Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-12-24
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.

In the Senate, on 10th, the Hon George Ban
croft was appointed one of the Regents OF
the Smithsonian Institute The House bill
apprnpriating 100000 to purchase scales Tor
the Postotiiee Department was amended and
passed. After executive session the
Senate adjourned to meet on the 18th
of the Freedmen's Bank were direct
ed to declare an immediate dividend
and bring suit against all persons indebted to
the institution. The Diplomatic and Consul
lar Appropriation bill was made the special
Orde for the 23d. The Senate amendment to
the lproviding for the purchase of scales
for the Postoffice Department was concurred
in and tie bill passed. The Speaker an
nomceC sundry appointments to fill vacan-
cies on Qmmittees, after which the House
adjourned
The Senate was not in session on the 18th
Bills were passed in the House-aIIow-
ing homestead and presumption settlers
whose crops had been destroyed by grass
hOppers permission to leave their lands until
May, 1876; Senate bill appointing Hon.
George Bancroft. to be one of the Regents
of the Smithsonian Institute A resolution
was adopted directing the arrest of Richard
B. irwin for contempt in disobeying the sum
mons of the Committee on Ways and Means
to testify in relation to the Pacific Mail sub
sidy investigation. Adjourned.
On the 18th petition was presented to the
Senate from colored citizens Of Indiana, ask
ing that the proper law officer be directed to
appeal to the Supreme Court for reversal Of
the recent School law decision of the Indiana
Supreme Court. A bill was passed directing
the Land Commissioner to modify the Home
stead law IN favor of the grasshopper sui
ferers. Messrs. Cameron and McCreery
were appointed as a committee on
the part of the Senate to receive King Kala-
kaua . In the House, bills were introduced:
For free banking and to retire legal-tender
notes; reducing letter postage to one cent;
for the relief of the Southern States by com
promise and the settlement of their debts; to
repeal the law requiring prepayment of
newspaper postage; to aid in the construc-
ton of a narrow gauge railroad from tide
water to St. Louis and Chicago; making APP
preparations for lighthouses in Michigan;
for free banking and the resumption of
specie payments. \ resolution for the
investigation of the recent "safe-
burglary affair was defeated for want of
two-thirds vote in the affirmative 4 com
mittee of five was ordered to be appointed to
report upon the recent Vicllsburg troubles
Messrs. Orth, E. R. Hoar and Cox we're ap-
pointed committee on the part of the House
to receive King KaIakaua.
On the 18th, in the Senate, bill was intro
duced limiting the time for applications for
bounty lands. A joint resolution was offered
to amend the Constitution by providing that
the President and Vice-President shall be
elected by direct vote that the term of
Office shall be six years, and that
the President shall be ineligible for
reelection The bill for the relief Of the
grasshopper sufferers was reported upon
favorably. In the House, bills were intro
duced-for narrow-gauge railroad from
Lake Erie to the Missouri River; regulating
the prosecution of libel in the District of Co
lun biz; directing the Secretary Of the Interior
to pay Tor the appropriation Of certain Lands