Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-02-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
TUESDAY. Jan. 81.


Hou8e-The case of Lanier, the republican con-
testant from the Fifth Louisiana district, was
discussed by the committee this morning, and
King democrat. seated. The house committee
after vigorous debate, has decided to report
fayorably on the tariff commission bill. Aldrich's
bill, to wipe from the dockets OF the United States
courts the civil suits for damages against the dis
tillers in the whisky ring, is not likely to pass.
The bill was introduced by request. The sub
committee of the house committee on ways and
means reported to the full committee the bill
known as the Kasson bill, providing for the com
mission of nine civilians, to be known as the tariff
commission and recommended that it be favOrably
reported to the house by the full committee as
soon as practicable.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. l.
Serae-Petitions were presented for the sup
preston of polygamy.
The bill was reported favorably appropri-
ating S15,O 900 to enable the National Board of
Health to supply pure vaccine virus at cost
price.
On motion of Mr.. Window a resolution was
adopted requesting the President to communicate
the correspondence between the Executive De-
partment and diplomatic agents of the United
States, relating to the proposed. congress 6g OF
| American nations, or any of them, in 1882.
| Rouse-Mr. Mckinley offered resolution set
| ting apart Monday, Feb 81, for memorial
vices upon the late President Garfield Adopted.
| Mr.. Hill introduced bill reducing the postage
on letters and sealed packages to two cents for
half ounce or under; four cents for over halt
an ounce and under two ounces for each ad&i-
| tional ounce or fraction thereof, two cents.
The house then went into committee of the
whole. Mr.. Calkins called for the postOffice ap-
preparation bill. Mr.. Caswell explained the pro-
! visions of the bill.
| Tie amount appropriated is only S43 500 800,
S787, SIS of which would come out of the general
| fund 1t is estimated that the revenue of the
postoffcce department amounted to S42, 74l 1872.
The committee on appropriations had cut down
the estimates of the department In several partic
ulars the principal reduction being the refusal to
appropriate more than $50 900 for the purpose of
| extending free letter carriers
THURSDAY, FEB. 2.
| Serdte-The chairman of the committee on
postofices, reported adversely the senate joint
resolution granting the ranking privilege to sem
ators and representatives for official business; in
| definitely postponed.
Sen. Ferry, from the same committee, reported
the resolution of Oct. -, introduced by Mr.. Voor-
hees for regulations in the Cincinnati and Boston
postotfces prohibiting appointments therein of
persons over 80 years of age and thereby exclud-
| ing union soldiers
After debate of political character motion
was adopted discharging the committee from
further consideration of the subject
! House-The house went into committee of the
whole on the postofice appropriation bill.
| Mr.. White of Kentucky, offered an amendment,
|
of clerks in the postofices from 81 232 900 to S.
600, 900, $780, 900 of which is for postofices of
class 4, designated as distributing offices. After
an unintereSting debate the amendment was re-
jected. Several other amendments to the same
effect were rejected or ruled out on points Of
order.
! Mr.. Bingham, of Pennsylvania, offered an
amendment increasing by $780, 900 the appropri-
alton for the expense of the free delivery system.
He said this would give fair increase of salary
to the existing letter carriers, many of whom re-
| ceived but $500 year and were a hard working
| class of men. Pages on the floor of the house,
men who cleaned spittoons and swept the corri-
| doris of the capitol, were paid more than the 400
| letter carriers, bonded to the government and
faithfully carrying thousand letters per day.
Mr.. Lord, of Michigan, advocated such an in
crease in the appropriation as would permit the
compensation of letter carriers to be raised.
| Propositions were made to fix the amount to be
| appropriated for the extension of the free deliv-
cry system at $50, 600 and $3.50, 900, but pending
the vote the committee rose and the house ad-
journed.
FRIDAY, Feb. 3.
| Senate-Sen. Teller, from the committee on
PENSIONS reported an original bill as a substitute
for the one the subject of granting Lucertia r.
Garfield. Sarah Childress Polk and Julia Gardner
Tyler, widows of ex-presidents, life pensions of
| $4,000 per year from Sept. 10Th, 1881; that of
Mrs. Tyler to be in lieu of the pension heretofore
granted her. Placed on calendar
| The bill for distribution by the national board
of health of pure vaccine virus to the people was
passed.
The senate resumed consideration of the 3 per
cent. bond bill, and VOORHEES, completed his re-
marks thereon.
After a long discussion the bill was put upon
its final passage, and was passed by a vote of SO
| to IS.
| Rouse-1he house went into committee of the
whole on the private calendar. The first bill was
one reported by Kelly, of Pennsylvania, from the
committee on WAYS and means, releasing the Phila-
J delphla d Reading railroad company, from the
tax assessed on wages certificates heretofore issued
| by the company. The bill was advocated and de-
| Tended by Hewitt, of New York Dunnell of Min
nesota, and Kelly, Ward and Boyne, of Pennsyl-
vania.
Several members took part in the debate on this
| journed till tomorrow.
Scnate-Not in session.
House-A resolution was adopted to pay ex-
| Sergeant-at-Arms Thompson IS, 900 for expenses
| incurred In connection with the obsequieS of
President Garfield. Mr.. Rice, from the commit
tee on foreign affairs reported joint resolution
requesting the president to give notice to Great
Britain OF the termination of certain provisions of
the treaty OF Washington relative to the fisheries.
BY unanimous consent the house proceeded to the
consideration of the bill reported from the post
office committee, authorizing the postmaster gen.
eral to adjust the claims of postmasters for the
losses OF stamps money order funds, ETC., by
burglary, fire. or other unavoidable casualty.
After much noise and confusion the bill, not be-
ing printed, was postponed until Wednesday.
| MONDAY, FEB. 6.
| Se,,ate.-Bills we're introduced: For the cancel
ation of illegal entries and sales of public lands
and for refunding the purchase money; defining
the powers and jurisdiction of the Mississippi
river commission; authorizing the appropriation
| of land and material for the Improvement of the
Mississippi and its navigable tributaries; pre-
scribing the manner of assessing damages for
property so appropriated, and providing penalties
| for acts IN hindrance of the proposed improve
ments.
After an executive session the senate adjourned.
| House-The business of the house this morning
was mainly the introduction of bills and resolu-
! tons, until Mr.. Burrows of Michigan, moved to
suspend the rules and pass the bill defining the
qualifications of territorial delegates in the house
of representatives. It provides that person
guilty of bigamy or polygamy shall be eligible
to seat in congress as delegate from any terri
| tory. The house was in very lnattentive mood
and when the speaker put the question, there
were few responses. He however, declared the
motion carried, and the bill past. Bursts of
laughter only then apprised many members of the
measure which was adopted.
! A motion was made to suspend the rules and
pass bill for the appointment of a commission
on the subject of alcoholic liquor traffic.
Bragg, Wis, demanded a second.
Motion was seconded and vote Of Y to so
was then taken upon the adoption of the motion
| last made. The ayes and noes were then called
tor and resulted in vote of lis ayes, IS noes
not being the necessary two-thirds vote in the
affirmative. This was strictly party vote with
| the exceptions of Belizhoover, Calyerson. Jones,
| (Ark.) Ladd Simonton and Vance, who voted
with the republicans in the affirmative and Davis
/ of Illinois, and Cary and Guenther of Wisconsin,