I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original bill now on file in my office.

JAMES SMITH.
Secretary of State.

Had this law been passed previous to the election in 1882, the vote for S. R. Peters would not have been counted, and the next highest on the list of candidates for Representatives for Congress (Hon. S. N. Wood) would have been declared elected, and have held the certificate.

This law does not, in any particular, change the constitution, but does, in fact, put a legislative construction on it, under which Judge Peters is not entitled to his

"Resolved, That the memorial of the governor of the State of Kansas, and of other officers and citizens in said State, and all papers presented to the Clerk in reference to the election and qualification of Hon. S. R. Peters, of said State, be referred to the Committee on Elections when appointed, with instructions to report to the House, at the earliest time practicable, whether Mr. Peters is eligible to a seat in this House; and if not, whether Hon. S. N. Wood, the contestant, is entitled to the seat."

Mr. SPRINGER. On the adoption of that resolution I demand the previous question.

Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, is this proceeding by unanimous consent?

The SPEAKER. It is a matter of privilege, relating as it does to the right of a member to his seat.

Mr. CANNON. I wish to make a parliamentary inquiry.

The SPEAKER. Certainly.

Mr. CANNON. Is the same privilege extended to the reference of the papers on the other side of the case?

The SPEAKER. Not as a matter of course, as there must be action of the House in each and every case.

Mr. SPRINGER. I have demanded the previous question.

The previous question was ordered, and under the operation thereof the resolution was adopted.

Mr. SPRINGER moved to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was adopted ; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

Congressional Record Dec. 5, 1883.

H. Mis. 242