The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-12-11
!. THE XLVI CONGRESS.


MONDAY, Dec. 1.-Senate- senate
met at noon and was called to order by
Vice Pres Wheeler. A committee was
appointed to join similar committee
of the house to wait upon the president
and inform him that congress was ready
to hear any communication he might
choose to make. Soon thereafter the
senate and house listened to the reading
of the presidents annual address. When
the reading was concluded. Sen. Ferry
gave formal notice of the death of his
late colleague, Hon. Zachariah Chandler,
and said at some future time he should
invite the senate to express its sense of
the loss of so distinguished citizen.
The senate then, as q mark Of respect for
the memory of Senator Chandler adj
journed.
MONDAY, Dec. 1-House. speaker
Randall called the house of the first
regular session of the 10th congress to
order atnoon. The roll call showed 232
members present and Sc absent. The
newly elected members from California,
Iowa and New York, were sworn in.
After the usual committee to wait upon
the president had been appointed. the
presidents annual message. After the
message had been read the house ad-
journed.
slTUEsDAy, Dec. 2-Senote.-Senator
Gordon introduced a resolution pledging
the protection of the United States gov
eminent to any company which shall be
granted the light by the Nicaraguan
government to build ship canal across
the Isthmus. Three bills were intro
duced, one Of them providing for the re-
moval of the Utes to some other reserva-
ton to be set aside in one of the terri
tories. Sen. Burnside made a speech
upon the resolution introduced by him
last session, reaffirming the Monroe doc
trine in relation to the proposed
inter-oceanic canal. After an executive
session, the senate adjourned.
TUESDAY, Dec. 2.-House.-Mr. Price
offered resolution declaring it inexpe.
dient to change the currency laws this
session. A joint resolution was intro
duced proposing constitutional amend
ment providing that appropriation bills
shall contain nothing but appropriations.
Several bills were introduced, among
them being the following: To equalize
bounties; To remove the Ute Indians
from Colorado; Relating to the crime of
bigamy. A resolution was introduced
proposing the following additional ar
ticle to the constitution: "Congress, for
protection of trade and manufactures, to
carry into effect international treaties,
shall have the power to grant, protect and
regulate exclusive right to trade marks
WEDNESDAY. Dec. 3.-Seuote- Henry
P. Baldwin, senator.elect from Mich gan,
was sworn in. Bills were introduced,
among them the following: To author
ize the payment of customs duties in le-
gal tender notes; to authorize the pur-
chase of foreign built ships by citizens
Of the United States for use in the for
elgn carrying trade. Mr.. Bayard intro.
duced joint resolution that from and
after the passage Of this resolution, treas
ury notes of the United States shall be
receivable for all dues to the United
States, excepting duties on imports, and
shall not be otherwise legal tender;
and any of said notes hereafter re-issued
shall bear this inscription. Mr.. Ingalls,
offered resolution that in the opinion
of the senate, the present volume of .. S.
notes should not be reduced, and that
said notes ought to continue to be legal
tender in the payment Of debts.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 3.-House Ward,
of New York, introduced bill author
izing the secretary of the treasury to
cease refunding the public debt at per
cent.and ordering that no further portion
of the debt be funded at a greater than
81 per cent. Mr.. Weaver, Of Iowa, in
troduced bill providing that, as the
soldiers during the war were paid in de-
preciated money, they now be reim-
bursed with sum sufficient to cover the
margin between the current price of
greenbacks at the time they were
paid and the price of gold.
10 enable the government to do this the
bill provides for issuing $500, 900 in
u. s. notes. Finley introduced bill to
transfer the Indian bureau to the war de-
partment. Garfield introduced bill to
facilitate the refunding Of the national
debt. 1t provides that all existing pro-
visions of law, authorizing the refunding
of the national debt shall apply to any
United States bonds, bearing higher
rate Of interest than per cent. which
may hereafter become redeemable, and
it authorizes the secretary of the treas
ury to exchange directly at par per
cent. bonds of the description author
lied by &C: of July IA, 1870, for any such
bonds.