The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-15
CONGRESSIONAL

DEC. 6-1he Senate was called to order by
Senator 7. w. Ferry, Of Michigan, Vice Pres.
ident pro tenn. Senator Key, OF Kentucky,
was sworn, after which committees were APP
pointed to notify the House and the President
that the Senate was ready for business. After
recess, adjourned.
The House was called to order by Mr.. Nc
Pherson, clerk of the 43d Congress. 286 Of
the 800 members of the body were present.
Credentials We're presented by Morey and
Spencer, of Louisiana, the former signed by
Kellogg, the latter by McEnnery. Morey was
en- rolied. The ballot tor speaker resulted in
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
Stewart, Of Virgins, postmaster. The House
resolutions of notification passed, and adj
ssurned.
Dec. lin the Senate the reading of the
Presidents Message was commenced 1915 and
concluded at 2:08. The reading was listened
to with marked attention by the senators, and
by large audience in the galleries. The
British Minister, Sir Edward Thornton, Yves
an attentive listener.
In the House the drawing for seats COM
menced at lilo, 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 Carolina dis
trict was read, and all adj ournment taken to
Friday.
DEC. SIN the Senate, Senator Morton in
troduced his bill providing for the counting of
votes cast tor President and Vice President.
also 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 a million and a halt of
legal and and political disabilities OF all citi-
zens; for a charter tor all ocean cable to Asia !;
by Senator Mcmillan, tor the extension of
time tor the completion of the Northern Pac-
itic railroad; also for the sale of the Black
Bob Indian land in Kansas. The House was
not in session.
Dec. Gin the Senate, Senator Bayard pro-
tested against the majority restl letting 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. 10.-The House referred to select
committee of thirteen that part of the Message
referring to the Centennial. Two bills were
presented, one by MIR. McDougall and the
other by MIR. Starkweather, repeating such
part of the postal law Of last winter as 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.