River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-02-21
CONGRESSIONAL,

SENAsE, Feb. 12th.-Petitions and com
mittee reports were presented. Bills were
passed constituting commission to report
upon plans for charging the library, and ap-
propriating s275,0O0 to purchase the building
of the Freedman's saving bank. Resolutions
OF State legislatures were presented among
them those of from Minnesota favoring extern
sion of time 20 the Hastings and Dakota rail-
roau. Bin we're introduced, and the silver
bill was taken up, speeches being made by
Mcdonald ahd Johnston, with an intermisson
to join the house in hearing speeches upon
Carpenters picture.
House, Feb. 12.-No legislative bust
ness was done except brief consideration of
the West Point appropriation bill. The sem
ate then Joined the House to witness the
formal presentation of Carpenters painting
of signing the emancipation proclamation.
Speeches were made by Garfield and Stephens.
SENATE, Feb. 13.--Bills and petitions
were presented The petition to employ the
surplus of the Chinese indemnity fund for the
relief of sufferers from the famine in China was
reported adversely. resolution was adopt
ed calling on the secretary of the interior for
Information as to the payment of pensions of
the South. The bill for holding the United
States eourt IN southern Iowa was PASSED,
Merrimon, Saunders and others spoke on the.
silver bill II was unanimously agreed that
debate shouldclose and vote be taken Friday.
HOUSE,, Feb. 13th.--The house spent
most Of the session in committee of the whole
on the military academy bill. Several amend
ments tending to cripple the academy were
rejected. A heated discussion took place be-
tween Hewitt and Aiken, of South Carolina,
and other southern members regarding the at
tacks of the latter upon West Point, Aiken
accusing Hewitt in the course of the debate,
of cowardiee and selling the presidency, and
Hewitt defending himself and saying it was
southern man, j. Madison Wells, who offered
to sell it to him. The debate caused much ex-
element and amusement on the Republican
side.
SENATE, Feb. 14.-After brief discus
sion the house joint resolution declaring that
reduction of the tax on distilled spirits is
ineUpedient, passed, yeas 40, nays 9. Mr..
Jones Of Nevada then spoke at great length
on the Bland silver bill.
HOUSE, Feb. 14th.--Mr. Gibson rose
to a question of privilege and made a
speech in reference to the discussion of the
previous day. The speaker laid before the
house communication from the secretary of
the treasury stating that the internal revenue
Of the government had fallen of 81 $4,000,
principally on account of the agitation in re-
gard to the tax on tobacco and whisky, and
recommending the house to take immediate
action on the subject. The communication
was discussed at length, some members resent
ing it as dictation, and finally the house
passed to the consideration of the military
academy bill, which was passed as it came from
the committee of the whole. The house then
considered the bill for the payment of pensions
to Mexican and otheryeterans, and adjourned.
SENATE, Feb. 15.-Petifions were pre-
scented, among them one by Window to per-
nit the Sioux Falls railroad to extend ITS line
into Dakota to Siou * Falls; and the memoir
ial of the Minnesota legislature for an appro-
priation for the Red River of the North i'm
proyement, by Mcmillan. The senate then
took up the Bland silver bill, and Mr.. ingalls,
spoke in favor of it, Mr.. Allison then closed
the debate, and the question REQUIRED on
amendments to the bill. There were great
many votes on amendments, some verbal and
minor ones being adopted. The amerd ment
requiring certain proportion of customs
duties to be paid in gold
was rejected-21 to 46. Other amendments
were rejected. The amendment of the finance
committee, striking the free coinage clause
out of the house bil1was adopted-49 to q, the
amendment for an international coinage con-
ference adopted, and the bill passed.
House, Feb 15th.--Mr. Stephens, OF
the coinage committee, reported a resolution
in favor of an international coinage conference.
Private bills coming up, one appropriating
1915, 900 to pay certain southern mail contract
ors caused some discussion, hut without action
the house adjourned till Monday.
SENATE, Feb. 1S--Petitions and bills
were introduced and the bill to enable Indians
to become better citizens was discussed. Mr.
Cameron introduced bill to reinstate certain
officers in the United States army. Mr.
Dorsey offered an amendment TO the recent
resolution of Voorhees, instructing the iudlci-
airy committee to inquire into the diversion of
the school fund of Indian territory to purposes
of lobbying and other matters relating to
Indians. The bill for the relief of settlers on
homesteads, permitting a settler to change his
location at the end of year and count the
time on his new location passed; also a bin
providing for a new edition of the revised
statutes, and a resolution for inquiry into the
condition of timber lands in Florida.
House, Feb. 49, The silver bill was
returned from the senate and went on the
speakers table. A bill compensating George
II. Giddings for mail services rendered prior to
the war, passed. Several bills were h.troduc-
ed, among them one winding up national
banks. District of Columbia business was
transacted, and after some routine business
the house adjourned.