Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-12-23
18th Congress.

| TUESDAY, Dee. Selate.-Sen. Morrill, of
| f2red q resolution instructing the committee on
| postofices and post-roads to inquire whether or
not existing telegraph lines interfere with the
| business of the postofhce department, and if the
telegraphic service should not be in the hands of
general government. Agreed TO. Sen. Sauls-
bury announced that on Thursday next he viii
ask the senate to take up the resolution declaring
Kellogg not entitled to a seat IN the senate. The
morning hour having expired, the senate resumed
consideration of the bill for the relief of Fitz
John Porter. After q long debate they reported
TO the senate and the question of being on agree
ing to amendments OF committee OF the whole,
Senator Bruce made a set speech against the
bill. The amendments made in committee of the
whole were agreed to-337 to % and the bill read
third time and passed by strict party vote,
except Senator Davis, of Illinois,
who voted in the negative with the republicans.
TUESDAY, Dec. I4-House.-Mr. Money. of
Miss, chairman of the committee on postofice
and post roads reported back the resolution re-
citing the allegation that there is in the Washing
ton city poStotfice certain mail matter which,
though containing unfrankabe matter. was at
tempted to be mailed under the head frank, and
calling upon the postmaster general for informa-
ton rs TO the detention of such mail matter; he
also reported an amendment calling on the same
officer tor information rs to the abuse of the frank
by members of congress or the loan of frank for
any person. A bill was introduced to incorporate
the Maritime canal of Nicaragua and it was re-
terred to the committee on commerce. 1t names
as incorporators, L. S. Grant L. D. Morgan, II.
}. Jewett, W. L. Garrison, H. Potter Fred. Bill
lugs, G. W. Riggs, Solon Humphreys Frederick
Butterfeld. j. Thomas De Frenee T. Beal and
VIM. Dennison and provides that the capital stock
shall consist of not less than 800 900 nor more
than l,0OG,O 900 shares of 500 each. The house
went into a committee of the whole on the fund
ing bill and afterward adjournd.
WEDNESDAY, Dee -Sencfe.-Mr. Coke an
nounced that Tuesday next he viii ask considera-
tion of the senate bill providing for allotment of
lands i'll severalty to the Indians and extending
the laws Of the state and territories over Indi-
ans. lie said the bill is thought important by
the interior department. Sen. Bruce offered a
resolution nstructing the sergeant-at arms to de-
liver certain wOrn-out senate furniture to the ma
tlonal association for the relief of colored women
and children for its use. Senators Bruce Beck
and Hamln advocated the resolution which was
agreed to. On motion of Sen. Cockren the SEN
ate took up the senate bill for the relief of Sam
A. Lowe, appropriating 81 $50 to pay him for
services and expenses as clerk of the territorial
Legislature OF Kansas, in 1855. After the debate
Allison moved to go into executive session, after
which. adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, Dee. I5.-H0tl8e. Mr.. Belford
of Colorado introduced n bill for the retirement
OF small legal tender notes. Referred. On mo-
ton of Mr.. Goode, the senate bill passed granting
pension of 500 a month to Mrs Julia G. Tyler
widow of the late President Tyler. The morning
hOuI Dteu uIs p6LSeu NlJll, MI. L. w OOu
moved that the house go rlto committee on the
funding bill. Mr.. Baker, from the committee on
appropriations reported back the fortifcation
bill, and antagOnized f. Woods motion with
motion to go into committee on that bill. Mr.. f.
Wood making no objection Mr. Bakers motion
was agreed to. and the house went into cOmmitte
Of the whole, Mr.. Converse in the chair upon
the fortifcatiOn bill. A general debate followed
when it closed and the bill was read by sections
for amendments. Amendments were offered by
Reagan, Fort and Ellis were all either rejected or
ruled out. The committee then rose and reported
the bill to the house and it passed. Adjourned.
THURSDAY, Dee. l6th.-Se,ate-Sen Morley
introduced bill for Gen. Ord authorizing the
president to place him the retired list accord
ing to his breveted rank of major general, with
the pay and emoluments thereof The fortifca-
ton appropriation bill was received from the
house, read twice, and referred to the committee
on appropriations. The senate then teok up the
educational BILL but without any conclusions ad-
ourned.
THURSDAY, Dee. Ho,,se.-Mr Wood, of
New Ork, chairman of the committee on ways
and means, reported the current resolution pro |
viding for the recess of congress from the 22nd of
Dec. to the 9TH of Jan. Agreed to-yeas 125, |
nays a. The morning hour being dispensed with |
the house went into committee of the whole-Mc- |
Mllan OF tennessee III the chair, on the pens ion |
appropriation bill. Mr.. Hubbcll, who had charge |
of the bill, stated it appropriated fifty million |
dollars or exactly the amount called for by the |
estimates. Up to November 1st, 1880, the gov
eminent had paid out for arrearges S24 800, 900
alone The average arrearages to each of the old |
pensioners had been found to be $3.50. AT the |
date of the report of the commissioner of pensions
there had been 28I ,597 claims pending, and the |
arrears i'll each new claim was 81 100. Supposing
that 30 per cent of these claims would be disal- |
lowed there would still be in round numbers Sl47-
600 arrearages to be paid, which, at the rate of /
81 900 each, would amour to S217 600 600. And
he wished to call attention to a further fact tha |
the average age of pensioners of the government |
was only Al years. After further debate the COM
mittee rose and the bill passed. The house then
adjourned.
FRIDAY, Dec, -Senate.-The house Joint |
resolution, providing for adjournment from Dec, |
22d to Jan, 5th was disagreed to- by 27 to 81 |
The senate then took up the educational bill and |
after long debate passed it, by the following |
vote.