Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1881 — SATURDAY. [ARTICLE]

SATURDAY.

SENATE.—A Joint resolution was passed Inviting tne government and France and the family of Lafayette to join the United States in the Yorktown centennial celebration. Twenty thousand dollars was appropriated. Consideration was resumed of the j*-n----sion appropriation bill, and Mr. Logan continued his criticism of tite sixty surgeons bill, the pending amendment. The bill was, however, laid aside without aetion. The following bills were ■ passed: House bill relative to the erection of a monument at Wyandotte, Mich., and Upper Sandusky, Ohio* senate bill to Sstabllsh an additional land office in Kansas; joint resolution directing the secretary of state to withhold, pending action by congress, further payment of Mexican awards upon the Well and La Abra claims, and for the investment in United States securities es .the money withheld, obtained some discussion but no action.

HOUBE.—Mr. Bicknell, as a privileged question, called up the senate concurrent resolution forebunting the electoral votes. He said that it was alleged that the electors of one state cast their votes on a day not prescribed by law. A lihe difficulty had arisen in 1820, 1527, rind 1875. The object of this resolution was to avoid such a difficulty, whether the vote of Georgia br; counted or not. If counted, it would make no difference in the result. Everybody admitted that General Garfield had been duly elected president, and it would be so declared, but to avoid any difficulty the resolution was proposed, and ne hoped it would be adopted unanimously. It provides fru the same hypothetical counting which has already tided the country over difficulties on two occasions. It was passed.' , MON DAT. BENATE:—No business of importance was transacted, the entire session being ccnsumed with District of Columbia matters. HOUSE:—A motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill creating a department of agriculture, was defeated. A number of unimportant bills were introduce, and the House adjourned with but little accomplished.

TVEMBAT, BENATE:—Mr. Blair introduced a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution, which was read. It prohibits after 1900'the manufacture and sale anywhere within the United States, of distilled, alcoholic and intoxicating liquors, mixed or adulterated with ardent spirits, or with any poison whatever, except for medicinal, mechanical, chemical and scientific purposes. It also prohibits the exportation and importation through any part of the United States, except for medicinal and scientific uses, etc. Referred. The morning hour having expired, the discussion of the pension appropriation bill was resumed, the question being on the amendment to increase the pension clerical force. HOUSE: —A long and noisy discussion took place over the proposition to set apart a portion of the galleries for the accommodation of families of members and senators during the electoral count. After this a contest arose between Messrs. Atkins, Reegan and Cox as to the order of business, Mr. Cox desiring to call up the apportionment bill, and Mr. Reegan wishing to go into committee on the rive# and harbor bill. Mr. Atkins, however, was victorious, and the house went into committee of the whole on the legislative appropriation bill. WZDSEBD4T,

SENATE:—At 12 o’clock the vicepresident announced that the time appointed for counting the electoral vote nad arrived. The senate, with the vice-president at its head, proceeded to the hall of the house of representatives Upon its return the senate received from Mr. Hamlin the report of the tellers of the two houses, accompmied by a preamble reciting the result with the resolutions that the two houses are of the opinion that the oenstitntion and laws have been duly executed, and that no further declaration of the facts set forth are necessary. Adopted. * HOUSE. —An hour before the meeting of the house, and two hours before the time appointed for counting the electoral votes for president and vicepresident, the galleries of the house were filled with spectators, a large majority of whom were ladies. On (lie floor wooden chairs were sandwiched in between the seats of members for the accommodation of senators, but. otlj r . orwise there were no indications save the ffisual routine business of the house was to be transacted. The indifference shown by members, who seem only anxious to obtain seats for friends in the galleries, was in marked contrast with the excitement which prevailed during the electoral count four years ago. At a few minutes past 12 the doorkeeper announced the arrival of the vice-president and the scnate.of the United States, who then filed into the chamber. Vice-president Wheeler' took a ee it on the right hand of Speaker Randall, and the senators were accommodated with chairs In front of the rows of desks. The reading then took place with the usual f»i malities and at the termination James A. Garfield,of Ohio, and Chester A. Arthur, of New York, were declared duly elected president and vice-president of the United States. After the senate had left the chamber, and order had been restored, Mr. House, of Tennessee. pre«ented*4o the house ‘report of tne tellers, signed by Senators Hamlin and ThUrmafti, and Messrs. House and Crowley. THIJBNbAY. 4 SENATE: —The bill appropriating $200,000 for the purchase of ground for and the erection thereon of a hqll of deposits for government records passed, Messrs. Pendletoh, Anthony and Bayard \ were constituted a committee to make arrangements for the Inauguration. Mr. Voorhees presented a concurrent resolution of the Indiana legislature for the appropriations of SIOO,OOO for the improvement of the Kankakee river. The postal appropriation bQi was taken up and without action the senate adjourned. HOVSE. —A number of private bills were disposed of. The house went into ceurmittee of the whole on the rives and harbor appropriation bill, during which a stormy debate took place between Messrs. Reagan and Cox, and severe personalities were indulged in. The committee rose and the house adjourned.