River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-01-24
Proceedings in Congress.

SENATE-On Jan. ZUth the majority
reports aud minority reports were submitted
upon the question OF relief to sufferers by the
Boston fire. Mr.. Edmunds from the Judi
ciary Committee, reported adversely several
bills to amend the bankrupt law. A new bin
was reported in regard to the same law by Mr..
Wright Bills were introduced fixing $3.50 az
the minimum price at which the Government
shall sell all lands remaining to the United
States WITHIN the limits OF grants for rail and
wagon roads, excepting lands within the in
demnity limits and CLAIMS OF presumption set
tiers, and the privileges accorded by the exist
ing homestead laws to soldiers and sailors.
Directing the Postmaster General, with the
consent of the President, to contract with the
lowest bidder within three months after the
sixty days public notice, for carrying mails
between San Francisco and Australia, and
New Zealand, touching at the Sandwich and
Navigator Islands, the price not to exceed
s225,OOO per annum. On motion of Mr.. Car
penter, the House amendment to the bill iX-
ing the time for the beginning of the annual
session OF the United States Supreme Court
was concurred in. The bill Is, therefore,
passed.
HOUSE. were introduced pro-
viding for bringing suits OF claims against the
United States in United States Circuit Courts
for the distribution OF the Geneva award or
ganzlng the Indian Territory of Oklahoma;
also, several minor bills. Mr. Poland offered
a resolution to pay to members who haze got
their seats as the result OF contested elections
sums necessarily expended in the contest for
their seats, whether they had been the con-
testant or the contestees. Adopted-yeas So,
nays IS. Bills were further introduced to
punish pretended counterfeiters OF United
States currency and coin to provide that no
person shall be promoted in the army who Is
addicted to the Incorporate use of liquors or
a l.. H.
Bingham, from the Judiciary Committee re.
ported a bill defining the true intent and
meaning of the act Of the eighth of June,
1872, amending the bankrupt act, to be to
make the exemptions under IL the same as are
allowed In the various states Mr.. Hazeton,
of Wisconsin, moved as a substitute therefor
one repeating the bankrupt law entirely. Car
rIed-l29 to l60--and under a suspension OF
the rules the repeating bill passed.
SENATE. On Friday, 18th, the Wen
ma Exposition appropriation bill was passed.
Mr.. Morton called up his resolution instruct
ing the Committee on Elections to inquire
into the defents OF the present electoral sys-
TEN, and the best means for remedying them,
and addressed the Senate at great length
upon the subject. He favored a direct vote
OF the people, each state to have as many
votes as it has Congressional Districts, and the
vote of each district to be cast for the person
receiving a majority of all the votes. pir
Trumbuu spoke briefly in opposition to MIR.
Morton's views. The bill to revise and amend
the laws relating to mints, assay office and
coinage of the United States was passed.
HoUsE-A large number of bills of
a private character were reported from the
Committee en- Claims and referred. The
bill to grant certain lands in the state of Iowa
to the Mississippi and Missouri and the Chi
cago, Rock Island the Pacific Railroad Com
panies occupied the remainder of the session,
and was not disposed of.
SENATE-A bill was introduced on
January 10th to regulate the transportation of
erchandise-reported from the Committee
on Commerce. Also bills authorizing the Sec
rotary of War to contract for the building of
several light-draft snag-bOats for the Missis-
sippi and Arkansas rivers. Authorizing the
Secretary OF War to erect amonument at Sails
bury n. c., to the memory of soldiers who
died in prison and are buried there; and for
the Improvement of the harbor and river at
Washington, ID. G. Bills were passed fixing
the compensation and length of sessions of
territorial legislatures, and committing the
care OF penitentiaries to territorial authorities.
The House bill appropriating $500, 900 to cover
expenses OF American representation at the Vi
emma Exposition occupied the remainder of the
morning hour, when, without action, ii went
over. Mr.. Sherman made lengthy speech
on the resumption of specie payments, and at
its close reported from the Committee on FL
nance a substitute for the Buckingham bill.
The House bill to incorporate the LOOMS
Aerial Telegraph Company was passed. Mr..
Morton offered resolution, which was passed,
nstructing the Committee on Privileges and
Elections to inquire whether there is legal
state government in Louisiana, and ii so, by
whom constituted. Mr.. Carpenter, from the
Committee on Judiciary, reported bill fixing
the second Monday of October for the United
States Court. Passed.
HoUsE-After some unimportant
business, the bill for the admission of Colora-
do was debated until the expiration of the
morning hour. The House then went into
Committee of the Whole on the Consular
bill. Upon rising the Oklahama Indian Terri
The Senate bill amending the agricultural
college act by extending the time for granting
lands, was passed,
SENATE. -On January Is a minority
report was made by Mr.. Wright, from the
Committee on Finance, on the question Of the
Secretary OF the Treasury to issue United
States notes IN place of any portion OF the
s44 ,OOO,0 900 cancelled under act of 1866. Bills
were introduced to amend patent and copy
right laws; authorizing the Secretary of War
TO compromise and settle all pending claims
" wiz N'hNAAAhNhb aust obutAtin IdlllOdu
companies; to require national banks to re-
store Their capital when impaired and to
amend the national currency act. Bills were
passed to confirm the title of l.. Grignon Ia
land at Green Bay, Wis; to provide a building
tor custom house and postofice at Memphis,
Tenn.
House. post Office appropria-
ton bill was reported. 4 bill was passed re-
lieving from the operations of the bankruptcy
act state insurance companies against which
bankruptcy proceedings are taken in state
courts. The legislative appropriation bill came
up,and amendments were voted upon. The only
important amendment was that adopted yes
terday IN the committee repeating the 9th Sec
ton OF the army appropriation bill Of 1871. in
reference to the interest on the Pacific Rail-
road bonds. IL was agreed to By the House
without division. The claim Of Theodore
Adams, SIP, 7i0, for the construction Of NOR.
tar boats and tugs, was allowed. the House
then took up the bill reported by Mr.. Parker,
OF Missouri, from the Committee on Terri.
tories, for better protection OF Indian tribes,