Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-19
CONGRESSIONAL,

fornia were presented, and he was sworn IN
Bills were NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the Nation
al Currency act; to amend the Internal Revenue
laws. Mr. McCreery, at his own request, was
excused fromrIurther service on the Committee Oh
Territories, and Senator Hager was appointed in his
place "A bill was passed-40 to 20-fOr the re-
lief of the East Tennessee University and appro-
pflaung $4,000 to compensate that institution for
property belonging to it occupied and destroyed
by the Federal troops during the late war. The
Bankrupt bin was further considered and several
amendments were disposed Adjourned.
In the House, on the 9th, bills were in
troduced and referred-to reduce the of letter
postage TO two cents; fixing the salaries of Post
masters III certain Cities 10 regulate the hours of
service in the departments at Washington, and TO
reduce the number OF clerks; Tor the construction
of the St. Philip Canal; also of the Atlantic &
Great Western Canal, and for opening the naviga-
ton of the Tennessee and Coosa Rivers in
Alabama, and the Ocmulgee in Georgia; to re-
peal the Internal Revenue taxes on whisky
and tobacco; granting aid 10 the Atlantic u
Great Western Canal Company; to amend the
law authorizing railroad bridge over the Missis-
slppi River at Clinton la. "A concurrent resolu
ton for sine de adjournment on the 18th of May
was debated and finally referred 10 the Committee
on Ways and Means. :. Resolutions were adopted
declaring it to be the sense of the House that
Congress should not adjourn until some measures
are enacted providing for reform in the present
system OF the currency, on the subject of trans
portation, and for more economical administration
of the Government; declaring it to be
within the constitutional power of Congress by
law so 10 REGULATE commerce among States as
to protect that portion of the internal commerce
which is among the several States from all UNJUST
or oppressive tolls taxes distractions or other
burdens, whether imposed by railroad companies
or by combinations thereof, or by other common
carriers, and that the present condition and mag
nitude of the commerce among the States
demand fSa a prompt and wise wis exercise :, Of
jority and minority reports in the contest ed
election case from the Third Congressional Dis
trict of Arkansas were presented and ordered
lrIr1Ta no q nrJ
Wiltshire as his 01ino0 fdcie right. The minority
port directs the Committee on Elections TO report
on the merits of the case. A bill was passed APP
proprlatlng S2UOOU to dredge and protect the navi
gable channel at the mouth of Buffalo River
against the sand-bar formed by the gale last De-
cember. Adjourned.
In the Senate, on the 10th, joint
resolution of the Legislature of Missouri in regard
to illegal charges made by the Union Pacific Rail
road Company presented and referred -.
Bills were introduced-tO relieve the political dis
abilities of Raphael Semmes, of Alabama direct
ing the Secretary of the Interior to appoint Com
mlssloners to locate and open road for military,
postal and commercial purposes across the Indian
Territory from the mouth of the main
Cashee River, in Texas, via Fort Cobb,
Fort Sill and Wichita, to the mouth of the Wal
nut River, In Kansas; granting to the Atlantic &
Great Western Canal Company currency notes to
the extent of $4,000 per mile for each section of
ten miles of canal that shall be constructed pro-
Vlded that the COmpany's frst-mortgage forty-Year
bonds to an equal amount shall have previously
been deposited as security for the Government;
authorizing the coinage of tWenty-cent silver
pieces The House bill requesting the President
to extend in thes4ASne United States cor
dial invitation TO foreigI. Governments to take
part in the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia
was reported from committee without amend
ment. The Chair announced, as a member of
the Committee to Investigate into the manage
meat of the Government of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, in place of Mr.. Morrill,, of
Maine, excused, Mr.. Allison, of Iowa, so
that the committee now consists of Boutwell,,
Thurman and Allison. The Bankrupt bill was
taken up, and amendments were agreed tO-pTo-
viding that arrangement for settlement between
creditors and debtors, in order to be valid shall
ceive the signatures of twothirds of the number of
creditors. representing Onehan the value of the
debts; that a creditor, proving his debt
or claim, shall not be held to have waived
his right of action or suit against bankrupt
when a discharge has been refused or proceed
ings been determined without discharge; that
all notices of sales under this act by any assignee
or officer of court shall be published in a newspa-
per or newspapers, to be designated by the Judge,
which, in his opinion, shall best be calculated to
give general notice of the sale. The bill as
amended was then passed-yeas 43, nays H..
Adjourned.
In the House, on the 10th, bill was
passed prescribing an oath to be taken by Post
masters. Several postal bills were reported one
providing that on mail matter of the third class
the name and address of the sender may be written,
and also the number and kind of articles inclOsed
and there may also be written in any book or
entation, without extra postage being charged.
49,. The Army Appropriation bill was considered
in Committee of the Whole....A resolution
adopted providing for investigation into the
affairs and management of the First National
Bank of Washington at the time Of and prior TO its
failure Adjourned.
In the Senate, on the nth, the bill for
the withdrawal of $25, 900, 900 of National Bank
currency from those States having an excess and
the reissue of it to States not having their pro
rata Of currency came up in regular order, and
an amendment 10 the section authorizing
the Comptroller of the Currency to issue
S7,000,000 to those States having less than their
proportion, declaring that the Comptroller might
do so without waiting for the return of the cir
culating notes of other banks, agreed TO- after
which a spirited and lengthy debate occurred on
proposed amendment to insert "seventy-fve''i II
place of twenty-five = relating to the amount to
be withdrawn and reissued. Adjourned.
In the House, on the 18th, bills were
passed-extending to the 1st of January. 1875, the
time within which settlers on the Cherokee strip
in Kansas, may make proof of settlement and pay
ment, the deferred payments to bear five per cent.
interest: relative to private contracts or agree
ments made with Indians prior TO the 2fst of May
1872, declaring that until such contracts are in
dOrsed by the Secretary of the Interior and the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs their le-
gality must not be recognized by any
Government official; to secure a more
efficient administration of Indian affairs. E. The
Senate amendments to the joint resolution
case OF General o. o. Howard were concurred
In. Mr. Bass CNew York; was appointed on the
Joint Select Committee on the Atfairs OF the Dis
trlct of Columbia, in place of Mr. E. Il. Roberts,
same State. The Army Appropriation bill was
further considered in Committee of the Whole
reported to the House, with amendments which
were agreed to- one of which extends the time for
The presentation of claims to November l, 1875
and the bill as amended was passed. The Fort
heation bill was taken up IN Committee of the
Whole and partially disposed Of. An evening
ressiOn was held for consideration of the bill for
sev1sing and consolidating the statutes.
In the Senate, on the 18th, the creden-
tials of James s. Harvey, as Senator from Kansas.
and H r. Pease. as Senator from Mississippi were
presented, and they were sworn in.
resolution passed unanimously by the
South Carolina Legislature, In favor of
the passage by Congress of a CYil-Rights
bill, was presented and referred. The bill to
equahze the distribution of the currency taken
up, and the amendment to substitute S75, 000.0Oo
IN place of 25,000000 was Withdrawn and
substitute for the bill reported by the committee
was offered, providing that 90 000 in notes for
circulation shall be issued to the National Banking
associations now organized, or which may be here
after organized in addition to the present circula-
ton, under the same rules and limitations as now
prescribed by law and after considerable debate
on the question of finance the Senate adjourned.
In the House, on the 18th, bills were
passed-to authorize the SALE at public auction of
the military reservation of Fort Reynolds, in Col
orado Territory. containing about twenty-three
square miles and the Government buildings there
on; governing leave of absence TO army officers:
the Fertilization Appropriation bill; Senate bill
authorizing the Secretary OF ar TO ascertain the
amount of EXPENSES incurred by the Terri
torial authorities in Dakota for arms equip
ments, military stores, and all other expenses of
Inc volunteer force in the indian war OF lo62..-
The bill to repeal the stamp duty or tax on
matches was considered in Committee of the
Whole, and a lengthy discussion ensued On the
question of revenue. AT the evening session |
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