The Grange advance., 1875-12-15
Conversational.

DEC. 6.-The Senate was called to order by
Senator I. w. Ferry, of Michigan, Vice Pres
ident pro TEN. Senator Key, OF Kentucky,
pointed to notify the House and the President
that the Senate was ready for business After
The House was called to order by Mr.. Nc
Pherson, clerk Of the AID Congress. 286 of
the 292 members OF the body were preseot
Credentials We're presented by Morey and
Spencer, of Louisiana, the former signed by
Kellogg, the latter by McEnnery. Morey was
the election OF Michael C. Kerr, of Indiana, by
81 majority over Blaine. N. P. Banks voted
for Williams, of Michigan. Morey was then
sworn, after considerable discussion. Geo. NJ.
Adams, of Kentucky, was elected clerk; John
G. Thompson, Of Ohio, sergeant-at-arms; L.
Fitzhugh, of Texas, doorkeeper; and James
was then declared organized and the usual
resolutions OF notification passed, and ad-
seurned.
Dec I'm the Senate the reading OF the
Presidents Message was commenced l:l5 and
concluded at 2:08. The reading was listened
to with marked attention by the senators, and
British Minister, Sir Edward Thornton, Wes
an attentive listener.
In the House the drawing for seats COM
menced at l:l6, the Democrats mostly select.
ing sittings ON the speakers right The read.
ing of the message occupied two hours, at the
conclusion of which not over forty members
were in their seats. A petition with reference
to representation from Sd South Caroiina dis
trict was read, and an adjournment taken to
Friday.
DEC. SIN the Senate, Senator Morton in
troduced his bill providing for the counting of
votes cast for President and Vice President,
also q resolution to amend the constitution so
as to elect the PRESIDENT and Vice President
by direct vote, and to abolish the electoral
college. The Centennial committee asked tor
the appropriation OF million and halt Of
dollars. Bills were introduced to remove the
legal and and political disabilities OF all citi-
zens; for charter tor an ocean cable to Asia; !;
by Senator Mcmillan, Tor the extension Of
time tor the completion Of the Northern Pac-
ifc railroad also for the Sale of the Black
Bob Indian land in Kansas. The House was
not in session.
DEC. 9-In the Senate, Senator Bayard pro-
tested against the majority restl icting the min
ority to but two places on the finance COM
mittee. The usual number of petitions and
memorials were presented, including one
from the Methodist Church, south, asking
tor compensation tor books destroyed during
the rebellion. A bill was introduced provid-
ing for the taxation by States Of unsurveyed
lands of the Union Pacific railroad. A large
number of appointments were received from
the President and confirmed, after which the
Senate adjourned until Monday. The House
was not in session.
DEC. 1O.-The House referred to a select
committee of thirteen that part OF the Message
referring to the Centennial. Two bills were
presented, one by Mr.. McDougall and the
other by Mr.. Starkweather, repeating such
part of the postal law Of last winter az related
to printed matter. Pending discussion as to
which bill should take precedence, the House
adjourned until the 14th. The Senate was
not in session..