Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-12-29
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

SENATE-Dec. 16th.-Wilson offered a
resolution which was adopted, looking to the pro
lection of public meetings IL the District of Coum-
bia.-Thurman, resolution of inquiry as to the
| designs of the United States in the Yerger case
which went over.-Cooper introduced joint reso-
luton to close the account of John W. Forney, late
Secretary of the Senate, which adopt after
| explanation by Cameron, in which he said the
| counts of Forney had been fairly adjusted.-The
Georgia reconstruction bill was taken up and dis
csssed at length, without coming to any definite
| action.-Sherman introduced bill to establish
! Bareau of Customs and Revenue; Sumner, bill
providing that the acts of the several departments
shall not be called in question by the other depart
ments and fixing the limits of the judicial power
! Rice, bill to encourage the carrying of United
States mails to foreign countries in American steam
| ships, and for the encouragement of emigration
| from Europe to the United States
HOUSE BILLS were introduced, to appor-
ton the Representation of the several states for the
And Congress; to amend existing revenue laws; to
repeal the tax of ten per cent notes of state
banks -Scofeld presented letters from Secretary
Navy, asking lthority to enlist 500 more men
| for the Navy. Some farther amendments to the
Census biz were disposed of and the bill passed.
Allison introduced bill to fix the number of mem
bers in the House of Representatives. re-
ported bill to furnish, sat government expense
tifcal limbs and other supports, to honorably dis
| charged soldiers during life. Ordered printed. A
message was receiver from the President declin-
! ing to furnish correspondence on Cuban
affairs as asked by resolution
! of the House House went into Committee of the
Whole on the Presidents message. Munger, (dem., }
of Ohio, made speech criticising the financial pol
icy of the government, and advocating reputation
| of the debt He followed by Brooks of New
York, Kerr of Indiana, Slocum of New York, Ran
dali of Pennsylvania, and others-a1l democrats
in sharp rebuke, d ciaring that the national debt
never can be, and never will be, repudiated. Gar
field then offered resolution declaring hat propo-
sition for reputation, direct or indirect, was dis
honorable, and that the House sets its seal of
domination upon it, without distinction of party.
The resolution was passed by only one dissentia G
vote.-A message was received from the President,
announcing the ratification of the 18th amendment
| by Alabama.
SENATE-Dec. 17th.-The bill relative to
telegraphic communication with foreign coun-
tries was taken up 1t prescribes the terms on
which trans oceanic cables shall be permitted to
land in the United States. Some discussion took
place to the constitutional right of the general
! government to supervise the question: in which
! Sumner and Sherman were the chief disputants.-
Bills were introduced, to abolish the frankng priv
ilege, and to provide for reduction of army Off
cers.-The Georgia reconstruction bill taken up,
which occupie the remainder of the afternoon and
evening session, the discussion turning chiefly on
| Morton's amendment requiring the ratification of
the 18th amennment before Senators and Repre-
sentatives are admitted. At late hour vote was
reached and the amendment agreed to-yeas SO,
nays Is. An amendment, by Howard, was agreed
to, by which persons who aided the rebellion would
be excluded from seats in the Legislature of Geor-
gia, except such as were forced into the service
The bill was then passed yeas As, nays 9.-Ad
| journed till Monday.
! HoUsE-Not in session.
SENATE-Dec. Goth. -Schurz introduced
bill to reform the civil service. providing for
board to examine all applicants for office, and for
year of probation. Referred-Trumb intro.
dused joint resolution declaring Virginia entitled
to representation in Congress-; Pomeroy, to charter
| an American and Holland cable company; Sumner,
| resolution asking the President for Cuban cor.
respondence; also bill to provide for the adjust.
ment of claims of American citizens for spoliations
committed by the French prior to 1861-Morton
reported favorably the bill repeating the duties
| on canned and preserved fish.
HoUsE-BiIls and resolutions were intro
| duced by Bingham granting pensions to Surviving
soldiers and widows of the war of 1872; by Will
iams relative to the power of Congress to regulate
tariffs by rail on roads extending through two or
more states; by Hay to distribute the number and
rank of government employees among the several
districts and territories, also to require agricultu
raj societies to take out fair cen by Burdett
regulate labor contracts with immigrants; by
Loughridge to provide for pa ayment of bounties tc
soldiers who were discharged for sickness
contracted in line of duty; by Cobb to grant Ger
tain islands to Wisconsin swamp lands; by Cox
resolution setting forth the necessity of inlne
diate return to specie payments; by Moore, as t.
further legislation to suppress polygamy in Utah
adopted; by GetZ, instructing p o. committee Il
incorporate in a bill for abolshing the frankint
privilege provision allowing newspapers to b.
sent to actual subscribers free of POSTAGE by Wood
|
military custody, and asking information concern
ing them; Washburn of Wis from committee Oh
Appropriations reported bill appropriating 5000,
900 for improving Des Moines Rapids, on the Mis-
sissippi River Passed.-The House refused, by
vote of 106 to 63, to suspend the rules TO admit
joint resolution declaring VIRGINIA entitled to repre-
sentalion.-The Georgia bill was taken up, and
lengthy debate followed, but vote was reached
when, at II 80, the House adjourned.
SENATE-Dec. 21st.-Cragin reported al
|
polygamy.-Warner introduced bill for the more
equal dstrbutson of national banking capital.-Tht
census bill was taken up, and, after discussion,
joint resolution suspending all existing laws relative
to taking the census until February 1st, 1870 wal
passed-After considerable discussion on the ocear
telegraph bill it re-co:nmitted to the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations.-A joint resolution wa
taken up, and passed, reimbursing owners of steam
boats and other vessels in loyal states taken by thu
government during the war. The amount applied
for under the bill was 1878 900.
HoUsE-Consideratie of the Georgis
bill was continued, and after a sharp debate il
which Bingham of Ohio, rep) spoke against, ant
Butler in its favor, the bill passed-yeas 121 nay
51-Bingham and Farnsworth (reps. voted in tn
3 negative.-A concurrent resolution extending tn
recess of Congress from the 5th to 10th of January
was agreed to.-A resolution was passed after som
opposition authorizing the President to make sucl
preparations for the reception of the remains
f George PEABODY his deeds merited, and com
mensurate with the justice and magnanimity OF 8
great nation.-Logan offered a joint resolution do
: mating cannon for the erection of an equestrian
statue of bronze of Gen. Grant, to be placed on th
south terrace of the Treasury. Passed.-Mungen
introduced resolution allowing retired army ant
navy officers to hold civil offices.
: SENATE-Dec. 22-Sumner introduced {
bill to carry out the reconstruction acts Il ne stat
:. of Virginia. which he gave notice he sho lid NOV
as substitute for the bill reported by the commit
Tee. 1t declares the existing state government pro
!, visiona, and subject to the United States &c :
. Wilson offered resolution relative to the expe
diency of adding two to the number OF Lieut.
!, | Generals and reducing Major Generals to three
He explained his object to be to do justice to Gems
Thomas and Meade.-Williams moved to refer tn
r, bill regulating Chinese immigration to the Com
. mittee on Commerce Agreed to. He said it wa
the intention to protect the laborers of this coun
try far practicable from the presence OF tha
, GLASS of degenerate Chinese who were accustomed
to subieeton to another class of persons, and com
PEELED to work for wages upon which free MAJ
d would starve.-The Alabama claim correspondence
!, | was received from the PRESIDENT.
. Senate adjourned until JAM 10th.
HoUsE-Petitions were presented of cit
n zens of Cincinnati for amendment to revenue la7
q SO as to permit dstillers of grapes, apples. an
peaches to drop beer for distillation; by MI
Washburn of Wis., for the establishment Of a co
j. lection district and port of entry at La Crosse
n Bills introduced TO abolish Imprisonment for det
in the District of Columbia; on the subject of az
pointment under the next census, favoring the IL
crease of representatives to at least 300, and int
Il mating that there would ere long be an amendmeI
to the Constitution changing the basis OF represei
tation in the Senate.-Washburn of Wis, made
n speech fayoring the government undertaking tn
h telegraph business of the country.-Oith made
speech on questions pertaining to the public deb
He thought both army and navy should be reduces
Z as also the tariff -Edredge spoke on the rights
s states--Steyenson introduced bill to amend II
:" revenue law, repeating the clause allowing sire
railway companies to add the government tax to IL
fare of passengers; also repeating the clause alloy
ing gas companies to add the government tax
IL the contract price of gas furnished customers
)f House adjourned to Jan. 10th.
IS MORE TESTIMONY. From the Times Ne
n Polzt, N. Y. "We take pleasure this wee
y in calling the attention of our readers
the advertisement of "HOO1dnd'S GerT1d