Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-12-14
Congressional.

The second session of the Forty -second
Congress convened At noon on the ith. There wa-
nearly fu attendance in the Senate. Several
resolutions we're introduced, among others one d.
rectiBg inquiry a. 20 the ekpediency 81 imnedi-
aiely rebuilding the public buildings OF Chicago.
Bill were introduced authorizing compound inter
,..t notes ~ g substitute for ega-iender notes to
make Duluth port Of delivery, and TO establish a
collection district st Paul (laid the table, to
Drosida fey the relief % The sufferers by iIe ire in
Chicago tabled Petitions were presented for the
passage of Civil Rights bill The Presidents
Message read and ordered printed. ...l Inc an
Dua reports Of the heads Of departments we're pre-
scented and ordered printed. Adjourned.
The roll-call in the House was responded
to by POI members The Standing Committees
were announced Resolutions were offered and
refcrrcd-to print 10000 copies Of the Treaty Of
Washington requesting the President To INFORM
the House under what law he had caused the Con-
sttntiOn Of the United States and OF the State OF
South Carolina to- be violated by proclaiming mar
tia Law and suspending the writ Of haoed& corpus III
certain counties In South Carolina, etc. asking the
President for information n TO the security of life
and property In Kentucky for an amendment 10 the
Constitution, that all direct taxes be assessed
on a basis Of wealth for an inyestiga-
tIcn into the negotiations BY the Sec
rotary of the Treasury of the new funded loan.
A number Of new members were sworn, and the
credentials Of Herndon and Clark, of Texas, were
referred Bills were introduced for revival OF
navigation and commercial interests, providing for
the admission OF all shipbuilding materials, ship
stores and coal free OF duty, and for the rcenmp-
ton of specie payment: 10 provide for judicial pro-
cecdinr- in all cases Of assessment and collection
OF Federal taxes; to prevent the seizure OF books,
etc and to abolish moietes to nfOrmcrs extend
ing the time for the completion of the Sturgeon Bay
and Lake Michigan Ship Canal. The Presidents
Message was read, and the House adjourned.
In the Senate, on the 9Th, various bills
were introduced and referred "A bill authorizing
steamship service between New Orleans and sew
eral Mexican ports and Havana was introduced
and tabled .. Resolutions were adopted-calling
for the report Of the expedition OF Captain Sci
fridge to the Isthmus Of Tchuantepcc; calling Tor
the correspondence on the retirement OF Minister
Catacazy :. A motion TO take up the resolution
concerning the suspension Of the habtds co1PS IN
South Carolina was lost A bill from the House
declaring the meaning Of the Eight-IIour law came
up, and amendment was offered abolishing the
measure. but before action was taken the Senate
adjourned.
In the House, on the 9Th, several bills
were introduced and referred, among them one APP
propriatng money for the purchase Of site and
the erection Of building for "A Custom House and
Post Office and other Federal offices at st Louis
bill was reported from the Post Office Committee
to revise consolidate and amend the statute relat-
ing to the Postofice Department The Presl-
mittce of the Whole, and the usual refer.
enccs were made, that portion relating
10 the union Of the postal and telegraph service
being referred. after considerable debate, TO the
Committee ON Appropriations by vote Of $50 to
gs The resignation Of Mr. Washburn, Of Massa-
chusetts was presented "A resolution was adopt
ed for an inquiry into the expedency OF the estab-
lishmcnt Of n Labor Bureau in connection with the
Department OF Agriculture, with view to the
compilation OF statistics and more complete recog
milton Of the rights Of the laborng classes Adj
journcd.
In the Senate, on the 9th, a resolution
that two witnesses who refused to answer n sub
J1Ra at Columbia s. C., to appear before the ku-
Kux Investigating Committee, be arrested, and
that another, who refused TO testify, also be ar
rested by the Sergeant at Arms, were laid over
Bills were introduced to amend the act to enforce
the right Of citizens of the United States to vote in
punish bribery and corrupt practices In the election
Of Presidential electors and members of Congress.
. A message received from the President,
transmitting the correspondence concerning the
Russian Minister, Catacazy Executive session
and adj journmcnt.
In the House, on the 9th, resolutions
were adopted-that the Railway Committee inquire
into the expediency Of connecting Lake Michigan
and the Mississippi River by ship canal calling on
the President for instructions to naval commanders
In Cuban waters for the protection Of American life
and property and the maintenance OF the dignity OF
flag; for information concerning the recent ex.
ecutons In Havana In relation to the failure of
Spain to carry out her promises OF reform In the
West Indies . Several bills were introduced and
referred-one for the construction Of life stations
at Cape Cod Messrs. Kelley, Harper, Conger,
Lynch, Perry, Willard Wood, Marshall and iol-
man were announced AZ IA select committee ON Reor
ganization Of the Civil Service. The Apportion-
ment bill reported at the last session considered
In Committee OF the Whole Adjourned.