Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-12-11
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

ate met m regular session at noon, this
being the closing session Of the forty
fifth congress-. Anthony and Bayard
were appointed a committee to wait up
on the president and notify him that
congrass had assembled. Bills were
introduced: By Mr.. Beck, to provide
for retiring the trade dollar
and its coinage into the
standard silver dollar; also, to author
ize the purchase OF fore,gn-built ships
by citizens of the United States.
BY Mr.. Voorhees,, a resolution in
structing the committee on finance to
inquire into the expediency Of making
trade dollars legal-tender for all
debts, public and private, and of pro-
viding for its recoinaee into a standard
dollar of 4124 grains. Mr.. Blaine
introduced a resolution instruct
ing the judiciary committee to report
to the senate whether, at the recent
elections, the constitutional rights of
any citizens were violated in any state,
and as to what further legislation is nee
essary to protect citizens in their con-
stitutional rights, etc.; also resolution
providing for a joint committee to en-
quire into the cause of the spread of
the yellow fever, and as to what legisla-
ton Is necessary to prevent its intro
duction into this country, etc. After
the Joint session the senate adjourned.
| MONDAY, DECEMBER 2.-House-At
noon, Speaker Randall raped
the house to order, when the
chaplain made prayer and the roll
was called. The roll call showed 229
members present. Two new members,
Bailey of New York, and Majors, of
Nevada, then took the iron-clad oath,
and Atkins, Cox and Garfield were ap-
pointed to inform the president that
congress was in session. After recess,
the presidents message was received
from Private Secretary Rogers, and
read. After which the house adjourned.
TUESDAY, Dec. 3-Se,,dte. Paddock
submitted a resolution instructing the
committee on finance to inquire into
the expediency Of making trade dollars
a legal tender for all debts, public and
private, and providing Tor the suspen-
sion OF coinage of the standard silver
dollar of 412! grains and recoining of
the same into trade dollars of 42O
grains, and for such additional coinage
of trade dollars as the needs of the
country may demand. The senate
then received a large number of exec
utive appointments, after which Mr..
Beck submitted the following:
| ResOlred, That the secretary of the treasury
be. and IS hereby directed to inform the senate
what amount and denomination OF silver coin
| has been received in payment OF customs duties
since the beginning of the current fiscal year. and
whether or not he has applied the silver coin So
received. in whole or in part. to the paymcn, of
| interest on bonds or notes OF the United States;
i II it has not been so applied to that purpose,
If In part only to state what portion has been so
used, and on what character OF obligation; also,
| that he be directed to inform the senate the
amount Of interest he has paid on bonds and
notes OF the United States since the current ifs
| cal year began, and the amount he has paid in
gold and silver coin respectively.
Debate followed upon the Texas Pa
cifc railway bill, and the senate adj
iourned.
TUESDAY, Dec. 3-House. Bills were
introduced as follows: To abolish the
tariff on matches: to abolish the
requirement of proof of loyalty as a
condition and precedent to obtaining
pensions for services in the war Of
1912; to authorize tobacco rails
ers to sell their products without pay
ment Of tax; for the improvement of
the Mississippi river, from its mouth to
its headwaters; to make trade dollars
legal tender; to require the secre-
tary of the treasury to receive trade
dollars in exchange for legal ten
der silver dollars. Several
bills were introduced for re-
coming the silver trade dollars into
standard silver dollars, and Tor the re-
peal of the resumption act, and the
appointment Of committees on
the yellow fever epidemic. The
house went into committee of
the whole on the military academy APP
preparation bill, which appropliates
1916, 664, which is $4,000 below the APP
preparation of the current year. The
military academy and fertilization
bills passed. Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY DEC. 4-Senate-Bills
were introduced: Mr.. Salisbury,
authorizing the secretary of the treas
ury on redeemirg United States legal
tender notes. as required by the spe-
cial resumption act, to pay IS per cent.
in gold coin, and % cent. in standard
silver dollars; Mr.. Eustis, to appropriate
100000 for constructing levees On the
Mississippi river. A motion to take up
the Texas Pacific railway bill was de-
feated.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. House-The
bill providing for the Hot Springs
commission, with an amendment that a
free bath be maintained for indigents,
| was rs ssed No other i'm nOrtant bns-