Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-02-07
Congressional.

the morning hour; and after that the
day was given to discussion and amend
ments to the rules of the house. The
only amendment of particular interest
was that rigidly excluding all persons
not members from the floor. This
measure seems to have been made
necessary by the strength Of the lobby
that hangs around the national capital
/ WEDNESDAY, Jan. 30.-Senate.- Bills
were introduced to authorize the post
master-general to contract for ocean
mail service
A favorable report was made on the
senate bill appropriating $275,000 to
purchase the freedmen's building in
this city
Mr. Christiancy submitted an amend
ment in the nature of a substitute pro
viding for the coinage of silver dollars
of 434 grains, $40 pure silver and ITO
alloy, which shall be legal-tender for all
debts except when otherwise provided
by law or contract. 1t also authorizes
the secretary of the treasury to pur-
chase monthly not less than two mil
lion nor more than four million dol
lars worth of silver bullion to be coined.
1t further provides that the act shall
remain In force but one year. Order
ed printed.
WEDNESDAY, Jam 30.-House. Bills
were introduced; to repeal section
4,716 of the revised statutes, forbidding
the payment Of pensions to any person,
or to the widow, child or heirs of any
deceased person, who in any manner
voluntarily engaged in or aided or
abetted the late rebellion; to prohibit
any further distinction between le-
gal tender notes, and making such
notes a legal tender as custom duties.
The House went into committee of
the whole to consider the bill extending
the time for the withdrawal Of distilled
spirits now on hand, until July l, 1878.
Mr.. Fosters resolution, that the re-
duction of the tax on whisky is inexpe-
dient," was then taken up; agreed to.
After discussion, the house sustained
the action of the committee of the
whole in adopting the substitute, de-
claring it ineXpedient to reduce the tax
on whisky. Yeas, 146; nays, 112. Ad-
| jouTned.
THURSDAY, Jan. 31.-Sendte During
the morning hour several private bills
were introduced and referred. At
the expiration Of the morning hour
consideration was resumed of the sill
yer bill. Mr.. Morgan submitted an
amendment to allow the free coinage of
silver by permitting any holder OF bull
lion to deposit it at the assay Office or
mint in sums not less than 800 in a
single deposit nor to exceed 100000
during q calendar month by the same
Il -
market price for legal tenders at the
date of deposit, certificates .tobe given
to the owner to be paid by the secre-
tary Of the treasury in not less than
80 nor more than 60 days in legal
tender notes or silver dollars. Ordered
printed
Mr.. Booth submitted an amendment
to allow the owner Of silver dollars to
deposit them with the treasurer or any
assistant treasurer of the United States,
and receive certificates of not less than
so each, the certificates to be engraved
as money, and to circulate in place of
the silver. The design is to obviate in
convenience of silver in commercial
transactions. Ordered printed After
some discussion on the motion OF
Mr.. Bayard, further consider
alton of the silver bill was
postponed until Monday next, with
the understanding that the debate
should then be resumed and continued
from day to day until vote shall be
reached. The senate then adjourned
until Monday.
FRIDAY, Jan. 31-House The house
spent the whole day in committee of
the whole dicussing the Military
Academy appropriation bill.
FRIDAY, Feb. 1.-House.-During the
morning hour a bill was introduced and
referred to provide for funding the
national debt Mr.. Baker rose to a
question Of privilege making some
serious charges against the door keeper
of the house; this brought on long and
bitter discussion partaking of political
nature; at the conclusion of which the
house adjourned until Monday.
MONDAY, Feb. 4.-Sendte.-A great part
of the morning hour was taken up in
the presentation of petitions from all
parts of the country. Among them
demonstrating against changes in the
present tariff duties and the restoration
of tax on tea and coffee all of which
were referred. Bills were introduc-
ed and referred regulating the
authorization and use of proxies
in meetings of shareholders in
national banking associations Referred
The following bills were introduced and
referred; to incorporate the Ma
tional Pacific Railway and Telegraph
Company; supplementary to joint
resolution in relation to Paris Exposi-
ton. The bill authorizes the president
to appoint Is additional commissioners.
Mr.. Saunders asked the present consid-
Grafton but objection was made. At
the expiration Of the morning hour con-
sideration of the silver bill was resumed
Mr.. Peck submitted an amendment di-
recting the secretary of the treasury to
purchase from time to time, silver bull
lion not less than three million dollars
per month or as much more as can be
coined at the mints Of the United States.
the United States to have the bene-
fit of the gain or the seignorage;
provided whenever the market price
of silver bullion is such that it cannot
be purchased at less than par in legal
tenders, he shall give notice of the fact,
and any citizen of the United States
owning bullion may deposit the same
at the mint, and have it coined. The
amendment further provides that the
sub-treasury coinage shall contain the
same relative quality of pure and
standard silver as the silver dollar.
MONDAY, Feb. 4.-Ho,se.-Bills were
I,1ripor