Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-16

construction Of vessels of war and steam maehin-
cry read and laid over. The House bill pro-
yding for the assignment of Judges in Territories
was discussed. "A bill was introduced and re-
ferred TO relieve ships and vessels from compulsory
pilot fees in certain cases. Executive session
and adjournment.
In the House, on the It'll, various bills
of minor interest were reported. An adverse re-
port was made on the bills granting 1000 coo acres
of the public land to the Trustees of Browns In
situte in Florida and donating the former United
States Court House building, at st. Augustine
Fla. for educational purposes. and TO promote
education in the Territories The Currency act
was taken up and debated al considerable length
..-.Adiourned.
In the Senate, on the Sth, resolution
calling upon the Secretary of the Treasury to re-
port to the Senate the amount of the defalcations
Of the various disbursing officers of the Govern
ment was referred. The House bill providing for
the assignment of Judges in Territories was recon-
mltted. :. Some discussion took place upon the
Dill to provide for the incorporation and regulation
OF railway companies in Territories, and motion
was N ade to recommit the bill. Executive ses-
sion and adjournment
In the House, on the Sth, bills were
passed-giving consent for the erection Of bridge
across the Arkansas River at Pine Bluff Ark: to
provide for the sale of the present Marine Hos
pltal and its site. and the erection thereon of
new Marine Hospital. at Pittsburgh. A report
was made from the Committee on Public Build
lngs to the effect that the Eight-Hour law was
| not being violated in the work done under Gov
eminent supervision in the New York Postoffice
building, and that, as TO the work done under
contractors. there is way OF enforcing the law.
A bill was reported from the Committee on Civil
Service Reform. providing that no officer of the
united States shall, directly or indirectly receive
UT De paid for his use or benefit any money or
property of the United States except his salary or
compensation. and that no public property shall
De USED by officials by any person for private
purposes, the act not to be SO construed as 10 pre-
vent the payment of all actual and necessary tray
e4lhg expenses when traVellDg on legitimate and
necessary duties pertaining to their offices. The
Currency bill was further debated. Adjourned.
In the Senate on the 9th, House bills to
facilitate the expectation of distilled spirits and
to increase the pensions of soldiers and sailors to-
tally disabled were reported with amendments
and placed on the calendar. An unfavorabl re-
port was made from the Committee on Pensions
on the resolution of the Minnesota Legislature
asking investigation into the affairs of
the Pension Office....A bill was introduced
and referred to authorize the Librarian OF Con-
gress to send books TO the Governor of Iceland
The House bill for the inspection of disburse-
ments of appropriations made by officers of the
army passed The Senate bill to provide for
the incorporation and regulation OF railway COM
panies in the Territories of the United States was
taken up, and several amendments were agreed to-
Executive session and adjournment.
In the House, on the 9th, bill was re-
ported from the Committee of Ways and Means
ordered printed and recommitted, to repeal all
moieties. The bill to prevent officers of the
United States from receiving or being paid any
money beyond their fixed salaries came ~ All
was discussed, and referred, by vote of 159 to
SO, to the Committee of Ways and Means The
Currency bill then came up, and after consider
able debate, and amid much excitement,
motion for the previous question was voted down
yeas n, nays 142; a motion was made and
ried-133 to 12l-to postpone further consideration
of the bill until the 14th, after which motion was
made to reconsider and lay the motion on the ia
Bile, but motion TO adjourn was interposed and
carried-117 to 100. Adjourned.
In the Senate, on the 10th, the House
bill exempting boats employed on canals and in
ternal waters of any State from payment of all
customs and other fees was passed. "A number
of petitions were presented and referred from cit
zens of Ohio asking that specific duty be imposed
on tin plate instead of ad valorem duty. . An
adverse report was made from the Committee on
Commerce on the petition of citizens of Indiana
and Kentucky for the passage of law compelling
bridges over the Ohio River to be constructed with
a 400-feet span and 160feet pivot draw. "A bill
was introduced and referred providing. that post
age upon documents printed by authority of Con.
gress, or by either house thereof, shall not
be required to be prepaid but may be left to be
paid by persons receiving them. The bill TO pro-
road companies in the Territories of the United
States was further considered, and several amend
ments were agreed to-. Adjourned.
In the House, on the 10th, bill was in
troduced and referred to repeal so much of the
laws relating to the army organization as estab-
fishes distinctions to the prejudice of American
colored citizens. A motion of Mr. Butler to lay
on the table the motion to reconsider the vote
postponing the Currency bill called up and
an exciting debate ensued, in the course of which
Mr.. Butler intimated his belief that the President
would not veto the Senate Currency bill in the
event of its passage by the House. He
called to order for this statement and the Speaker
said such allusion was unparliamentary The
motion to lay on the table the motion to reconsider
was then defeated-yeas 1885, nays 126-the Speaker
casting his vote in the negative. The motion to
reconsider was then agreed to-12S to no. The
previous question was moved and seconded on all
the pending amendments, several of which were
rejected. motion agreed to, to
strike out the seventh section of the BILL
which allows banks TO be organized
without circulation. The eighth section
providing for the monthly issue of $4,000, 600 in
gold notes substitute for that amount of legal
tender notes to be Cancelled and destroyed and not
reissued, was also stricken out-149 to IS. Pend
ing the consideration of other proposed amend
ments the House adjourned.