Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-12-14
CONGRESSIONAL.
second Session Of the Forty Seventh
Conxress-Pers0n of the Two
HOuses-Thc Week a Dali One and
Many Members Absent


Conxress-PersonneI of the Tive
HOuses-The Week Dali One and
Many Members Absent.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5.
Senate. Sen. Beck offered resolution
setting forth the Law a. ainst levying DO.
lltical assessments and instructIng the iu
dlciol committee to investigate how much
money was collected during the recent
election; how it was spent and whether
| there is any surplus; also, to ascertai
the number of persons dismissed from
public service since May and how MANY
of them failed to contribute. The reso-
luton requires the committee to report
before Feb. 1st,
The senate at 2 p. m., adjourned as a
mark of respect to the late Represents
| tives Updegraff and Love.
IL O1tSe-The house accomplished moth
ng. The expected raid of the high pro-
tective tariff men or internal revenue
was inaugurated through Mr.. Kelly, from
the ways and means committee, who re-
ported bill to abolish all internal rev.
enue tax on tobacco, snuff. cigars and
cigarettes. Referred to the committee of
the whole, and the minority granted
leave to file their views on the subject.
Andrews, of Kentucky, asked that the
bill be read. whereupon Kasson, in ex-
PLANTATION, stated that the tax is taken off
tobacco in all its forms, to take effect July
next: that only small minority dissent
ed from the provisions of the bill.
a message from the senate announced
the death of Senator Hill, and after
touching remarks by Mr.. Hammond, the
house, as mark of respect to the memory
of the deceased, at 1:30 adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6.
Ss10te-The senators did little else but
discuss the political situation and did not
have a session of more than halt an hour
during the day. Sen. Sherman presented
petition of the citizens of Ohio for the
passage of the bill to increase pensions to
those who lost an arm Or leg in the SER
vice.
Sen. Ingalls, presented similar petit
tion from the citizens of Kansas.
H0use-The house was worse than the
senate. Here continuous wrangle was
kept up almost the entire day. Robson,
Williams, Page and others were feeling
very mad over the recent defeat, and ap-
parently wanted to chastise some one for
it. The only business of Importance was
a resolution similar to that offered in the
senate yesterday by Beck. directing the
committee on civil service reform to in
quire into the details of alleged political
assessments made upon government en-
ployes during the recent election.
THURSDAY. Dec. Z.
Senate Voorhees,, Sherman, Nc.
Dill, Vest, Ingalls,, Chilcott and Miller,
of New York, presented petitions for the
passage of the bill to increase the pen
sions of one armed and one legged roldiers,
At the close of the morning hour, Sen.
Beck called up his resolution for investi-
eating into political assessments during
bustered and would not let it come to a
vote, and the senate adjourned.
HOttse-The only work accomplished by
the house was the passage of an old bill,
to reimburse the state of Georgia in the
sum $50. 800 for supplies bought during
the revolutionary war.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER s.
Se,1dte-At the close of the morning
hour, Beck called up his resolution for
inquiry into political assessments upon
government employees.
In the discussion which ensued, Hale
said the democratic party had placsd
wealthy men upon their committee in or
der to induce them to contribute money
for political purposes, and had levied
large assessments upon the liquor dealers
association, and the investigation, If en-
tered upon at all, ought to be extended to
both sides.
Sen. Beck finally modified the resolu-
tion so as to omit the names of pension
claimants. but discussion continued until
two o'clock, when the bankruptcy bill was
taken up.
Hoas8s-Mr. Burrows, of Michigan,
from the committee on appropriations, re-
ported the consular and diplomatic bill.
Referred to committee OF the whole. It
approprIates 81, ,258. .255. being $79, 800 less
than the appropriation for the current
year, and 1882, 800 lsss than the estimates.
Burrows gave notice he would ask for ac-
tion on the bill tomorrow.
The house, at 1920, went into commit
tee Of the whole On the private calendar.
SATURDAY, DKC. 9.
THE TOBACCO TAX.
iSenCse-Petitions of tobacco dealers and
manufacturers for a rebate equal to any
reduction that may be made in the tax on
tobacco were presented by Messrs, Hale,
Miller, and E1munds.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Mr.. Pendleton asked unanimous consent
to take up his civil service bill for the
purpose of making it the special order on
Monday next. Mr.. Voorhees, said there
were 80 many more important measures
awaiting for the action OF the senate that
he was compelled to object. Mr.. Pendle-
ton gave notice that as soon as the bank
ruptcy bill is disposed of, he would move
to take up the civil service bill.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
After the introduction and reference of
several bills, Mr.. Beck called up the po-
litical assessment resolution. He said, if
the investigation should be ordered, he
would make proof 30 strong of outrages
inflicted upon government employees that
the system of political assessment would
be made obious even to the other eide. 1t
could be shown that men and women
have been ousts6 from their places in the
departments, whose failure to contribute
was due to absolute inability, and that,
in some instances, democratic friends had
given them money to pay these assess-
ment., so they might be saved from starv-
atiCn.
Mr.. Voorhees, addressed the senate,
oongratulating the country upon the won
derful change of heart on the subject
among republican senators since discuss
ion of last summer.
At 2 o'clock, without acting on Mr..
Beck's resolution, the senate resumed
consideration of the bankruptcy bill.
RIVER AND HARBoR IMPRoxMRNTs.
Hotlse-Mr. Page from the commerce
committee, reported resolution calling
on the secretary OF war for information
as to whether the money appropriated by
the last river and harbor bill was appro-
priatcd on works or objects not in the in