River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-01-11
FORTY.FOURTH CONGRESS-.
Proceedings of the Second SessiO


The Senate was again in session on
the Sd inst. and the bill declaring the true
intent and meaning of the Union Pacific Rail-
road acts was discussed at length. Mr.. Ed
mulds said the Judiciary committee had come
10 the conclusion that the railroad company is
not entitled to any further subsidy than 1t
has already received. A resolution was in
troduced to compel the telegraph operator at
Jacksonville, Oregon, to answer certain ques-
tons asked him regarding the question OF
the Presidential electOrship) The resolution
went over one day.
In the House, on the Sd, Mr.. Phil
lips, OF Kansas, introduced bill for extend
ing the time to pre-emptOrs on public lands.
Reports from the Judiciary committee were re-
ceived for and against the admission of Mr..
Bedford, of Colorado; the majority being in
faTer OF his admission. There was no other
business of moment.
On the 4th inst, in the Senate, Mr..
Wright called up the bill recently introduced
by him to establish a court for trial of contest
ed elections in the Offices of President and
Vice President, tor the purpose OF having it
referred. lengthy debate followed in
which Senator Wright expressed his belief
that Congress is competent to declare by law
how many votes. shall be counted, but denies
its power to go Behind the returns. Senator
Herman holds that Congress has the power to
count the votes. Senator Conklin made a
strong appeal for united and patriotic action,
saying the honest result must be found and
the people will bow to IT, A committee OF
seven was appointed TO devise means for
proper count OF the electoral vote.
The House, on the 4th, limited the
compensation OF U. S. MaTshalls to s., coo
wear and OF deputies to 81 500, and bill was
introduced fixing the compensation of Dis
trict Attorneys. The bill in regard to proofs
in hOmested entries was reported back and
the Senate amendments conquered in. Mr..
Kidder reported the bill giving contestants
time to enter lands under the presumption,
homestead and timber culture acts after the
contest shall have been finally decided, and
the bill was passed. A bill was passed giving
pension of eight dollars month to all who
served sixty days in the Mexican war, or
thirty DAYS in the Florida or Black Hawk wars
and to their surviving widows, unmarried.
The question whether Mr.. Turner, of
Oregon should answer certain questions re-
gaIding telegraphie dispatches which passed
through his hands, was before the Senate on
the 5th, and vote thereon resulted, yeas SO,
nays 8; but as quorum did not vote the
Senate Adjourned
The House concurred in the Senate
amendments to the bill making appropria-
lions for the payment of pensions. tllen went
into committee of the whole, after which adj
iOurned.
On the 9th inst, in the House, Mr..
Goodin, from the committee on public lands,
reported a bill authorizing the extension OF
the McGregOr Western railroad to a point OF
intersection with the Sioux City & St. Paul
road, near 0'Brien county, Iowa, the graft OF
land not to be enlarged or changed, nor
homestead or pre-emption rights affected.
The bill was passed. No other important
business was proposed and the House adj
journed. The Senate was not in session.
Senator Sherman, on the 8th inst,
presented to the Senate petitions from prom
| inent business men OF both political parties,
asking an amicable settlement of the Presi-
dental contest. Resolutions were passed re-
| garding the Oregon electoral contest, and the
| Senate adjourned.
In the House, ON the Sth, bills were
/ introduced for the free coinage of silver dol
/ lars and making the same legal tender; to
/ authorize and equip an expedition to the
Arctic seas and to authorize paper circula'
| ton convertible into gold and silver. Mr.
/ Lawrence offered resolution to ascertain il
in every State an equal opportunity for com.
/ mon school education is secured TO cOlOred
and white children alike. A motion to sus
| pend the rules and pass the resolution result
/ ed. yeas II9, nays IS, and was lost as less
/ than twO-thirds voted in the affirmative. a
resolution declarative OF State rights was OF
| tered and under q motion to suspend the
rules and pass it, was defeated by a vote o
| IU7 to 81.