Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-03-05
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY,

thorizing railroad companies to transmit
kilograms over their lines for the govern
ment and general public, at rates to be
fixed by the government, according to the
provisions of the title Of 1865, of the re-
vised statutes, was passed just as it came
from the house, no amendment being
made either by the senate committee or
in the senate. The clause was not even
discussed. When the section relating to
the reorganization of the army was
reached, the senate laid aside the bill and
proceeded with memorial services in
honor Of the late Alpheus Williams Of
Michigan, and then adjourned.
FRIDAY, Feb. 21-House. entire
session was spent IN committee Of the
whole on various claims bills, all OF
which were killed by large majority
with one exception-that Of Gibbs 81 Co.,
of Charleston, S. G. Adjourned.
SATURDAY, Feb. 22-Sen0te. Senator
Zachariah Chandler was sworn in and
took his seat The army appropriation
bill was taken up and all sections relat-
ing to a reorganization Of the army were
stricken out; also that section of the
house bill forbidding the use of troops in
elections and making it penal offence
to do so. Adjourned.
SATURDAY, Feb. 22-House.-Th house
bill with the senate amendments to
amend an act to amend the custom and
revenue laws, and to repeal moieLies
agreed to. The bill to repeal the resump-
ton act as amended by the senate provid-
ing that after the passage of this act the
United States shall be receivable, same as
coin in payment of 4 per cent. bonds,
which after October /, 1873, they shall be
receivable for duties on imports, was
taken up, and after some amendments
were offered, the house took a recess until
Monday, 10 a. m.
MONDAY, Feb. 24-Senate.- house
bill authorizing the secretary of the navy
to accept, for avoyage of exploration, by
way of Behring's Straits, the ship Jeaza-
7aette, rendered by James Gordon Bennett
passed. The army appropriation bill
came up and discussion upon the clause
in regard to allowing railroads to use
their telegraph lines for commercial pur-
poses, was continued. Several attempts
were made to defeat the telegraph clause
without avail and the army bill was final
ly passed with that section included.
The credentials of Rescue COnkling, Of
N. Y, and Jas. t. Farley, of Cal, as SEN
ators-elect were pretented and the senate
adjourned.
MONDAY, Feb. -House-Considera-
ton Of the tobacco sections of the revenue
bill was resumed. The first Of the
amendments was the one which provides
that retail liquor dealers shall pay $25
and wholesale 500; retail dealers in
malt liquors $50, wholesale dealers $50,
This amendment was not concurred in.
and it leaves the section as passed by the
house. The next amendment was one
fixing the date upon which the new tax
on tobacco should 60 into effect The
senate has changed the date from Sep.
LIST, 1878, to May 1st 1879. This was
concurred in-yeas rs, nays II. The
next amendment was one striking out the
clause which abolishes the clause on
matches and this was non concurred in
A committee of conference with the SEN
ate on the disagreements between the two
houses, was then appointed. The civil
sundry appropriation bill appropriating
1896, 900 was passed under suspension
of the rules Adjourned.
TUESDAY, Feb. 25-Senate-The senate
refused to take up the resolution decar-
ing David T. Corbin entitled to a sena-
torial seat from South Carolina, in place
of M. @. Butler, present incumben Con-
over, Matthews and Patterson voted with
the democrats IN the negative The def
cheney appropriation bill was then taken
up Several amendments were taken up:
81 700 for the widow of Bayard Taylor;
the amount for transportation Of mails
by railroad was increased from $166,392
to 1884, 100. Memorial services in honor
Of the late Hon. Frank WEIGH, of Ne
braska, we're then held Adjourned
TUESDAY, Feb. 25-House -Several
hours were spent in committee of the
whole on the legislative appropriation
bill. The committe agreed by vote of
legislative appropriation bill, repeating
laws relating to supervisors of elections.
Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26-lSenote.- The
senatebill authorizing the secretary of
the treasury to ascertain and report to
congress the amount of money expended,
and the Indebtedness assumed by the
state of Kansas in repelling invasions
and suppressing Indian hostilities, and
enabling the secretary of war to purchase
land and enlarge and protect San Anto-
MO arsenal. Several pension bills were
passed and after executive session the
senate adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26-House.-T
house passed the census bill after long
debate, and then proceeded to consider
the sugar bill.
THURSDAY, Feb. 27-Senate. The SEN
ate resumed consideration of the bill
making an appropriation for the arrears
of pensions. The amendments proposed
by the committee on appropriations,
providing that pension agents shall re-
ceive for their services in paying arrears,
80 cents for each payment, and appropri-
ating $4,000 to meet such expense, and
striking out of the house bill the clause
providing that the granting Of arrears Of
pensions shall extend TO pensions granted
by special act of congress were agreed
to. After further debate, the bill was
laid aside and memorial services in
honor Of Beverly B. Douglas were held.
THURSDAY, Feb. 27-House.--A long
contest took place over motion to order
Geo. F. Seward before the bar Of the
house, democrats favoring and repub-
licans opposing. The motion prevailed.
The bin amending section 3697, revised
statutes of the United States, so that in
terest on bonds called under the pro-
visions Of said section or amended under
H. A.