Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-02-01
F0RTY-F0uRTH CONGRESS.

OATURDAY, Jan. 2U.-1n the Senate, the
message of the President in regard to the occupa-
ton of Petersburg by the military on election day
was discussed by Messrs. Withers and Morton.
after which the bill reported by the special com
NIT ee in r gard to the Electoral vote was taken
up and Mr.. Edmunds had read the twelfth article
of the Constitution which article the bill proposed
10 execute, and n then entered into lengthy
argument IN support of the bill, explaining its
provisions. The credentials of VIM. Pitt Kellogg
as Senator from Louisiana, signed by S. P.
Packard as Governor, were presen ed and re-
ferred. Petitions were presented in favor
s r w9tna3pr sHffa6i f6i rne 5ffftfee on Privileges
and Elections relative to the powers of the House
in counting the Electoral vote was further con-
siiered Mr. Payne Chairman of the special
committee on the Electoral vote, gave notice that
he should, on the 23d, call up the bill reported
the evening of the oath, when he should call for
the previous question. The Indian Appropriation
bill was considered in Committee of the Whole.
MONDAY, Jan. 22.-Bills were intro
duced in the Senate-to provide for the dislrbu-
ton of awards made under the Convention be-
tween the United States and Mexico; to organ
iZe the Territory of Oklahama and for the better
protection of Indians therein; granting pension
to the widow of the late Gen. f. T. Blair. MIR.
Morton spoke at considerable length in opposi-
ton to the bill TO provide for counting the Elec-
toral vote. Mr.. Blaine was sworn in to fill the
Mf hS"nfH Morrill, uss& of Maine une Bis Were in
roduced in the House-to establish court
Tor The trial OF contested elSCtiOnS OfhceS
of President and Vice President; to regulate the
distribution of troops in the District of Columbia;
to reform the civil service motion to suspend
the rules, and pass joint resolution to amend the
Constitution byprovidiug that claim shall ever
be allowed or paid by the Government for proper
ty used, consumed injured or destroyed during
the late war. unless it belonged TO persons who
We're loyal to the Government, was lOst-yeas I25,
nays 72-less than twothirds in the Affirmative
A message was received from the President in re-
ply to the inquiry regarding the sending of troops
to Petersburg, Va.
TUESDAY, Jan. 23-Petitions were
presented in the Senate from Philadelphia, Pitts
burgh and st. Louis, praying the passage of the
bill. reported from the Joint Committee, provid-
ing for the counting of the Electoral vote. Mr..
Sherman then made a lengthy argument in oppo-
sition to the bill for ing the Electoral vote
and was followed by Mr.. Conkling, who spoke in
its favor. Mr.. Edmunds gave notice that he would
call for vote on the bill on the 9th. In the
House, MIR. Buttz was admitted member from
South Carolina. A report was made from the
Committee on Election Frauds in New York,
relative to the alleged tamperings with Mr. Hew
it's mail in the Postofice in that city, COM
pletely generating Postmaster James and his
subordinates from all blame in the matter, and
declaring that no such tampering had occurred.
The resolutions reported from the Committee on
the Powers and Privileges of the House in Count
ing the Elec oral Vote were further debated.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 24.-The credentials
of Senators-eect Window, of Minnesota, and
Bailey and Harris, of Tennessee. were placed on
file in the Senate. Consideration was then re-
sumed OF the Compromise bill in regard to count
ing The Electoral vote, Mr.. Sargent speaking
against the measure he was followed by Mr..
Conkling. who finished his remarks, begun the
day before in favor of the bill Messrs. Morton,
NJ rrill and Blaine spoke against the measure,
Messrs. Bayard, Thurman, Christiancy, Steven
son auG Howe supporting IT. and at thrr o clock
M. on the 2Ath, tpe Senate was still IN session,
-. In the House, tie debate was continued ont the
res solutons relative to the powers, privileges and
duties ofthe House in counting the Electoral vote.
bill was passed to amend the existing laws in re-
gard to National Gold Banks the object of The bill
being to allow these banks to use gold notes to
the amount of ninety per cent. of their bonds to
secure circulation, and to require these banks in
California 10 deposit with the Assistant Treas
at San Francisco five per cent of their circu
lation a redemption fund. A resolution was
adopted to 75-referring the recent message
of The President to q select committee of eleven.
to inquire whether there had been exercise #
authority not warranted by the Constitution and
laws in the of troops for which the President
was justly responsible.
THURSDAY, Jan. 25.-The all-night ses-
sion of the Senate was continued until 7:15 on the
morning of the 25th, and ended in the passage of
the Compromise bill for counting the Electoral
vote, by vote of forty-seven yeas to seven cen
nays. Adjourned 10 the Goth. The Compromise
bill was taken up in the House and debated,
Messrs McCrary (Iowa) Hunton, Goode, Hoar,
Hewitt. Caldwell (Tennessee) Stevenson IlI-
nois), eau field, Springer and Willard, speaking
in favor and Messrs. Hale, Monroe (Ohio), Smith
(Pennsylvania), and Garfield, in opposition to its
passage. n