Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-05-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
TUESDAY, MAY 9.

Senate-An pending house bills donating con
demned cannon tor monumental and other eur
poses passed.
Sen. McDill introduced a bill for a wagor
tridge across the Missouri river between Coanci
Bluffs and Omaha.
The senate passed the house tariff commission
bill, yeas 35, nays 19. Six democrats voted with
the republicans in the affirmative, and two repub-
hcanS with the minority against the bill.
The district committee was instructed to inquire
into the management of the jail with reference tc
privileges grated prisoners, and the treedons
with which prisoners are admitted. The recent
escape was referred to.
Honse-The bill enlarging the powers of the
agricultural department was taken up.
:, Alter speeches by Money, of Massachusetts,
Hoge, Of West Viaginia, Updegraf, of Ohio,
and Valentine, of Nebraska, the bill was read by
sections for amendments.
Mr.. Townsend, of Illinois, offered an amend
ment, providing that the secretary of agriculture
shall be practical and experienced agriculturist
Adopted.
The provision of the bill transferring to the
new department of agriculture the powers and
duties vested in the commission known as the
geological survey, was stricken out.
Mr.. Dunnell, of Minnesota, offered an amend
ment providing for division of forestry, the
chief of which shall ascertain the annual amount
OF consumption, expectation and importation of
timber and other forest products, the probable
supply for future wants and the means best
adapted for preservation and renewal of forests
Adopted.
The house then adjourned without action.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10.
Sendte.-The session of the Senate was brief
The bill establishing an assay office at Deadwoed
u. l., passed and the Senate adjourned.
House.-The House passed, by a vote of 172 to
I, without amendment the bill creating an exec
utlve Department of Agriculture which provides
tnat the department shall be under the control of
Secretary who is experienced and practical
agrculturst, and establishes Bureaus of A gricul-
tural Products, of Animal Industry, of Lands
and of Statistics.
The conference report of the Indian Appro-
prlatlon bid was agreed to, and the H ouse went
into committee of the whole OIL the appropriation
bill.
FRIDAY, MAY IL.
Senate--The L. Madison Day claim for small
lot In New Orleans at the time purchased by him
at Judicial sale under the confscation act. was
covered by mortgage but was bought upon rar-
resentation of the government that no incum-
brance upon it existed, was passed-yeas 27, nays
y. Six democrats voted with the republicans in
the affirmative
The bill for the intermedat, appellate courts
was further discussed.
The conference report upon the Indian appro-
prlaClon bill was submitted. The total has been
reduced by the conference to $455 200. The re-
port was concurred in and the bill passed. Ad-
jOurned.
House Mr.. Sherman, from the committee on
education and labor, reported bill to aid in the
support OF common schools. Ordered printed and
recommitted. 1t provides that for the next five
years there shall be annually appropriated
600 600 to aid in the support of the free COM
mon schools, which amount shall be known as the
c mmon school fund and which shall be appor-
toned to the various states and territories ac-
cordIng to the numser of their iterate popula-
ton over ten years of age. An amount not ex-
ceeding per cent. of the sum appor.ioned NAV
be used for the education of teachers in the pub
The committee en- public lands reported back
adversely the bill to shorten the two year period
required in the homestead law. Tabled.
The house resumed consideration of the Geneva
award bill.
After discussion the previous question was or
dered but without further action the matter went
over.
FRIDAY, MAY u.
Senote-The bills authorizing the construction
of bridges across the Mississippi river at Mem
phis, and across the Arkansas at Van Buren, were
favor bly, reported. The latter, authorizing the
ST. Louis & San Francisco r. R. Co. to build q
bridge, passed.
court bill was resumed, the qdestion ing on its
passage. After some discussion the bill passed
ayes 3d. nays Is, receiving the support of all re-
pubIicans, and BAyard, Cockrell, Jackson Harris,
Pugh and Walker democrats
H0use-A bill passed providing for the removal
of the remains of the late Gen. Fitzpatrick from
Chill to the United States.
The conference report on the fortifcation ap
bill was agreed to, and the house re-
sumed consideration of the Geneva award BILL
SATURDAY, May 13.
Senate-The senate was not in session.
Bouse-An effort to report the bill to suspend
the issue of silver certificates and to limit the
coinage of silver dollars to the requirements of
the people, met with objection.
Mr.. Crapo then called up for consideration the
bill to enable national banking associations to
extend their corporate existence.
Mr.. Bland expressed opposition to the national
banking system, and characterized it as legalized
robbery, and advocated free and unlimited coin
age of silver.
Mr.. Smith Qll) advocated continuation of the
national banking system. After several other
speeches the matter went over.
MONDAY, MAY ID.
Senme-Bills were introduced and referred, to
aid the endowment of the school of forestry at
St. Paul; for public buildings at La Crosse; joint
resolution for an international convention to rec
ommend the establishment Of a standard meridl-
an for reckoning longitude and time.
The following the amounts appropriated By
bills favoraby reported for public buildings at
points named: Jackson, Tenn, $50 900; Council
Bluffs, Iowa, 100000; Detroit, $500 900; Han.
nibal, Mo, S75 600 Louisville, $500 900,
After an executive session the sen tie adjourned.
House-Mr. Robinson offered a resolution re-
questing the president to inform the house wheth-
er certain official papers recently published re-
garding the imprisonment of American citizens in
British prisons had been received at the state de-
partment, and what answer had been given
thereto.
A resolution was adopted directing the secre-
tary of war to inquire into the propriety of pur-
chasing the dwell ing house in Washington in
which President Lincoln died.
A vote of ayes AS, nays 48, suspended the
rules and passed the bill providing that no action
tor damages for infringement of patents shall
be sustained for the use of any patented article
or device, when it shall appear on trial that the
defendant purchased such article for valuable
consideration in the open market.
The Other Horn.