Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-07-13

the House, the Senate bill exempting vessels
engaged in navigating the Mississippi River
and It's tributaries, above New Orleans from
entrances and clearanceS was passed, as was
also bill authorizing the Commissioner
OF indian Affairs TO purchase needed sup
plies for the Immediate use of Indian tribes
not exceeding S150,000 worth, until the reg
ular appropriation bill shall have passed. A
new Conference Committee was appointed
on the Legislative Appropriation BILL the
disagreement being on the section providing
for salaries of employees of the Government,
the money difference between the two houses
on the bill being So, zoe, 900. The Joint reso-
luton providing that the two houses meet
in joint convention in Independence Hall.
Philadelphia, on the 4th, in cOmmemoration
OF the day, was passed, as was also the bill
to regulate the assessment of taxes in the
District of Columbia. The Geneva Award
bill was further debated.
On the Sd, in the Senate, the Con-
ference Committee on the POstoffice Appro-
priation bill made report, which was laid
over until the 5th. The resolution to pay
Mr.. Pinchback was debated at considerable
length. Adjourned to the 5th -. A resOlu-
ton was adopted in the House instructing
the Committee on Public Lands to inquire
into the disposition made of ,200, 600 acres
of land granted for the improvement of the
DGS hOlutS hdplGS. ANNOUNCEMENT WAS
made that the Conference Committee on the
Postoffice Appropriation bill had agreed.
Some bills of a private nature were intro
duced and referred During the morning
hour several flibustering motions were
made to prevent the Introduction of bill
for the repeal of the Resumption Act. Adj
iourned to the 5th.
On the 9Th, in the Senate, the bill to
amend the act and statutes relating to the
Postoffice Department in regard to "straw
bids" was passed. A joint resolution was
unanimously passed declaring that Congress
should "assume the direction and compile
ton of the Washington Monument, and
directing the committees of both Houses to
institute the necessary provisions of law to
that end. 4 bill was passed, authorizing a
company Of Americans to lay a cable be-
tween this country and Asia. The confer
ence report on the Postoffice Appropriation
bill was agreed to. The resolution to pay
Mr.. Pinchback the compensation and mile
age OF a Senator was pCssed after being
amended so as to allow Mr.. Sykes,
late contestant for a seat from Alabama,
pay and mileage to the close of the
contest and by further providing that in
future claims of a similar nature no greater
allowance shall be made to a claimant than
shall seem to the Senate to be just. : In the
House, the Senate amendment to the Post
office bill, providing penalty for the mail
ing of obscene matter was cOncurred in.
The Conference report on the Postoffice
Appropriation bill was agreed to, the eXpla-
nation being made that the appropriations as
agreed to by the Conference Committee,
were nearly $3,000,000 below those of last
year.
On the 9th, resolution was adopted
in the Senate, providing for a committee of
three Senators to investigate the character,
extent and effect of the Chinese immigra-
ton to this country, with power to visit the
Pacific coast for that purpose, such com
mittee to report at the next session of Con-
gress. The Impeachment trial was then re-
sumed, and Manager Lynde opened the case
on the part of the prosecution. Eight wit
nesses answered to their names when the
list was called. An'obiection was offered to
any evidence on the ground that there could
be no legal conviction, one third of the
Senate having already determined that the
defendant was not, when impeached, a
civil officer of the Government which
objection was Overruled by unanimous
vote. Four or five witnesses were then ex-
amined. :. In the House, the Geneva Award
bill was passed-10S to o. A new Confer
ence Committee was appointed on the Legis-
lative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation
bill, the former committee having been I'M
able to agree. Conference Committees were
also appointed on the Sundry Civil ApprO-
priation and the Silver bills. The Senate
joint resolution for the completion of the
Washington Monument was passed unani-
mOuSIy