Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-04-17
CONGRESSIONAL
MONDAY, APRIL :.
wound.

dIhellOIlSnU Ine
education bill fixing the total sum APP.
propriatcd at $77,000,000, distributed
over period of eight years. The edu-
catlonaI bill passed the senate by a vote
of 80 to II. The bill as passed appropri-
ates S77,000,000 to be distributed among
the states on the basis of the census of
1880, in proportion to their illiteracy.
The payment extends over a series of s
years.
HoNSe-The long anticipated struggle
over the wool question has at length be-
gun, Converse securing the floor with a
motion to suspend the rules and pass the
bill restoring the duty on wool. After a
long debate Converse's motion was lost.
Yeas, 118; NAYS, 1896 The debate is else
where gwen.
TUESDAY, APRIL 8.
Sendt = The following bills passed:
To authorize the construction of a
bridge over the Rio Grande. between
Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras,
Mexico, and a bridge over the same
river between Laredo, Texas ard Neuvo
Laredo, Mexico. The chair laid before
the senate bill to provide for a uniform
system of bankruptcy throughout the
United States. Sen. Hale stated that
Hoar, who introduced the bill, did
not wish to press it at this
time, when he (Hale) would
therefore move to take up instead the
naval appropriation bill. A long debate
then followed on the naval appropria-
ton bill, but no vote was reached.
House = The first bill taken up was
one to authorize the appointment of a
commission by the president to 1un and
mark boundary lines between a portion
Of the Indian territory and the state of
Texas in connection with a similar COM
mission to be appointed by the state of
Texas. After a debate the committee
rose and the bill passed, yeas 1873, nays
81.
The next bill passed was one declar-
ing that the supreme court in every
territory shall consist of chief JUS
tice and three associate Justices and
providing that every territory shall
be divided into four judicial districts
and district court shall be held in
each by one of the justices Of the su-
Preme court. A bill requiring gov
errors of territories to be a resident OF
territory to which he is appointed at
east two years preceding his appoint
ment, was opposed by Mr.. Kasson on
he ground that it changed the plan
by which the United States held control
Of the territories. Mr. Maginnis strong
" advocated the passage Of the bill.
There was a growing indispOsitiOn to
admit new states on account of the
jealousy Of the old states. and this meas
ure was only intended TO mitigate one
of the ends of most Infamous system Of
colonial government the world ever
saw, Mr. Eaton raised the constitution
al objection that the bill would limit the
right Of presidential appointment.
Upon this question a long deb8 tie follow
ed and the house adjourned without &C
ton.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9.
SenGte-The Senate resumed the con-
sideraUion Of the naval appropriation
bill, and Mr.. Vest continued his remarks
He was followed by Blessrs. Mcpherson,
Hale. Beck and Edmurds
House-Mr. Hopkins, of Pennsylvania,
offered the following preamble and res
OlutiOns, which were referred to the
committee on commerce:
WHEREAS 1t is charged that the present system
of transporting live stock by railroad comp tnies
engaged in Interstate commerce is barbarous
and destructive; that 10 per cent. of the animals
flesh Of the remainder is unfit for human food,
and
WHEREAS, 1t is charged that the flesh of ami
mails so treated, including that of dead and dying
is sold the people and cannot when dressed be
distinguished from sound meats, and is a source
of many and various diseases; and
WHEREAS, 1t appears by the report of the com
missioner of agriculture to this house, January
21st, 1875 that the loss by Shrinkage alone in the
weight of animals caused by this system of trans
portation amounted to the immense sum of eight
nj on hP n M
must now be nearly or quite sixteen millions per
annum; and
WHEREAS, It has been charged that said rail
roa Is, by this system of favoritism gives to a
small number of persons known as the association
of eveners, a bonus or gift Of almost fifteen
dollars on every car load of beef cattle shipped
from the west to the east and said sum not being
in part the actual legitimate cost OF Transports
ton, but on the contrary collected by the trans
porters and paid over to the so-called owners as
mere gratuity, and,
WHEREAS, The losses and charges above con-
stitute in the aggregate the enormous tax on a
necessary article of food which must be borne by
the producer and consumer alike and diminishing
the just profits of the meat growers in the west
and placing meat food in many instances be-
yond the reach of poor men in the east, and,
WHEREAS. 1t is charged that the act of congress
requiring railroad companies to unload stock in
transit every q hours is habituay violated, there
fore, be it
Resolved, That the committee on commerce be
instructed to inquire whether these evils do in
fact exist, and to what extent they may be RENE
died by law, with power to send for persons and
papers, and with directions to report at any time
by bill or otherwise.
The house then took up the bill for a
public building at Keokuk Iowa and
after six tedious votes by tellers, the hill
was laid aside, with favorable recon-
mendation.
The next bill was one appropriating
100000 for the erection Of a public
building at at Waco. Texas. This was
bitterly opposed by Mr.. Warner, on the
grounds that the population and bust
ness of that city did not justify the large
appropriation called for; and especially
expressed his disapprobation of linking
these bills together ike sausages. There
might be some good meat, but there was
plenty of bad.
An amendment reducing the appro-
priation was lost and then the bill was
acted upon favorably. The committee
then rose and reported the Keokuk and
Waco bills to the house. Without ac-
ton the house took recess until to-
morrow a II o'clock.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10.
tn IL