Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-02-07
General News summary.
CONGRESSIONAL.

CONGRESSIONAL.
In the Senate, on the 2sth. the Vice.
President, in few remarks relating to the Credit.
Mobilier investigation, requested that committee
of Senators. majority of which should be politi-
cally opposed to him, be appointed, to make
most thorough and exhaustive investigation into
| the charges against the icePresident with
| authority to send for persons and papers. Mr.
Pratt, of Indiana, moved the appointment of such
| V1ce-President and took occasion to say that
| having known the Vfce-President from his youth,
he had the most perfect confidence in his truth,
| his integrity and his honor; it would require a
great deal more evidence than he had seen
or heard to convince the people of the State of In
diana that he, the Vice-President is dishonest
| against the appointment of the committee on the
| ground that the Vice-P President was not a
member of the Senate, and that body had
/ no power over him to expel or censure him. IF
| he has been guilty of anything that subjects him
punishment, it is by impeachment, and that can
only originate in the House of Representatives.
1t evidence is produced that satisfies the House of
Representatives that he oughtto be impeached, it
is the duty of the House to impeach him, and
it is the duty Of the Senate. not to form any
opinion as to his guilt or innocence until the
evidence is produced, and we are called upon
as judges to deliver our verdict. We cannot
e The % s oueson the
| appointment of the proposed committee was then
put and lost Mr.. Pratt alone voting in the affirma
emma Exposition bill were concurred in: Bills
were misunderstanding the act of June 4,
1s?S regulating the construction of
bridges s+o. across the Mississippi, RIVER ;i
1, 1872, authorizing the construction of bridge
at Clinton, Iowa. and other bridges across the
Mississippi The Legislative Appropriation bill
was taken up and an amendment was agreed to
requiring that no judgment of the Court of Claims
shall be paid except to persons whose loyalty has
been proved. Other amendments were disposed
COnUreSSmpn
$1,000 being tabled. f
In the House, on the 28th, the Senate
amendments to the Indian Appropriation bill were
disposed of, and Committee of Conference was
appointed disagreeing votes The bill for the
admission of Colorado was debated. :. The death
of Julius S. Strong, late Representative from Con-
necticut, was formally announced and eulogies
were delivered.
In the Senate, on the goth, bill was
reported to amend the fifth section of the Mining
act of May 10, 1872 SO that the time of the first
annual expenditure on claims located prior to the
passage of said act shall be extended to the st of
December, 1873. The Secretary of War was di-
rected to inquire into the expedency of enlisting
q company of Indian scouts to serve against the
Modocs. :. The Legislative Appropriation bill was
further considered, and several amendments were
disposed of; one (adOpted) further reducing the
clerical force in the Post Office Department.
In the House, on the goth, bill for
the admission of Colorado as q State was, after
animated discussion, tabed-117 to g.. The Com
mittee on the Florida Contested Election Case re-
ported that Niblack, the contestant, was entitled
to seat, which report was agreed to, and Niblack
was sworn in: 80. A report was made by the Chair
man of the Select Committee on the Union Pacific
Railroad and Credit-Mobilier Investigation, that
witness, who had been called before the Commit
tee, Joseph B. Stewart. of Washington, had
fused to answer certain questions as to the dispo
sitiOn made by him of a large amount OF bonds,
Al I,oII r.
ment of the pending difficulties with other compa
MES The witness grounded his refusal on the
principle of communications between counsel and
client being privileged. A motion was adopted to
have Stewart brought before the House forthwith
to show. cause why he should not be committed to
answer for contempt.
In the Senate, on the 30th, a bill was
ntroduced-incorporatin the Mississippi & Ohio
Tunnel and Tube Company, with capital of
$10000,000, to construct tunnels under the Missis-
slppi and Ohio Rivers, to be used for connecting
railways centering near their junction The bill
exempting mineral lands in Michigan, Wisconsin
and Minnesota from the operation of the general
act to promote the DEVELOPMENT of the mineral
resources of the United States, was passed.
A motion was agreed to to reconsider the amend
ment to the Legislative Appropriation bill. pro-
hibiting the payment, unless by special act OF Con
claimants whose loyalty during the rebellion has
not been proved, and the amendment was again
adopted-25 to 23-and the bill was passed.
In the House, on the Both, bill was
passed directing the restoration to the pension
rolls of the names Of such pensioners of the war
of 1912 struck from the rolls under the act
of Feb. q, 1872 on account of having aided or en-
couraged the rebellion, the pensions to be paid
from the passage of this act; also emitting such
persons to the benefits of the act of the 18th of
February 1Sl granting pensions to the survivors
of the of 1872 600 The Fordcaton b
Stewart, the recusant witness. was produced
and spoke in his own defense derying that he
was in contempt saying that matters were not his
own but his clients and that he was not advised
of any law which conferred even upon Congress
the right to question him upon them. Resolu-
tions were then agreed to declaring Stewart in
contempt of the House. and remanding him to the
custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms. to be detained
until further order of the House, unless he de-
clared his willingness to appear and answer before
the Committee. Mr. Stewart, still perslsting in his
refusal to answer, was removed from the hall in
custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
In the Senate, on the 31st, message
was received from the President vetoing the bill
for the relief of the University of East Tennessee
80. Conference Committee was appointed on
the Indian Appropriation bill Bills were intro
duced-autho orizing the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company to construct bridge across the st.
Louis River; authorizing the Columbus Fayette
& Decatur Railroad Company to enterpubic lands; 1
a.joint resolution for Constitutional amendment:
electing Senators by popular vote The Webb
Australian Steamship Subsidy bill was called up
and debated. .Adj journed to the Sd.
The House devoted the whole of the
session on the 31st to the consideration of private
bills.
In the House, on the 1st, bill was
passed to secure more efficient administration of
Indian affairs "A sub b-committee of the select
committee on the condition of the Pacific Rail-
road and Credit-M obilier, was authorized to take
testimony in Philadelphia, New York and Boston
Tbah Tor fhn 1a11tO Of nv cjY1P1
ia the suppression of Indian hostilitiesin Montana
in 1857. according to the examination and report
debated in Committee of the Whole and reported
to the House.
In the Senate, on the Sd, petitions were
presented from leading business men of New York
against the repeal of the Banking law Joint
resolutions of the Legislature of Iowa were pre-
sented, asking for the passage of a bill to relieve
the people from oppressive railroad freight
charges, and also to favor liberal appropriations
for the Improvement of navigation of
the Mississippi, Wisconsin and Fox Riv-
ers....A bill was introduced 10 divide
Ohio into three Judicial Districts, and for other
| purposes. The Webb Australian Steamship bill
was tabled-s3 TO 81. The substitute reported
from the Committee on Finance for the Bucking-
ham Banking bill was taken up, and, after debate,
an amendment was agreed to making il mandatory
upon all banking associations, on and after Janu-
ary, 1874 to redeem their notes at such localities
So are now or may be hereafter designated by law,
either in coin or United States legal-tender notes.
In the House, on the Sd, among the
bills introduced were-for day of National
Thanksgiving; recommending the President to
communicate with foreign Governments with
| view to protecting non-combatants tosecure COM
pliance with civilized warfare, encourage emanci-
I patton, and promote peace between Cuba and
! Spain; granting right of way through the public
| lands to the Kansas & Colorado Company, and to
! the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
| Company; for removal of disabilities
from all citizens of the United States: for Board