New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04

trade which was Sl3O, 900 900 against the United
States in 1869 brought to be $12O,WooC0 in IT,
favor in 1876. The President referred to the -.
cessity Of new safeguards in the counting OF tAe
Presidential electoral vote In closely contested
elections The rest Of the Message was devoted
to foreign relations and routine public topics
THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION.
The most important act OF this session W.
the bill creating the Electoral Commission y
count the vote for the Presidency. The hn
| was introduced in the Senate January Is, 1871
by Mr.. Edmunds Nep. VT from select COM
mittee of thirteen members Of both houses (coms
posed Of six Republicans and seven DemocratG
It provided for the appointment OF five SEM
tors, five Representatives and five Suprem
Court Judges with Chief Justice Waite as prest
dent to count the vote and decide which ~
turns should be counted, when there We're I've
| different sets from one State, and when th
, two houses Of Congress voting separately could
not agree as to which should be counted. The
bill was framed to allay public ALARM and
provide peaceful settlement Of the questions
arising out Of the election. While the object o1
the bill was patriotic, its extraordinary depart
ture from usages long followed led many Re.
pubcans to oppose 1t. The bill paSsej
chiefly by Democratic votes, as follows: In the
Senate, by Al yeas (2l Republicans, 70 Demo
crats) to II nays &c Republicans l Demo
| craft; in the House, by 1J1 yeas t32 Repuhf
cans, 1856 Democrats. Independently 10 ~ naU
| (6S Republicans, IS Democrats The Coumb
| sion when appointed. consisted Of Justices Ch'
| ford, Strong. Miller and Field (named in N
| biD, who selected Justice Bradley the nso
representative OF the Supreme Court, Senafo0
Edmunds, Morton, Frelinghuysen, Thurman ana
Bayard Ohe first three Republicans, the otn0
two Democrats), and Representatives Payne
Hunton. Abbott, Garfield and George +. Hon
(the first three Democrats, the other two Repuo
licans). AS before stated. the Commission was
created chiefly by the Democrats who were
strongly in favor of it as long as they expected
or hoped its decision to be In their favor, but
was repudated and denounced by them soon
as it's decision found to be against them
They were simply unwilling to abide by the de-
cree Of an arbitration tribunal Of their ows
making
BLAND FOR FREE COINAGE.
Mr.. Bland Dem, MOI made another effort 10
the House to secure the passage of a bill Tor
free coinage Of the old standard silver dollar
of 412S grains weight, these coins TO be lesA
tender for all debts, public and private tbs
bill created lively discussion Of repudiaunn
and imitation in the newspapers OF the countV
and led to several long debates in the HOUSE
BY mixed vote largely sectional, the We@
and South against the East, the House passeo
the bill, December 10. 1876, By l67 yeas to %
nays. 1t sent to the Senate and there ~
maDned without action.
The only other measures of Importance, -
sides the appropriation bills were these
An act revving the franking privilege. boz
limiting its operation to public business 10
public documents. This bill was made neceS
sary in part by the heavy expense OF cos'
respOndence by Congressman.
An act for the relief Of pre-emptors on pupus
lands. approved March 3, 1877. This law ."
thorized pre-emptOrs who had taken up farm@
and had lost their crops by visitation OF grass
hoppers TO change their filings to homestes"4
and receive the benefit thereon OF the time, WHICH
had elapsed since filing their pre-emptlon ciaim>
This was Republican measure. Introduces "
Senator Paddock Rep Neb). There was ns
contest over the bill.
An act providing for the settlement, OF desert
lands. Approved March 3, 1877. IL gave ON
acres Of arid lands for - cents an acre 20 thoss
who would water, reclaim and cultivate I"
land.
A large number Of private pension bills wefs
passed at this session and an equally larss
number removing the political disabilities Of 10
dvduals.
THE ARMY BILL.
Congress adjourned without having made -
appropriation for the support OF the Army. !"
Army Appropriation bill was duly passed by IN
House. and contained a paragraph forbdd'ns
the use OF any part Of the Army TO MAINTAIN