Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-03-02
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
On the 18th, the Senate was not in session
number of committee reports of private ma
ture were made and acted on in the House Res
olutions were offered, objected to and laid over
calling on the President for information as TO
whether any executive official acts or duties had
been performed since March /, 1869, at
distance from the seat of Government, the
particulars thereof, and whether any pub
lie necessity existed therefor; calling on the
Secretary of War for information as to whether,
since the 10Th of March, 1873, any army officers
had accepted and held any appointment in the
Diplomatic Consular service, and were still
borne on the army list. A resolution was
adopted declaring the 22d of the present month
(Washington's birthday a National holiday The
bill to reorganiZe the Judiciary was further con-
sidered and several proposed amendments were
disposed of. Adjourned, the session on the 18th
to be for general debate only.
On the 21st the Senate a. reed to the concurrent
resolution adopted by the House declaring the 22d
of February of the present year legal holiday.
Bills were passed-for the sale of timber lands in
the States of California and Oregon, and in the
Territories CT the United States; House bill
making an appropriation to pay fourteen crippled
and disabled Union soldiers employed il
the House of Representatives from
the 9th day of December, 1915, to the
3Oth day of June, 1876. The report of the
Conference Committee on the joint resolution to
pay the interest on the 3.65 District of Columbia
bonds was concurred in, and motion was made
to reconsider. Adjourned to the 23d. Among
the bills introduced in the House were the follow
ing: Limiting the power Of Congress in making
appropriations; to reduce the tax distilled
spirits; for the transfer of the Pension Bureau
from the Interior to the War Department.
The bill to reOrganize the Judiciary was passed
143 to 1872 The Postroute bill was reported from
committee and passed Several resolutions CT
inquiry were adopted. Adjourned to the 23d.
On the 23d, several petitions were presented
and referred in the Senate, among them b ing
one signed by $4,000 women and nearly
$4,000 voters in Indiana on the subject of temper
ance, asking Congress to appoint commission
to investigate anu report to the effect of the
alcoholic liquor traffic, to prohibit the i'm
portation of alcoholic liquors from foreign
countries, their manufacture and sale in
the District of Columbia and the Terri
tories, and to require the total abstinence
from alcoholic liquors of all civil, military and
naval officers of the United States. A bill was
reported from the Committee on Finance amend
atory of the acts of July IA, 1870 and Jan. 20,
1871, authorizing the refunding of the National
debt, the amendment providing that the amount
of bonds bearing four and half per cent. be in
creased to $500 100000, and that they be payable
at the pleasure of the United States after thirty
years from the date of their issue, instead of
after fifteen years-the total amount of bonds
provided for by the original acts and the bonded
debt of the Government not to be increased by
the amendment. Among the bills introduced
was one to regulate elections and the elective
franchise in the Territory of Utah. The bill con-
ferring exclusive jurisdiction over Indian reser-
vations upon the United States Courts, and for
the punishment Of crimes committed by
and against the Indians, was considered,
and lengthy discussion ensued, involving
the questions of Indian civilization, open
ing up the Black Hills to miners, treaty
obligations, etc. a motion made TO re-
consider the vote by which the report of the
Conference Committee on the joint resolution to
pay the interest on the 1858 bonds was agreed to,
and a subsequent request to withdraw the motion
laid on the table 81 to Ia charge be ng
made that S12 900 of the bonds had been issued for
fraudulent claims. - Bills were introduced in
the House--to promote the efficiency of the army
and TO provide for its gradual reduction and the
consolidation of certain of its staff departments;
to increase the clerical force of the Pension
of all pension claims. Several resolutions Of in
Quiry, and resolution authorizing the sub-cOm~
mittees Of the several committees that are
charged with investigations, to conduct those in
vestiz ations, with power to send for persons and
papers, were adopted. A bill was passed to pre-
vent the useless slaughter of bufaloes in the Ter
ritories, making il unlawful for any person not
Indian to kill, wound in any manner destroy
any female buffalo, or any greater number OF buff
faloes than are needed for food or for market.
The bill amending the laws granting pensions to
soldiers and sailors of the war Of 1912 and their
widows, was considered in Committee of the
Whole.
On the 9th, memorial presented in the
Senate from the committee appointed by the
New York Cheap Transportation Association
to call the attention of Congress to various facts
relating to cheap transp ortation. Among the
bills introduced was one to provide for the
means of cheap TRANSPORTATION upon the interior
waters to restore the ocear-cdrrying trade of the
United States and for other purposes. The mo-
ton to reconsider the vote by which the report
of the Conference Committee on the joint reso-
luton to pay interest on the 3.65 District of
Columbia bonds, was passed, was laid on the Ia
ble--33 to e. A message was received from the
House announcing the action of that body in
respect to the memory of the Iate Ii. II.
SIarkWeaLner. ana eulOgles were prOuOunCeu y
several Senators "A resolution was adopted in
the House, authorizing the Committee on the
District of Columbia to employ experts in prose-
cutting its investigation into the affairs of the
District Bills were passed-to exclude Missouri
from the provisions of the act to promote the
mining resources of the United States providing
that any official in the Patent Office who shall re-
ceive any money other than his salary for any
work done shall be punishable by fine or impris
Onment. Announcement was made of the death of
Mr.. Starkweather, and eulogies were delivered
and resolutions of coincidence and respect were
adopted.
THE MARKETS.
NEW YORK
LIVE SToCK.-Beef Cattle--s .O0@12c0. Hogs
Live, SS.371a. G8.75 Sheep-Live. $500
$50.