Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-02-17
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

In the Senate, on the 4Ch, Mr. Sherman intro
duced bill in the Senate to limit the value of
household effects entitled to free entry. motion
carried to reconsider the vote by which the District
of Columbia 3.65 bond bill was passed, but it was
subsequently withdrawn, and the bill was again
passed. The case of P. B. S. Pinchback as Senator
from Louisiana, was taken up, and Mr.. Morton
advocated his claim to the seat, his speech
being largely devoted to the defense of his pinch
back's) personal character. Adjourned to the
18th. .. A number Of bills of a private char
acter were passed in the House. sharp debate
occurred on the bill to grant pension to VIM.
r. Duncan, of Tennessee, it being stated that
said. Duncan had enlisted in the Confederate ser
vice in order to procure the discharge from the
Confederate prison in Knoxville of a crippled
BROTHER, who had been arrested as Union guide,
and that he bad deserted at the first opportunity
Joined the Federal service and remained in it
during the war. After running debate the bill
was passed. Adjourned to the 7th
On the 18th, a memorial of the New York Board
of Trade, demonstrating the inexpediency of at
tempting the resumption of specie payments be-
fore the requisite conditions are ripe for it,
presented and referred in the Senate The
House bill providing for the payment of the
Judgment rendered by the Court of Alabama
Claims was amended and passed. After the in
PRODUCTION of sundry petitions and resolutions
the Pinchback was taken up, and Messrs
Thurman and Chrstiancy spoke against, and
Mr.. Howe in favor of his admission. Among
the bills introduced in the House were the
following: To secure homesteads to actual
settlers on the public lands; declaring the
birthday of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) a
national holiday. and that on the 18th of
April the national flag shall float at half mast;
to substitute legal-tender notes for National
Bank notes, and to .nake the duties On imports
receivable one-half in legal-tender notes, and to
repeal the Resumption act of the 14th of January
1875; to give right of action for injuries resulting
from the sale of Intoxicating liquors. motion
to suspend the rules,t to consider resolutions de-
claring that Congress has no constitutional right
in times of peace, toissue the paper of the Gov
eminent as money, and that all Legislation
should have in view the resumption of specie
payment, was defeated-yeas,' Sc; nays, 140
The Senate amendments to the District of Co.
lumbia Bond bill were non-concurred in,
and a Conference Committee was ap-
pointed. A resolution was adopted instruct
ing the,Committee on Foreign Affairs to ascer
tain aud report what action, if any, has been
taken by the Executive Department of the Gov
eminent in relation to the connection of the
United States Minister at the Court of st. james
with the directory of the so-called Emma Mine
and with the prosecution of the Machado claim.
TheSenate amendments to the bill to provide for
the payment of judgments rendered by the Ala
bama Court of Claims were coneurred in. The
Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill was
considered in Committee of the Whole.
On the Sth number Of House bills were
presented in the Senate. and referred. Mr.
Ferry, President pro tenn, was. at his own re-
quast.e&cused from further service or the Finance
Committee, and Mr.. Cooper was appointed as his
successor on such committee. The Centennial
Appropriation bill was taken up, but the floor
yielded to Mr.. Eaton, who offered a resolution in
respect to the memory Of his late colleague,
@. S. fry, which, after eulOgles by sew
eral Senators, pa,sed....A bill TO re-
peal the. Bankruptcy act tC take effect Jan. l,
1877, passed in the Housa-Yeas, 1873: mays,
81; it repeats the Bankruptcy act of the 21st of
March, and all laws and parts of laws amenda-
tory thereof, and supplemental thereto, and p'o-
Eides that all suits and proceedings now pending
in United States Courts wherein an adjudication
in bankruptcy has been made shall be proceeded
with and be governed by the provisions of exist
ing laws, which are continued IN force only for
the purpose of closing up suits and proceedings
now pending. After'being passed, II was discoy-
cred that the bill contained an error in Its recital
of the date of the act repealed, giving it on the I'd
instead of the 21st of March, but objection was
made to unanimous consent TO have it corrected.
Euiogies were pronounced on the late Senator
Ferry.
On the 9th, petitions were presented and
referred in the Senate from 5000 citizens Of
Pennsylvania in favor of aid TO the Texas Pacific
Railroad. a substitute for the resolution sub
mitted by Mr.. Davis early in the session in re-
gard to the accounts of defauting public officers,
etc, was reported from the Finance Committee;
the substitute directs the Secretary Of the
Treasury 10 furnish the Senate. as soon
as practicable, with statement of all the bal
ances due to the United States from public
officers and Others. who were formerly, but are
not now, in the public service. Mr.. Boutwell, in
troduced bin 10 repeal the Presumption laws
and provide for the sale OF timber upon the pub