Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-12-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
A Record of the Everyday Proceed
Ings of Both Houses of Congress.

MONDAY, Dec. II.
iSendte-Senator Edmunds introduced bill for
defraying the expenses of President Garfeld's
illness and funeral, providing the sum does not
exceed 800 600.
The chair submitted memorial from the legis-
lature of Minnesota, for an appropriation for the
improve ment of the Mississippi river from st.
Anthony's Falls to New Orleans.
Bills ntroduced-Relatiye to ma tiOnal banking
associations; regulating license fees of officers of
steam vessels. to deliver condemned cannon to
the society of the Army of the Cumberland to aid
in the erection of the statute of Gen. Garfield;
and for the sale of portion of the Ft. Leaven-
worth military reservation. The civil service re-
form bill was taken up but laid over.
TUESDAY, Dec. 13.
tSenate.-Petitions were presented for the pro-
hibtion of unjust determinations in railroad
charges. Sen. Hoar, from the committee on
rules, reported back the resolution for a select
committee Of seven to be appointed by the chair
on extension of suffrage to women or the removal
of their legal disabilities. A resolution was sub
mitted directing the secretary of the interior to
furnish a statement of the pension department
showing what frauds. if any, have been disceY-
cred, and what legislation can be recommended
to protect the government from such fraud and
the honest penslOner from fraud and eXtOrtion. A
resolution was adopted to inquire what legisa-
ton is needed to enable widows and heirs of SOL
ders to receive the benefit of the bounties of said
soldiers while living and remaining unpaid at the
time of their death.
TUESDAY, Dec. 13.
House.-TayIor offered resolution, which was
unanimously adopted, fow the appointment of a
select committee of eleven members to audit all
claims for services and expenses growing out of
the illness and burial of the late President Gar
field; also to consider what allowance as pension
or privilege should be granted to the widow and
family OF the late president.
lie ;r+ -
tax on matches, bank checks snuff cigars, and
spirits distilled from apples and other fruits for
the appointment of cOlored men to inquire into
the intellectual condition of the colOred people of
the south; making the trade dollar legal ten
der; abnlishing the tax on deposits of savings
banks; to repeal the tax on bank checks; to
equailze bounUies; also tax on oleomargarne; pro
posing constitutional amendment for the election
OF postmasters by the people; for the protection
of settlers on the public lands; proposing consti-
tutlonal amendment fixing the term of office of
civil officers at four years; reducing the rate of
postage on letters and mail matter to two cents;
also amending the timber culture act.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. IA.
.Senate-In the senate to-day number of bills
were presented, among them one for ascertaining
and settling private land claims in certain states
and territories.
A resolution was submitted calling for informa-
ton of the War Department relating to the con-
struction of the ship canal across the Florida
peninsula.
At the close of the morning business, the sub
ject of Presidential succession was brought up,
and Beck addressed the senate to illustrate the
urgency for legislative action.
THURSDAY, December 10.
Sea0te.-A resolution was submitted instructing
the committee on pensions to inquire and report
what increase of pension, if any, should be al
lowed the widow of James A. Garfield
Snrot tpr( rla a11A odd +bo ~
question as to when presidential inability arises
lie said that congress unable to pass judg-
ment IN such case that it was question to be
determined by constitutional amendment. The
clause OF the constitution simply gives congress
the right to say what officer shall act and neither
in that nor any where else is congress empowered
to pass on inability. The truth is, it was intended
to be lett to the president and vice president the
matter to be settled between them. If Vice
President Arthur had been in full accord with
President Garfield, did any one doubt he would
have been called on to act in the PRESIDENT
stead within ten days after the president was
shot, because 1t was then generally known despite
the dispatches that went out from Washington to
the contrary, that the president would not sur
Yive,
FRIDAY, Dec. 19.
Scaae-A bill was introduced and referred for
the suppression and prevention of pleuro-pneumo-
MIA in cattle.
1uf66 lHOuSduu clGiZenS OF Nebraska, petltl0ned
tor the passage of an Interstate commerce bill
to prohibit railways from discriminating in rates
House-Bills were introduced relating to wo-
man suffrage; to protect the purity of elections;
to prevent fraud In carrying mails; to exchange
the trade dollar, for the standard silver dollar;
to abolish the tax on brandes made of apples
peaches md grapes giving all religious den omi-
nations equal rights in the Indian territory to
reduce letter postage to one cent; fixing the rate
of duty on barley and malt at twenty-five cents
per bushel; to promote the efficiency of the life
saving service; to establish court of pensions
for the discharge in bankruptcy of one or more
innocent members in partnership when another
partner has been found guilty of some illegal act
to regulate suffrage in territories, and fx a GER
tain qualification for office; also, to provide for
oaths of jurors in trials for bgamy in terrific
ries also, relative to the crime of bigamy and
proof thereof; also, to provide for the regulation
of Utah territory; also, to reorganize the legis-
lative powers of Utah also, granting pension
to the widow of the late Gen, Custer.