Connecticut western news., 1889-02-20
The House..

In the House 0 conference committee was appointed on the direct tax bill. MT. Blount tried to secure consideration of the post office appropriation bill, but the Elliott-Smalls contested election case was taken up as a matter of the highest privilege. It was still pending at adjournment The secretary of war transmitted statement of the chiefsignal officer of the army setting forth the very un' satisfactory condition of the signal corps.
 The House referred the Senate bill in refer ence to the Isthmus of Darien to the foreign affairs committee. A bill inviting Canada to attend the Continental Congress was referred to the same committee. A bill appropriating $50, 1000 for a special display of farm pro- ducts at the Paris Exposition, was introduced. The rest of the session was spent over the FL liott-Smalls contested election case. Gen. Smalls addressed the. House in his own be- half
 The feature of the session in the House was the counting and announcement of the cleo toral vote. The ceremony was impressive At ono O clock President Ingalls, of the Senatv received the gavel from Speaker Carlisle and at once proceeded to business. Before begin ming the count he said: "'This being the day and the hour appointed for opening the cer- tifcates and counting the votes of electors for President and Vicc-President, the Senate and House of Representatives have met to- gether pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the United States. If there be no objection to the electoral vote of the State of Alabama, the certificate will be read by the teliers, who will make a list of the votes thcrcfrom." There being no objection, the teller proceeded withs tho lcount. When concluded, Mir Ingalls, declared officially that Benjamin Harrison and Levi P. Morton each received 2:}:} votes, and were elected President and Vicc-Prcsdent of tho United States. After the count, the Elliott-Smalls contested election cas, resumed. Mir. Elliott's title tt. the scat was confirmed.
 T I ported upon the Senate tarif bill. The report accompanies q resolution declaring that the Senate bill is unconstitutional and directing that the clerk of the House return tho bill to the Senate. calling attention to the fact. By a vote of LII to 1O9 the House tabled the motion to reconsider the vote by which the conicrccs on the Territorial admission bill were instructed to consent to the admission of South Dakota by proclamation and with out another vote on the division. The remain ing instruction relative to the admission of North Dakota Montana and Washington by proclamation was agreed to without division and the bill sent to conference. Mir. Bingham called up the Senate bill granting n pension to Irene Bucker Sheridan, but objection was made, md it was withdrawn for tue time. Mr. Bowden secured the passage of q bill granting an American register to the screw steel steamer Scythian, of Norfolk.
 In the House MT. Springer called up the conference report on the Senate bill for the admission of South Dakota. A further con ference was ordered, the conferrecs being iu- structed to exclude New Mexico from the bill, and to admit North and South Dakota, Montana and Washington by proclamation of the President. A bill to divide portion of the Sioux Reservation in Dakota into separate reservations and to secure relinquish- ment of the Indian title to the remainder, was passed Representative Baker intro duced bill to regulate commerce between the United States and foreign countries. It provides for the imposition of duties, in addi- ton to the present duties, equal in amount to the export duties imposed by foreign countries. Representative Anderson pre- sonted a petition of the Venezuela Steam Transportation Company, asking the gov ernment to collectits claim against Venezuela.