River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-07-06
CONGRESSIONAL
SAruHpAY. JuNE "a.

day as unfinished business.
Mr. Blount moved to reconsider the vote by
which the houee refused TO order the prime me-
ridian bin to third reading. The motion was
entered and will be called up Monday or Tuesday.
Adjourned
MONDAY, JUNE 81.
!Senate-The political assessment resolution
came up and Pendleton took the hoer. He call
ed attention 10 the republican congressional COM
mittee circular, signed Jay A. Hubbell acting
treasurer, a copy Of which he exhibited. He
then read and commented in detail on each OF its
statements to show its undeniable purpose was to
levy contributions upon government employees un-
der the guise of a demand for voluntary contri-
buttons. This circular had been sent to govern
ment employees all over the country. IL had gone
to the Boston custom house, and the demand
had been made there for an aggregate of Sl5, 900.
It had been sent to the arm DRY at Springfield, and
an assessment of SIS had been made upon each
armorer in that institution. 1t had been sent to
the postoffee custom house, collectors Office, and
other government institutions at New York; and
the branch Of the public service there located,
which had canned exceptional credit by reason of
Its freedom from the debasing arts Of political as
SCISSORS, was again TO be plunged into the mire
from which il had so laboriousy emerged. 1t
had been sent to employees In Chicago and
to every postmaster in the country. At
least he had returns from almost every state east
of Nevada. It had been sent to men engaged on
the government work on the Ohio river at Mari
eta and demand had been made for part OF the
daily wages OF men there employed in cutting
stone for the dam. Department clerks have been
assessed in various amounts OF from SIS to $50.
The circular had been sent to men engaged in day
labor on the capitol and through the capitol
grounds and FIVE and xix dollars had been as
sessed upon them. The government printing
office had not escaped the circular being sent 10
every name on every government pay roll,
| whether the amount paid was great small.
Ladies in the department, earning mere pttance,
and letter pages of the house and perhaps those
| of the senate had been directed to stand and
| deliver the amounts eacted from them. lie
saw this brave committee going to one of the lit
| tie pages and conjuring him. by his appreciation
of the emergencies of the country, and the excel
lenee of republican principles, and by his dread
| of the restoration of the democratic party to
power to make a contribution OF 5000 In order
10 avert ''such terrible calamity" If this was
| not a sad picture of partisan tyranny and degen-
eraey, it would be in many respects broad farce.
1t would even be better for the country if the
publican party would thrust its hand into the
treasury and abstract the public money and charge
it up to SOAP" The assistant post master general,
| with a great deal of gasc0nade had said he de-
fed and spat upon the law, as he could find no
authority for prohibiting voluntary contributions
| for lawful objects. The man who, in the face of
the republican committees circular, could talk
about voluntary contributions, was either entirely
ignorant of official language or of the substance
| Of things, and in either case discussion with him
| would be useless. The treasurer of the commit
| tee Representative Hubbsli, whose name was
appended to the circular, has denied having vio-
| lated the law prohibiting assessments, because
| he was not an executive officer employe of the
government, but member of congress. In this
| position he was relying upon decision made in
the last century, that senator is not liable to
| impeachment. the case was taken into court,
| the government would probably find if he had not
landed somebody in the penitentiary he had at
least brought them perilously near to the verge of
| conviction
| Allison argued that it was simply voluntary
affair and that no one would be removed if he did
| not contribute.
After long debate the subject was laid aside.
| The concurrent resolution to adjourn July 10TH
was also laid aside and Logan presented the CEN
| ference report on the army bill Adjourned.
| House.-After the passa &c of some District OF
| Columbia bills, the house went into committee of
the whole on the bill to reduce internal revenue
| taxes long political discussion followed.
| After noisy debate the committee rose, and
| the previous question was ordered the bill and
amendments, thus insuring their coming up to-
| morrow as unfinished business. The matter then
went over. Adjourned
| TUESDAY, JUNE q.
| .Senate-The resolution passed for printing adj
dtional copies of Blaine's eulogy on Garfield, for
| the use of Blaine and Mrs. Garfield. The pension
committee reported in favor of pensions to the
| widows of Maj. Gen. Custer and French.
| House-Messrs. Morse and Ranney presented,
and the house accepted portrait of the Hon.
| Robt. C.. Winthrop.
Mr. Ranney from the committee on elections,
reported resolution in the contested election case
of Stobach vs.. Herbert, of the second district of
/ Alabama granting leave to contestant to with
draw his contest without prejudice; adopted.
| The house passed, without division, the bill to
regulate immigration as agreed upon by the com
mittee on commerce, and then proceeded to the
| consideration of the bill to reduce internal rev.
| enue taxation.
The previous question having been ordered, an
hours debate, allowed under this rules, was open
| ed by Hewitt, of New York.
| A long debate of personal nature followed.
The bill was then passed-yeas 127, nays 80, al
| most strict party vote.
| Grape (Mass.) moved that the house proceed to
| the consideration of the business the speaker S
table. his object being to reach the bank charter
| bill with the senate amendments. There was
| some opposition manifested on the democratic
side, but the IN oton finally prevailed. The bank
| charter bills having been reached, most of the
| senate amendments were cOncurred IN, including
that authorizing the secretary OF the treasury to
| exchange three per cent bonds for three and one
| half per cents. The most important amendment
not cOneurred in that relative to gold certih-
! Gates.
| WEDNESDAY,, JUNE %.
| Sendte-At the conclusion Of the morning rou-
tine business the senate resumed consideration of
| the legislative executive and judicial appropria-
| ton bill.
| The senate committee amendment making pro-
vision for three inspectors surveyor generals and
| district land offices at two thousand dollars each,
| was amended to require that such persons shall be
| skilled in surveying and have knowledge OF the
| land laws of the United States. The secretary
| of the interior was empowered to make the ap-
| pointments. The remaining committee amend
ments, up to page "a of the bill, were agreed to,
and the bill was temporarily laid aside.
The house bill for the extension of bank char
ters was received. The senate refused to concur
| in the action of the house and referred the
| differences between the two houses to Allison
| Morrill, ard Beck.
Sens Morrill,, Forest and Morgan were con-
stituted a conference on the Japanese indemnity
| bill. The house revenue bill was received and
referred. The senate, having disposed of all bat
Is pages of the legislative appropriation bill,
adjourned.
House-A long debate occurred on the naval
| BILL Robson defending his action in the past.
After further remarks by other members, the
committee rose. The senate bill, approprIatlng
$50 900 to aid in erecting column commemora-
| tive OF the battle of Monmouth, passed. The
| senate bill authorizing San Francisco q st.
| Louis railroad company to construct bridge
| across the Arkansas river at Van Buren,, Ark,
passed. The committee of the whole then re-
sumed session on the naval appropriation bill.
| Adjourned.
THURSDAY, JUNE 30.
Seaate-The senate resumed consideration of
the legislative executive and judicial appropria-
| ton bill.
Without dsposing of the bill, the senate ad-
| journed
| House Hiscock. chairman of the committee
on appropriations, reported joint resolution
| continuing and making available for forty-hye
days after the 30th Of June, 1882, all appropria-
| tions for necessary expenses of the government
on tine basis of appropriations for the current
| year. Passed
Mr.. Waite, from the committee on elections,
reported resolution in the contested case of
! Smalls vs.. Tillman South Carolina), declaring
the contestant entitled to the seat This, with
the minority resolution, laid over for future
| action.
The house went into committe of the whole on
| the naval appropriation bill.
| Mr.. Robson made long argument in favor of
the bill and in defense Of this action relative to
| the navy. The bill was then read by section for
| amendment. After a considerable part of
the bill had been disposed of the house ad-
journed.
Pennsylvania Democrats.
The democratic state convention of
L n 4