Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-02-06
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
MONDAY, Jan. 27-Seodte. dte.-Generai
Shields was sworn in and took his seat.
Among the many bills introduced was
one to reorganize and discipline the
militia Of the United States. The bill
to abolish the volunteer navy of the
United States passed, also the bill to
appropriate $4,000 for purchasing site
and erecting military post at Ell Paso,
Texas.
MONDAY, Jan. 27-House.-Wrights
bill loaning $500 to every man who is
not worth $500, and who desires to settle
upon the public lands, was taken UP
and defeated by a vote of % ayes to 211
nays. Bills were introduced: providing
for treaty with Mexico: proposing an
amendment to the constitution making
the term of office for judge of the Uni
ted States supreme and inferior courts
twelve years. A bill was passed author
izing the secretary Of war to erect head
stones over the graves Of union soldiers
inferred in private, village or city GEM
eteries. Adjourned.
TUESDAY, Jan. 2S-Sencto.- COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds
reported adversely on all propositions
to remove the national capitol. The
bill to pay Warren Mitchell for cotton
taken by U. S. authorities during the
war was defeated. Mr.. Edmunds then
called up his resolution declaring the
18th, 18th and 18th amendments valid,
and after an attempt to adjourn the
motion to take up was carried by a vote
of 90 to 16. The resolution was then
laid over. Adjourned.
TUESDAY, Jan. -House.-The bill
to restrict the immigration of Chinese
was passed by vote of 155 to 73. A
joint resolution was adopted calling for
detailed statement of expenses incur
red at the Paris exposition. A bill to
create another land district in Idaho
was passed. Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY. Jan. 29-Senate. The bill
for promoting the efficiency of chaplains
IN the United States navy, was
passed without discussion. The bill
provides that no person under 25 years
nor over 80 shall be appointed as a
chaplain, and fixes the relative rank of
the whole number, not to exceed twenty.
The senate bill increasing the pension
Of DIR. Mary E. Walker to 500 month,
and the house bill granting pension of
$50 month to Mrs. Eliza B. Anderson,
widow of Gen. Robt. Anderson, U. S. A,
passed. An executive session followed,
and when the doors reopened Mr.. 4llli-
son was appointed on the judiciary
committee in place of Mr.. Christiancy,
when the senate adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29-House. - The
postof1ice appropriation bill occupied
the attention of the house in committee
of the whole where several amendments
were agreed to. In the evening reports
from the committee on commerce were
considered. Adjourned.
THURSDAY, Jan. 30-Senote. en-
tire session was devoted to Edmund's
resolution declaring the validity of the
18th, 18th and 18th amendments. No
action was taken.
THURSDAY. Jan. .30-House. The post
office appropriation bill passed after
several amendments increasing the
amount were adopted. A struggle for
the possession of the floor then ensued
and without reaching any result except
the introduction of few bills the house
adjourned.
FRIDAY, Jan. 31-Senate.-A resolu-
ton authorizing the secretary of the
interior to employ more clerical force
to expedite pension matters, was adopt
ed. Mr.. Shields was placed on the
railroad and enrolled bills committees.
The credentials of George G. Vest of
Missouri were presented. An execu-
tive session to consider the New York
custom house appointments followed.
Adjourned.
FRIDAY, Jan. 31-Hoose. senate
amendments to abolish the volunteer
navy were non-concurred in and the
bill passed. Another southern claim
bill known as the Fairfax minority bill,
was defeated. Adjourned.
SATURDAY, Feb. 1-Senate. But little
was done in the senate. A bill was in
troduced to appropriate $4,000 for mil
itary roads in Idaho. After executive
session adjourned.
SATURDAY, Feb. 1-House.- bill
for the relief of Maggie Barron, a south
ern claim, came up and long debate
followed in which the southern demo-
Gratis charged back upon Bragg and the
northern democrats generally. Ad-
journed.