Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-06-18
CONGRESSIONAL.

Senate not in session on the 9Th In
the House, several private bills were passed, as
also the following: For the sale of the Kan
sas Indian lands in Kansas; providing for Com
mission of Engineers on the Mississippi levees: for
the prepayment of postage on printed matter-IOS
to 70; for adjusting the salaries of POstmasters.
A Conference Committee was ordered on the
Senate amendments to the Deficiency Appropria-
ton bill. =. "A report was made from the Committee
on Expenditures Ill the Department of Justice in
regard to the expenses disbursements and
general management of the West Judicial
District OF Arkansas since its reorganization in
1871 The committee finds that the expenditures
have been extraordinarily large, and are not in all
cases supported by appropriate vouchers. As to
the Judge of the district, William Story, the COM
mGtee says that the records OF his court show that
parties have been baIled after conviction for cap
ital ofenses and while awaiting sentence, and
while motions We're pending for new trials which
were never acted on that, Notwithstanding the re-
qulrement of the law that he shall examine and
approve the accounts current of the Marshal be-
fore allowing the same, he has signed, at least in
one instance, blank account current which was
filled up by the Marshal for $4,000, the same
being allowed and paid at the Treasury.
His explanation before the committee is charac-
terlzed as lame, disconnected and unsatisfactory
The committee recommends the adjustment of
the present Western District the annexation of
its territory and transfer of its business to the
Eastern District, which consolidated district shall
have but one Judge, one District-Attorney and
one Marshal. Adjourned.
In the Senate, on the 9Th, conference re
ports were made and agreed to on the disagreeng
votes of the two houses upon the bill to revise,
consolidate and amend the laws relating to pen
sions and on the bill to increase the pensions of
soldiers and sailors totally disabled. Bills were
passed-authOriZing any Circuit Judge to desg
late the time of holding District or Circuit Court,
and hold court in district not his
own; for the better organization of the District
Courts of the United States within the State of
Louisiana; House bill to provide for the publica-
ton OF the revised statutes of the United STATES
The Moiety bill was taken up, and after consider
able debate the amendment of the Finance Com
mIttee authorizing United States Attorneys to ex-
anime books, invoices or papers of defendants was
rejected-yeas p, nays &c.. Adjourned.
In the House, on the Sth, bills were
introduced-to abolish the Western District of
Arkansas; to increase the revenue; to restrain
gambling; imposing tax of 20 per cent. all
sales of stocks, bonds, gold, etc; Bills were
medals cemmemorating the Tooth anniversary of
the first meeting of the Continental Congress and
the Declaration of independence; for the adms-
sion of Colorado a State-170 to 65; to
incorporate the First Presbyterian Church at Salt
Lake City, Utah. Conference reports were
agreed TO on the bill to revise the Pension laws
and the bill regulating pensions for total disa-
bilities The Louisiana contested election case
of Sheridan and Pnchback was taken up and de-
bated, and a resolution offered, a substitute
for the minority resolution, that Pinchback is
pTi?0G fdcie entitled to the seat. Adj ourned.
In the Senate, on the 9th, iointre
ton was passed providing for the termination OF
the treaty of July II, 1855 between Belgium and
the United States go A bill for the government of
the District of Columbia reported from the
Special Joint Committee to investigate the manage
ment of the government of the District. "A bill
was introduced and referred to incorporate the
Commercial Railway Company, with a capital of
$500 100000, to construct and operate a railway,
with four or more tracks, from New York city to
the cities of Chicago and St. Louis dividing its
main line at SUch OOint be found hest
reach said cities with the right to extend its
road from Chicago to any point on the Mississippi
River above ST. Louis, the road to be commenced
within two years and finished within twelve years
of the enactment of the bill....The conference
report on the Army Appropriation bill was agreed
to-. At his own request Mr.. WadIelgh was eX-
cused frOmSurther service on the Committee on
Public Lands, and Mr.. Harvey appointed to
fill the vacancy The bill to amend the Customs
Revenue law and to repeal mOietes was taken up
and several amendments were disposed OF. .Ad-
journed
In the House, on the 9th, the majority
resolutions in the Louisiana contested election
case, declaring that the testimony was not sufi-
Gent to show the election of either Pinchback or
Sheridan. and permitting the committee to take
further testimony, were agreed to....A bill was
passed TO abolish the Western Judicial District of
Arkansas and to anneXit to the Eastern Dstrict...
A substitute for the Geneva Award bill was
reported, and debated at considerable length.
An evening session was held for general debate
Among the proceedings in the House on the
Sth was the rejection of a motion to suspend the
rules and take from the Speakers table the Senate
Civil Rights bill and refer it TO the Judiciary
Committee, with the right TO report at any time.
The vote stood, yeas 1876, nays S6-not two-thlrds
in the affirmative.
In the Senate, on the 10th, a bill was
introduced and referred to abolish the Board of
Indian Commissioners. "A bill was passed to
change the time for holding Circuit and District
Courts of the United States for the Eastern Dis
trict of Wisconsin, at Oshkosh, / the second
Tuesday in July of each year line memorial OF
the Ohio Editorial Association III regard 10 postage
| on newspapers was presented ana referred De-
bate was resumed on the bill TO amend the CUs-
toms Revenue law and to repea! moleues, fpd
after several amendments were disposed OF, some
of which were agreed to, the bill as amended was
! finally passed-3S to B.. Adjourned.
In the House, on the 10Th, a bill was
reported and referred for the relief of the owners
and purchasers of land sold for direct taxes in
insurrectionary States. The conference report
i on the Army Appropriation bill was agreed to-.
4 The Geneva Award bill was taken up. and after a
spirited and somewhat personal discussion MI.
Buffers substitute for the Senate bill providing,
first for the payment OF claims Tor direct losses;
! second, for war premiums. and thlrd. insurance
companies that incurred direct losses-was agreed
to-132 to 101- and the title of the bill was changed
/ to read to provide for Just and equitable dis
! TlbutiOn of the moneys paid IN pursuance OF the
! Geneva award Adjourned.
In the Senate, on the 18th, memorial
was presented and referred of workingmen of