Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-11-15
Congressional Summary.
SENATE.

tory of Utah in matters of divorce. Re
ferred to the committee on Judiciary.
To extend the time for the
construction and completion of
the Northern Pacific railroad and by
re-adjustment of the grants without
increasing appropriation to secure the
construction of the Portland. Salt LAX
ard South Pacific railroad. Mr..
Mitchell gave notice that he would call
| the bill up for reference at an early
day, and have something to say Giving
the district court of Utah exclusive origi-
nal jurisdiction in all divorce proceedings
and transferring processes and proceed
ings now pending in probate courts to
the district court. The bill provides
for an appeal from the final decision of
| the district court to the supreme court
of the territory, and repeals all laws of
the territory inconsistant with the act
APPOINTED
| The vice president appointed Mr.
KirkwwOod a member of the commit
tee on foreign relations, Mr.. Ingalls,,
member of the committee on privileges
and elections, and Mr.. Saunders, a
member of the committee on railroads,
to fill the vacancies on those commit
tees occasioned by the death of Senator
| Morton.
| NOVEMBER 9.-Rev ID. W. H. Harri-
| son was elected chaplain. The chair
man Of the committee on foreign
affairs, presented communication
from the secretary of state, in reference
| to the
PARIS EXPOSITION
| They estimate the expenses of the
American department represented at
1926, 900. Ordered, printed and recommit-
ted. Mr.. Swain also presented COM
munication from the secretary of state,
in reference to the distribution of awards
made by the convention between the
| United States and Mexico Recon-
mitted. The chairman of appropria-
ton committee reported bill for set
tlement of accounts of Workingmen for
excess of eight hours labor. Recon-
mitted.
| The house went into a committee of
the whole, Mr.. Cox, of New York, in
the chair, on army appropriation bill.
All amendments reducing the army
voted down. Recruiting is now limited
to force of $4,000 men.
SENATE.
Nov. 12.-HOn. d. w. Voorhees, was
sworn in as senator from Indiana, in
place of Senator Morton, deceased
Senator Booth was appointed chair
man of the committee on patents in
| place of Mr.. Wadleigh, who was recent
| ly appointed chairman Of the commit
tee on privileges and elections.
A number of bills were introduced
and referred to the appropriation COM
mittee. Among them are the follow
ing: To establish a department of COM
merce; for the enforcement of judg-
ments and DEGREES i'll states, other than
those where rendered or made; to pro-
vide for the survey Of an inland water
route and canal from the Mississippi
river to the Atlantic; to remit taxes on
| lnsolvent savings banks.
The vice-president presented COM
munication from the president, in an
swer to the senate resolution, and en-
closing a report of the secretary Of the
navy, of the appropriations for, and ex-
! penditures by the navy department.
from March 4, 1879, to June 80, 1876;
also announcing that similar state
ment for the war department is in
course of preparation. Ordered printed
and referred.
He also presented a communication
from the president, transmitting a state
ment of appropriations and expendi-
lures on account of army and navy
pensions from March 4, 1889, to June
80, 1876.
NOVEMBER 12.-The army appro-
priation bill as reported from the
committee of the whole on Saturday
came up for consideration as regular
order. The amendment was that of
Mr.. Schleicher striking out the clause
prohibiting the recruiting of the army
| beyond the number of enlisted men on
the rolls on the 1st of November. Con-
Cured in.
The amendment of Mr.. Culberson
providing that four cavalry regiments
be recruited to one hundred men each
company to be employed in defence Of
the Mexican and Indian frontiers of
Texas provided nothing herein contain
ed shall authorize the recruiting beyond
twenty thousand men was concurred in;
yeas, 1888; nays, 127. The republicans
voted solidly against the amendment
and were joined by Messrs. Giddings,
Mills, Schleicher.
The amendment providing that staff
officers shall not be entitled to or re-
ceive any additional rank, pay or al
lowance was defeated yeas 123; nays
131. The negative vote was given by
republicans backed by Messrs Black
burn, Carlisle. Cook, Harrison, Eich-
hoff, Mueller, Potter Willis and Ran
dolph.
Mr. Garfield sent to the clerks desk
and had read letter from the secreta-
~ of war, defending himself from
charges made against him in regard to
the recruiting of soldiers since the army
bill was before the committee on ap-
preparations. The secretary claims the
enlistment of recruits is expressly au-
thorized by law and therefore it can be
carried on even in the absence of an
: appropriation. Nevertheless he had
not deemed it best to continue recruit
ing after the first, not from want of au-
thority, but because he thought it mex
pedient to muster men into the service
when there was no money to pay them.
An order had been accordingly issued
to stop recruiting after the first of July.
Subsequently an urgent appeal had
come from Maj Gen. Mcdowell, com
manding the military division of the
Pacific, approved and urged by the gen
eral of the army, asking authority to
enlist recruits for cavalry regiments en-
gagged in that department in carrying
on the then existing Indian war. The
secretary yielded to that appeal and
recruiting had been for a short time