Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-01-19
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

bill was introduced by Corbett relative to the an
nexation of British Columbia; by Sumner, to Sc
cure equal rights in the public schools of the Dis
/ trict Of ColQmbia by Harlan, to prohi It the sal
of public lands except to actual settlers; by Stewart
extending to Chinese elnigrants the provisions o
the civil rights bill; also bill to establish United
States postal system, and authorizing the Post
IN 'ster General 10 contract for the construction
telegraph lines, &c ; by Morton, joint resolution
declaring that no state has a right to impose AM
tax or duty citizens CT other states travelling
transporting through it, also bill making it mis-
demeanor TO mt out and equip ships of war to
against foreign nation with which are at peace
by Williams, joint resolution requiring the Treas
ury to redeem IN coin such Treasury notes may
be presented at the rate of dollar in coin for one
dollar and twenty cents in Treasury notes. and tha
such notes shall be used to purchase bonds bearing
interest at six per cent Laid on the table HamliI
introduced d resolution asking an additional pro
vision of law for the purchase of artificial legs fol
disabled soldiers; by Corbett resolution lookine
to law requiring national banks to retain the
coin interest PAID them, and retain the same as
substitute tor the currency reserve now required by
lava discussion was had on CorbCtts resolution
making a cess1on of British Columbia ground fol
negotiation with Great Britain the Alabama mat
ter. Referred to Committee on FOrei n Relations -
The Virginia bill taBen up and discussed al
length. Sumner favored postponement. Stewart
and Morton favored immediate admission. Drake
offered an amendment that when any state shall an
nu its ratification of the fifteenth amendment, il
shall by that act forfeit Its right to representation i'll
Congress. No action the bill was reached and,
after brief executive session, the Senate adjourned.
HOUsE.-Several bills were introduced,
among them one to change the time of the meeting
of Congress to the first Monday in January; to ex-
empt ptfarmers and gardeners from paying brokers'
tax on sales OF their products; repeating the tariff
on imported breeding animals; to admit Virginia to
Congress: to improve Port Washington (Wis) har-
bor to extend the privileges of the national bank
ing act; to repeal the bankruptcy law; extending
the pre-emption and homestead laws to extnguish
tIa
establish a navy yard and depot at Mound City; to
amend the homestead act by allowing soldiers
to onter one hundred and sixty acres of the
alternate reserved sec. ions along railroad grants
instead gof eighty acres, as now limited
Paine introduced a bill for the apporti0nment of
representatives providing that after March g. 1871
the House shall be composed of 800 members, with
additions for new states admitted thereafter; also
that if the representation of any state shall be in
creased by the appOrtionment the additional repre-
sentatves shall be chosen by the state at large,
less its le9isatule shall otherwise proVide-Bing-
ham called up the Virginia question by resolution
declaring her entitled representation and called
Tor vote on the previous question its passage.
The House refused to order the main question, 68
to So and the bill went over.-Brooks presented a
memorial of New York ship owners for free trade
in ships.-Pettions also presented, asking for
reduction of tariff on pig irOn TO abolish franking,
and to require prepayment of postage newspa-
pers-A bill was presented and discussed at length
to define The duties of pension agents. The bill
was given to committee on Invalid Pensions, to ar.
range II so dS 10 pfOVlde Tor the payment OF pen
sops in every county free of expense to pensioners
Adjourned.
SENATE-Jan. 11th.-Sumner gave notice
that he should introduce bill for the refunding
and consolidation of the national debt, to extend
banking facilities and establish specie payments
Howe introduced bill to preserve the neutral re-
IatiOns of the United States.--The bill to exempt
canned and preserved fish from internal tax was
passed.-Sherman introduced a bill to provide a
national currency of coin notes, and to equaiZe the
distribution of circulating notes. 1t provides that
S45, coo additional notes may be issued to ma
tiOua banks in states and territories having less
than their proporiOn.-Pratt introduced bill giv-
ing to state courts concurrent jurisdiction with
United States district courts in certain cases of
maritime contracts and tolls upon navigable rivers.
The Virginia bill was taken up, and discussion
ensued upon Wilson's motion to postpone. The
motion was lost-26 to o. A lengthy discussion
then followed on brakes motion to deprive thu
state of representation and remand it to its preseJ
condition in the Legislature rescind its ratifca
ton of the fifteenth amendment. No action wal
tsken.-A veto message was received from the J'res
ideDt concerning extension of certain paten
of Roliin S. White.-Adjourned.
HoUsE-Bingham withdrew his Virginis
BILL intending to offer it as substitute for that
the reconstruction committee.-Farnsworth intro
duced bill declaring vi. ginia entitled TO repre-
sentation in Congress on condition that no person
shall be allowed TO hold Office, civil military, VIII
cannot swear that he had never taken the oath
OI COnSTeSS, or as any
judicial or military under the United States, an(
thereafter ens aged in insurrectlon or rebellion
against the same, or giving aid or comfort to thu
enemies thereof; or who can swear that he has beer
relieved of disability by Congress. I'd. That the
constitution of said state shall never be SO amended
to deprive any class of the right of Suffrage,
the enjoyment OF any right or privilege on account
of race or color. Bingham offered his bill as
substitute. Debate followed. Farnsworth's bill
orcered printed and recommitted Several
notices of amendments were given. The bill re.
lating 10 the payment of pensions was committed.
Logan reported bill relative to issuing artificial
limbs to soldiers, which passed.-Cobb report
ed bill extending till JAN 1872, the time for max
ing claims for additional bountes. Recommitted.
A bill pass d subdividing q. s. judicial dis
tricts in Iowa The House went into Committee OF
the Whole, when Reilly. of Pa, made speech crit
csing the report of Commissioner Wells.
SENATE-Jan. 13-Conkling presented
the resolutions OF the New York legislature with
drawing the ratification of the 18th amendment by
that state-Sumner introduced his funding bill, OF
which he gave notice yesterday. 1t contemp plates
the extinguishment of the 20s of 1862 and re-
funding them in per cent. 10.40s.-RamseY intro
duced bill granting lands to aid the construction
of a railroad from the western boundary of Mime
sofa to the Winnipeg district.-Wilson from Judic-
iary Commi tee reported in favor of setting apart
portion of the Fort Smelling military reservation
for prominent military post The Virginia bill
taken up and brakes amendment to prevent
Virginia from resembling its ratification of the 18th
were off red. Sumner presented memorial from
Virginia republicans now in Washington, setting
forth the situation of affairs in that state They
declare that majority of the Virginia Legislature
elected by fraud and violence: that colored
men excluded from the jury box; that belief
in the right of secession as firm as ever; thai
that the action of the Walker party during the late
canvas for the avowed purposes of dPceivine
Congress and getting the stare admitted; that Gov
Walker was copperhead during the war, and the
President of a club in Chicago to rescue rebe
frorY zrlo ~nl hat hjS
timents bad undergone no change. They ash
Congress to enforce the existing reconstruction
acts.
HOUSE. Wood presented the joint reso
luton of the New York Legislature withdrawing
assent to the ratification of the fifteenth amend
ment; tabled.-Garfield introduced bill to amend
the act for the establishment of the Department o
Education, and to abolish the Bureau of Refugees
Freedmen and Abandoned Lands REFEREED
introduced, by Pomeroy, de eclaring the De
Moines River not public highway; by Conger, TO
remaving sand bar at the mouth of Clinton River
Lake st. Clairs adopted. The Virginia bill wa
taken up FaFnsworth and Paine spoke in favo
and Mrgan against, the latter favoring Bingham
ubstitute.-Adjourned.
The SUEz CANAL-SOMETHING RGIIABIi
ABOUT IT'S DEPTH. English a ngineer-
civil and nautical-has just returned fror
q f111l c17rvou Of tho Sunz Nooo1 o,,l -, -