Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-01-27
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

On the 18th the Senate was not in session. In
the House the Amnesty bill. as amended by Mr.
Banks, was reported back from the Judiciary
Committee, the main question ordered. and the
vote the passage of the bin resulted in its re-
jection-yeas 1872, nays 97-there not being the
requisite twothirds in the affirmative. Mr. Blaine
then made a motion to reconsider, thus obtaining
the floor, and asked unanimous consent to offer
his bill for amnesty, with the exception of Jefer-
son Davis. Objections were made TO his offering
the bill, several members claiming that ne was
out of order under a motion to reconsider, and
Mr.. Blaine finally withdrew his melton. After
the confusion incident to the tactics pursued by
Mr. Blaine had subsidized, the Pension Appropria-
ton bill (S29, 533 500 was considered in Commit
tee Of the Whole, reported back to the House and
passed Adjourned to the 18th.
On the 18th the petition of P. G. T. Beauregard
for the removal of his political disabilities was
presented in the Senate and referred. Bills were
introduced-to amend the acts to aid in the con-
struction of a railroad and telegraph line from
the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean, approved
July 1, 1862, and July 2 1874; to recover from the
Central and Union Pacific Railroad Companies
the bonds and coupons issued to them in excess
Of the amount prescribed by law; in relation to
lands heretofore granted to railroad companies;
to amend the laws relating to silver coins. A
concurrent resolution submitted proposing
common unit of money and accounts for the
United States and Great Britain. petition of
citizens Of Massachusetts was presented, asking
that law be passed making each member of
Congress directly responsible to the electors of
his district, the majority of whom, if ne does not
meet their expectations or justify their confidence,
may at any time recall him and appoint success
Several bills were introduced il the House.
among which were the following: To prevent
Centennial buildings or grounds during the Exhi-
bition: to repeal the act providing for redistri-
button of National Bank currency; to reduce the
salaries of all the executive and legislative officers
Of the Government, except the army and navy
over s., 800 20 per cent, and fix the salary of
the President at S25C00 to repeal the act
for the resumption of specie payment by
Mr. Banks, for the removal of ali poIiti-
cal disabilities. An amendment to the Con-
stitution was submitted by Mr.. O'Brien
as amendment to Mr.. Blaines proposition
providing that no State shall make any law re-
speeding the establishment prohibiting the free
exercise OF religion, disqualifying ministers of
the Gospel from holding any Office of trust or
emolument, either State or National, and provid-
ing that 10 public moneys raised for school pur-
poses shall ever be under the control of any re-
Iigious sect. Mr.. White moved to suspend the
rules and bring the House to vote on the Am
nesty bill introduced by him, and from the btne-
fits OF which Jefferson Davis was excluded. and
also 10 vote on an amendment striking out that
exception, which motion was lost for want of the
requisite two-thirds-yeas 165, nays 10. motion
10 suspend the rules and adopt resolution de-
claring in favor of the repeal Of the Resumption
act was lost-yeas 112. nays 15S. resolution
adopted calling on the President for copies
Of all correspondence with Spain in reference to
the island of Cuba. 4 constitutional amendment
was introduced and referred limiting the Presi-
dental term to four years. The proposition was
agreed to-156 TO 1G2-to amend the rules gov
erning the offering OF amendments 10 the general
appropriation bills so as TO make the rule read
No appropriation shall be reported in such gen
eral appropriation bill, or be in order as an
amendment thereto. for any expenditure not pre-
viously authorized by law, except in continua-
ton of g.. appropriation for such public works
and objects already in progress; nor shall
any provision in any such bill, or amendment
thereto, changing existing law, be in order, ex-
cept such as, being germane TO the subject-mat-
ter OF the bill. shall retrench expenditure
On the 18th the CT adentisls Of James +. Eustis
claiming seat as Senator from Louisiana were
presented in the Senate, and, objection being
made 10 their reception or the ground of irregu-
lar1y for want OF the Governors signature, they
were laid over. The memorial Of the Demo
cratic Conservative Convention of Louisiana