Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-01-04
EuRTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.


Chair appointed Messrs. Edmunds, Morton, FIRE.
linghuysen, Logan, Thurman, Bayard and Ran
som as the special committee, to act in connection
with a similar committee on the part of the House,
to devise means for the proper count ofthe Presi-
dental Electoral vofe A resolution was adopted
that when the Senate adjourn on the 22d it be to
meet on the 26th with a general unders anding
among the Senators that business would be
transacted until the I'd of January. The report of
the Conference Committee on the question of The
appropriation to defray the expenses of the special
Investigations was agreed to. giving each House
$4,000. The Senate paid It's respect 10 the memory
of Fhe late Senator Caperton. In the House,
resolution was offered for the appointment of a
special commi tee to investigate a charge made
the day before by Mr.. Hewitt, that his letters Rad
been tampered with in the New York Postoffice
and telegram read from Postmaster James,
pranouncing the accusation utterly and absolute
ly false. Mr.. Hewitt stated that he had about a
month before, received an anonymous letter, the
writer protesting to be an employe in the New
York Postoffice intimating that his (Hewitts 81
letters were being tampered with; that he
had then observed closely the letter
siderable number presented the appearance of
having been opened; he did not state it as fact,
but he had that suspicion which amounted to a
belief that his letters had been opened. sub
stitute offered and adopted referring the
matter to the committee engaged in investigating
the alleged election frauds in New York city
Bills were introduced and referred-proviQlng
that the fleet of the navy in peace and until -he
public safety demands an increase, shall consist
of hirty sea-going vessels of war to be distrib
uted among the several squadrons and divisions;
providing that no mill ary naval officer,
other person engaged in military or naval
service, shall have any troops armed men at or
near the place where any general or special elec-
ton is held in any State, either The day of such
election, or for ten days prior or subsequent
thereto, under penalty of 5000 fine and impris-
onment for term of not less than five years. =.
The memorial of the Governors of Missouri and
other Staes, for action in reference to the grass
hopper plague, was presented. Eulogies were
adopted in respect to the memory of the late SEN
atOr CapertOn.
FRIDAY, Dec. 22.-The resolution rela-
tive to Mr. Cronin's appointment as Presiden-
tial Elector in Oregon was taken up in the Sen
ate, and agreed to without discussion. 1t pro
vides that the question shall be referred to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections with in
structions to inquire into the eligibility of j. W.
Watts (on the Republican Electoral ticket), and
into the facts attending the appointment of said
hlector and pretended Electors, and report the
same to the Senate A Conference Committee
appointed on the bill to provide for the sale of
certain Cherokee scrip lands in Kansas. Adjourn
ed to the 26th "A resolution was adopted in
to report in the Deficiency Dill provision to pay
the widow of the late Speaker Kerr sum equal
to the pay and mileage OF the speaker from the
Congress. Messrs. Knott, Sparks, Tucker,
Marsh Burchard Gll), Seelye and Monroe were
announced by the Speaker as the committee to
and duties of the House in counting the votes for
President. and Vice-President; az d on counting
the Electoral votes, Messrs. Payne, Hunton,
Hewitt, Springer, McCrary, Hoar and Willard.
SATURDAY, Dec. 23-Senate not in ses-
sion. In the House, Mr.. Monroe resigned from
the Committee on the Rights, Privileges and
Duties of the House in regard to the counting of the
Electoral vote. resolution was adopted, request
ing of the President copies of all the orders made
by him. under his direction. and of the orders
o,,d Of tbp norNo 1fn n1a11t
latino TO the limitations made by the President of
and harbors and to specify how the S2,00l0u0
out of the $5,00),000 appropriated by the last
Congress have been expended, and also to state
under what law such Limitation was made. Ad-
journed to the 27th.
TUESDAY, Dec. 26.-In the Senate, Mr..
Mitchell, of Oregon, was added, as and adj
ditional member, to the Committee on Privileges
and Elections message was received from
the President, inClosing thereport of the proceed
ings Of the Sioux Indian Commission. The Pres
ident also sent in the spondence between
the United States and Great Britain on the sub
ject of eXtradition, the conclusion being tnat the
treaty had been restored to vitality by the act of
the latter Government recedlng from It's former
position, and the consequent surrender of Brent,
the Louisville forger, to this Government. After
executive session, an adjournment was had to
the 29th. -. House not in session. +t7.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27.-No session of
the Senate, :. The Presidents messages relative
TO the report of the Sioux Indian Commission,
and the Extradition Treaty with Great Britain,
were received and referred in the House. A pc
ttlon from certain clGzens OF CINCINNATI IN re-
gard to the counting of the Electoral votes, and
containing resolution declaring that the Presi-
dent of the Senate has not the power alone to
count and declare the result of such votes, was
presented, and, after considerable debate was
read and referred to the committee appointed to
examine into the subject st