Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-01-19

soldiers and sailors, their widows and orphans
and children to acquire homesteads on the
public lands of the United States. The bill
was passed amendatory of the funding act OF
the last session, authorizing an increase OF
The issue Of five per cent. bonds from $780,
600. 900 to $500, 00o, 900, and making the inter-
est on the same payable quarterly sumner
resolution calling for information on San Do
mingo matters was adopted without obJection.
Some discussion was had on the bill for tie
relief of Congressman from importantly IN
regard to official appointments, but 1t went
over without q vote.-After some further pusl-
ness of secondary importance the Senate adj
iourned.
HousE.-Amoug the bills offered was one to
extend the benefits Of the homestead policy
to disabled soldiers and sailors, and to widows
and orphans and dependent relations OF those
who died in the service of their country
Wood offered resolution calling upon the
President for all correspondence, papers, &C.,
relating to San Domingo. This created some
discussion pending which the House adjourned.
SENATE. Jan. 5th-Several bills were intro
duced and referred, among which was one Tor
the appointment Of inspectors in the Indian
service 1t directs the President to nominate
to the Senate six inspectors of Indian affairs,
who. under direction of the Interior Depart
ment, and at salary of $4,000 per annum,
are to visit the Indian tribes and inspect their
sanitary, industrial and educational condition.
A bill was passed providing that hereafter
no tax shall be imposed or collected upon any
undstributable sum added to the contingent
fund Of any insurance company, nor on I'M
earned premiums received for risks assumed.
"A resolution was adopted calling for the cor
respondence between the State Department
and Minister Motley, relating to his duties and
also to his removal.-The bill for the reim-
bursement Of J. NJ. Best, Of Paducah, KY, for
the destruction of his dwelling house during
the war by the Union forces was passed, after
considerable discussion. 1t appropriates $685.
600 for the purpose. Adjourned to Monday.
HoUsE.-Gen. Schencks resignation OF his
seat was presented.-Orth, Of Indiana, was
appointed to fill the vacancy on the committee
of WAYS and Means, caused by Schenck res
ignation.-Some time was spent in discussing
the resolutions relative to Paraguayan affairs
and Minister Washturn, but they went over
without vote.-A bill was passed giving Mr..
Schenck. United States Minister to England,
an additional allowance Of 50, 500 per year for
private amanuenses, rendered necessary on
account of Mr. Schencks partial disability of
his right hand from wounds received in battle.
Adjourned.
HOUSE, Jan. 6.-Several unimportant bills
were introduced when the House resumed the
consideration of the resolutions reported by
the Committee on Foreign Affairs in reference
to the dispute between Minister Charles A.
Washburne aud the late Government of Para
ruay After some discussion they were adopt
ed. They declare Rear Admiral S. W. Cor
don, in neglecting to aid Mr.. Washburne in
reaching the government to which he was &C
credited, failed to discharge his duty as Com
mander of the South Atlantic Squadron: that
Messrs. Bliss and Masterman we're members of
the personal suite of Mr.. Washburne, and
we're, therefore, under the law Of nations, en-
titled to the protection Of the United States
that the forcibe arrest and detention OF
Messrs. Bliss and Masterman by the govern
ment of Paraguay was violation of the law
of nations, and gross insult to the honor
and dignity of the United States. They
approve the action of the President in with
drawing the American Minister, Gen. Mcmahon,
from the government Of Paraguay, and de-
clining to have further diplomatic intercourse
with that government, and they declare it to
be clearly the duty Of the United States naval
officers at foreign stations to render all
reasonable assistance to diplomatic officers
of the United States, in the discharge
of their duties, and that refusal or
neglect to render such assistance when reHir-
ed, or any discourtesy of such naval officers
toward diplomatic officers, shall be subject
of inquiry and punishment by the Naval De-
partment Additional resolutions were adopt
eG directing court of inquiry for the trial OF
Admirals Gordon and Davis; disappearing of
the conduct Of Rear Admiral Chas. II. Davis
in delaying for an unreasonable time to pro-
coed to the rescue of Messrs. Bliss and Mas
terman, in accepting their release in the man.
ner and under the circumstances detailed in
the testimony, and in receiving, holding and
treating them as prisoners; declaring that
Admiral Gordon, in neglecting to aid Mr..
WashbuTn in reaching the Government to
which he was accredited, failed to discharge
his duties as commander Of the South Atlantic
Squadron. Adjourned.
SENATE, January "a bill was introduced
appropriating 1000 for the completion OF
the harbor at Duluth. Minn.--The Judiciary
Committee reported adversely upon the bill
for the election of Presidential electors and
members Of Congress by ballot.-The House
joint resolution appropriating $4,000 per year
for an amauuensis for Minister Schenck, pass-
ed. The correspondence between Minister
Motley and the state department was present
ed aud ordered prnted.--The bill relative to
minis. the assay Office and coinage was discus
sed during the remainder of the session with
out vote After an executive session the
Senate adjourned.
House. After the introduction Of large
number Of bills Orth asked to suspend the
rules and take from the Speakers table and
pass the Senate Joint resolution authorizing
the appointment of commissioners in relation
10 the annexation of Dorninica.--After con-
siderable discussion on the subject, and the
understanding that the resolutions should re-
main open for debate until two O'Clock to-
morrow, the motion to suspend the rules was
carried and the resolutions were taken up
and debated until five o'clock, when the House
adjourned.
SENATE, Jan. 10th.-Yates presented petit
ton for an amendment of the constitution
recognizing the Supreme Being, and advocated
the making of report on tho matter lg the
Judiciary Committee.-Several bills were re-
ported from committee, but not acted on
Several bills were introduced and referred,
amoug which vas one by Wilson, providing
that all persons shall be relieved Of political
disabilities. excepting those vino left the Cabi-
net and Congress in 1850 and 1861, and have
been suspended from Office since May 81, 1870.
tt--l. Ia no