Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-11-03
UNITED STATES SENATE,
WEDNESDAY, Der. 25.

" EDNEoDAh, OCT. 70.
Senate-The oath of office was administered to
acting secretary f. Z. Shober.
Senator Sherman called up the resolution au-
thorizng the librarian of congress to receive and
preserve the papers Of Count Rochambeau and
to await the acton of congress on the proposition
to sell the same 20 the United States government
After debate the resolution was adopted.
Senator Sherman offered a resolution which was
laid over under the rules, directing the finance
commi ttee to inv accounts for the expend
ture of several appropriations for contingent ex-
penses in the treasury department up to July LIST,
1881
An executive session followed.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. %.
Selate-Senator Ransom offered resolution
providing that the power and authority invested
in commerce by the resolution adopted Nav g.
1891 with reference TO inquiry into the condition
of the Potomac river at Washington, d. c. be
continued during the ensuing recess, and that the
committee report December next. Adopted.
Mr.. Butler offered a resolution directing the
committee on printing to inquire why the agri-
cultural reports of 1880 have not been distributed
to congress. Adopted
Mr.. Sherman called up the resolution offered
by him yesterday for an investigation into the
disbursement of the contingent fund of the
treasury department. After having been mod
ifed so as to allow the committee on appropri-
ations to be directed to investigate the accounts
Tor the expenditures for several appropriations
contingent other expenses of the several depart
ments, including the method of making such dis
bursements, of character and disposition of pur-
chaSes made, and employment paid from such ap-
preparations and to report at as early a day as
possible what further legislation is necessary to
secure the proper disbursements of such; that the
committee have leave to send for persons and pa
pers, and sit during the recess of the senate
The resolution was adopted. and Sherman's
Mellne report was referred to the committee on
appropriations.
The senate went into executive session. and
when the doors reopened, adjourned.
THURSDAY, OCT. 81.
Senote-A resolution was adopted for the pay
ment of extra compensation to pages and other
employees of the senate.
On motion of Senator ingalls,, resolution was
adopted continuing during the recess of the SEN
ate the authority conferred upon the committee
on Judiciary to examine into the subject of bank
ruptcy, and directing the committee to report in
December next
The authority conferred upon the committee on
public lands to inquire into the condition of the
land office, continued during the recess of the
senate.
The president pro tenn laid before the senate
communication from Gov. Colquit, of Georgia,
rendering him, and through him to the members
OF the senate, cordial invitation of the officers
and executive committee of the cotton exposition
to visit the exposition now being held at Atlanta
Laid on the table and ordered printed.
The senate then went into executive session
and shortly after took recess for an hour, for
the purpose of giving the various committees
time to consider the nominations received this
morning, and report them to-day.
The senate, before the recess confirmed Charles
W. Seaton, of New York, superintendent of the
census.
FRIDAY 0cT. 2S.
Senote-The open session of the senate, to-day,
lasted only half an hour when The doors were
closed and the executive session commenced. The
undecided contest over the nomination for the
Lynchburg poStofice, was at once resumed Eff
forts will be made to dispose of it to-day 1t is
understood that not more than one or two impor-
tant nominations will be added to those already
sent in.
SATURDAY, 0cT. 30.
Selote-In the executive session the sergeant
alarms made report on the senators who re-
fused to obey the call of the senate, and after a
long and interesting discussion of the report the
whole subject was laid the table and the senate
was once more brought face to face with the
direct question of confirming the nomination of
Clifford Stratham, to be postmaster of Lynchburg
Ferris, who is chairman of the postoffice com
mittee, had charge of the nomination and there
upon remarked that in view of the manifest de-
termination of the democratic members to con-
tlnue the employment of dilatory proceedings
against final action this case, indefinitely. or at
least until after the Virginia elections the re-
publicans had concluded that rather than permit
any further obstruction of the remaining public
business, they would lay the Lynchburg nomina-
tion aside and he accordingly made that mo-
tiOn, which was unanimously agreed to- and the
senate proceeded to confirm large number of
nominations.
Sen. Ferris motion is understood to have been
the result of consultation between himself, in be-
half Of the republican caucus and the president
IN which Sen. Malone also participated at the
same instan; and it is further well known to
have been predicted upon the especial understand
ing that an adjournment of the senate will be
promptly followed by Stratham's appoi1 tment to
the Office by the president Besides this nomina-
ton, the nomination of Pay Director Yarmouth
as paymaster Of the navy was laid aside without
final action, and eight or ten Others principally of
postmasters at small places.
The senate laid aside the Lynchburg nomina-
tion and adjourned sine die.