Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-06-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
TUESDAY,. JUNE 13.

tion to be held there in 1888 on the centennial
anniversary of the decla ration of peace and pro-
Vldlng for the appointment of select committee
OF five senators and representatives to make ar
rangements for that celebration.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE IA.
SenQt-Senator Miller reported from the COM
merce committee the original bill to provide for
| the construction of the Illinois and Mississippi
canal to cheaper transportation. Placed on the
calendar.
long struggle ensued for precedence of regu-
| lar business but finally a motion by Mr.. Bayard
to take up the bonded spirits bill prevailed-yess
| 80, nays 81.
! at this point message received from the
president transmitting in response to the senate
resolution of the 5th from the secretary of state
copies of the full correspondence of the state de-
partment with Envoy Trescott and Assistant Sec
retary Walker Blaine. Ordered printed and re-
TERED to the foreign relations committee.
Rouse-The house went into committee of the
whole on the legislative executive and judicial
appropriation bill.
Mr. Mills offered n amen lment providing that
no part of the contingent fund app ropriated by
| this bill shall be expended in payment of clerks
employed by senators and members of congress
| Adopted.
The committee then rose and the bill, having
been reported to the house, was passed-yeas l25,
| nays As.
| MIR. Miller reported resolution recommending
/
the payment to George q. Cannon, of Utah, his
! salary and mileage up to April 49, 1882 the day
when his seat was declared vacant. Adopted
| Mr.. ONeill, from the committee on appropria-
tions, reported the invalid pensions appropria-
ton Dill. Referred to the committee of the
whole. The total amount appropriated is $780,
900 900.
| The house then went into committee upon the
river and harbor appropriation BILL bat remained
| therein but a few moments.
r. or xUba hot
disposed OF ne would call up the bill to reduce
Internal revenue taxation. Adjourned.
THURSDAY, JUNE Is.
Sendte-Ihe joint resolution to re- appropriate
$685. 900 to pay mail contractors for service in
the southern states prior to these states going
into rebellion, again occupied the .ime reserved
Tor the calendar. Mr.. Maxey who championed
the measure, spoke at length. He argued that
the structures of Mr.. Conger were unwarranted as
the resolution prohibited the payment by the
United States of any contractor who had been
paid by state or by the confederate states or
his payment beyond the date at which mail car
rying was stopped.
House-The house went into committee on the
river and harber appropriation bill and Mr.
Page explained its provisions at length. The de-
pate was long and the house arose before coming
to conclusion.
FRIDAY, June Is.
Senate-Hoar introduced bill to provide for
the performance of the Office of president in case
OF removal, resignation, inability or death, both
OF the president and vice president. 1t vests the
succession to the PRESIDENCY in the members of
the cabinet in the order in which they
we're named in the Washington cabinet,
ng with the secretary of the interior, and ex-
Guides cabinet officers not previously confirmed by
the senate.
f7ouse-Ihe senate amendment to the house bill
authorizing the Sioux City Il Pacific railroad
company to construct bridge across the Missouri
river was agreed to-
The house went into committee on the river and
harbor appropriation bill.
The house, in committee of the whole, got
into wrangle while considering that portion of
the river and barbor bill which allows $500 900
Tor reservoirs at the headwaters of the Mississippi
in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The item contains
clause prescribing the manner of taking prop
erty by condemnation proceedings for use in erect
ing reservoirs. Mr.. Holman made a point of or
der that the clause was not germane; that it was
new legislation, and as such is forbidden by the
rules from being incorporated in the main appro-
| priation bill. The speaker decided that the
| clause was germane, and overruled the point of
order. Mr.. Singleton then moved, as another
way to get rid of it. to strike out the clause. He
| claimed it was comforting dangerous power.
Mr.. humphrey explained that the state of Wis
consin had by an act of the legislature ceded to
| the general government the right to acquire
lands for reservoirs. Besides, the general gov
eminent possesses the right of eminent domain
! over all the states and is exercising that right
frequently in the erection of federal buildings in
! cities.
Mr.. Springer added to the troubles of the reser-
voir men by moving to strike out the entire item,
| including the appropriation. He said this
scheme to erect reservoirs in Minnesota 800
miles above st. Paul, the head of navigation,
proposed to erect several in big ponds in Wis
| consln and Minnesota. When in times of drouth
| more water is needed, the reservoir man lets out
! a few thousand gallons, until notified by tele-
graph that there is enough, and then he shuts
| it off.
| The committee arose and reported before q vote
| had been taken.
SATURDAY. June II
| The senate was not in session.
House.-The house went into committee of the
whole and resumed consideration of the river
and harbor bill. (This bill approprates $17 ,000,-
600 for the Improvement of the various rivers of
the country.)
| The pending amendment was that offered by
Mr.. Springer, to strike out the clause appro-
priating $500, 900 for the construction of reser-
voir at the headwaters of the Mississippi river.
| An hours debate ensued.
| Mr.. Sparks offered an amendment, which was
| adopted providing the $500 600 shall be used
! solely for the improvement Of the navigation of
| the Mississippi river and It's tributaries and no
part with view to the improvement Of private
| property.
| Mr.. Springer's motion to strike out the clause
was lost-44 to 105.
An amendment was adopted approprist;ng
| $4,000 for the improvement of the Monengahela
river, West Virginia.
| The paragraph making appropriation for the
improvement ef the Mississippi river having
been reached, Mr.. Browne, of Indiana moved TO
strike out the clause providing the money shall
be expended by the secretary of war in accord
1 IL . Il II
Commission, and insert proviso leaving it in
the discretion of that officer to expend the money
in such way and upon such plsrs as will best
improve the navigation of the Mississippi river.
After debate Mr.. Brownies amendment was re-
iected-2o to I06.
Mr.. Page offered amendn ent directing the
secretary of war to carry on the works conten-
plated in the bill by contract when not detri-
mental to the interests of the government.
Adopted.
Mr.. Holman offered, as a substitute for the
whole bill, an amendment appropriating IS 000,-
| 600 for the improvement of the rivers and har-
bors of general and national interest. Rejected.
Mr.. Sparks offered an amendment providing
that none of the money herein appropriated shall
be expended for the Improvement of any stream
not adapted to the purpose of commerce and nav
| igati0n. Lost.
The committee then rose and reported the bill
| to the house.
| Mr.. Hewitt moved to recommit the bill with
| instructions to the committee on commerce to
report bill appropriating (besides the appropri-
alton for the Mississippi $4,000 900 for the i'm
provement of the navigable rivers and harbo rs of
| the United States. Rejected.
! The bill then passed-yeas, 119; nays, Al.
MONDAY, JUNE 19.
Senate-Pendleton presented a protest OF the
board of trade of Cincinnati, against the house
| bill to amend the patent laws.
Sherman, from the committee on library, re-
ported the proposed amendment TO the sundry
civil bill appropriating $50 600 for the nnrchasa