Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1880 — FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.

MENATJR. Washington, D. C., May 10.—The Kel Jogg-Spofford case occupied the attention or the senate almost the entire day. Mr. Hill, of Georgia, interrupted to state that the senator from Massachusetts was mistaken. The controversy relative to the Packard legislature was whether it was ever constitutional, and the majority said that the state itself had settled that controversy by deciding that the Packard legislature never was a legal legislature. Mr. Hoar said that the two legislatures assembled in January, and that the Packard legislature acted iu January, and the question of the validity and effect of the action were essential to the support of Kellogg’s title to his seat. Another legislature met in March after tbe senate met, and they undertook to elect Bpofford, and one portion of the committee said the senate must determine which legislature in March had the rightful title, and proceeded to do it, Nr. Hill said that the state by its subsequent action of placing the Nichols legislature in power has settled that question and effect; that the subsequent action reacts tor the government of the senate. There is no escape from the logic of that proposition, nor from its revolutionary pon sequences. * Mr. Hoar concluded by saying that if it became necessary hereafter, the challenge of the senator from Louisiana, Jonas, to investigate the means by which he and certain of his colleagues obtained their seats might be aocepted, and if so the country would hardly be much aroused by their charge that their opponents were flaunting the bloody shirt, if it became apparent that the garment waved by them was not only bloody, but stolen.

Mr, Hill, of Georgia, took the floor, but E referring not to begin speaking at a late onr, yielded to the other senators until to-morrow. Washington, D. C., May 11.—The presi dent, pro tem., laid before the senate a communication from fop secretary of war, recommending an appropriation of $76,000 to continue in service the seventy clerks preparing reports to expedite the settle, ment of the pension applications, aqd who otherwise will have so be discharged on foe sjofo prqx. The necessity tor their retention has been prefiouriy shown. Pending debate the morning hour expired, ana the land claim bill went over. The senate concurred in the house amendment to the joint reaolntion, authorizing the president to call an international conference. The anrendipent includes the countries from which the delegates are so bo invited, and the subjects to be phosen. ~ Consideration was then resumed of the Kellogg-Bpoltord resolutions. The debate on the Spofford-Kellogg case was continued and Mr. Hill made a lengthy speech, during which he yielded the floor to Mr. Kellogg, but qn ‘ understanding that foe fhotiSn sor 1 an executive session was to be made, thereupon on making that motion the senate went info executive session and soon adjourned, Washington, May 13.—Mr. Ingalls from the committee «n Indian affitup, reported with amendments foe Senate bill to carry into effect foe second and sixteenth articles ot the treaty between the United States and the Great and Little Osage Indians, proclaimed January Ist, 1867. Placed on the ctfowdtf,' * Mr. Blatt presented petitions from the newsdealers for the removal of foe duty on foreign newspapers and periodicals* Mr. McPherson, from foe committee on naval affairs, reported favorably on foe bill, to reinstate Rev. Barkley as cadet midshipman at the Naval Academy. Placed on foe calendar, Mr Allison, from foe committee on public lands, reported favorably on foe bill to reduce the price sod dispose oi foe residue of foe Cherokee scrip taidi in Ksnaaf,. placed on foe calendar. The committee on appropriations this morning received foe report of the subcommittee mi foe Poetofflce appropriation bill, and instructed Mr. Wallace to report foe bill to foe Senate with a number of important amendments. The comHfittee strike oat foe whole of foe house, requirements for reletting foe star service contracts, and also the clause authorizing foe postmaster general to remit in favot of foe colonies of New Zealand and New South Wales so much ot the charge for overland transfer of mails as he may deem just. The com*

miUee add the following amounts: $350,090 tor railroad mail transportation; $50,000 for steamboat mail service, $25, 000 for pay of mail messengers ana $75,000 to provide new mail locks. • Washington, D. C., May 18.—The president pro tern laid before the senate a communication from the secretary of the interior, recommending an appropriation of $57,900 to cover the. deficiencies in the appropriations for salaries and commissions of registers and the secretary of the land offices for the fiscal year ending June 80th, 1880. Referred. Mr. Ingalls submitted a resolution directing the secretary of the treasury to inform the senate whether the bill for the repeal of certain permanent and indefinite appropriations would affect the appropriations for the sinking frmd for 8:65 bonds of the District of Columbia, provided for by act of congress of March 3d, 1879. Adopted. On motion of Mr. Voorhees, the bill to provide additional accommodations for the library of Congress was taken up. Mr. Morrill offered an amendment, providing for a committee to select a proper site for the library building, and on conclusion of his speech, the morning hour having expired, the Kellogg resolutions was then taken up, and Mr. Hampton spoke thereon. Mr. Hampton having secured the floor delivered a lengthy and eloquent speech on the Bpofford.Kellogg election case. The speaker contended that Kellogg, by the action of the senate, had been given a ■eat in that body, and that it waa now beyond their power to unseat him- His sympathies, he said, were all with the contestant, (Bpofford) yet he considered the question settled. * Mr. Carpenter next took the floor. He agreed with Mr. Hampton. He said that he understood Mr. Hill, of Georgia. to say that, after the Senate had seated a member it would have to unseat him if the State recognizes another legislature. This would make the State, not the Senate, judges of who shall be Senators. He did not wish it understood that making Judgment final, made it right The doctrine of the resolution was founded on the necessity that there should be an end to this litigation sometime. Mr. Pendleton obtained the floor, and after executive session the Sepate adjourned. Washington, D. C., May 14.—A large number ot petitions of manufacturers for the passage of the Eaton tariff commission bill were presented, among them one by Burnside representing capital amounting to $200,000,000, in the manufacture of cotton. Mr. Morgan, from the select committee on counting the electoral vote, reported adversely on the senate bill to fix the day for the meeting of electors for president and sice president, to provide for counting the electoral vote and for the decision of questions arising therefrom. Placed on the calendar. The Kellogg resolutions were informally laid aside.

HOIWE. Washington, D. C., May B.— The com mittee on ways and means this moraine perfected the tariff bill. The additional change to-day, are wood pulp duty, reduced from twenty per cent, to ten per ceil. Salt is stricken from the bill entirely, the duty upon it therelore remains as at present. The subject of sugar is put into a seperate bill. Mr. Smith, of Georgia, from the committee bn patents, fas the amendment of the patent laws of the house calendar. It proVides that any person who introduces from a foreign country any secret invention or process useful . and important to the public and not patented there, and at the time of the application not understood in this country, may upon due proceedings obtain a patent therefor, and any art, invention or process which has been used or practiced unpatented for fifty years exclusively in the country where obtained, shall be deemed secret in the meaning of this act Washington, D. C., May 10.— The following, bills were introduced: Mr. Newberry, by request, to extend the time for the completion of the hfortheyn pacific railway. Mr. Young, of Ohio, appropriating $40,000 to rebuild the Memorial hall at the Dayton Ohio Soldiers’ Home. fit. Carlisle, by request, to reclaim waste and arid lands. Mr. Cabell introduced bills allowing tobacco manufacturers to import licorice and licorice paste in bond and exempting the same from duty. Referred. The house took a recess till evening,ihe session to be for debate only, Washington ft. Q., May U-Mr. Tucker, from the commute oh ways and means, reported the following bills, which were referred to the committe of the whole: To regulate the duties on hoop, band and scroll iron, to regulate the custom duties on sugar and to regulate the custom duties on ceytaiq articles named therein. Mr. Garfield submitted a report of the minority upon the bill to regulate the duties on hoop, band and scroll iron. Ordered printed. The first vote was fin the amendment offered by Mr. Springer, to the minority resolution, declaring that Seth H. Yocum is not entitled to the seat. Rejected. Yeas 75, nays 115. The negative vote was cast by republicans and greenbackers, together with the following; %rry, Rank, Bright, CaldXll!’Pelton.Henkle,Hostetter, Mills, New, O’Reilly, Richardson, (South Carolina), Richmond, Singleton, (111.) Singlefcm, (Miss) Stephens,Btevenson,Till, man Wright. The question then recurred upon minority resolution declaring that Seth H. Yocum is entitled to the seat, and that Andrew a Curtin is not entitled thereto. The minority resolution wqs adopted, yeas 158, ns y* Yocum wgs warmly oonby hia Republican colleagues upon retaining his seat, notwithstanding the unfavorable report of the committee on elections. Aiken, chairman of the conamittee on appropriation*, reported back the legyalrniw, ‘executive and Judicial appropriation bills. Referred to the committee of the whole. The House then went Into committee of the whole, Mr. SS L»P w » C :u B,r ’ of u “ tbiu - AJhen mqde a short explanation or the lull; cm tyro or three occasions e Sort had been made by the House o bring about equalization. Mr. Springer then called up the Carti* Yccuin election case. good deal oj opposition was niaoUeatedon both sides of tfie hoqse to an extended debate, and a motion was made by Mr. Weaver that all debate close in one minute. Mr. Colerick, who held the floor, declined to yield for that motion, bnt at the close of hut speech in favor of the contestant a similar motion was made by Mr. Overton and ft was agreed toTh® question was then ordered, anfi Ms- Springer claimed the closing hour, yielding bis time, however, to Mr. Ryan of Pennsylvania and Mr. Speer, wito spoke tn wupoty of the majority reWAaraiGTan D- C-, May tt—A bill was introduced.by Mr. Goode, from the committee on naval affairs, authorizing the secretary of the navy to take the necessary steps to secure adequate eoaling ttaUona and harbors for the use of United Stotes navai forces fit nroper points on the S a ft’&r.sss Btoced on the house calendar. % Mr. Wise, from the conn transportation between Lake Erie and the navigable waters of the Wabash and

Ohio rvrera. Referred to the committee of Mr. Hooker introduced a bill abolishlWerred°ff* Ce of Indian commissioner. Mr. Springer gave notice that he would, to-morrow, reply to the speech of Mr. Orth, relative to Venezuela claims. Washuvston, May 13.—At half past 10 to-day, Wednesday’s session was continued. The Speaker announced the appointment of Culberson, in place of Reagan, as a member of the committee to investigate the alleged corruption in the contested election case of Donnelly vs. Washburne. The House then went into committee of the whole, Mr, Oox in the chair, on the legislative, executive ami judicial appropriation bill. The reading of the bOl was not interrupted until the clauses were reached relating to the office of commissioner of internal revenue. At this point Mr. Bibrell offered an amendment providing that the sal arias of storekeepers and gaugers, at all distilleries that mash less than sixty bushels oi grain per day, shall not exceed SSO per month, while the distilleries are in operation; $35 while they are not in operation. That all other distilleries, storekeepers and gaugers shall not receive exceeding SSO while the distilleries ire not in operation. Mr. Baker opposed the amendment, asserting the effect would be to injure the faithful and honest administration of the service. The vote on the amendment resulted, 511 yeas to 32 nays, and the point of “no quorum” was raised by Mr. Baker- The call of the roll showed a quorum present. The I question recurred upon the amendment and it was agreed to, 81 to 68. Pending further debate the committee I rose, and the session of Wednesday came to a close and that of Thursday began. Washington, D. C., May 14. Thursday’s session was resumed at 11, I and tbe house went into committee of the I whole, Mr. Cox in the chair, on the legislative,executive and judicial appropriation bill.' The bill making appropriations fer the support of the agricultural department was reported printed and recommitted. «k recommends the appropriation of $212,000, being $13,600 less than the estimates. The House then went into committee of the whole, Mr. Cox in the chair, on the legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill. Tbe consideration being concluded the committee arose and reported the bill to the House. I