Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-12-11
CONGRESSIONAL.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1.

desks of the senators were decorated
with floral tributes sent by admirers.
The most favored being Senator Cor
man, who was a recipient of two
enormous ''roosters' and an arm chair,
the latter bearing the words, reserved
for A. P. g., 1884" Those of senators
ingalls,, Maxly, Harris, Sabin, Voor-
hees, CaEnden, Conger and Lapham
were variously decorated with horse
shoes, streamers and baskets. The gal
leries were filed with strangers
Promptly at noon the PIesi-
dent of the senate called the
body to order after which prayer was
offered. On motion of Sen. Logan, the
secretary was instructed to inform the
senate that the house was ready TO pro-
cede to business. Senators sherman
and Garland were appointed commit-
tee to inform the president that the sem
ate was ready to receive any communi-
cation he might be pleased to make.
| The secretary read the credentials of
| VIM. P. Sheffield, appointed to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Sen.
| Anthony. At 1876 the presidents mes
sage was received and the reading pro-
ceeded with. When the reading of the
message was concluded, Sen. Aldrich
IN a few feeling remarks made a for
NAL announcement of the death Of SEN
atOr Anthony, and the senate adjourn
! ed.
| House. The galleries of the house
were well filled this morning with spec
tators, all anxious to view the proceed
iDgs attendant on the first day,)f the
session. Numerous floral designs or
namented the desks Of favorite members,
and among them handsome ship of
state, of which Cox, of New York, was
the recipient. An immense bed of
| chrysanthenums covered the desk oc-
cupied by Barbour, of Virginia, and
tasteful baskets of variegated flowers
adorned the speakers table. Members
indulged in the usual greetings, ex-
changing congratulations. Promptly
at noon the speakers gavcl called the
| house to order. After prayer the speak
er directed the clerk to call the roll.
The roll call disclosed tie presence of
222 members, and the clerk was direct
| ed to inform the senate that the house
was ready to proceed to business. The
speaker appointed Randall and Cox
| On. ", a committee in conjunction
with similar committee from the SEN
ate, and inform him that congress was
ready to receive any communication he
might be pleased to make.
At 40 the presidents message was
received aud immediately read TIE
message was referred to the committee
Of the whole on the state Of the Union,
and with accompanying documents or
dered printed.
A formal announcement was made of
the death of Representative Duncan
and Evans, and the house adjourned.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2.
Sendte.-ShefieId the new senator
from Rhode Island, was sworn in. The
chair laid before the senate the reports
of the secretary of the treasury and
comptroller of the currency. Sen. Vest
offered q resolution directing the inves-
tigatiOn into all leases of land in the
Indian territory for grazing or other
purposes by Indian tribes. A number
of acres embraced ia said leases, their
terms and the persons or corporations
becoming lessees; also the circumstances
under which leases were made and the
means used in obtaining them, and
whether authorized by law. Dawes
said these leases of Indian lands, while
wrong were no more outrageous than
the authorized enclosure by wire fences
of thousands of acres of public lands.
If remedial action was not taken in
time, the public domain would pass ir-
revOcably into possession of large land
owners, foreign and native. He hoped
the matter would not be allowed to end
IN talk or be confined to Indian lands
alone Congress had the power to
clotbe executive officers with quite am
pie authority in the premises and should
do SO. At the request Of Conger, mat
ter went over one day adjourned.
HomSe.-Mr. Wilson ia. presented the
credentials of Mr.. Smith, member-elect
from the seventh Iowa district, to fill
the vacancy occasionea by the resigna-
ton of Mr.. Kasson. Mr.. Smith took the
oath of office. Mr.. Follett as a question:
of privilege presented a resolution in
which he desired to impeach Lot Wright,
y. S. marshal of the southern district
of Ohio, for high crimes and misde-
neanors, for usurping authority and VIC
lating the law by appointing special
and general deputy marshals to serve at
the several voting precincts in Cincin-
natl during the Ohio election, encour-
aging fraudulent voting, and intimida-
ting legal voters. After a long discus
sion the house adopted FolIett's resolu-
tion for an investigation into the conduct
l
southern district of Ohio in the October
election. The house has proceeded to
a consideration of the interstate COM
merce bill.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3.
Senate.-The chair laid before the
senate the report of the commission ap-
pointed to select a site for the pedestal
of the Garfield statue. Referred. Mr..
Mcpherson introduced bill to suspend
the coinage of the silver dollar. 1t pro-
vides that on and after the passage of
the act the coinage of silver dollars shall
be suspended; that the secretary of the
treasury be directed not to reissue any
United States notes of denomination
| less than So, and to DESTROY all United
| States notes of a less denomination
than 50, and cease engraving or printing
all such notes. It authorizes the secre-
tary of the treasury, upon the depos it
of silver bullion in such sub-treasury as
he shall designate, to issue TO the depos1-
tor thereof silver certificates having
upon their face the weight and market
value of the metal SO deposited. calculat-