Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-02-17
46th Cong ).

MONDAY Feb. Senate motion of Mr.
Butler the subject of allege ,nsus frauds il
South Ci-rolina was takes uT the letter o
! the secretary of the interior response to tn
senate resolution for inforIna 1n on the subjec
was read. Mr.. Butler yeriti, the report and be
Eeved t should put to shame he baseless calum
nies of stump orators and party organs in tn
late campaign. Replying to the language con
tanned in a speech by Mr.: Conkling during tn
campaign he spoke of the charges and insinuation
/ as being as malignant in their purpose against th
south as the heart that inspired their utterrance
and asserted that although the evidence of tht
! correctness of the census figures was conclusive
! and overwhelming of the authors charges h,
had not had the honesty TO make amends for hi
dishonorable perversions.
Mr.. Conkling replied to Butler, that he inferred
the latter had designed his remarks as an assault
upon him for something he had said in a speech
last September He thought that Butler had
taken long time to reply. AS for the vapOring:
of that senator he had no concern.
Mr.. Butler-The staggering insolense of the
senator from New Y York has no concern for me.
Mr.. Conkh"g-The senator is person with
whom do not choose to handy words or epithets
here or elsewhere. Least of all here.
The subject was then dropped, and the senate
adjourned
MONDAY. Feb. House.-Mr. Aiken moved
to suspend the rules and pass the bill for creating
a department of agricultulture.
Objection was made.
The following bills were introduced and re-
ferred'
BY Thomas Turner, joint resolution on the
subject of taxation. 1t declares the constitution
confers no power upon congress to impOse2 tariff
of internal revenue or other taxation, except for
the purpose of raising reyenue that the revenue
standard of taxation is the lowest rate that
will yield the required revenue; that to impose
higher tax is TO place an unnecessary burden
on the consumers of the taxed articles; that
neither the state nor federal governments
have the power to impose a tax on one por-
tion of the people for the purpose OF
enabling another portion to engage protitably in
an industry which would otherwise be unremu-
nerative. and that an internal-revenue tariff and
other indirect taxes should be levied on luXuries,
and not on the necessrries of life.
By Mr.. Washbun of Minnesota entry
and sale of public lands for the right of way to
railroad companies.
By Mr.. Ford, of Missouri, by request-For dis
tribution of the public lands.
By Mr.. Robinson, .request-Providing for the
safety of life on railroads. 1t compels railroads to
carry axes and fire extinguishers on each passen-
ger car, and imposes penalty for any violation
of this provision.
Also in relation to The transyaal republic.
TUESDAY Feb. S-Senate-The credentials of
Philetus Sawyer, and Arthur P. German senators
elect read and filed. Sen. Bruce, from the
committee on education and labor, reported ad-
versey on the Joint resolution to provide for the
enforcement of the eight hour law, and it was in
definitely postponed.
TUESDAY, Feb. S.-House--Mr. Regan report
ed back the river and harbor appropriation bill
and it was referred to the committee of the
whole.
Along argument took place over the PROPOSE
tiontO set apart portion of the galleries for the
accommodation of families of mem bers and sena-
tors during the electoral count.
Mr.. Briggs offered the customary resolution
relative to the death of Farr, of New Hampshire
and eulogies were delivered by Bragg, Hall, Bay,
Bland, Bowman, Updegraff, 0Shillen Dagger,
Blake and Sherwin. Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 9.-Lttle legislation was
enacted in either house, on account of counting
the electoral vote. The two houses met in Joint
session about nOon as required by law, with Vice
President Wheeler in the chair. The hall of the
house was crowded with scnetators and the scene
was an imposing one. The tormality in counting
the electoral vote was conducted in conformity
with the joint resolution adopted by congress last
week, and was concluded by the president of the
senate declaring that James A. Garfield is elected
president and Chester A. Arthur president of
the United States.
THURSDAY Feb. 10-.Senate-The Senate bill
apprOpriating 5000 600 for the purchase of ground
for and the erection thereon of hall of deposit
for government records passed The postal ap-
preparation bill was then taken up, but without
reaching conclusion the senate adjourned.
THURSDAY, Fnb. 10-HouSe.-A number of
private bills were disposed of on the opening of
the session, after which the house went into com
mittee of the whole.
FRIDAY, Feb. IL.
iSenGta.-A Joint resolution was introduced by
Mr. Herman. relation to the international eX-
hibition of 1888, authorizing and requesting the
president, whenever he shall deem that adequate
preparations therefor have been made, to invite
the participation therein of foreign nations pro-
yided there be no expense to the government
Mr.. Hoar offered resolution inStructing the ju-
dietary committee to consider and report whether
the assembling at the seat of government of large
bodies of organized and armed troops not under
the command of officers of the United States OIL
any national authority, be not likely to prove in
the future dangerous in practice and
whether any legislation or opinion by
Congress on the subject is desirable
A debate followed and the resolution was laid
over. Sen. Wallace made a long speech in favor
of his resolution for constitutional amendments
providing for the district system and popular vote
by plurality rule in the presidential elections.
FRIDAY Feb. 11-Ho,se- session of tht
house was devoted mainly to the private calen-
dar.
SATURDAY, Feb. Senate-sen. Conkling
presented the credentials of Thos. G. Platt. sen
ator-elect from New FORK to succeed Herman.
The vice president presented the credentials o.
Bayard, of Delaware, to succeed himself.
Sen. Herman from the finance committee re
ported favorablY, without amendment. the senate
joint resolution for an invitation to foreign ma
ions to be represented and take part in the inter
national exhibition.
! A vote demonstrated that a quorum was no
present, and after a call of the senate they ad
| journed.
SATURDAY, Feb. 12-Rouse- bill reporte
by the inte"-oceanic canal committee, in aid 0
Tehuantepec ship railway (Eads scheme) gay
rise to noisy and disorderly struggle over tn
question whether the report has been authorized
finally, on motion of Cox, the whole subject wa
laid on the table by a unanimous rica roce vote
The morning hour having been dispensed with
the speaker proceeded to call the states, in orde
| to enable one member from each state to as
unanimous consent for the passage of any bill
A bill coming over from yesterday, regulatln
the importation of raw materials used in the con
struction or repair Of vessels engaged in foreig
trade. including the trade between the Atlanti
and Pacific ports of the United States, or built 0
foreign account led to lengthy discussion an
the house adjourned without action on it.
The Beginning of the End.
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