Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-01-26
Forty-slxth Congress.

TUESDAY, January 18.--In the senate the bill 10
provide for ascertaning and settling private land
claims in certain states and territories was dis
cussed during the morning hour The Ben Halli-
day relief bill was passed, with an amendment
fixing the amount at 500, 600. In the house an
adverse report was made on the bill to place Gen.
eral Grant on the retired list Of the army and the
elections committee reported In favor Of giving
the contested seat In the second Florida district TO
Mr.. Bisbee, the republican contestant. A favor
able report was made on the bill for placing Cen
eral W. W. Averill on the retired list with the
rank Of brigadier-general. The naval appropria-
ton bill was reported. The funding bill was COM
pleted In committee Of the whole and reported to
the house. The Carlisle amendment, recurring
the national banks to deposit three per cent bonds
to secure their circulation after MAY next, was
adopted by vote Of 1913 to 10l The previous
question having been demanded and seconded the
bill came up for final action at Wednesdays
session.
WEDNESDAY, January 19.-The senate, after
protracted debate passed the bill for ascertaining
and settling private land claims in the states and
territories The bill providing for the allotment
Of lands in severaty to the Indians on the various
government reservations, was taken up and dis
cussed briefly without taking action. The en-
tire session OF the house occupied In consider
ing the funding bill, which was finally passed,
1876 to 125, substantially as 1t was reported from
the committee Of the whole on Tuesday.
THURSDAY January 2o.-The principal portion
OF the senate session was devoted to a considera-
ton OF the bill providing for the allotment Of
lands In severalty to Indians on the various gov
eminent reservations. No decision, however,
was reached. The house funding bill was re-
ported and referred to the finance committee. e.
The naval appropriation bill was discussed in the
house and passed, exactly as reported from the
appropriations committee. The Boynton-Loring
contested election case came up, and Mr. Loring
spoke at length in refutation OF some Of the
charges made against Massachusetts, In the report
OF the minority Of the committee on elections
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, January 81 and o.
The senate passed the Indian appropriation bill
and the house rejected the claim OF Mr.. Boynton
to the seat Of DR.. Lorng from the sixth Massachu-
sets district. Friday evenings session continued
till six o'clock Saturday morning, the entire time
being spent in fruitless attempt to obtain
quorum. At Saturdays session the post-offce
bill was reported, and resolution
adopted declaring Mr.. Bsbee (republican) entitled
to the seat from the second district Of Florida,
and that gentleman was sworn in
MONDAY, January 24.-The senate after spir-
tied discussion refused, by vote Of twenty Eight
to twenty-five to consider the bill to retire General
Grant with the rank and pay Of general of the
army. The Edmunds Geneva award bill was re-
ported adversely from the Judiciary committee,
and substitute submitted therefor. The bal
ance Of the session was consumed in discussing
the Indian land and severalty bill. In the house
the Lowell bankrupt bill, in an amended form,
was introduced and referred to the judiciary CON-
mittee Majority and minority bills for the reap
portionment Of representatives were presented,
and the post office appropriation bill was consd-
ered at length in committee OF the whole.