Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-04-24
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY,

designated to avoid a recurrence of the
New Hampshire case. Mr.. Cameron
made long speech on the bill for the
relief of the Winnebago Indians of
Wisconsin. The army bill was then
taken up and Mr.. Blaine spoke at length
upon the amendment offered by him
prohibiting the appearance within
mile of any voting place OF any person
armed with deadly weapons of any
kind. Adjourned.
MONDAY, April 14-H0use. .-Immedi-
ately after the reading of the journal.
the speaker called the roll of states for
bills for reference, beginning with Maine.
Mr.. Ladd introduced bill to put the
coinage of gold and silver on the same
footing, when point of order was
raised by Conger that one days notice
was necessary for the introduction of
bills. The speaker decided against the
point raised, and Conger succeeded, by
talking and by raising points of order,
IN consuming the whole morning hour,
and thus cut off the introduction of
more bills. After further fillibustering
the house adjourned without accom-
plishing any work.
TUESDAY, April 5-Senate.-When
the senate met note was read by the
secretary from Vice President Wheeler.
saying he would be unable to attend the
session, and advising the election of
president pro tenn. Senator A. G. Thur
man was then elected to that position
by a vote of % to Is. A few bills were
introduced, including one to authorize
an increase Of the army in cases of
emergency. Adjourned.
TUESDAY, April 15-Hoase.- bill
providing for the purchase of a refrig-
Grating ship for the disinfection of car
goes, passed. The legislative bill was
then taken up, the pending amendment
being that offered by Mr.. Bragg to abol-
ish the southern claims commission.
A long debate followed. Mr.. Young's
substitute to Mr.. Bragg's amendment
to abolish the commission, and turn
over all claims to the court of claims
was also discussed. Mr.. Bragg made a
strong argument in support of his
amendment, and Mr.. Garfield answered
him with his usual force claiming that
there were just claims from the south;
the southern claims commission was
the proper tribunal to pass upon them.
Bragg's amendment was lost by vote
of 50 yeas to 112 nays. Young's sub
stitute was also lost by yeas SO; nays,
1O7. Mr.. Springer then offered an
amendment providing for abolishing
the southern claims commission and
providing that all just claims shall be
filed with the court of claims, which
body shall report them to congress for
action. Without disposing OF the
amendment the house adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, April 16.-Senate.-Con-
sideration of the army bill was resum-
ed. Mr.. Beck had the floor and discuss
ed the subject at length in a running
controversy with Mr.. HOar. Mr.. Beck
said the democrats were not proposing
to either coerce the president, nor were
they setting up revolutionary meas
ures, and endeavoring to pass acts
which would deprive the president from
using the army for constitutional pun
poses. All they proposed to do, as
would be seen by the 9Th section of the |
bill, was to say to the president, he
should not recall troops from the from
tier, or where they were placed to pre-
vent invasion from abroad to be used |
merely for political purposes, and that
while the courts were open and all the |
Judiciary machinery working in har-
mOny with them, he should not use
troops except on call of the governor
or legislature of state in an emer-
gency, contemplated by the con-
stitution, nor should he use troops
against the public will. He quoted |
numerous precedents to show that it
was usual to attach legislation on gen
eral appropriation bills. Among them
1t was shown that the law relating to |
and deputy marshals was
an amendment on an appropriation bill |
by republican congress and that the |
Drake amendment which |
annulled the decision of the supreme
court was made a part of an appropri-
alton bill. In conclusion he said the his
tory of the herepublican rule showed it to
be the duty of democrats to curtail the
military power of the country. Mr..
Hoar replied briefly, when Mr.. Dawes
took the floor. He argued that the
south had been given a fair trial, and it
had shown a continued rebellion against
.he general government. A large class
Of voters in the south were held in alb
ect terror, and refused the right of
suffrage by the lawless, predominant
race there. Some protection is needed,
and the democrats now desire to re-
move that protection. Mr.. Dawes
yielded the floor to Mr.. Butler, who
stated that his colleague, Wade Hamp-
on, was ready to be sworn in. Mr..
Hampton then took the oath. After
executive session, adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, April -House.-The
legislative bill was further discussed.
The amendments dissolving the south
9rn claims commission, and transferring
IS duties to the court of claims, was
defeated by the united votes of north
ern democrats and republicans. The :
object of the amendment was to place
southern war claims on a par with loyal
var claims for compensation. Ad- +,
ourned.
THURSDAY, April 7-Senate.-The
army bill was again taken up and Mr..
Morgan spoke briefly in favor of a re-
peal of the law authorizing the use of
roops on election day. He was follow
ed by Mr.. Voorhees, who made two |
louis speech. He declared the pro- |
ection Of the ballot box had been 5
Erested from the people and given
,yer to corrupt federal officers who !
would use their authority to cheat the
people of their rights. He alluded to
he civil rights bill of 1869, under which !
le said the president could use the army :
my where under the pretense of en- :
orcing its provisions; there being {
placed under the power of the president
range OF subjects as extensive as the '
lights of man. Under free constitu- 3
ion the vast scope of this law placed 3
hSnllte rany.er In the hnrads oc.o .o-,o 49,. |