Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-06-07
FoRTY-sEvENTH CONGRESS.
Sen ate

at mln7rnum price of $500. 600. =. Garland Of
fered resolution instructing the committee
on military affairs to inquire into the propriety
and necessity OF making further provisions for
the suffering people within the district of the
Mississippi River overflow. Accepted Lap
ham, from the committee or privileges and .
elections, upon petition referred to them pre-
sented a long report with resolution direct
ing the payment of $4,000 to Maria G.. Under
wood administrative of John c. Underwood.
for his time and expenses in prosecuting his
claim to q seat senator from Virginia.
Placed on the calendar. Harrison and Pugh
were appointed as visitors to West Point. .
The japanese indemnity fund bill came up as
regular order, and after considera BILE discussion
over sundry amendments the bill was laid aside
without action. Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, May 31.-A bill was reported by
Sewell, from the committee on military af-
fairs, with amendments, for the relief of Fitz-
John Porter. Logan presented the views of
the minority of the committee. Ordered print
ed. :. Logan, from the committee on appro-
prlatlons, introduced, with amendments, the
house army appropriation bill. Ordered printed.
Logan introduced bill to allow the widow
of the late minister to Peru (Hurlbut) an
amount equal to his salary for one year. Re-
ferred. The Japanese indemnity bill was
taken up. Morrill, moved an amendment which
he SAID would clear the original. proposition
from the entanglements by which it has been
surrounded in provisions for interest on money
enormously received from Japan for the
claims of the Wyoming and others. His amend
provided for the clear payment of the amount
received as indemnity, 1885, coo, and contem-
plated the cancellation and destruction of bonds
held by the state department as an independent
indemnity fund .Adj ourned.
THURSDAY. June 1.-The bill passed author
lzlng the construction of railroad bridge
across the Sault Ste. Marie River, between Lake
Superior and Lake Huron, with the purpose of
connecting with the Canadian railroads The
senate bill to reimburse the Indian Greek Or
phan fund was taken up and passed after being
slightly amended. Logan called up the army
appropriation BILL and the committee amend
ments as far the compulsory retirement
clause were read and agreed to. This clause
makes the retirement Of an officer who has
served forty years discretionary with himself
but obligatory as to one who is 81 years of age.
debate ensued between Bayard and Logan.
the latter advocating the retirement clause and
Bayard speaking against it. Butler here gave
notice OF an amendment excepting from the
compulsory retirement provisions Generals
Sherman, Sheridan, Hancock and Howard
Further discussion ensued, participated in by
Messrs. Butler, Morgan and Sherman, to the
effect that the law provides that the offices of
general and heutenant-generals shall cease upon
vacancy occurring in either; and, further, that
retired officers are assignable to duty only ON
foreign missions, as professors of colleges.
or in the Office of governor of soldiers
homes. :. Without action the senate after an
executive session adjourned.
FRIDAY, June 2.-Owing TO the unavoidable
absence of Chairman Davis, the senate ad-
journed till Monday.
House
MONDAY, May 29.-As soon as the reading of
the journal ended, Reed called up for consider
alton the proposed amendment to the rules
prohibiting dilatory motions on the contested
election case. question of consideration was
instantly raised by Randall, and that was fol-
lowed by motion of Kenna to adjourn, and by
one Of Blackburn that when the house adjourn
it be to Wednesday, stating as the reason that
Tuesday was Decoration Day. On the latter
motion the yeas and NAYS were ordered, and
tactics of obstruction were thus put in oper-
alton. The vote on Blackburn's motion was:
Yeas 2, nays 145, and the speaker declared the
motion lost. Thereupon Randall moved that
when the house adjourn it be to Thursday next.
On that Reed made point of order that on the
proposition to amend the rules dilato1y motions
cannot be entertained. prolonged and inter
esting discussion was then entered into by
leading representatives on both sides. at the
close of which the speaker made decision sus-
tanning Reeds point OF order that dilatory
motions cannot be made to prevent change
of rules. Randall appealed from the decision
of the chair, and Reed moved to lay the
appeal on the table. The appeal was laid on
the table-yeas $50; nays none. After the
amendment of the vote. Cox of New York pre-
scented protest signed by over one hundred
| democratic members, against the ruling of the
| speaker. The protest was not received to go
upon the journal, but was read as part of
| Cox's remarks, so as to be printed in the con-
gressional record. The report of the commit
| tee on rules was soon afterward adOpted-yeas
| $50; nays g.. At Gas the house determined to
proceed to the consideration Of the contested
election case. Miller, of Pennsylvania, took
the floor to open the debate, and the house adj
| journed.
TUESDAY, May 30.-After an exciting debate
| the journal of yesterday approved yeas
! 146, nays 3. Debate on the contested election
case proceeded with many Interruptions.
| WEDNESDAY, May 31.-The house resumed
the consideration of the Mackey-Dibble contest
| ed election case, and Anterior, member of
! the committee on elections, presented the views
of the minority. Ranney spoke for the minor
| ity, Moulton followed for Dibble and Jones for
! Mackey. Randall moved to recommit the re-
| port to the committee on elections with instruc-
| tons that the committee inquire into the
authenticity and integrity of all dispositions and
returns and evidences of whatever character
produced in the case of Mackey vs.. O'Connor.
Lost-yeas 81, nays 1877. The previous question
was then Ordered-yeas Isl, nays l. After
brief speech by Evans, of North Carolina IN OPP
position to the majority report, the contestee.
Dibble, was accorded the floor to close the de-
bate in his own behalf. At the conclusion of
Dibble's remarks, Calkins 0nd.) closed the dis
cussion After excited interruptions by Spring
| er and Mills, the resolution seating Mackey was
| then adopted-yeas 15G, nays sand Mackey
| appeared at the bar of the house and was sworn
/ in. McLane (NId.) then introduced resolutions
concerning certain rulings of the speaker, but
amid much uproar they were tabled-yeas IA.
nays SO. The Florida contested election case
was then taken up and the house adjourned.
THURSDAY, June 1.-The house proceeded to
the consideration of the contested election case
of Bisbee against Finley, from the Second Con-
gressional District of Florida. Debate ensued
which was closed by Bisbee, the contestant,
after which a resolution declaring hun entitled
to seat was adopted-yeas 141, nays 8.
Bisbee then appeared before the bar of the
house and qualified as member. HazeIton.
of Wisconsin, called up the contested election
case of Lowe VS.. Wheeler, of the Eighth Dis
trict of Alabama. Against this Kenna, of West
Virginia, raised the question of consideration.
After warm debate the house-148 to do
cided to take up the case. Debate continued
until adjournment.
FRIDAY, June 2.-Immediately after the
reading of the journal the house resumed con-
siderat1on of the Alabama contested election
r nah 10 pDol