Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1877 — FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.

Monday, Dec. 10. —Senate. — The case of J. B. Euatis, of Louisiana, was called up, and after a brief debate the resolution declaring him entitled to a seat in the Senate was adopted by a vote of 49 yeas to 8 nays, the latter being Messrs. Allison, Cameron (Wis.), McMillan, Hamlin, Howe, Ingalls, Morrill and Saunders. Mr. Eustis was then sworn in and took his seat. ...A number of bills were introduced and referred. Among them were tne following: By Mr. Plumb, to declare certain lands heretofore granted to railroad companies forfeited, and to open the ’same for settlement; by Mr. Johnston, amendatory of the supplementary act to incorporate the Texas Pacific railroad, and to aid its construction ; by Mr. Christiancy. to provide for challenges to jurors in trials for bigamy and polygamy in the Territory of Utah... Mr. Matthews made a four hours’ speech in favor of his silver resolution. House. —A large number of bills were introduced, among the lot being another income-tax bill, by Mr. Turner; a bill by Willis, of New York, restoring the tax on tea and coffee, and looking toward tariff reform; a biff by Mr. Joyce adjusting the salaries of Postmasters; and a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution providing for the election of Senators by direct vote of the people... .Mr. Wood, Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, reported the usual resolutions for the distribution of the President’s annual message among the various committees. The resolutions, after some discussion, were adopted. Tuesday, Dec. 11.—Senate. —The morning hour was nearly all occupied by the reception of petitions in favor of woman suffrage, for a law in relation to the liquor traffic, and in relation to tariff matters... .Among the bills introduced and referred were the following : By Mr. Davis, of Illinois, to establish a Court of Appeals ; by Mr. Kellogg, authorizing mail steamship service between New Orleans and certain ports named.... Mr. Conkling introduced a resolution for the appointment of 'a committee to inquire into the border troubles with Mexico.. .A discussion upon Mr. Matthews’silver resolution took up the balance of the day’s session, which was participated in by Messrs. Kernan, Beck, Wallace and Allison. House. —Mr. Whitthome introduced a bill providing for the removal of the bodies of those lost on the Huron to the Naval Cemetery at Annapolis, which was passed... .The day was passed in action upon Senate amendments to the Deficiency Appropriation bill. They were all disposed of, and the bill was sent back to the Senate, Wednesday, Dec. 12.—Senate. —Mr. Edmunds submitted a resolution authorizing a committee to consider the state of tne law respecting the ascertaining and declaration of the result of elections of President and Vice President of the United States, and also to consider and report upon the best manner of electing those officers and the duration of their terms of office. Agreed t 0.... Mr. Dawes, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, reported adversely on the petition to give the use of the Senate chamber to the women for the purpose of presenting arguments for a Sixpresented a resolution m”regard to tEe militia....’ The Senato insisted upon its amendments to the Deficiency Appropriation bill, and a conference committee was appointed... .Consideration was then renewed of Mr. Matthews’ resolution on the silver question, pending which the Senate went into executive session. House. —Mr. Morrison took the Speaker to task for filling vacancies on committees, where the members had not been excused by the House.... Mr. Stephens introduced a bill repealing the iron-clad oath required of pensioners.. . .Mr. Harris called up the Colorado contested-election case, discussion upon which occupied the entire day. Thursday, Dec. 13.—Sen-iTE.—Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin, presented the petition of David T Corbin, of South Carolina, asking that his claim to a seat from that State may be inquired into and decided upoh its merits... .Mr. Dawes introduced a bill to authorize and equip an expedition to the Arctic seas. Referred... .Mr. Voorhees submitted a resolution on the subject of the finances, and gave notice that he would call it up on Tuesday, Jan. 15, for the purpose of submitting some remarks thereon.... At the expiration of the morning hour consideration was resumed of the resolution of Mr. Matthews to pay bonds in silver. The discussion on this subject was taken part in by Messrs. Bayard, Allison, Hill, Dawes and Beck, and continued until 4 o’clock, when the Senate went into executive session. The doors were opened at 6:50 and the Senate adjourned.

House. —Tlie regular order of business, consideration of the Colorado contested election case, was resumed. Speeches were made upon the ease by Messrs. Butler and Hale, and by Mr. Patterson on his own behalf. Mr. Patterson was then admitted and sworn in by a vote of 116 to 110. Adjourned. Friday, Dec. 14. —Senate.—The Yice President laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, calling attention to the law in regard to the compensation ror Government advertising, and the complaints daily received as to the inadequacy of such compensation. He suggests that the law be so amended as to allow the department to pay the same for advertising as the papers receive from private individuals. Referred to the Committee on Civil Service and Retrenchment.... Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin, called up the House joint resolution relating to reservoirs to promote the navigation of the Mississippi. Passed....At the expiration of the morning hour, consideration was resumed of Mr. Matthews’ resolution declaring it to be the right of the Government to pay its bonds in silver, and Mr. Hereford made a speech upon it, after which the Senate went into executive session... .At the reopening of the doors the Deficiency Appropriation biU was taken up and passed, as amended by the conference committee.... On Mr. Edmunds’ motion, and by unanimous consent, it was ordered that the Vice President declare the Senate adjourned on Saturday immediately after the reading of the journal, and that no business should be transacted.. . The Vice President announced as the committee to inquire into the practicability of promoting commercial intercourse with Mexico and maintaining peace on the Rio Grande frontier, Messrs. Conkling, Hamlin, Howe, Jones of Nevada, Cameron of Pennsylvania, Eaton and Maxey....The Post-Route bill was passed.. .The bill providing for the burial of the naval officers and men lost on the Huron was then passed and the Senate adjourned. House. —The report of the conference committee on tho Deficiency Appropriation bill was agreed to, and the bill was passed.... The Senate amendments to the Paris Exposition bill were agreed t 0.... Mr. Wood presented a resolution instructing the several committees having in charge matters relating to Indian affairs, naval affairs, military affairs, postoffices, public lands, etc., to inquire into any errors, abuses, or frauds in the administration of the laws affecting such branches of the public service, with power to send fox persons and papers, sit during the recess, etc. The Republicans filibustered against the passage of this resolution until the adjournment of the House.

Saturday, Dec. 15.—Senate.—A number of bills were signed by the Vice President.... On motion of Mr. Thurman, the Senate went into secret session to consider the difficulty lretween Messrs. Gordon and Conkling. After the doors ware opened the following paper was presented and unanimously agreed to: Whereas, A misunderstanding having arisen between the Hon. Rosooe Conkling and the Hon. John B. Gordon in the course of the executive proceedings of the Senate yesterday, and mutual understandings thereon having been arrived at, as set out in the following paper, it is ordered that said paper be entered at large on the legislative journal of the S.-nate: During an executive session of the Senate held yesterday words were uttered both by Senator Gordon, of Georgia, and by Senator Conkling, of New York, which were mutually felt to be unkind and offensive. Reports of the incident appear in the papers of this morning which are inaccurate and unjust to both speakers. Upon careful inquiry as to whal was said by each speaker, and what was understood to be said by the other, it is certain that the first offensive words were inspired by an honest misunderstanding of what had been innocently said by the other speaker. One harsh remark provoked another, as too often happens, but all that was offensive was the' outgrowth of misapprehension. Since such was the fact, we, who are mntual friends of both Senators, are of the opinion that it is due alike to the Senate and the speakers that whatever was felt to be unkind or offensive in the remarks of either should be treated as if never uttered, and, we are now authorized to state, are mutually and simultaneously withdrawn. (Signed) H. Hamlin, M. W. Ransom, Timothy O. Howe, and J. E. McDonald... .The Senate then adjourned until January 10,1878. House.—Mr. Wood and the majority endeavored daring nearly the whole day's session to have bis investigation resolution adopted, but it was finally postponed until after recets....Mr. Sobleicbw, frm tfcs op Foreign offered *

resolution authorizing the committee to sit during the recess in the investigation of the Mexican border trouble. Adopted.... The Senate amendment* to the Poet-route bill were taken up and concurred in.... Basolutions to pay extra employes in the Doorkeeper's Department were offered, discussed, and agreed to, and the House adjourned until Jan. 10.