Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-04-04
Congressional Summary,

to the house bill making appropriations
for consular and diplomatic service fol
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1879
Placed on calendar The committee
on public buildings and grounds report
ed favorably for bill to provide q
building for a postofice, United States
court rooms, ETC., at Topeka, Kansas
and with amendment to the senate bill
to provide for public building at Kan
sas City, Missouri. Both placed or
calendar. Mr. Wallace submitted al
amendment to the house bill to repeal
the specie resumption act which pro
vides that on and after July 1. 1873
! United States legal tender notes will be
receivable for all debts and duties pub,
lie and private; that any national
banking association hereafter author
lied or any national banking associa-
ton now in existence which may de-
sire to increase its circulation, shall de
liver to the secretary of the treasury
for cancellation any of the bonds OF
the United States payable within 1O
years and bearing 6 per cent. interest
and shall receive III exchange therefor
legal tender notes of the United States
to the amount of the nominal value OF
such bonds, which said bonds shall be
treated as as part of the sinking fund
and recorded and destroyed under ex-
isting laws; but the whole amount of le-
gal tender notes issued for this purpose
and otherwise outstanding shall never
exceed 1882, 100000. No tax upon the
circulation shall be imposed upon legal
tender notes issued under the provi-
siOns hereof, and no reserve shall be re-
quired to be kept for their redemption
by any such national banking associa-
ton. All laws or parts Of laws incon-
slstent with the provisions hereof, be
and they are hereby repealed Refer
red. AT the expiration of the morning
hour Mr.. Howe called up his resolution
asking the president for information in
regard to the alleged defalcation of
Judge Whitaker, of Louisiana, and
made his promised speech. At the con-
clusion of Howe's speech the senate
went into executive session and ad-
jOurned.
MONDAY, March 25.-House.- Bills
were introduced and referred: Mr..
Stephens, by request, authorizing the
issue of postoffice bonds, bearing inter
est at the rate of 80 cents ~ for every
three calendar months, and redeemable
on demand at any postoffice having
funds on hand. Mr.. Banning, authoriz-
ing the commissioners of internal rev.
enue to refund and pay back certain
taxes to distiilers; also to reorganize
the army. Mr. Schleicher, to regulate
the value OF subsidiary silver coin. 1t
provides that such coin shall be legal
tender for any amount not exceeding
SO, and that whenever presented in
sums of 500, the secretary of the treas
ury shall issue therefor legal tender
money. The speaker laid before the
house a communication from the sec
retary of state, transmitting a letter
from the Italian government. express
siye of the gratitude of that government
and people for manifestation of SYM
pathy and respect by the president,
congress and the people of the United
States on the occasion of the death of
King Victor Emanuel. Ordered print
ed. A communication from Consul
General Clark, of Havana, detailing the
circumstances Of the illness and death
from yellow fever Of Representative
Leonard, of Louisiana, was read. The
speaker appointed Ellis, Muller, Turner
Steward, Calkins and Ward committee
to receive the body at New York, and
to escort it to Westchester. Mr..
Springer's motion of Monday last to
suspend the rules and pass the bill to
authorize the coinage Of gold and silver
on the same terms and to permit the
deposit thereof for the same purposes
was rejected. Yeas, 40; nays, 1O1
not twO-thirds in the affirmative.
Mr.. Goode moved to suspend the
rules and pass the bill to suspend the
operations ofthe sinking fund act for
five years. Rejected, yeas, 121; nays.
10, not two-thirds in the affirmative,
Mr.. Durham moved to suspend the
rules, and fix Thursday, April 4th, for
consideration of the bill reported last
Friday by Mr.. Stephens to perfect
double metallic standard of value and
to provide for issuing silver bullion GER
tificates. Rejected, yeas, 141; noes, 90.
Adjourned.
TUESDAY, March 26.-Sendte.-In the
senate the morning hour was consumed
! by Senator Blaine in a speech against
the manner in which Delfosse was made
a member Of the Halifax fishery COM
mission. At the expiration of the morn
ing hour the Pacific railroads sinking
fund bill was taken up and discussed
for the remainder of the session.
TUESDAY. March 26.-House.-In the
house OF representative Mr.. Wood re-
ported the tariff bill as modified by the
committee on ways and means and with
it offered resolution that the bill be
made the special order for Thursday
April 9th, and to remain such until dis
posed of; this resolution was a pretty
accurate text of the strength of the bill
in the house; the resolution was adopt
ed by vote of 159 yeas to la navs
/ The republicans voted almost exclusive
| ly in the negative as did the Penn
sylvania members. Discussion of the
Massachusetts contested election case
Dean against Field, was then resumed
| The discussion was continued UP to )
o'clock, the most noticeable speech
being made on the democratic side by
Walsh, of Maryland, against the ma
jority report of the election committee
1t is understood the debate is to be
closed and vote taken tomorrow. Or
motion of Mr.. Williams, of Michigan
| the senate amendment to the bill fol
the support Of the goyernm of the
District ofColumbia, changing the time
for the completion of assessments from
July to August, was concurred in. Ad
journed.
WEDNESDAY, March 27.-Senate.
the senate Mr.. Window called up the
house bill making appropriations fol
tho cOocr11ar o,,J -