River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-12-11
THE xLYI CONGRESS-.

MONDAY, Dec. 1.-ssenate--The senate
met at noon and was called to order By
Vice Pres. Wheeler. A committee was
appointed } join a 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 a mark of respect for
the memory of Senator Chandler, adj
jonrned.
MONDAY, Dec 1.-House-Speaker
Randall called the house of the first
regular session ofthe 46th congress to
order at noon. The roll call showed 232
members present and SO absent. The
newly elected members from California,
Iowa and New York, were sworn in.
After the usual committee 10 wait upon
the president had been appointed, the
house listened to the reading OF the
presidents annual message. After the
message had been read the house ad-
journed
TUESDAY, Dec. 2.-Sendf6 Senator
Gordon introduced a resolution pledging
the protection of the United States gov
eminent TO any company which shall be
granted the right by the Nicaraguan
government to build ship canal across
The Isthmus. Three other bills were in
troduced, one of them providing for the
removal of the Utes to some other reser-
vation to be set aside in one of the ter
ritories. Sen. Burnside made a speech
upon the resolution introduced by him
last session, reaffirming the Monroe doc
trine in relation with the proposed inter-
oceanic canal After an executive ses-
sion, the senate adjourned.
TUESDAY, Dec. 2.-H0use-Mr. Price
offered a resolution declaring it lnexpe-
dent 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 manufacturers to
carry into effect international treaties,
shall have the power to grant, protect
and regulate exclusive right to trade
marks"
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 3-Sendte-HenryP T.
Baldwin ,senator-elect from Michigan, was
sworn in. Bills were introduced, among
them the following: To authorize the
payment of customs duties in legal ten
der notes; to authorize the purchase OF
foreign built ships by citizens of the
United States for use in the foreign car
rying trade. Mr.. Bayard introduced a
Joint resolution that from and after the
passage of this resolution, treasury notes
of the United States shall be receivable
for all dues to the United States, except
ing 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 reso-
luton that, in the opinion of the senate,
the present volume of United States 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 por-
ton of the debt be funded at a greater
than 81 per cent. Mr.. Weaver, OF Iowa,
introduced bill providing that, as the
soldiers during the war were paid IN de-
preciated money, they now be reimbursed
with sum sufficient to cover the mar
gin between the current price of green
backs at the time they were
paid and the price of gold.
To enable the government to do this the
bill provides for issuing $500,0OO,G0O in
.. 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 refund
ing of the national debt shall apply 10
any United States bonds, bearing high
er 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 authoriz-
ed by act of July IA, 1870, for any such
bonds.
THURSDAY, Dec. 4.-Sendte- Mr.. Car
penter offered resolution, declaring that
the resumption and circulation of gold,
silver and greenbacks as the lawful
money. and the expectation that the
finances would not be disturbed by pre-
cipitate legislation, had been followed by
revived industry and general prosperity
that the successful conduct of business
depended on stable financial policy,
and that in the opinion of the senate,
any legislation during the present SEES
sion materially changing the existing
system of finance would be inexpedient.
The vice president laid before the
semitic a communication from the Sec
rotary of war, transmitting letter from
Col. Gibbs, of the 18th infantry, calling
attention to the fact that citizen volun-
teers who participated in the battle OF
Big Horn, have not been remunerated
for their services, and that no provision
has been made for the widows and
orphans of those who were killed there,
and recommending action on the matter.
Several bills were introduced, but none
of general importance. Adjourned until
Monday.
THURSDAY, Dec. 4.-House.-Among
the bills introduced was one declaring
that congress is not only opposed to any
reduction in the volume Of United States
legal tender notes, but also of silver dol
lars; also bill to return to the freedmen
CT the south, their savings deposited in
the Freedmen's Saving and Trust COM
pany. A resolution was offered directing
The Judiciary committee to enquire into
the expediency of a constitutional
amendment for the purpose of limiting
the time for the presentation of
claims against The United States, to six
years from the time the claim accrued.
Adjourned till Monday.
Woovox,e S,oJJ;o, p;Ii