Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-19
Congressional Summary.
SENATE.


DEC. 1O-A number of bills were
introduced and referred. Among them
were the following:
To declare certain lands heretofore
granted to railroad companies as for
feited, and to open the same for settle
ment.
Amendatory of the supplementary
act to incorporate the Texas Pacific
Railroad, and to aid it's construction.
Mr.. Mcdonald said it had been his
intention to offer resolutions in respect
to the memory of his late colleague,
Mr.. Morton, before the Christmas holi-
days, but upon consultation with other
senators and various members of the
other house of congress, he had con
Guided not to present such resolutions
till after the recess. He therefore gave
notice that he would submit them on
the 18th Of January next.
The vice president announced Messrs.
Anthony, Sargent and White, as mem
bers of the joint committee on printing
on the part Of the senate. He also
named Messrs Cameron, pa and
Bayard, members of the board of visi-
tors, on the part of the senate, to attend
the next annual examination at the
West Point military academy.
At the expiration Of the morning
hour, Mr.. Wadleigh, chairman of the
committee on privileges and elections,
! called up the resolution reported from
that committee last week, declaring j.
D. Eustis entitled to his seat as senator
from Louisiana from January II, 1876,
for the term ending March 3, 1879, and
Mr.. Ingalls,, VINO signed the minority,
spoke in opposition to the resolution,
claiming that the papers presented by
Mr.. Eustis were defective.
After brief discussion. the resolu-
ton of Mr.. Wadleigh was agreed upon
yeas 43, nays 8; those voting in the
negative were .Messrs. Allis, Ingalls,,
Cameron, wis., Mcmillan, Hamlin.
Morrill,, Howe and Saunders. On the
announcement Of the vote Eustis was
escorted to the desk Of the vice-pres-
ident by Mr. Thurman and the oath of
officers were administered to him.
After swearing in Eutis, Mcdonald,
at his own request, was excused from
further service On the committee on
territories, and Jones, of Florida, at his
own request, was excused from further
service on the committee on public
buildings and grounds. The vice presi-
dent appointed Eustis as member Of
these committees.
Mr.. Matthews then called up from
the table the concurrent resolution sub
mitted by HIM Thursday last, declaring
the right of the government to pay prin-
cipal and interest of bonds in silver dol
lars, containing 4129 grains of standard
silver. Mr.. Matthews said the general
assembly Of the state of Ohio, at its ses-
sion last winter, adopted a resolution
favoring the restoration Of the
silver dollar. This resolution
was passed with great unanimity, there
being but three negative votes in the
house of representative and one in the
senate, and he had no doubt it express
ed the considerate and deliberate opin-
ion of the people of that state on the
subject, with some unanimitv, as was
evinced by their representative in the
passage of the resolution. He had
been moved in part by that resolution,
to submit the one now before the SEN
ate Whole "hoie grour gddsolqtion did.not cover
long speech in favor of his res SllYSfea
MIR. Morrill, said if the senator from
Ohio had introduced this resolution and
asked its reference to the committee on
judiciary he might have understood his
purpose. The question raised by his
resolution was legal one Whenever
the main question came up as to re-
monetizing silver, he (Morrill) would be
prepared to express MS views on it. and
he hoped to be able to show it to be
cheaper and better for the United States
to pay its debt in gold. He moved the
reference of the resolution to the COM
mitee on judiciary.
Mr.. Conkling said he wished to SUBJ
init an amendment before it's reference,
and that was to strike out the words,
3" be it resolved by the senate, and house
of representatives concurring therein"
and insert in lieu thereof the words,
resolved by the senate and house of
representatives He said his purpose
was to make it a joint resolution instead
Of a concurrent one.
MIR. Thurman argued it was perfectly
competent for either branch of congress
to declare its opinion as to what was the
law of the land.
Pending the discussion the senate, at
5 o'clock, adjourned by a vote of yeas,
80, nays, %. This was not test vote,
as many senators known to be in favor
of the resolution voted for adjourn
ment, on account of the lateness of the
hour.
HOUSE.
DEC. 10.-Under the call of states the
following bills were introduced and re-
ferred: For adjusting the salaries
of postmasters, on the basis Of
Number of stamps cancelled" in
stead of Number of stamps sold."
Also proposing an amendment
to the constitution, providing that
the term of Office of the president be
SIX years; also the joint resolution in
relation to the contest between Spain
and Cuba. Directing the secretary
of the interior, to- institute pro
ceedings to test and perfect certain
lands, alleged to have been condition
ally granted TO the Northern Pacific rail
road. A resolution was adopted dis
trlbuting the several recommendations