The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-04

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and the early days of December bclated
Senators and Representatives continued
| to arrive at the Capitol. Thomas Pinck-
ney. Of South Carolina. did not appear II
the House until Monday, December 10
James Sheafe, from New Hampshire, OF
Thursday December IS; Robert Williams
from North Carolina on Tuesday. Decem.
Der 30, and James A. Bayard, from Della
ware, on Friday, January 2.
Thomas jefferson, Vice President OF
the United States, appeared in the Senate
and took his seat as President Of the
Senate on Friday, November IS.
On Wednesday. February IL, 1900. the
first opening and counting of votes for
President and Vice President took place
at the Capitol motion was made in
the Senate on Tuesday, February 10 that
when the two houses shall proceed TO
open and count the votes for President
of the United States no person shall be
admitted into the gallery" This motion
prevailed by a vote of 16 to 10. The
teller named on the part OF the Senate
was William Hit Wells Of Delaware, and
the tellers on the part Of the House were
Messrs. Rutledge and Nicholas.
The two houses assembled in the SEN
| at Chamber at noon on Wednesday, Feb
ruary II, and the votes were opened.
| Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr had
| each 10 votes; John Adams, So; Charles
| G. Pinckney, Ga, and John Jay, l. The
vote for Jefferson and Burr was New
| York Il, Pennsylvania s. Maryland 8, Vir-
| inia 81, Kentucky 4, North Carolina 8,
Tennessee 3. South Carolina s, Georgia 4.
The vote for Adams and Pinckney was:
New Hampshire +, Massachusetts, IL. Con-
necticut .. Vermont 4, New Jersey z,
Pennsylvania q; Delaware 3, Maryland 5,
and North Carolina 4. Rhode Island cast
votes for Adams, 8 for Pinckney, and
for Jay.
The whole number OF electors who had
voted was 1888 of which number Thomas
Jefferson and Aaron Burr had a majority;
but the number of those voting for them
being equal no choice was made by the
people, consequently the remaining duties
devolved upon the House of Representa-
tives The House repaired to its own
chamber and the Senate adjourned.
The Washington MausOleum.
One of the important discussions which
occurred in the first Congress at WASH
ington was on bill to erect mausoleum
to the memory Of George Washington. 1t
was on Friday, December 5, that the House
went into Committee OF the Whole on this
bill. The motion to go into Committee
Of the Whole. was made by Mr.. Aston of
North Carolina who moved as an amend
ment that monument Of marble should be
erected in the Capital in place Of maui
soleuin. He argued that it would be
cheaper. Henry Lee said that during the
last session the House after a long debate
had declared itself in favor Of a mausoleum
and he hoped the House would persevere
In its judgment.
Mr.. Otis thought mausoleum prefera-
BILE to monument, Mr.. Nicholas thought
the way to perpetuate the memory of
George Washington was by bringing his
ashes from Mount Vernon to the Capitol.
Mr.. Mott addressed the House in favor Of
a monument.
Mr.. Macon opposed the mausoleum on
the ground of its great cost. He thought
the nation should show Its gratitude by
making the history of the life of Washing
ton a school book. The committee rose
without coming to any decision, reported
progress. and obtained leave to sit again.
The committee sat again on Wednesday.
December 10, and Mr.. Aston spoke in sup
port Of his amendment. Mr.. Huger ia
vored the mausoleum and Mr.. Smile OPP
posed it. The bill! was recommited. Henry
Lee again presented favorable report on
the bill on Friday, December 10. The bill
was taken up in Committee Of the Whole
on Tuesday, December 20, and on Thurs
day, January I, was passed. Mr.. Dawson
moved to recommit II and the motion was
lost. 80 ayes and "A noes.
Mr.. Randolph moved to refer the bill to
select committee, but there were only
80 votes in the affirmative. The question
on the passage Of the bill was taken, re-
sulting yeas As, nays 81. The bill came
up in the Senate, Tuesday. March 3, but
action was postponed, till December fol-
lowing.
Reduction of Artillery.
In the first Congress at Washington
there was, as now, an Army Reorganiza-
tion bill 1t was introduced by Mr.. Varnum
who later became Speaker. and whose
portrait hangs in the members lobby of
the House. The Reorganization bill of
1900 proposed reduction of the Second
Regiment of artillery to three batta!ions.
A heated discussion followed the calling
up of the bill. Harrison G. Otis, men,
Der from Virginia, made long speech
against the measure, urging that less
than 1000 men could not well protect the
frontiers of our country. extending $500
miles in one direction and in another d.
rection more than 1000 miles"
Mr. Rutledge urged the Importance of
artillery. saying that two regiments were
not too many, as he favored "a strong
military establishment" The bill was
defeated-yeas 80. nays 46.
Work of the Session.
Much OF the time of the House was con-
sumed in the discussion of affairs in Mis-
sissippi Territory, the Sedition act,
Government for the Territory of Column
bia, Judiciary bill, amendments to the
Constitution, intercourse with France,
and a uniform system of bankruptcy.
Among the important or interesting
bills that became laws during the Second
session of the Sixth Congress were:
An act extending the privilege of frank
ing letters to the Delegate from the Ter
ritory of the United States northwest
of the River Ohio, and making provision
for his compensation.
An act to provide for the more conve-
nient organization of the courts of the
United States.
An act regulating the grants Of land for
the refugees from the British Provinces
of Canada and Nova Scotia.
An act freeing from postage all letters
and packets to John Adams.
An act to allow the transportation of
goods, wares, and merchandise to and
from Philadelphia and Baltimore by the
way of APPOINTMENTS and Sassafras.
An act concerning the District of Co.
lumbia.
An act to amend IAN act to establish a
general stamp Office"
An act providing for Naval Peace es-
An act supplementary to the act enti-
tied IAN act concerning the District OF Co.
lumbia.''
An act for erecting lighthouses at New
Point Comfort and Smiths Point, Va.
During the second session of the Sixth
Congress tempnrarY quarters for the Sill