Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-01-20
18th CONGRESS.

/ taFY academy appropriation Dill. 6laceu on cat
endar. Senator Maxey, reported with amendment
the bill for the relief of Brigadier- General O. c.
Ord. Senator Bayard reported favorbly the
house bill TO amend a section of revised statutes
so as to authorize a charge for melting or refining
bullion when al or above the standard. Senator
Cameron of Pennsylvania, from the military
committee reported adversely on the bill to reor-
ganize and dicipline the militia of the United
States, and its further consideration was indefn-
itely pcstponed. The District of Columbia tramp
bill for punishment of yagrancy, was then taken
up and discussed. The bill was finally laid aside
without action and the senate took up the bill for
the relief Of Ben Holiday. Pending debate the
senate adjourned.
TUESDAY Jan. 11-House.-Mr. Blackburn of
fered the following resolution:
WHEREAS. Charges have been made that the
laws of the United States have been violated by
sending through the mails. under franks of mem
bers of the house and senate, matter not author
lied to be sent without payment of postage, there
fore
ResOlced That select committee of five mem
bers be appointed by the speaker to examine into
said charges, and all other abuses that may be
brought to its attention. connected with the trans
mission of documents, letters, etc., through the
mails.
The resolution was adopted, and the house
went into committee of the whole the Indian
appropriation bill. The pending amendment was
llldt OuSEtu DJ III lcIcOch, dDpfODTldCul1 S1U.UUU
to defray the expenses of commission of ten citi-
Zens, provided for in the act of 1869 and striking
out the clause repeating all laws creating au-
thorizing such commission, which was finally
adopted by standing vote-S7 to rs.
Messrs. Carlisle, Geddes, Wilson and Blount
were the only democrats who were noticed as vot-
ing in the affirmative, and Valentine the only
publican voting in the negative. The committee
then rose and reported the bill to the house. The
amendment adopted in the committee relative to
the Indian commission rejected, yeas 106;
nays ll9. The bill then passed. The speaker
announced the appointment of Messrs. Converse
House, Phillips, Browne and Robinson, of Massa-
chusettS, Il select committee to investigate the
alleged abuseoft the franking privilege. The speaker
laid before the house message from the president
transmitting the copies of correspondence relating
to the invitation extended by the French republic
to this government, to send one or more delegates
to represent 1t in the international congress of
electricians to be held in PARIS Sept. 10th, 1881.
The president recommends an appropriation be
made for that purpose. The message was referred
to the committee ON foreign affairs. Adjourned
WEDNESDAY, Jan. l2-sSe,ate-Senator Davis
of West Virginia submitted resolution instruct
ing the committee on finance to inquire into the
adyisability OF change III the organization of
the treaury and other departments, so as to di-
vide the accounts, etc. for collecting receipts and
safe keeping of revenues to transfer from the
treasury to the war or navy department. steam
boat inspection, life serving and other services
and to place under the state department matters
connected with our foreign and domestic com
merce. Tabled and ordered printed. Senator Logan
called up the joint resolution extending the frank
ing privilege to all official business sent through
the mails by senators, representatives and dele
gates IN congress and III all other respects to be
under the limitations of existing laws. Mr.. Lo-
gan explained that the resolution was designed to
cover only letters, ETC., sent from the depart
mentS, through the hands of congressman, to the
lIa hat fbn
law, while the department clerks could frank of
fetal business, this privilege was denied to the
members congress. Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 12.-House The house
went into the committee of the whole Covert in the
chair, the funding bill, and adjourned immedi-
ately after reporting.
THURSDAY, Jan. 13.-Seumc.-At the expira-
ton of the morning shOur the funding resolution
referred to the committee on post Offices The
vote was Is to %. Adjourned.
THURSDAY, Jan. House.-The house went
into committee of the whole, Converse, of New
\ Ork in the chair. on the funding bill. The
pending amendment was that offered by Mr..
Randall authorizing the issue of bonds in amount
not exceeding $500, 600 900, which shall bear in
terest at the rate of per cent. redeemable after
blank years. After an all day discussion of no
Importance the house adjourned.
FRIDAY Jan. 4-,Se,,ote.-Senator Hoar pre-
sented with petition in its favor a bill to pro-
vide for retired and retiring presidents of the
United States. Senator Johnson from the com
mittee on agriculture reported different bills be-
fore the committee, the subject of pleuro-pneu-
monia among cattle. The senate passed the
tramp bill and then proceeded with the calendar
under the Anthony rule, and after executive
session adjourn l.
FRIDAY Jan. 14-House-T house went into
committee of the whole on the private calendar.
No attempt was made to proceed with the consid-
tiOD of the fup1iDu hill Tho
and reported several private bills to the house but
upon the first bill acted upon no quorum voted
and the house adjourned.
SATURDAY, JAN. 15.-Senate not in session.
HOuse.-Ihe House went into committee of the
whole-Covert, of New York, in the chair-on the
funding bill, and after a long discussion adjourn
ed without reaching Il vote
MONDAY, Jan. 17.-Scndte.-Sen Wallace
from the committee on appropriations reported,
with sundry amendments, the Indian appropriation
bill.
Sen Pendleton from the census committee, re-
ported bill making an appropriation for COM
pleting. compiling and publishing the returns of
the teth census.
Sen. Garland presented a report of the congress
siOnal visitors to West Point and accompanying
the same was bill amending the existing laws in
the natioaal military academy at West Point. Re
ferred.
Sen. Williams introduced bill to establish
ocean mail service and making an appropriation
therefor.
A bill passed directing the purchase bv the sec
retary of the treasury, Of the Freedmens paving
and trust company, located on Pennsylvania ave-
nue..
Bill passed for the relief of Gen. Ord
MONDAY, Jan. Holrse-Bills introduced and
referred: Mr.. Willis-tO establish a sub-treasury
at Louisville. Mr.. Newberry providing for a
joint committee by the United States and Great
Britain to investigate the alleged false and fraud
Ulent proofs and statistics used before the Hall
fax fishery commission; it recites the allegation
that certain documents presented to the commits
sion by the British government contained false
fraudulent and forged statements, etc, and re-
quests the president to inform the government of
Great Britain of such allegation. and request that
government to join with the United States in
the appointment of a commission, to be composed
of three persons one to be appointed bv the
United States, one by Great Britain. and one by
the two governments Jointly to fully investigate
the question of false and fraudulent proof and
document of every kind and nature, and make
report of such investigation with proof addressed
and adduced and conclusions shown to their
respective governments.
Mr.. Ford resolution declaring it to be the opin-
ion of the house that every interest demands the
immediate consideration of the telegraph lines by
the government, and requesting the committee on
poStofices and railroads to report the bill for the
construction of such telegraph lines as may be
necessary to protect the people from the monopo-
ly. The speaker ruled that the resolution was not
in order, under the call of the states and it was
not admitted. Al the conclusion of the call of the
states, Mr.. Ford offered his resolution relative to
telegraph lines and it was referred Mr.. Springer
introduced resolution directing the committee on
postotilces and post roads to inquire into the ex-
pedency OF establishing telegraph postal system
in the United States, and also the cost of repro
ducng forms for transmitting telegraphc mes
sages to those on lines now possessed by existing
corporations, and as TO the expediency of operat-
ing the same, and granting that committee
to send for persons and papers, and authoriz-