Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-12-23

the first bill being the act to abolish the
ranking privilege, which was passed over at
the instance of Mr.. Drake. A large number
of bills were then considered in their order,
those to which any objection was made being
laid aside. Adjourned. . -. ~
HoUsE-Joseph. H. Rainey, colored mem
Der elect from the Fourth District of South
Carolina, appeared and took the oath of
office. Butler, of Massachusetts,, reported,
from the Judiciary Committee, the bill to re-
peal the acts of March 2, 1867, and April .,
1869, regulating the tenure of certain civil
officers, and moved the previous question on
its passage. The bill passed by vote of 81
to 25. Dawes offered resolution to pay
Messrs. Sypher and Marcy, members from
Louisiana, salary and mileage from the be-
ginning of the present Congress, deducting
the amount paid their contestants for seats at
the last session. Adopted. Dawes intro
duced concurrent resolution for recess of
Congress from Thursday, Dec. %, to Wednes-
day, Jan. 4. Adopted. After long and
acrimonious discussion on the bill introduced
by Logan, abolishing the offices of Admiral
and Vice Admiral in the navy, it was passed
under a suspension of the rules and without
division Cox offered resolution in relation
to the expense of the government, its debt
and revenue, which was referred. Appoint
ments to fill vacancies in various committees
were: Public Lands-Mr. Strickland; Pos
tai Telegraph-Mr. Ferris. Adjourned.
Dec. Is. SENATE.-A bill was intro
duced by Carpenter, granting lands to the
State of Wisconsin to aid in the construction
of railroad from Milwaukee to Lake SUI
perior via Green Bay. Referred. McCreery
ssked leave to introduce a resolution, notice
of which he gave yesterday, proposing an in
vestgation with view to the restoration of
the Arlington estate to the widow of Gen. R.
E. Lee, the removal of the grave-yards on
the premises, and general restitution for any
incumbrance placed there in the interest of
the Government. The permission was re-
fused by vote of "a nays to yeas. After
the disposal of few matters of minor i'm
portance, the Senate adjourned.
HoUsE.-The House resumed consideration
of the bill to consolidate the postal laws, the
pending question being the amendment Of
fered by Hill, repeating, from the LIST of July,
1871, all laws allowing the franking privi-
lege, and the amendment thereto, offered by
Welker, allowing newspapers, periodicals,
and magazines, reciproe ally interchanged
between publishers, and copy of weekly
newspapers to be sent free of charge to ac-
tual subscribers within the county where
published. At the suggestion of Ferry,
w
ing semi-weekly and monthly newspapers.
Walkers amendment was adopted, 70 to so.
Hills amendment was then agreed to, l03 to
IS. Maynard offered an amendment, pro-
viding that the ranking privilege should
not be taken from any person to whom it has
been heretofore granted, by name, by special
act of Congress. Adopted. Various amend
ments as to the details of the bill were Of
fered and disposed of, and the bill then
nos wifi n,,f 1ixysc. p,fla Of
chusetts, presented petition signed by 1900
citizens of Gloucester, Mass, complaining of
the unfriendly acts of the authorities of the
Dominion of Canada toward American fisher
mon. Referred. The remainder of the day
was taken up in disposing of business on the
Speakers table, after which the House adj
journed.
Dec. l4.-SENATE.-The House resolu-
from the 22d of December to Jan. 4, was con-
CURED in-ayes, SO; nays, Is. Harris offered
resolution, which was agreed to, instruct
ing the Committee on Commerce to inquire
into the expediency of constructing and
maintaing, at the expense of, and under the
exclusive superintendent of, the General
Government, ship canal from the Missis-
sippi river, at or near Fort ST. Philip, to a
Mexico, the canal to be open to all commerce
entering or departing from the Mississippi
river; Fenton submitted two Retrenchment
resolutions, whice were adopted. The bill
of last session, to promote the securing of
efficient seamen for the navy of the United
Stetes, was substituted. The bill provides
that 800 boys from Is to II years of age shall
he received from all parts of the country,
and, after passing moral and physical exami-
OH c1on
81 years of age. Upon arriving at their ma
jority the apprentices shall be promoted to
the grade of Union sailors. Union seamen
shall be eligible to promotion to petty offices.
Adjourned.
HoUsE-At 1:3O the House proceeded to
consider the bill for full and general amnes-
ty, and the oblivion of all wrongful acts,
doings, or omissions of all persons engaged
in the late rebellion. The bill excepts West
Point and Annapolis graduates, members of
either House of Congress, and Of the Con-
federate Congress, heads of departments, for
eign ministers and judges of any United
States Courts who engaged in the rebellion,
members of secession conventions and Gov
errors of seeded States during the rebellion
any person who cruelty treated Federal
prisoners of war; or who have not duly ac-
counted for United States funds entrusted to
them during the rebellion, or who have en-
bezzled or secreted any of the money, prop
erty, or public shares of the United States
and all deserters from the United States army
and navy, and all bounty jumpers. The bill
also excerpts all property confscated or for
feited, the title to which is now held by the
United States or any third person, and all
lanes occupied by the national cemeteries.
The act does not impair previous removal of
disabilities from any person whom it excerpts
from its provisions, and declares invalid every
right of action and liability arising in any
ordinance, law, or contract in aid of the re-
bellion. Laid over until the 18th. After
considering one or two more unimportant
bills, the House adjourned.
Tho MayknfS