Mower County transcript., 1871-12-28
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS-.

L.
national banks to hereafter keep reserve in
gold instead of legal-tendels. Mr.. Conkling
offered resolution instructing the Committee
on Investigation and Retrenchment to inquire
into the reported abuses in the New York
General Order Business" Mr.. Anthony Of.
fered a resolution for the appointment of the
following Committee on lnvesti alton and Re-
trenchmont: Messrs. Buckingham, Pratt,
Howe, Harlan, Ste vart. Pool and Bayard. The
formation Of this committee provoked lengthy
debate, in the course of which motion was
made and carried to add Mr.. Casserly, Demo-
crat, to the committee. The resolution was
finally adopted by vote of AZ yeas and nay.
Here the House bill in relation to steam-boilers
used on the Mississippi river was taken up and
passed.
MONDAY, December 1S.-HousE-
A number of bills were introduced, including
the following To legalize the polygamist
marriages in Utah. and to dismiss all criminal
proceedngrin Utah against polygamists; to all
thorize the Chicago and Northwestern Rail-
way to change the direction of their road in
Michigan also for change in the direction of
the Ontonagon and Lake Superior Railroad :;
for the improvement Of the navigation of the
Dcs Moines Rapids for public buildings in
Oshkosh, Wis.,; for the admission Of Utah, al
state; for preliminary survev for ship ca
nal from the southern point of Lake Michigan
to tie Mississippi river near the mouth of the
Ohio. MIR. Bltler, of Massachusetts, intro
duced bill declaratory of the rights of suf-
frage, and declaring women entitled to suf-
frage under the Fourteenth Constitutional
Amendment. Thursday next was assigned to
general debate.
TUESDAY, December 19.-SENATE.
The House bill appropriating S4,000,oo0 for
public buildings in Chicago was passed. Mr..
Stewart introduced resolution providing a
sixteenth amendment to tho constitution, pro-
hibiting giving aid to sectarian schools. MIR.
S;lmner gave notice that he would propose an
amendment to the constitution providing that
the President shall be ineligible for reelection.
Mr.. E.lmunds introduced a bill TO punish stock
gambling by public officers, and for other
purposes. 1t prohibits all person. employed
in the Treasury department or in the collection
or disbursement of the revenue, from being
engaged OF concerned in buying or selling coin,
government securities or stock of any de-
scription, unde: the penalty Of a fine not ex-
ceedlng $40, 900, or imprisonment not exceed
ing ten years, or both, at the discretion of the
court. The resolution directing the Committee
on Retrenchment to inquire into the charges
made by Mr.. Schurtz in reference to the Gen
eral Order Business of the New York custom
house vas adopted with amendments. A reso-
luton directing the Sergeant-at Arms to arrest
Saunders, the refractory witness in North
Carolina, was passed. The Senate then went
INTO executive session.
TUESDAY, December 19-HoUsE.
A number Of bills we're introduced and re-
ferred. debate took place on Mr.. Harris
labor bill, after which a bill appropriatins
$27, $40 to supply the deficiency in the expcn-
ses of the ku-Klux Committee was passed and
the House adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, December 2O-SENArE.
"A bill appropriating quarter of million of
dollars for the Geneva Commission and sixty
thousand dollars for the Mixed Commission
expenses at Washington, was passed. Anum-
ber of measures we're introduced, among them
resolution from Garrett Davis, of Kentucky,
directing the Investigating and Retrenchment
dents interests in public contracts. tho ap-
pointment of his relatives to Office, and also as
to the appointment of those who have made
him presents. Senator Fenton introduced
bill for the reorganization of the customs ser
vice. The House general amnesty bill was then
taken up and debated, after which the Senate
went into executive session.
WEDNESDAY, December 2s-HoUsE-
The Select Committee of the Civil Service were
instructed to inquire into the expediency of
providing for the election of postmasters by
the peoole. The post foute bill passed. Mr.
Galle1os, delegate from New Mexico, was
sworn in. The discussion of Mr. Hoar's labor
bill was resumed and became very animated
Tho bill was passed, with amendments, by q
vote of l34 yeas, and &c nays. Adjourned.
THURSDAY, December 21.- SENATE. -
Mr.. Sumner introduced his one-term amend
'nent to the constitution, and called attention
to the fact that the amendment was not to 30
into effect until March 4, 1873, therefore
it would not interfere with the preference of
Senators fer any particular candidate next
year. Mr.. Sumner also offered resolution,
which was adopted. directing the Committee
on Retrencbment to inquire into the lease of
Samana Bay by the United States. The House
General Amnesty bill was taken up, and an
amendment, offered by MI. Morton, providing
that the act should not be construed 80 as to
validate the election of anybody to an Office
under the United States government who was
at the time of his election ineligible by law
adopted. Mr.. Sumner again offered his sup
Elementary civil rights bill, which created
some discussion. but without acting on the bill
the Senate adjourned.
THURSDAY, December 21.-HoUsE.-
Thursday was field day in the House, no bust
ness being transacted.