Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-02-03
Congressional Summary.

Fenton introduced, by request, Dill direct
ing the Postmaster General TO contract Win
the North American Steamship company, OF
New York, for the transportation OF mails
between New York and Antwerp, or Bre
men, touching at Plymouth and Cherbourg,
for a term of fifteen years, at the rate of
81 : 600 a trip. A large number of bills OF
m Nor importance were introduced and re-
ferred. and, after an Executive session, the
Senate adjourned until Monday, Jan. %.
HousE.-The House, at LILO p. H., went
into Committee of the Whole, and resumed
consideration of the Consular and Diplomatic
Appropriation bill-the question being ON
Mr.. Woods motion to limit the expenditures
of the secret service fund of the State Depart
ment, and that none of it shall be used In
connection with the annexation OF San Do
mingo. There was some debate, and, with
out finishing the bill, the House proceeded to
the consideration of the Senate bill to pro
vide for the government of the District OF
Columbia, which, after few amendments,
was passed. Dickey, from the Committee on
Appropriations, reported the Army Appro-
Driation BILL and it was made the special
order for Thursday next. The bill appro-
pirates $27 ,475 900. Adjourned till the 23d.
JAN. 23.-SENATE.- Ramsey presented
the credentials of Mr.. O. P. Stearns, elected
by the Legislature of Minnesota for the un-
expired term of Hon. D. S. Norton, deceased
After the reading of the credentials, Mr.
Stearns presented himself and took the oath
of Office. Sumner presented and had read
the Joint resolution of the Indiana Legisla-
| ture instructing the Senators from that State
| to vote against the annexation of Domingo
Ordered printed and laid on the table. On
motion of Edmunds, Chairman Of the Com
| mittee on Pensions, the Senate took up and
| passed the bill increasing the pensions OF
disabled soldiers and sailors, and the widows
| and children of deceased soldiers and sal
lors. 1t increases all pensions twenty per
| cent. for five years from March 4, 1871 Un-~
| finished business being Trumbull's bill to
relieve congressman from importantly and
preserve the independence of the depart
| ments of the Government, it was considered.
| At O'Clock the Senate went into Executive
session, and half an hour later adjourned.
HousE.-Resolutons introduced and refer
| red: resolution for commission to de-
termine the claims for damages on American
| commerce by Confederate privateers; for
the improvement of the navigation of the
Wabash river; to authorize the construction
| of a bridge across the Missouri river at
Bonneville: to reduce the rates of correspoa-
dence by telegraph, and to connect the tele-
graph with the postal service; granting lands
for the Montana and Wyoming railroad;
granting 100000 acres of public lands for
common schools in Virginia.; granting
public lands to North Carolina for
common schools. Also, for the erection of
postoffice at Raleigh, North Carolina.
Cox offered resolution instructing the
| Committee on Public Lands to inquire into
| the expediency of giving each State all the
public lands therein that have been subject
to sale entry more than twenty years.
| VIM. M. Paine, member elect from Georgia,
appeared and took the oath of office. Ste
VEINS, from the Committee ON Naval Affairs,
reported the bill to regulate rank in the
navy. 1t fixes the relative rank of surgeons,
engineers, paymasters and chaplains. Ste
vens explained and advocated the bill,
claiming that by the reduction made under
it, there would be saving to the Govern
ment of from 900 to 100000 per year.
After lengthy debate, the bill was passed.
Dawes introduced joint resolution for the
appointment of a Committee on Fish and
Fisheries. Passed. The House, at Ais p.
M, ad journed.
JAN. observation-disclosures, from the
Finance Committee, reported, with sundry
amendments of minor character, the House
joint resolution declaring the meaning Of the
twenty-sixth section of the act to reduce IN
ternal taxes, etc., approved July IA, 1870. Its
effect is to allow merchandise in port and not
entered on Dec. 81, 1870, to be admitted UNI
der the old tariff. The bill was passed. Sum
ner pres nted a bill against consolidating
ocean c. Die companies. The Vice President
presented the credentials of F. P. Blair, Sena-
tor elect from Missouri for the term ending
March 4, 1870. Scott introduced joint
resolution appropriating $1,000, or so much
as is necessary, to defray the expenses of the
| select committee to investigate the alleged
Southern outrages. Passed. On Morton's
suggestion, the motion of Bayard to recon
slider the vote adopting the resolution allow
| ing the Committee on Southern Outrages to
eft no of the Senate
| agreed to. The resolution was then tabled
for the present. After disposing of other
unfinished business, the Senate adjourned.
| HoUSE-McClurg, from the Committee on
| Elections, reported, in the contested election
case from North Carolina, that Nathaniel
| Boyden, the contestant, was not entitled to
seat, and that Francis E. Shaber, the sitting
member, was. Resolution adopted. The bill
| to provide for the consolidation of Indian
| tribes, and to create o Territorial Govern
ment for the Indians, came up as the regu-
| lar business of the morning hour, and, after
| discussion, was recommitted, with leave
hereafter to extend the debate Logan, from
the Committee on Military Affairs, reported
resolution authorizing a subcommittee
with regard to the kidnapping and compul-
| sorry resignation of the three cadets, to pro-
coed to West Point and take testimony.
| Adopted Asper reported q substitute for
the Senate bill to reimburse the State of Ar
| kansas for money expended in enrolling,
equipping and provisioning militia for the
| suppression of the rebellion. The substitute
was agreed to, and the bill passed. Young
| presented the credentials of Stephen A.
| Carker, member elect from the Fifth Con-
| gressional District of Georgia, and moved
| that he be sworn in. There was storm of
opposition, but it was unavailing. Carker
presented himself, and was sworn in. A bill
was introduced by Niblack giving the Chi
cago and Ohio Southern Railroad Company
| the right to build bridge across the Wabash
river, and declaring it post road. Bills
were reported by the Committee on Com
merce, and recommitted in reference to a
railroad bridge. across the Mississippi river,
and to encourage the building of steamships
| in the United States. The House then, at
4:30, adjourned
JAN. 25.-SENATE.-Senator elect f.
P. Blair, of Missouri, presented his creden-
tials through his colleague, Schurz, appeared
and took the oath of Office. He was then ap-
pointed to fill the vacancies in the Commit
tees on Education and Labor. Chandler in
troduced bill to enable the Jackson, Lam
sing and Saginaw railroad to change the
northern terminus of the road from Traverse
Bay to the Straits of Macinac. Trumbull,
from the Judiciary Committee, reported
back adversely, the bill introduced by him
self in reference to life insurance. Sumner
| forwarded to the Secretary, and had read
the credentials of his colleague, Wilson, re-
elected for six years from March next. After
a personal debate between Fenton and
Conkling, relative to the New York Custom
House and Collector Murphy's administra-
ton, the Senate adjourned.
HousE.-Niblack reported the Fertilization
bill, and it was made the special order for
next Tuesday. The bill appropriates ST.