Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-12-18
CONGRESSIONAL.

In the Senate, on the Sth, Joint resolu-
tons of the Legislature of Michigan were pre-
sented and laid on the table, asking for the con-
struction of Niagara ship canal and asking for
the survey of a canal across the State. Among
the bills introduced and referred were to ipcor2
porate the Southern Trans Continental Railway
Company, and to grant the right of way through
the public lands to the same; amendatory
O nng aef to provide cheap and
freights between New York and Chicago. :. The
Rev. Byron Sunderland was elected Chaplain. and
James r. Young, Executive Clerk of the Senate
The bill to repeal the Increased Salary bill was
called up, and Mr.. Wright spoke in favor of the re-
peal, and the bill was referred to the Committee
on Civil Service and Retrenchment. Executive
session and adjournment.
In the House, on the 6th, large num-
Der of bills were introduced and referred, among
which were the following: for the admission of
Colorado as State; to provide S25, 100000 addi-
uonal banknOte circulation for States having less
than their due proportion; for the payment of
losses by the Morgan raid to repeal the act to
enforce civil rights; to repeal all taxes on whisky
and tobacco and provide for the deficiency in the
revenue thereby occasioned; to provide for cheap
transportation between Chicago and New York;
several bills for public buildings and improve
ments. Bills were passed-modifying the steam
boat-passenger act, by allowing towboats on the
Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to carry $50 pounds of
steam pressure in place of ITO pounds on stand
ard boilers of forty-two inches diameter, with
plates. quarter of an inch in thickness;
remaining on any person by the third section of
the Fourteenth Article of the amendments to the
Federal Constitution, and substituting for the
iron clad oath the modified oath which is now adj
been remOved-141 to 20. The Select Committee
on the Salary question reported bill repeating
so much of the Salary bill as increases the COM
pensation of the Vice-President, Speaker Sen
ators, Representatives, and Delegates to Congress
A minority report in favor of also reducing the
incidental allowances of the Presidential office
was made. =. "A report was made that Mr. Shanks
was entitled to the seat from the Ninth Indiana
District, and he was sworn in. The Supplement
tary Civil Rights bill referred to the Judiciary
Committee. Adjourned.
In the Senate, on the 9th, bills were in
troduced-to provide for the resumption of specie
payments and free banking; to provide for the
transmission of correspondence by telegraph.
by connecting the telegraph with the Postal
Service; to arm and equip the whole body militia
of the United States, appropriating $500 900
annually for that purpose, all arms issued to the
militia to be OF the same pattern as adopted for the
United States army to provide for the construction
of levees on the Mississippi River The Vice
President appointed Mr.. Alcorn member of the
Committee Mines and Mining, to fill the vacancy
on that committee Several resolutions of inquiry
and instructions 10 Committees were adopted.
Adjourned.
In the House, on the 9th, bill was re-
ported from the Committee of Ways and Means,
and, after discussion passed. providing for the re-
demption of the loan of 1858. II differs somewhat
from similar bill passed by the Senate. 1t de-
clares that for the purpose of redeeming bonds is
sued under the act of June H. 1853 it is the plea
sure of the United States to pay all coupon and
registered bonds of the loan of 1858 on the LIST of
January, 1874, at which date interest thereon shall
ont fhaf an 5e se to
ond section authorizes the Secretary of the
Treasury to issue an equal amount of five per cent
bonds IN exchange for such bonds of 1858 as the
holders thereof may desire to exchange, on or be-
fore the LIST of February, 1S74-provided that no
commissions or allowances whatever be paid for the
exchange OF the bonds. IA lengthy discussion
was had on the bill for the repeal Of the Increased
Salary law several members taking part in the de-
bate. Adjourned
In the Senate, on the 10th, petitions
were presented and referred, asking for the ap-
pointment of committee to regulate the trafnc.in
alcoholic liquors; from the business men of Chi
cago, asking for the establishment of a branch
mint in that city. Bills were introduced
or reported from committees, authorizing
$4,000 reserve fund, and make it part of the
permanent circulation; to authorize the organiza-
ton of National banks without circulation; provid-
ing for the free transmission by mail of news
papers and periodicals, authorizing newspaper
exchange TO be made free of postage, as
formerly, and also free transmission of weekly
papers to subscribers within the county where
published :. The House bill granting general am
nesty was read. Mr. Sumner objected TO the sec
ond reading of the bill at this time not because he
was opposed to general amnesty, but before it be-
came a law he desired to secure justice to his COL
ored fellow citizens. Executive session and
adjournment.
In the House, on the 10th, bill was in
troduced and referred to authorize the organiza-
ton of national banks without circulation. "A
bill was passed authorizing the present number of
enlisted men of the navy to be increased from
$500 to 1000 this increase not to continue beyond
January /, 1S75....A lengthy discussion then en-
sued on the Salary question when notice
would be moved at three O'Clock on
the 18th The Speaker announced the
following committees: On Mississippi Levees-
Morev Chairman Hurlbut, Stannard Pierce. Rice
Randall and Lamar. On Centennial Celebration
and proposed National Census of 1S75-Kelley,
Chairman; Hawley (Conn.l, G. F. Hoar, Shanks.
Woodford, Butler Glenn Smith (Ohol Hart,
Clayton, Young, Harris. Stamford. Adjourned
In the Senate, on the 18th, Senators
Matthew Il. Carpenter and Allen G. Thurman
were nominated pro tenn. President of the Senate.