Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-03-28
Congressional Summary.

f without amendment and without rec
7 ommendation. Placed on calendar
The house bill to authorize granting al
l American register to foreign built shin
Tor the purpose of Woodruff7s scientif,
expedition around the world passed to
day as it came from the house. The
senate then took up the Pacific railway
, sinking fund bill and discussed it dur
) ing the rest of the session.
, TUESDAY, March 19.-House.-In the
house Of Representatives Mr.. Harrison
chairman of the committee on civil ser
vice reform, submitted majority re-
port on the charges against DOorkeepe1
Folk. 1t declares Polk to be unfit fo1
the responsibilities Of the position and
recommended the adoption of a resolu-
ton declaring the office of doorkeeper
vacant, and devolving its duties On the
sergeant-at-arms until the appointment
of new dOorkeeper. The minority
report, signed by Messrs. Cook. Cravens,
Garth, and Henry, declares that no cor
ruptlon having been proven against
Col. Polk, 1t would be grievous wrong
to adopt the majority resolution. Inc
reports were ordered printed and re-
committed, and Harrison gave notice
he would not call the motion up before
Saturday. The following bills were in
troduced and referred: For better pro-
lection of plays and dramatic literature.
1t provides that the copy right law
shall cover all plays purchased from a
foreign author for the purpose of play
ing or publishing in the United States;
to authorize the coinage of gold and
! SJI nn /
mote the deposit thereof The house
then went into committee of the whole.
MIR. Hunton IN the chair on the general
deficiency bill
WEDNESDAY, March -Senate.-In
the senate senator Howe introduced the
following resolution in reference to w.
X. Whitaker, who was the presiding
Judge at the trial of Thos. G. Anderson
one member of the returning board:
ReSOlted, That the president be re-
quested, if not incompatible with pub
lie interest, to inform the senate wheth-
er W. Il. Whitaker who recently presi-
ded IN the superior criminal court of
tho locriolr Ur 1NUw OIIv.V..- - r----1
employed in the internal revenue ser
vice or assistant treasury at New Or
leans; if SO, during what period of time.
Whether in either of said capacities
said Whitaker is a defaulter to the
United States, and in what amount and
under what circumstances; whether le-
gal proceedings have been taken against
Whitaker, either civil or criminal, and
what result; whether such proceedings
are still pending or if discontinued
when they were discontinued and by
whose direction. Ordered that it be
printed and lie on table, Senate bill
to amend section 2464, of the revised
statutes, relating to cultivation of tim
Der on the public domain, was discussed
briefly and passed. Yeas 80; nays II.
At the expiration of the morning hour
consideration was resumed oft Pacific
hallway sinking fund bill, and Mr..
Mitchell spoke in favor of the bill re-
ported by the committee on railroads.
Without action the senate adjourned.
! WEDNESDAY, March 90 House.--In
the house of representatives the bill
regulating advertising for mail contracts
was passed. 1t required advertisements
to be brief and to refer, for details, to
the postoffice department. 1t prohibits
! the sub-letting of mail contracts and de-
clares such contracts annulled. This is
very important bill and will largely
reduce the expense of conducting the
department. The house then went into
committee ofthe whole on the deficiency
bill. After long discussion thereon, the
committee rose, reported few unlm-
portant amendments and the bill pass
ed. Mr. Ellis offered the usual resolu-
tions in regard to the death of Hon. j..
E. Leonard, of Louisiana, and gave no
tice that he would call them up for ac-
ton Saturday, April 9th.
THURSDAY, March 21.-Senate.-After
the introduction of few bills, the
senate bill to establish the territory of
Lincoln and to provide for temporary
government therefor, was taken up, and
discussed until the expiration of the
morning hour, and then laid aside.
Consideration was then resumed of the
Pacific railroad sinking fund bill.
THURSDAY, March 21-H0uSe-The
house of representatives was ii COM
mittee of the whole most of the day
on the naval appropriation bill. The
amount appropriated is $14, ,04S, ,6S4, OF
one half million less than last year
After discussion, the committee rose
and reported the bill with but single
amendment and it was Immediately
! passed.
FRIDAY, March 22.-Senate.- At the
expiration of the morning hour, consid-
Grafton of the Pacific railway sinking
fund bill was resumed, and Mr. McDon.
aid, member of the Judiciary com
mittee, spoke in favor of the bill report
ed by that committee. After a long
debate the bill was then laid aside, with
the understanding that it should not
lose its place as unfinished business
and the senate resumed consideration
of the house bill authorizing the secre
tary of the treasury to employ tempo
rary clerks, and making appropriation
: for detecting trespass on public lands
; and for bringing into market public
: lands in certain states, and for othel
: purposes.
r After numerous amendments to re
E duce the appropriations had been voted
1 down, the other amendments of thu
c committee on appropriations were
q agreed to without debate, as follows
Appropriating $4,000 for deficiency il
the appropriation for salaries and ex
a penses of collectors of internal revenue
r and 81 900 to enable the secretary O
t war to employ 80 additional clerks anc
a two laborers in the pension divisions o
49, c,,rooo,, ooporaFc off1ca dI1ripo RI,