Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-10
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
Senate.

senate. a
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Decem Der
Bills were introduced: To provide for the
better protection of the Northern and West
ern frontiers, and to facilitate commerce be.
tween the states; to organize the Territory Of
Pembina, and provide temporary govern.
ment to aid in the execution OF the laws in
Utah appropriating S150,000 for construct.
ing government buildings at Charlestown, We
Va: to provide for the redemption of the loan
OF 1858. Mr.. Pratt submitted resolution in.
structing the Committee on the Judiciary to
inquire whether Congress has constitutional
authority to create corporations for construct.
ing railroads or canals penetrating two or
more states, and whether it has authority to
regulate rates of railroad transportation over
existing roads chartered by states, which by
consolidation have continuous lines running
through two or more states. Mr. Morrill,, OF
Vermont, addressed the Senate on his resOIu-
ton inst1 ucting the Committee on Finance to
consider The eXpedieDoy OF reporting a bill
to provide for resumption OF specie payments
on tie first of January, 1875. Mr.. Stevenson,
OF Kentucky, presented petition OF 5000 cit
liens OF Kentucky, asking for the passage OF a
law prohibiting the sale Of spirituous liquors in
the territories of the United States. The
Senate, at o'clock, went into executive ses-
sion. After twenty minutes the doors were
re-openeG, and the Senate adjourned
House.
That portion of the Louisiana reso-
luton as applied to Pinchback was laid over.
Notice was again given Of a bill to repeal so
much of the postal act as prohibited weekly
newspapers from passing through the mails
free OF postage. Mr.. Dawes introduced a bill
for the redemption of the loan OF 1858.
Geo. L. Smith was admitted to seat
from the fourth district OF Louisiana. Gre
o1x,~ ,%aof ~, Ro1
ana were referred to Committee on Elections.
Adjourned.
Senate.
WAsH1NeToN, Tuesday, December 2.
Senate met at noon. message was received
stating that the House had organized and ap-
pointed a committee to inform the President
Bills were introduced, to separate a certain
portion OF the island of Macklnaw, Mich, as
a national park +; to extend the provisions of
the act of March 3, 1878, providing for the
collection ofdebts due from southern railroads;
granting aid to the Atlantic and Great West
ern Canal to organize the territory of Okla
Johanna to provide for free banking, secure
an elastic currency, to appreciate national OBJ
legations, and to reach specie payments with
out commercial embarrassment ; exempting
Kansas from the provisions OF the act OF
May 10, 1872 relating to iron and coal mines.
Resolutions were passed requesting tne Secre.
tary of the Treasury to inform the Senate as
to the amount expended by the United States
for public works in each State and Territory,
together with the expenses OF the Government
upon canals, railroads, etc. Also instructing
the Secretary of the Treasury to inform the
Senate what efforts have been made by him to
take possession of the Louisville and Portland
Canal, and all correspondence relating there
to. The Presidents Message was then read
and ordered printed, after which the Senate
went into executive session.
House.
Resolutions were adopted directing the Jul
dietary Committee to examine statistics in re-
gard to bankruptcy proceedings, and prepare
and report such amendments thereto as will
simplify. and expedite proceedings and dimin-
ish the expenses thereof; calling on the Sec
reta1y of the Treasury to communicate the
amounts paid since March 4, 1869, in the set
tlement OF suits, judgments on claims on be-
half of the United States for violation Of the
revenue laws at the Boston and New York
custom houses also what portion of such
sums were paid into the Treasury of the Uni
ted States and declaring that Sypher and
Sheldon, of Louisiana, have a prima facia
right to seats in the House, and that they be
admitted to take the oath of Office. The mes
sage was then read, and the House adjourned.
Senate.
WASHINGTON, Monday, December 1.
The Senate was called to order at noon by
Vice-President Wilson. The credentials of
Robert Crozier, appointed to occupy Cald-
wells seat, were received and the oath of Of
flee administered. The resignation at Senator
Casserly, of California, was announced. Mr..
Sumner introduced bill supplementary to
the bill to protect all citizens of the United
States in their civil rights also joint reso-
luton proposing an amendment to the Con-
stitutlon OF the United States, so as to pro-
vide Tor the election of President of the United
States by direct vote of the people, and abol.
ishing the Office of Vice-President. A joint
the Constitution Of the United States
so as to extend the Presidential
term to six years, and making the
occupant ineligible for reelection also bill
to authorize the issue Of compound-interest
notes as substitute for legal tenders: also a
bill to protect persons against inviegling from
abroad, or kidnapping, torcible restraint, or
involuntary servitude; also bill to provide
for the adj ustment of the French spoil alton
claims. Mr.. Logan introduced bill to re-
peal the act entitled 'sAn act to establish an
uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the
United States" Also a bill to establish
Morta Branch otr m5nf at Chicago h .na Mr.
ing such sections of the bank
rupt act of 1867 as provided for involuntary
bankruptcy. Bills were also introduced, by
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont a resolution instruct
I ing the Finance Committee to inquire into the
expediency OF reporting bill Pre- viding for
free banking and resumption of specie pay
ment, to take effect January 1, 1875 by Mr..
Window, a joint resolution proposing an
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States providing for the election of United
States Senator'S by the people; by Mr.. Buck
ingham, in relation to bounties, providing
that all volunteers under the President proc
lamation of May 3, 1861, actually mustered
into the service of the United States before
August 6, 1861, and accepted by the War
Department under said proclamation
shall be paid the full bounty, one hun
dred dollars, promised in said proclamation !;
by Mr.. Pratt, fixing the salary of Senator's
Representatives, and Delegates in Congress
at S., 00G per annum, which shall be in lieu of
all existing provisions of law for compensa-
ton, except actual individual travelling ex-
penses from home to the seat of Government.
and retaining 5000 per annum for postage,
stationery, and newspapers by Mr.. Ed
munds, to provide for the distribution of the
sum awarded to the United States by the
then adjourned.
House.
The House was called to order at noon BIZ
Mr.. MCPHERSON, Clerk, who called the roll OF
members by States. The galleries were crowd
ed, and most OF the seats in the l. sllWere oc-
cupied. When Louisiana was reached. the
Clerk stated that there were but two unchal-
lenged certificates received from that State
those of Messrs. Darrall and Morri, from the
Third and Fifth Districts. AS to the Ninth