to obtain
such information for the purpore Of review
ing the propriety of the Presidents removal
or suspensions from Office IS to obtain infor-
nation under false pretences Both resoiu-
electoral-count bill Executive session.
THIRT1ETH DAY.-The chair placed bsfore
The Senate the resolution submitted on the
previous day by Mr.. Riidleberger and the
substitute for it by Mr.. Pugh, relating to the
relations between the President and the Sem.
ate in regard to information and papers at
fecting government officers suspend "a or
appointed. Mr.. Edmunds moved to lay
the resolutions on the table, and
was adopted. Mr.. Riddleberger soon after
called up the resolution that had been lad
upon the table, and moved that it be taken
from the table for reference. Upon motion
of Mr.. Morrill, the resolution was referred to
the committee on privileges and elections.
Mr.. Logan argued in favor Of the admission
of Dakota as q State Mr. Morgan opposed
the admission Of Dakota under, the present
conditions. ~
THIRTY-FIRsT DAY.-Prayer was offered
by the Rev. T.. Dewitt Talmage, Of Brook
lyn... The bill providing for an assistant.
secretary Of the navy was discussed without
action. - Mr.. Harrison took the floor and
made lcng argument in favor of the bill
admitting Dakota as State, being frequent
ly interrupted by Senator Butler and others
until the debate at times became warm.
Without fixing the time for a vote upon the
measure the Senate adjourned.
House Sessions.
TwENTY-NINTH DAY.-Thc House spent tho
day in committee of the whole on the private
calendar. Two private claim bills were
passed. Z. In the evening session MIR. Crisp,
of Georgia, made a speech against
the policy Of increasing the rates
of pensions and in opposi-
ton to the repeal OF tlls limitation on the
arrears of pension acts. He asserted that
one-third of all the Union soldiers enlisted IN
the late war were applicants for pensions,
which, if granted, would cost, though no In
crease were made in the rate, the enormous
passed fifty pension bills before adjournment
TH1RT1ErH DAY.-In his opening prayer the
CT aplain said: 1--WE commend to Tny infinite
pity and tenderness Thy servant, the secretary
of state, who sits with his children in homo
desolate, because twice within fort
night death hath entered. In tins
time, when earthly, state and human
sympathy availeth so little, may the
spirit of the living God come to cheer and
rising to question Of personal privilegesent
to the clerks desk to have read an editorial
from New York newspaper entitled 'The
Telephone Scandal" but the reading was
Immediately interrupted by Mr. Breck-
enridge, Of Arkansas, with the point
of order that there was nothing in TIE edl-
torial which reflected upon the gentleman
from Kansas in his repre- sentative capaclty.
The speaker inquired whether there was any
alusion in it to the gentleman from kansas.
Mr., Hanback, shook his head, and the Speaker
then said that the gentleman must state what
the question of privilege is. Mr.. Hanback, re-
piled that the House would understand Bhas
the question OF privilege was after the article
had been read. After further dis :usslon mr..
Hanback, got around the difficulty by present.
ing the following resolution, which was
carried, unanimous consent having been OBJ
tanned: "Resolred, That the committee on
expenditures il The department. OF justice DC
empowered to make full inquiry into any ex-
penditure on the part of the government rela-
tive to the rights of the Bell and Pan
Electric Telephone companies, and
for the purpose of this lnVes-
tigation and to the end that the people may
be fully advised, the committee IS granted
the right to send for persons and papers, oil
expenses to be audited and accounted from
approved vouchers, and when SO approved to
be paid out of any moneys in the treasury mol
otherwise appropriated" Mr.. Hanback,
again attempted to reopen the matter py
personal explanation, but was declared
out of order. Mr.. Bland preferred 9
resolution, which was adopted, inquiring OF
the secretary of the treasury as to the amount
of silver dollars in the treasury. -. Inc DILL
increasing the pensions Of soldiers wldoWs
from So TO 81: per month was put upon 1u
passage by 1913 yeas to rs nays
THiRTY-FIRsT DAY.--Alr. Holman, Of In
diana, offered appropriate resolutions on the
death of Vice-President Hendricks. Eulogls-
tic addresses were made by Representatives,
Bynunl, of Indiana, McCreary, Of Kentucky.
Long. of Massachusetts,, Throclmorton, OF
Texas, Browne, Of Indiana, kandail, OF
PENNSYLVANIA, Springer, Of Illinois, Geddes,
Of Ohio. Lowe, Kliener, and Holman, OF ln-
diana. and Mr.. Hewitt OF New York. The
resolutions were adopted, and as q further
mark of respect the House adjourned-