River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-12-19
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS,
House

House.
I FRIDAY, December IL. The Senate
/ bill removing the political disabil ties from
Thomas S. Bocock. Il. J Harvey, and Daniel
Trigg, Of Virginia, aud John Egan, OF Tex.
az, was passed. The Speaker laid before the
House a communication from the Secretary Of
| War, calling attention to defacatious I'm the
accounts OF Gen. Q, o. Howard. OF the Freed
mems Bureau, and at the request of Mr..
Wood, the letter, with accompanying fdocu.
ments, was referred 20 the Committee on Mil
itary Affairs. The consideration OF the back
ray repeal bill was then resumed, and after
debate 1t was recommitted
Senate.
THURSDAY, December 11.-Senator
Carpenter was elected President pro lem OF the
Senate, the Democrats voting for Senator
Thurman On taking the chair Mr.. Carmen
ter simply sald. SENATORS, please accept nv
thanks Mr.. Sumner called up the bill IN.
troducod by him on the first day OF the SEES
sion for thu substitution Of compound.interest
for legal-tender notes, etc, and addressed the
Senate in favor thereof. He said he was tor
specie payment at the earliest day. aud would
support any measure to secure that end
He SAID initiation was death to business.
Contraction was the proposed remedy A bill
removing the political disabilities OF Thomas
Babcock Of Virginia, John II. Logan OF Ken
lucky, and others, passed. Mr.. Gordon intro
duced bill 30 rel cal the section OF the bill OF
March 3, 1873, foTbldding the free transmits.
SION OF per odlcas, magazines I'd newspapers
through the United States mails. and re,tor-
lug that privilege. The Senate committee
on transportation routes were authorized To
hold sessions during the holiday recess, al
such places as they choose 10 select. Mr.
Ramsey introduced a bill extending the time
Tor the completion of the st. Paul and Pacific
Railroad Mr.. Gordon offered a resolution
requesting the Postmaster General to state
what amount OF expense has been saved
70 the Government by the abolition OF the
ranking privilege, and how much less postal
appropriation Wlli be required Tor the postal
service by the abolition OF said ranking privi
iege. Mr.. Howe introduced q hll relative 10
the liquor traffic. II provides for the appoint
ment Dy the President, with the consent of
the senate, 81 i've commissioners to inyesti-
gate the alcoholic liquor traffic in its econo-
me, criminal, moral and scientific aspects, In
connection with pauperlsm, crime social
vice, public health, and the general
welfare of the people, and who shall
also inquire and take testimony as
TO the practicable results of
license, restrictive, and piohibitory legislation
Tor the prevention OF lntemperance in the sew
eral states OF the Uuion, The commissioners
are to be appointed from civil life, irrespective
OF politics or partisan considerations; are to
hoid ofhce for one year; are to serve without
salary or other compensat on, except the paw.
ment 81 incidental expenses; and are to make
report to the President, by whom il shall be
transmitted 70 Congress. No other business
81 Importance was transacted. Adjourned till
Monday.
House.
Mr.. Ortiz offered a resolution pro-
vldlng for survey to ascertain the practi-
cabllty Of ship canal connecting Lake
Michigan with the Wabash River, which was
adopted. Several resolutions calling for in
formation from departments were also
adopted. Mr.. Hoar reported a Till to establish
an educational fund and apply the procet ds
OF the sale OF public lands to the education OF
me people The discussion of the back pay
OH was then resumed and continued until the
close OF the session.
Senate
WEDNESDAY. December I0.-Peti-
tons were presented FIR the appointment Of
a committee 20 prepare bill to regulate the
liquor traffic also asking for the establish.
/ meut OF branch mni at Chicago. Mr.. Sher-
man, nom the Committee on finance re.
ported fayorably bill % authorize the organ
lzatlOn OF national banks without circulation.
I Blls were also introduced authorizing the
Secretary Of the Treasury to issue the S44.-
\ UJ9,OOO reserve fund aud make it part OF the
| permanent circulation for the free transpor-
taton OF newspapers through the mails. The
| House bill iamendatory OF the act to
provide Tor better security OF life GU vessels
/ propelled bv steam was taken ND and passad
The House General Amnesty Bill was read.
Mr. sumner offered resolution, - ich was
agreed 70, directing the Committee on post-
othces AID Post Roads to consider the sxpe-
| cheney 81 pr9UuBg further convenience IN
I correspondence known as tile "Letter.wrlter.n
WIZ one cent stamp, being new article Of
stationery adapted tor a letter circular and
newspaper wrapper bin was also intro
uucrd providing that any national banking
/ association deciding to reduce hi capital stock
as provided IN See. Is Of the National Cur
I Iehcy Act, shau be entitled to take M pro
tata portion Of ITS bonds upon deposit
ing lawful money Of the United
STATES. or returning il in circulatinr-
notes IN the proportion required bv law.
hr. sherman, from the Finance Committee
reported resolution declaring that it 4 tbe
unty Of Congress at the present session to
adopt measures TO strengthen the public
credit, and directing the said committee To-
report a bill providing tor the issue of a cur
rency at ali times reasonable in gold or its
equivalent. MIR. Baysrtl presented the views
81 the minority OF the committee, directing
the Finance Cummltree To report measures
Tor return to specie payment. Mr.. Hamil-
ton, Of Maryland, submitted an amendment
10 the Constitution, declaring that the United
states should make nothing but gold and sill
yer cola legal tender for the payment of pri.
vate debts. Adjourned.
House
A resolution was offered recognizing
Cuban independence also one directing the
Secretary Of the Treasury to report in detail
the cost Of iefundIng the public doOt thus tar
into tive per cent. bonds. A bil was INTRO
duccd 10 authorize the organization Of nation
al banks without circulation. Mr.. Scoteld.
from the Naval Committee, reported a bill
. "a horZinE the present number Of enlisted
mcu ~ the navy 90 be increased from $500 to
10000. The bill was amended by the addi-
toH OF clause that TIE temporary
increase If force shall not continue bevoud
January ], 1875. and passed Mr.. Garfield
/ from the Committee on Appropriations, re-
ported a bill appropnsting $4,000 .00p Tor ex-
J traordlnary expenses OF the navy Referred.
I The House then resumed debate on the salary