Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-05

Privileges and Elections. ;. "A bill was reported
from committee, without amendment providing
that every volunteer accepted by the War Depart
ment under the proclamation of May 3, 1851,
shall be paid the full bounty of 500
promised thereby. Mr. Morton spoke in
favor of the resolution providing for Commission
| of five person 10 examine and report to Congress
what legislation is required in regard te Interstate
railroads, and to provide for cheaper transpOrta-
ton. etc. The bill supplementary 10 the act to
protect all citizens OF the United States in their
| civil rights. and to furnish the means of their
! vindicatiOn, was taken up and debate
ensued on a motion TO refer to the Judiciary
! Committee. The joint resolution proposing an
amendment TO the Constitution, providing for the
election of President by a direct vote of the peo
pie, and abolishing the Office of Eice-President,
| came up and was referred to the Committee on
Privileges and Elections. The bill TO authorize
the organization of National Banks without circu
lation was taken up and debated. Adjourned.
In the House, on the 9th, the Senate
amendments TO the Post Route bill were concurred
in. Bills were reported and recOmmitted-reviv-
ing the grant of lands to aid in the construction of
railroad from Vicksburg to the Texas State
line: to incorporate the Southern Trans-contnen-
tai Railroad Company. and to grant the right of
way through public lands; 10 amend the act to
encourage the growth of timber on the Western
prairies = The West Virginia contested election
case was further considered, and at the close of
the debate vote was had on the resolutions, those
and J. NJ Hogan, chosen at the
August election, were not and that Benja-
min Wilson and B. Z. Martin, chosen at the OCto-
Der election, duly elected-the resolutions
reported by the minority of the Committee taking
opposite grounds; the majority report was sup
ported by the Democratic, and the minority report
by the Republican side of the House, and the vote
resulted in declaring Davis and Hogan entitled to
seats, and they were accordingly sworn in. .Ad-
iourned.
In the Senate, on the 28th, among the
petitions presented was one from soldiers in the
|
to 100 acres of land, and asking for the appoint
ment of a special committee to investigate as to
the working of the existing laws touching the sub
ject. "A bill was introduced and referred to
amend the diplomatic and consular systems act of
August IS, 1856. The finance resolution was
further debated, Mr.. -Bayard advocating the re-
sumption of specie payment at the earliest posi-
bic day; he thought the Legal Tender act was
war measure, and should not be continued now in
time Of peace. Mr.. Morrill, (Vt.) replied to Mr.
Boutwell,, citing his (Boutwell's) former votes and
reports to show that Ibis policy of standing still
was impossible. Executive session and adjourn
ment.
In the House, on the 2Sth, a bill was
passed, establishing life-saving stations and ap-
propriatng $11 600 therefor and 81 800 for medals
ordered previously to be presented TO persons who
had distinguished themselves in saving lives from
the wreck of the steamer Metis..A memorial
was presented and referred of New York bankers
against any further initiation of the currency. . "A
substitute was offered and referred for the bill in
troduced in the House by the Committee on WAYS
and Means, fixing the status of the over-issue of
legal tenders, such substitute declaring that United
States notes issued in excess of 1856 100000
were Issued without authority of law, and
! are not legal tenders, and Congress
cannot give them the attribute of money
under the recent decision of the Supreme Court,
put, having been issued, are a just debt against
the United States, redeemabe in legal money.
The Army Appropriation bill, appropriating $685.
1896, was considered in Committee of the
Ana 11o1c
be for the consideration of the bill revising the
statutes.
In the Senate, on the goth, petitions
presented and referred-from citizens of
Illinois, asking that legal-tenders be substituted
for national bank notes; from citizens of Montana
asking for division of that Territory After the
expiration of the morning hour, Mr. Ferry, of
Michigan, was called to the chair and Mr.. Carpen-
ter addressed the Senate on Louisiana affairs. He
reviewed at length the condition of affairs in that
State; he referred to the lengthy report of the
Congressional Committee on Louisiana affairs and
said II is too late to talk about seating Pinch
back on prin0 tGcie cause, as this committee had
agreed there was no legal government ia Louisi-
ana nor legal Legislature, on the 18th of January
last Before the conclusion of Mr.. Carpenters
speech the Senate went into executive session and
soon after adjourned.
In the House, on the 10th, bills were
reported and referred to Committee of the Whole
to amend the several acts relating to the Nation
al currency, and to establish free banking; limit
ing the amount of United States notes in crcula-
| ton to S400000,000, and allowing their exchange
into convertible g. IS bonds. The bill to establish
! and maintain National Savings Repositories as
| branches of the Postoffce Departments was re-
| ported adversely from the Committee on Banking
| and Currency. The Army Appropriation bill
was further considered in Committee of the Whole
-. An evening session was held for consideration
of the bill codifying and revising the statutes.
In the Senate, on the Both, large num-
Der of bills were introduced, among them one
authorizing the President to appoint a board of
five officers to investigate the charges against Gen
eral o. o. Howard, which was laid over informally.
IA memorial was presented and read of the
Governor of the District of Columbia, in response
TO certain statements made in a memorial
presented a few days before The Cover
nor says the District officials have
not sought and do not now seek to evade the full
est Investigations into the affairs of the District
Mr.. Carpenter concluded his remarks on
Louisiana affairs. He claimed that the Presidents
proclamation was issued without authority, but
that it had salutary effect at the time. He ar
gued that Kellogg not legally elected that his
associates in the State offices were never elected
and the Legislature sending Pinchback to the
Senate was never elected. He thought new
election should have been ordered in Louisiana at
the last session of Congress. Mr.. Morton began
a reply to the speech of Mr.. Carpenter in which he
said the new election was not demanded by the
Republican party of the State by the business
men of New Orleans. The men who were inter
ested in the preservation of order and protection
of honest labor opposed a election
lIe IcdsOu Illdl lllty WSI6 OppOsGu
and knew full well that the overturning of this
State Government would be the signal for disorder
and the shedding of blood. He contended that the
Kellogg Government was in sympathy with, and
sustained by, large majority of the people of
Louisiana. Before the conclusion of Mr.. Nor
toms speech the Senate adjourned to the I'd.
In the House, on the 30th, various
reports of a private character were made from
committees and referred. "A joint resolution was
reported from the Committee on Military Affairs
requesting the President to convene Court of
Inquiry of not less than five officers of the army,
to Investigate fully all charges against Brig.-Gen.
o. o. Howard contained in communication of
the Secretary of War of the 5th of December,
1878, and to report their opinion well the
moral legal responsibility for such offenses if
any may be discovered. An amendment to this
resolution offered, giving the accused the right
of challenge allowed by law in trial by court
martial, and an exciting debate ensued, after
which the amendment was agreed to-172 to ID
and the resolution as amended passed..
Several joint bills considered and disposed
of. Adjourned, the session the 31st to be for
debate only