Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-02-12
THE XLVI CONGRESS,

TUESDAY, Feb. STANDARDIZATION
for reduction of the duty on steel rails
were presented; also, a memorial for an
appropriation large enough to complete
the uncompleted navy vessels which are
fast deteriorating in the ship arcs. Mr..
Cockrell, from the committee on mill
tary affairs, reported with an amendment
the house bill to restore to the public do
main, part of the Fort Ripley reserya-
ton in Minnesota; and, also, reported ad-
versely on the bill to remove the charge
of desertion from the military records
The committees report expresses the
conviction that such special legislation
is neither proper nor wise, and as a gen.
erai rule the war department has ample
power to do equal justice to all appli-
cants for relief The remainder of the
session was devoted to eulogies upol the
late Hon. Rush Clark, nj. c., from Iowa.
TUESDAY, Feb. 3-HouSe.-The priv
ileges of the floor were granted to Parnell
and Dillon, the Irish agitators. Mr.
Davis offered resolution, which was
adopted, directing the committee on ag-
riculture to inquire into the most feas
ible methods of extending the benefits
Of the Agricultural Bureau over that por-
ton Of the United States west Of the
1C0th meridian. Mr.. Mills offered res
olution calling on the president for in
formation as to any pending negotiation
for change of treaty between the gov
ernment of China and the Uuited States
Referred. Mr.. 6hallenberger, from the
committee on public buildings and
grounds, reported a resolution calling on
the supervising architect of the treasury
department for information as to
the character of all public buildings now
III the course of construction, or which
may have been completed within the
past three years, the cost of the same, and
the reasons why such buildings have
cost more than the amount limited by
la ". Adopted. The bill reported from
the Judiciary committee, providing that
no person shall serve as a petit juror in
the United States court more than three
weeks during any one year, was passed.
The house then went into committee of
the whole on the revision of the rules.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 4-SenGte.-Theb bill
authorizing the conversion of national
gold banks into national banks was pass
ed. Sen. Kirkwood introduced bill TO
provide for the payment of additional
bounty to soldiers of the army of the
United States during the war OF the re-
bellion. A joint resolution to print / 200
copies of the eulogies On the late Senator
Chandler was passed. Sen. Herford in
troduced bill to repeal the act of July
4, 1864, conferrlng on the quartermaster
general commissary, and accounting of
ficers of the treasury. authority to exam.
inc, adjudicate and settle claims accruing
to legal citizens Of the United States, for
supplies taken by or furnished for the
use and used by the United States armies.
The bill confers jurisdiction in such cases
upon the United States courts, which
shall certify their judgment to congress,
and congress may appropriate money to
paw SUCH judgments, if favorable. All
such claims now pending before congress
or officers above named, arc also referred
by the bill to district courts.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 4-HouSe-After
business, consideration was resumed of
the bill reported yesterday from the
judiciary committee, amending certain
sections of the act determining the jur-
isdiction of the United States circuit
court, and regulating the removal of
causes from state to Federal courts The
morning hour expiring, the bill went
over without action. The house then
went into committee on the joint resolu
tion appropriating $4,000 to enable the
commissioner of fish and fisheries TO
represent the United States at The Inter
national Fishery Exhibition IN Berlin in
April next. and after long debate it was
adopted. The house then resumed con-
sideration of the revision of the rules.
THURSDAY, Feb. 5-Sendte.-The bill
to amend the census act was considered
1t requires enumeration in cities having
over ten thousand inhabitants to be made
in two weeks from June I, 1880, instesd
OF four weeks as provided by the origi-
nal act. 1t also contains several pro-
visions as to the details in duties in cef
sus offices. The bill finally passed. The
bill introduced by the committee OIL
military, to donate fifty pieces of refuse
granite to aid in the completion of the
soldiers and sailors monument of the
Chalmeete national cemetery, Louisiana,
having been reached, Teller asked Ran
dolp, chairman of the committee On mil
itary affairs, what soldiers and
sailors these we're. Senator Ran
dolph sail the donation was
recommended by the war department.
The committee did not deem it necessary
to inquire what soldiers and sailors they
were and he was unable to say whether
they were federal or confederate The
only way to find out would he to return
the papers to the war department and
ask the secretary. After some further
debate the senate adjourned.
THURSDAY, Feb. -H0use-The senate
bill for the conversion of national gold
banks passed. Mr. McLane, chairman
of the Pacific railway committee, report
ed bill to create sinking fund for the
Kansas Pacific, Sioux City & Pacific,
Central Branch & Union Pacific railway
companies. Printed and recommitted.
A long debate then followed on the re-
vision of the rules, and this subject oc-
cupied the remainder of the session.
FRIDAY, Feb. 6--Sendte-The senate
was not in session.
FRIDAY, Feb. 6-HOuse.-ln the house
the session was consumed in discussing
the bill to remove the political disabil-
tiles OF John E. Owens. of Virginia The
bill passed, ayes, 166, nays AS The
house then adjourned until Monday
Stone Age Discoveries.