Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-06-26
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY,

MONDAY, June 16th-House-M
Springer, from the committee on elec
tlons, moved to suspend the rules anC
pass the bill to prohibit military inter
ference at elections:
WHEREAS, The presence of troops a
the polls Is contrary to the spirit Of oul
people and tends to destroy the free
dom of elections; therefore,
BE at enacted. That it shall not be law
ful to bring or employ at any place
where a general or special election is
being held IN the state, any part of the
army or navy of the United States as
police force to keep the peace at the
polls.
The motion was lost; yeas LOG, NAYS
81, not the necessary twO-thirds in the
majority. 1t was strict party vote, al
democrats voting aye; republicans no
The house appropriation committee
has agreed to recommend non-concur.
renee in the senate amendments to the
legislative bill, the principal feature OF
the controversy being the appropriation
of S74 900 for the pay of the contracting
laborers of the District of Columbia
which the senate struck out. Several
bills were introduced and the remain.
der OF the session was taken up in con
sidering District of Columbia business
TUESDAY, June 17-Senate. The pres.
ldent pro tenn announced his signature
to the supplemental Judicial appropria,
ton bill, which now goes to the presi-
dent. The bill to amend the act of 1898
for the enrolling and licensing ofvessels
IN the cOasting trade was again taken
up. The bill passed after discussion.
Tie army appropriation bill was taken
up but the senate adjourned without
coming to vote.
TUESDAY June 17th-House. Mr.. At
kins reported the legislative appropria-
ton bill and senate amendment thereto
with report recommending concur
renee in some and non-concurrence in
others. The report was agreed to. The
house then took up unfinished business,
the senate bill i'll relation to juries. Her
bert, who had charge of the bill, tried to
the republican side of the house to get
agree upon plan disposing of the bill
but was met by objection. Thereupon
Herbert moved the previous question
on the passage of the bill and the re-
publicans resorted to their favorite
strategy of declining to vote and so
leaving the house technically without
quorum. After various roll calls fur
ther proceedings under call of the house
were dispensed with. A conference
committee consisting Of Atkins, BIount
and Baker was q Ia ialR2poiHnted Qnuthe. legjs=
ID 5SaG4d1SaeR 41aR action taken on he bill in rela-
ton to juries was made and again re-
sisted, and after about two hours spent
in the struggle it was aband oned by
some democrats and the house ad-
journed.
WEDNESDAY, June 18th Seaaate-The
Mississippi river Improvement commits
sion bill was taken up. The bill pass
ed with the senate amendments pros
viding that the commission shall con-
sist Off members-3 from the engineer
corps Of the army, one from the coast
and geOdetic survey, and three from
civil life, two ofWhom shall be civil en-
gineers. Messrs. Chandler, Morrill,,
Platt and Salisbury were the only SEN
ators voting may" The army appro-
priation bill was then taken UP, but the
senate adjourned without coming to a
vote.
WEDNESDAY, June 18-Hoatse
morning hour was consumed in voting
upon dilatOry motions, and the bill re-
lating to political assessments went over
without action. Mr.. Mcmahon, from
the appropriation committee, reported
back the Judiciary expenses bill, with
the senate amendments. and on his mo-
ton amendments No. and N3 (ver-
baO were concurred in, amendment
No. 1 Excepting from provisions of the
bill section 1882 OF the revised statutes)
was non-concurred in. Mr.. Stephens,
chairman of the coinage committee, re-
ported a bill for the exchange of trade
dollars for legal tender dollars, and the
debate thereon was limited to two
hours. Pending consideration Of that
bill, Mr.. Atkins submitted conference
report on the legislative appropriation
bill.
THURSDAY, June 19-rSenate. the
opening of the session the chair stated
that he was informed by the clerk that
owing to the length of the previous
session, the journal was not completely
made up; he suggested therefore that
the reading be dispensed with Senator
Conkling objected, and insisted on the
order which was the reading Of the
| journal Of the previous session. Fin
ally the clerk read the first part of the
journal occupying fifteen minutes. The
chair then announced the reception OF
petitions and memorials to be in order.
Conkling again objected on the ground
that the journal had not been read.
The chair announced that all had been
read that the clerk had prepared. Mr..
the journal be read. A long debate fol
lowed and the senate adjourned with
out transacting any business.
THURSDAY, June 19-HouSe.-Mr
MacMahon submitted q report upon
the judicial expense BILL. Section
two prohibits the making of any con
tract, or the mourning, or any liability,
under the provisions OF the revised
statutes authorizing the appointment OF
payment of any general or special
deputy marsbals for services In con.
nection with the election on election
day. This report brought on a discus
sion. Mr.. Monroe, one of the confer
ence on the part of the house, then ex
planned the reason Of his opposition &c
the report and in answer to Cox, ex
pressed his intention to vote against it
Cox himself intimated he would do the
same, but for different reason. Gar
field made q speech. The conference
report on the judiciary bill was adopted
by strict party vote Of 102 to 20. The
trade dollar bill was then taken up
After debate the house proceeded t.
vote upon the amendments, and the fol