River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-12-27
Congressional Summary.


in the District of Columbia referred TO the
judiciary Committee. The effort failed, and
the matter went back to the former COM
mlttee. Bills were introduced, authorizing
the Secretary OF the Treasury 70 Issue cou-
pom bonds in exchange tor the registered
bonds; and to authorize the President to re-
lease the Empire of Japan from the payment
of the indemnity due to the United States uE-
der the convention Of 1854 Mr.. Cole offered
resolution directing the Judiciary Committee
to enquire into the expediency of so amend
ing the Constitution as to provide for the cleo
ton Of President and Vice President, and
United States Senators by direct vote of
the people. The resolution was adopted. The
Vice President announced the appointment OF
Mr.. Stevenson, of Kentucky, IS member of
the Board of Regents Of the Smithsonian In
sttute, in place Of Garrett Davis, deceased.
The bill TO authorize the construction of
bridge across the 0uachita river at or near
Arkadelphia, Arkansas, was passed: also bill
to provide for the removal of the sunken
wrecks obstructing the cannal off Sandy
Hook.
HoUsE-Bills were introduced and
referred: Authorizing collectors to grant
special orders for unloading steamships at
night, alsI establishing new scale OF fees and
salaries for Custom officers; repeating the
bankruptcy act; repeating the special tax on
retailers of leaf tobacco; repeating the en-
forcement act; abolishing the stamp duty on
bank checks; abolishing the special tax on
leaf tobacco, etc. The House then resumed
the consideration Of the bill reported last SEES
sion by CoDurn, of Indiana, TO enable honor
ably discharged soldiers and sailors, their
widows or orphan children, to acquire home
steads on the public land, with authority to
assign their certificates and locate by attor-
ney. The bill was debated until the expira-
tion of the morning hour, when the House
WA nj MT No., Of tho Wbnla ha Tn
dian Appropriation bill.
SENATE.-A bill was passed ON De-
cember 18th to admit free of duty the statue TO
commemorate the sailors who fell in the late
war. Mr.. Hitchcock introduced bill for the
removal OF certain Indians in Nebraska to the
Indian territories. Bills were passed placing
colOred persons who enlisted IN the army on
the same footing as other soldiers as to bounty
lands authorizing the settlement of the
claims Of the estate of the late Admiral Dahl
gren establishing an assay Office at Helena
Montana. Mr.. Summers supplementary civil
rights bill was reached on the calen-
dar but objection being made it went
over. Mr.. Sherman. from the Finance
Committee, reported the House bill for
the reduction of the officers and expen-
ses of the Internal Revenue Bureau, with
amendments providing that the offices of AS
SCISSOR and Assistant Assessor shall cease to
as the Commissioner OF Interna Revenue may
find it practicable, prior to July LIST, 1878;
authorizing the appointment of rs additional
agents until July 1st. 1874, in addition TO those
provided for by the existing law and amend
ing the present law so as to provide that all
Of the additional commission of one-half per
cent shall be paid to the collector receiving
the tax on all spirits produced after the Office
o. assessor shall cease according to the bill.
The Senate concurred in the House bill re-
moving the political disabilities of l.. @. La
mar, and the House holiday resolution.
HoUsE--The judiciary Committee
has instructed a report upon the power OF
Congress to regulate commerce among states.
A memorial was presented from the Centen-
NAL Commissioners, asking aid. The Speaker
announced the following appointments to fill
vacancies on committees Committee on
Elections, Foster, of Ohio on Claims, Hawley,
of Conn.,; on the Judiciary, Shokmeeker, of
Penn; Civil Service Reform, Croker, Of Mas
sachusetts, and Dodds, of Ohio; on Patents,
Estey, of Mass; on Coinage, Weights and
Measures, Connor of Texas; on Private Land
Claims, Goddings, of Texas; on Agriculture,
Hundon of Texas. The House resume the
consideration of the soldiers bounty land BILL
and debated with much warmth until the ex-
piration of the morning hour. The French
spoliation bill was postponed, and the House
went into q Committee of the Whole, Mr..
Dawes presiding, on the Indian Appropriation
Bill, as usu al. Upon rising the bill was report
ed and passed.
SENATE. On December II, Mr. Sher.
man called up the bill for the reduction of Of
ficers and expenses of the internal revenue
by abolshing the internal revenue assessors,
and explained it, stating that if passed it
would save between two and two and one-half
million dollars annually. After a lengthy dis
cussiOn the Finance Committees amendments
were agreed to and the bill passed. The bill
for the relief Of sufferers by the Boston fire
was called up and debated for a short time,
after which the Senate went into executive
session.
HoUsE.-Mr. Dawes, from the Com
mittee Of Ways and Means, reported a bill
authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to
issue coupon bonds in exchange for registered
bonds, the expense charged to be paid by the
owner. After a discussion the bill pas ed,
yeas 1876, nays %. The House took up the
soldiers bounty land bill, which was discussed
by Messrs. Coburn, Storms, Niblack. Holman,
StOughton, ana Shellabarger, chiefly in favor
Of il. A substitute offered by Mr.. Holman was
adopted, and the bill as amended passed by a
vote of ll6 yeas against Is nays. Mr.. Gar
field. from the Committee on Appropriations,
reported on the deficiency bill, approprating
81, $50. 600. The House then went into Com
mittee of the Whole on the appropriation bill
which appropriates $50, 100000. Upon rising
the bill was reported and passed.
SENATE. December 13, Mr.. Cra-
gin, from the Committee on Naval Affairs,
reported substitute for the House bill to
authorize the construction of six steam YES
sells of war, increasing the number TO ten. A
bill was passed appropriating 100000 for the
purchase Of an additional site Tor the Boston
post-ofiice. The credentials Of Geo. f. Spen-
Ger, reelected Senator from Alabama. we're
presented Mr.. Pomeroy introduced bin TO
organize the territory of Oklayavia, console
date the Indians in the territory, and carry
out the provisions of the treaties with certain
tribes. Referred. Mr.. Chandler introduced
a bill 10 promote immigration to the United
States, creating bureau OF immigration and
providing tor the comfort and protection of
/ immigrants in many ways while aboard ships
and after landing. The Boston relief bull was
referred 10 the Committee on Judiciary A
bill prescribing the manner OF taking testi-
mony in cont sted election eases was passed.
E I..1l 4 l.