Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-12-21
EORTY-E0uRTH ClNGRESS.


Republican Legislature. The decision was
reserved.
FORTY-F0URTH CONGRESS.
MONDAY, Dec. 11.-In the Senate, the
House bill appropriating S21 900 to defray the eI
penses of the special committees of that body ap-
pointed to investigate the recent elections in South
Carolina Louisiana and Florida was passed with
an amendment appropriating 5000 to defray the
expenses of the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections in making similar Investigations in
certain Southern States. motion was made that
the report of the Democratic Committee which at
tended the session of the Louisiana Re
turning. Board be printed, and, after de-
bate, it decided that Messrs. Bogy.
Stevenson and Mcdonald should prepare a me-
mortal to the Senate, making the report part
thereof, and it could then be printed. favora-
bic report was made cn the resolution authOriz.
ing investigation as5fo the eligibility of Watts,
the Oregon E1ector. The Chair announced Mr..
Oglesby member of the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections, inp place of Mr.. Boutwell,.
cused The joint resolution of MIR. Edmunds,
proposing a Constitutional Amendment to
the effect that tae Electoral vote for
President and Vice-Presi ent shall be count
ed by the Supreme Court. was taken up,
and an amendment was agreed to that Electors
shall vote UiUG COce, iFstead Of by ballot. Con
siderable discussion then ersued on the proposed
amendment. :. In the House, Mr.. Clymer was
announced TO fill the vacancy in the Committee
on Appropriations caused by the retirement of
others-reducing letter postage to two cents;
for the purchase of silver bullion and its coinage
in dol ars, which are to be legal.tender
ing duties and coil in crest, for the pro-
lection of States against domestic violence.
motion TO suspend tbs rules and adopt resolu-
tion requesting the Pre- ident to furnish from the
War Department copies Of all reports, orders,
correspondence. etc, connected win the removal
of j. Madison Wells from the Governors hip of
Louisiana, by Gen. Sheridan, in 1867, was lost
141 TO 81, not twothirds in the affirmative. A
resolution was adopted irstructng the Judiciary
Committee to inquire and report on the legality of
the circular letter issued by the Attorney-Gen-
eral, during the late Presidential campaign,
TO United States Marshals in relation TO their
powers and duties il such election. A motion
was made and lost-134 TO "a less than two thirds
in the affirmative-to suspend the rules and pass
resolution insfructing the judiciary Committee
to inquire what intimidation has been prac iced
on Government employees during the late cleo
ton 10 compel such employees to contribute 10
the election fund of ny political party, and what
TUESDAY, Dec. Ie-Tn the Senate, Mr.
Bogy presented the memorial of himself and Sen
ators Stevenson and Mcdonald, embracing the re-
port of the Democratic Committee on the Lou
isiana election, which was ordered printed. The
resolution directing the Attorney General to in
form the Senate as TO the number of United States
Marshals employed on election day, was agreed
to, with an amendment requesting information
also as to the necessity of their employment, the
object thereof their duties etc. The resolution
regarding the appointment of Mr.. Cronin as
Presidential ElectOr in Oregon was discussed
at considerable length. The joint resO-
luton proposing an amendment to the Constitu-
ton so as to have the Electoral vote counted by
the Supreme Court was further considered, and
amendments were agreed to making the measure
applicable to the present political contest, in case
1t be ratified by three eourths of The States etc.
so as to provide that the Court shall fix day not
later than the 10th of next February for the count,
and providing that no Justice of the Supreme
Court shall be eligible to the Presidency or Vice
nr he cd tn nj he
United States for four years after he shall have
ceased 10 be such Justice. A bill was introduced
and referred providing for the sale of the Usage
ceded lands in Kansas to actual settlers.
In the House. a lengthy debate was had on
the question of the ioint-rules. the Speaker hav-
ing again decided that they were in full force and
effect. and were binding until repealed by b ,th
houses of Congress. The bill of last session to
utilize the product of the gold and silver mines
was taken up, the previous question seconded,
and two hours debate was agreed to, one on the
18th and one the 18th. The Postoffice (S3 99S3.-
125) and the Fertilization $3.50, ,000l bills
ported. The Speaker appJin ed Messrs. Cox On.
", Rice (Ohio), Waddell, MacDougall and Wells
(Mo as the committee TO inquire as to whether
frauds had been practced in the election in New
York, Brooklyn, Jersey City and Philadelphia.
WEDNESDAY, Dec 13.-Several petitions
of religious and temperance orga izations through
out the country were presented and referred in
the Senate asking for the prohibition, in the Dis
trict of Columbia and the Territories of the manu-
facture and sale of alcoholic liquors as beverage
Mr.. Sargent was appointed a member of the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections, in place Of
lution for an amendment to the Constitution so
to refer the counting of the Electoral
vote to the Supreme Court was further
discussed and finally rejected-yeas H.
utilize the products of the gold and silver mines
waa taken up, and substitute was agreed to
that silver dollars of the weight of 412h grains
shall be coined and shall be legal-tender for ali
debts, public and private, except when payment
of gold coin is required by law, and the bill, as
amended, was passed-'67 to 50. The bill to make
the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Com
pany in Nebraska a branch of the Union Pacific
Railroad, was taken up and recommitted.
. THURSDAY, Dec 14.-In the Senate, the
resolution to print extra copies of the Presidents
message and accompanying documents in regard
to the election in Louisiana was taken up, and a
lengthy debate followed on amendment offered
by Mr. Thurman. to have printed with the message
the memorial of Messrs. BOgy, Stevenson and
Mcdonald, embraci ing he report of the Democratic
Committee which witnessed the count in New
Orleans. The debate was participated in by Messrs
Sherman, Thurman, West. Morton and Bayard,
and related chiefly to the quest on of intimidation
after which the amendment was agreed to, aGd
the resolution was passed. as amended, to print
1850 copies. a joint resolution to print 10,00J
copies of the same message was also passed
message received from the Presi-
dent and ordered printed in answer to the
resolution of the 9th in regard to troops stationed at
Petersburg, Va, on election day; also, commu-
the employment of Deputy Marshals on election
day the Attorney General stating that the infor-
nation called for was not in his possession, but
that he would endeavor to procure it at early
a day as practicable Mr.. Bayard presented a
statement compiled by an officer of the House in
regard to the count OF the Electoral vote by that
body since the formation of the Governa ent,
which statement ordered printed -. In the
House olution was reported from the Judiciary
Committee, and adopted, relating to the counting
Of the Electoral vote. providing for committee of
seven 10 act in conjunction with any similar com
mittee that might be appointed by the Senate to
report without delay measure best calculated to
accomplish the desired end also. another commit
tee of seven to report what are the privileges,
powers and duties of the House in counting the
Electoral votes. The Senate amendments 10 the
Post Route bill of last session for the re-estao-
ishment OF the fast-mail service and of the frank
ing privilege were rejected the ground that they
should not nave been engrafted on such bill.
The Postofice Appropriation bill was considered
in Committee of tae Whole.
THE SOUTHERN INVESTIGATIONS.
LOUISIANA.
The Congressional House Committee met
& New Orleans on the 18th Mr.. Morrison presiding.
A communication was received from the Louis
lana Returning Board, stating in substance thai
four members of the Returning Board
denied the authority of the House OF Rep