Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-01-01
Congressional Summary.

i ohNAIh.- among Inc bills intro.
duced on Monday, December Is, was one by
Mr. Carpenter regulating the taking of private
] property ior public USE A resolution for tbe
appointment OF committee of five on the
! question OF providing cheaper Transportation
from the West to the East was passed. Mr.,
| Sherman from the Committee on Finance. re.
! ported, with amendments the Honse bill
authorizing the exchange of registered bonds
for coupon bonds. AS amended the piIl an
| thoflZes the Secretary of the Treasury to issue
| coupon bonds In exchange for registered
bonds IN other respects OF the same class and
| description, provided the expenses of their
! issue be paid by the owner thereof. and nm
der such regulations as the Secretary of the
Treasury shall prescribe. Mr.. Sherman also
reported the House bill revising the mint and
coinage laws, with amendments, among which
is one providing for trade silver dollar of the
weight of 420 grains troy, a silver half-dolIar
weighing ia grammes, and quarter dollar
and dime, respectively one-haIf and one
! fifth the weight of the fift7-eent coin. All
these silver coins are to ks legal tender at
/ their nominal value for any amount not ex-
ceeding four dollars in any one payment No
other business OF Importance was transacted.
HoUsE.-Among the bills introduced
were the following: Authorizing free banking:
tofepeal the law requiring double postage on
matter not fully prepaid; to repeal the tax on
tobacco; granting one million acres of public
lands to the Brown Theological Institute in
! Florida; also Tor like grant to the Agricul-
| tural College of Florida. Mr. Garfield present.
! ed petition OF the two sons Of the late Sena-
| tor Douglas for compensation for cotton taken
| from them in North Carolina during the war.
A resolution was passed, yeas lis, nays So.
! that no measures be taken toward removing
| from the army register Orregimental colors oi
| the United States the names of the battles Of
| the rebellion. A resolution instructing the
Post-office Committee to inquire as to the pro
/ io+y nf 10 oil ne n,+,x
adopted. bill was passed for the transpor
tation through the mails OF agricultural and
Towering seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, sc1ons
etc. at the rate OF two cents for every four
| ounces weight, not to exceed four pound
| packages. Aresolution offered BY Mr.. Cox in
regard to affairs in Louisiana, was rejected.
The House then went into Committee of the
! Whole ON the deficiency bill.
| SENATE. December II the fol.
lowing gentlemen were appointed committee
! to consider the question of cheaper transporta-
ton from West to East Messrs. Window.
| Sherman, Conkling, Ames, Casseriy, and Nor.
wood. The Indian appropriation bill was re-
ported with ummportant amendments. The
| Senate resumed the consideration of the
! French spoliation bill.
HoUsE-The bill providing for deter
mining the boundary line through the Haro
| channel as decided by the Emperor of Ger
many was passed. The bill apppropriating
| 100000 for American exhibitors at Vienna
was discussed at considerable length. Brooks
| denied the Credit Mobiler charges made
! against him by Fl. S. McComb A des-
ultory discussion took place relative to enlarg-
| ing the scope Of the investigation, and as to
! sitting with open doors, but no action was
taken. The report of the conference commit
! tee on the bill to remove the sunken wrecks
from the channel of Sandy Hook was taken up
| and agreed to. The House then took up as
| he. der "a
judiciary Committee last session for settle
ment with the states of Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois of the five per cent. OF the net proceeds
of the sales of public lands within those states
| but adjourned without action.
SENATE. December IS, Mr.. Pome-
roy, from the Committee on Public Lands, re-
| ported bill for the relief Of the settlers en-
the Cherokee lands. The bill was discussed
until the expiration of the morning hour.
! Bills were introduced to secure more eff
! cient and honest administration of Indian at
! fairs, and authorizing The Secretary of the
Interior to negotiate with the Creek Indians
| for the cession OF part OF their reservation.
Mr. Stevenson formally announced the death
Of his colleague, Garrett Davis, and delivered
! a euogy. Messrs. Vickers, Cameron, Thur
man, Sumner, Bayard and Trumbull also eulo-
| gized the deceased. Mr. Sumner, in his re-
marks made an alusion to Seward and Gree
! ley as contemporaries of Davis-lihe him fol-
tomary resolutions were adopted and the Sen
| ate adjourned.
| HoUsE-On motion of Mr.. Monroe, a
| bill was passed authorizing the Comptroller of
! the Currency to examine into the condition OF
the savings banks in the District of Columbia
! The bill for settlement with the states OF
| Ohio, Indiana and Illinois of the five per cent
/ land claim under an act of March sd, 1857.
was passed. The House spent some time in
! committee of the whole on the deficiency
bill, and upon rising, eulogles on the late Sen
| ator Davis, of Kentucky, were delivered, after
which the House adjourned
| SESATE-The House bill amendatory
! of the postal code, with amendments, was re-
ported December on 18th, and passed. The
| amendments change the rates of postage ON
| seeds, authorized to be transmitted, from
twenty cents for four ounces to one cent for
| every two ounces or fraction of two ounces,
! and provides that all mail matter of the third
! class must be fully prepaid. Several bills were
reported from committee adversely. Mr.. Sher-
man, from the Finance Committee, reported a
/ substitute for the bill prohibiting the sale OF
liquors in the District of Columbia and other
| territories. The bill authorizing the eXcha1Se
Unregistered and coupon bonds was dlscusse1 Il 4
! and laid over. Mr.. Ramsey reported postal
| telegraph bill The Senate then resumed the
consideration of the French spoliation bill:
HoUsE-A resolution was adopted
authorizing the Banking Committee to inquire
whether unlawful combinations for locking up
| gold and money exist, causing commercial
and financial stringency, and report leglsla-
ton to prevent and punish such Unlawful COM
binations. bill to detray the expenses OF
the Mexican Commission was passed. Inc
diplomatic appropriation bill, approprlatlng
! 81 ,332. 600, was reported and made the special
order for January 7. The consideration OF the
deficiency bill was then resumed IN Commit
tee of the Whole, and upon lsing tue measure
was passed. Yeas 109, nays II. The bll TO
defray the expense of transporting goods to
! the Vienna Exposition was passed. Leave OF
absence was granted to great many mem
bers. Amid much confusion and pressure loI
adjournment several bills were introduced ana
referred, and the House adjourned.
SENATE-A bill, on Friday, Deeem-
Der 20, extending the time for the eompletlon
of the Winona and st. Peter Railroad pass ID,
as was also the deficiency appropriation plll
No other business of Importance was transact
| ed, and the Senate adjourned over the hoil-
days.
HoUsE.-Bills were introduced, 10
extend the tine for entries for Usage iands 10
Kansas; To secure more efficient Indian aa,
ministration in the territories; 10 amend tne
Constitution in regard to the election OF Pfesl-
dent. Vice-President and Senators by the
people. The House adjourned over the hon
days.