Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-06-04

for service on any jury because of race, color or
previous condition of seryiIude Adjourned 10
the 18th.
In the House, on the 23d, bills were
passed-donating condemned cannon and cannon
balls to various Posts OF the Grand Army Of the
Republic for monumental purposes; for the sale
of the Rush Valley Military Reservation in Utah;
for the sale of the buildings and grounds known az
the Detroit Arsenal, in Michigan. one OF the
Senate amendments TO the Legislative Executive
and Judicial Appropriation bill was rejected, ana
Others were discussed at considerable length "A
bill was reported allowing bounty of soS375 per
month to soldiers during the late war, and also
providing for grants OF land to them. Ad-
journed.
In the Senate, on the 25th, bills were
passed-to incorporate the Texas Pacific Railway
Company and to aid in the construction of the
road House bill to revise. consolidate and amend
the laws relating TO pensions. approved March 3,
1879 which provides that all persons VINO nave lost
an arm at or above the elbow shall be rated in sec
ond-class and receive a pension OF S24 per
month a joint resolution was introduced pro-
nosinp an amendment to the Constitution provid-
ING that if any State shall fail TO maintain COM
mon school system under which all persons be-
tween the ages of five and eighteen years, not
incapacitated for the same, shall receive free of
charge such elementary education as Congress
NAV prescribe, Congress shall have the power
to establish therein such system and
cause the same to be maintained at the expense of
such State. The conference report on the Naval
A DprOpratiOn bill was agreed to-. Several
Amendments to the Deficiency Appropriation bill
sented announcing the death of Representative
MeIlish and after a few appropriate remarks by
Mr. Conkling the Senate adjourned.
In the House, on the 25th, among the
bills introduced were the following: Providing
that the residence of three years shall be sufficient
to entitle an alien, being free white person. to
become citizen, his declaration to be made
hafn a6T0IS eel r-
ing that all corporations doing business
in any State are subject to the State
courts of that State to repeal the law which sus-
pended payments to loyal masters for slaves draft
ed and received as volunteers in the military ser
vice; restoring to the pension roll the pensioners
of the Mexican war who were struck of
for disoyalty. The Senate bill to facilitate the
execution OF and to protect certain public works
of improvement at the mouth of the
Mississippi was passed. -. "A motion to sus-
pend the rules and take up the substi-
tute for the Senate Currency bill was lost, as
was also motion to suspend the rules and take
up the Senate Supplementary Civil Rights bill and
report at any time. Announcement was made of
the death of Mr.. Mellish and appropriate remarks
were made and resolutions relating to his funeral
were adopted. Adjourned.
In the Senate, on the Goth, bills were
passed-to legalize and establish pontoon rail-
way bridge across the Mississippi River at Prairie
du Chen, Wis; to extend the time five years for
the completion or the railway from the st. CrOlX
River, or the lake between Townships rs and 81, to
the west end of Lake Superior and to Bayfield,.
Wis; House bill to provide for the protection of
the frontier settlements of Texas against Indian
and Mexican depredations; the Deficiency APP
bill, with several amendments; the
Centennial bill-25 to 17-with a proviso that the
United States shall not be liable directly indi-
rectly for any expense attending such exposition
or by reason of the same. ia. The members of the
Senate attended the funeral of the late Represent
alive Mellish in the House of Representatives and
the Senate afterward adjourned.
In the House, on the Goth, speeches
were made on the report of the Ways and Means
Committee on the Sanborn contracts. Several
amendments to the bill to amend the existing
Customs and Internal Revenue laws were agreed
to in Committee of the Whole. =. .Messrs. Hale of
New York, G. f. Hoar and Young were announced
by the Speaker as visitors to the West Point Acad-
envy. The funeral services of Mr.. Mellish were
conducted, in the presence of the members of the
Senate, IN solemn and impressive manner. .Ad-
iourned.
In the Senate, on the 9th, bills were
passed-to prevent hazng at the Naval Academy
amendatory of the act to reduce duties on
imports and to reduce internal taxation the
bill to revise and consolidate the statutes of
the United States, in force Dec. 1, 1873; House
bill to extend the time to pre-emptOrs on the pub
lie lands in Minnesota to make their final pay
ments. IA bill was introduced to aid in the i'm
provement of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers. "A
resolution was offered declaring Spencer not en-
titled to the seat as Senator from Alabama, and
that 1t be awarded to Sykes. -. Adjourned.
In the House, on the 9th, after further
debate on the report of the Committee of Ways
and Means on the Sanborn contracts, the bill re-
pealing the law which such contracts were based
was passed without objection, with amendment
prohibiting any Senator, Representative, or Dele
gate in Congress from acting agent, attorney,
proctor, advocate, solicitor, or counsel for any
NT-Th q IA II
toms or Revenue laws. Among the other bills
passed were the following: Providing that the pay
OF deceased member shall be given to his
widow or heirs-at-law up to the date of the
election of his successor, whose pay shall COM
mence from his election; removing the political
disabilities of Raphael Semmes, of Alabama; pro-
viding that no person shall serve juror in the
United States courts who cannot read and write
the English language; regulating the removal of
of causes from Stale courts to the United States
Circuit Courts. =. An evening session was held to
consider the bill to amend the existing Customs
and Internal Revenue laws, and several amend
ments were disposed Of. Adjourned.
In the Senate, on the 2Sth, the bill to
set apart certain portion of the Island of Macki-
nae, in the Straits of MaclInac, was passed. The
Alabama contested election case of Sykes u.s.
Spencer was further considered and the resolution
to award the seat to Sykes was rejected-yeas IL
nays Sand the committee was discharged from
further consideration of the subject; so Spencer
retains the seat. The bill to establish the Terri
eminent therefor was taken up, and an amend
ment providing that the right to vote or hold office
in the Territory should not be restricted on ac-
count of race, color, or sex was, after considera-
bic discussion, rejected-yeas 10, nays Grand the
bill itself then rejected-yeas 10, nays %
"A lengthy written report was made
from the Committee on Privileges and Elections
on the question as to the best and most practicable
mode of electing President and president
and providing tribunal to adjust and decide ali
contested questions connected Herewith which
report was ordered printed and placed on The cal
endar adjourned.
In the House, on the 2Sth, the Senate
amendments to the bill to legalize and establish
pontoon railway bridge across the Mississippi River
at Prairie du Chen. Wis. were concurred in. with
an amendment . The substitute for the Senate
amendment to the Currency bill was rejected
= yeas 112, nays lit and the Senate
substitute was then rejected-yeas ~, nays 100
and Conference Committee on the disagreeing
votes was then ordered-122 to Sand the Speak
er appointed Messrs. Maynard, Farweu and ely
mer as such committee the part of the House
-. An evening session was held to further con-
slider the Tariff and Internal Revenue BILL and sew
eral proposed amendments were disposed off,.
Adjourned.
In the Senate, on the 29-h, an adverse
report was made on the bill to extend the time for
proof and payment on presumption claims upon
public lands....A motion was made to reconsider
the vote by which the bill to establish the Terri
tory of Pembina was rejected. 81. The House FL
nance bill and the resolution of the House disa-
greeting to the Senate amendments, and asking
fol-, Committee of Conference, were presented,
and a motion that the Senate insist upon
its amendments and grant the conference
asked by the House was agreed to
81 to 24-and Messrs. Morton, Sherman
and Merrimon were appointed as the Senate Con-
ference Committee. =. Bills were passed-to legal
ize and establish pontoon railway bridge across
the Mississippi River at Prairie du Chen, Wis. :;
explaining the intent and meaning of the fourth
section of the act granting bounty lands TO certain
officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the
military service of the United States; to equallze
rensns in certain cases: 10 increase the pensions