The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-12-18
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS-,


Hln'h congress was called TO order promptly
AT noon on the eth by General McCook the
secretary The walls of the Senate chamber
were draped in deep black, out of respect to
inc memory of the late Vice President After
PRAYER by the chaplain, Mr. Edmunds nom-
mattel senator Sherman for president
OF the Senate. Mr. VOORHEES, moved to sub
siltute the name of Mr.. Harris Mr.. Voorhees,
amendment was lost by strict party vote
whereupon Mr. Sherman was elected without
further division Mr. Sherman was escorted
to the chair by Mr.. Edmunds and Mr.. Voor
ICES, and the oath of office was administered
to him by Mr.. Edmunds Mr. sherman then
sad: senators; return you my grateful
thanks Tor the high honor you have conferred
uponme In common with all the people of the
United States l feel profound sorrow for the
sudden death of the Vice President who by
the Constitution is also declared to be presi-
dent of the Senate. Tho contingency has
now arrived when it becomes the imper
ot.ve duty of the Senate to elect a
president pro tempore. l feel that there
are many Senators on either side of the House
more apt in the discharge of the duties of
TINS position more experienced in the rules
ana orders of the Senate than myself Still
! accept with the sincere desire that may
be able to enforce the rules with kindness
and lmpartialty, so as TO ascertain if posi-
bic the sense of the majority of the Senate
and to give to the minority its full constitu-
tlona right and protection. With the sincere
desire OF reforming this duty | appeal to
each Individual Senator for his courtesy and
forbearance :. Committees were appointed
to notify the President AMI the House of
Representatives. of the organization Then
the ere ientials of Mcssrs. Logan, of Illinois,
and Blair, of New Hampshire, were pre-
scented, and they were sworn in by the pres-
dent pro TEN. 1t was ordere that the sec
rotary inform the President and the House
of Representatives that the Senate had
chosen John Sherman to be its president pro
tenn, the Office of Nice-President having be-
come vacant by the death of the late Vice
President IA reces; was taken to 2:4O r.
NJ when the Senate was informed that the
House had organized. Mr.. Voorhees, offered
resolutions of sorrow at the death of Vice.
President Hendricks and then the Senate,
out of respect to his memory, adjourned.
SECOND DAY. ter the reading of the Pres
ldents message the annual report of the
rotary of the treasury and memorial from
the legislature of New Hampshire, re-
questlng Congress to pass legislation
that may secure exclusively to the
American people the public lands of the
United states, were received. A large
number of bills We're then introduced, the
most important of which were the fol-
lowing: BY Mr.. Hoar, to provide for
the performance of the duties of the Office
of President in case of the removal, death,
resignation or inability both of the Presi.
dent and Vice President; also to establish a
uniform system of bankruptcy throughout
the United States. BY Mr.. Beck a bill to
remove all disabilities imposed by the four
teenth amendment of the United States; also,
to authorize the payment of customs duties
in legaltender notes By Mr.. Ingalls,, to
remove the limitation in the
payment of arrears of pensions.
by Mr.. voorhees,. to provide for the for
nation and admission into the Union of the
State of Idaho. BY MIR. Coke, to provide
for the allotment of lands in severalty to the
Indians on the various reservations and to
extend the protection of the laws of the
United States and Territories over the In
dians BY Mr.. Dolph, providing
for the admission of Washington Terri
tory into the Union as State. BY Mr.
\oorhees, to annex a portion of the Terri
tory of Idaho 60 Washington Territory. By
Mr.. Wilson lla.), to grant pensions to sol
diers and sailors of the Mexican war
and the soldiers and sailors who served in
the United States army and navy dur
ing the war of the rebellion. By Mr.. Plumb,
to prevent the acquisition of real property
by aliens BY Mr.. Hawley, to establish an
international copy right. BY Mr.. Mitchell
Penn, a Mexican pension bill; also for the
retirement of the trade dollar. The greater
number of these bills are identical with bills
of like title introduced in the last Congress
Mr. Cameron offered resolution declaring
1t lneNpedlent to pass upon any legislation in
this Congress looking to reduction of tariff
duties Referred to committee on finance.
THIRD DAYTIME Hale offered a resolution
rectlng that as it is allie 5ed one S. :. Brown
a citizen of Maine, has been instrumental in
procuring the removal OF certain postmasters
in said State and the appointment of other
persons to serve in their stead, and that said
Brown has asked for money from such appoint.
ees; that therefore the postmaster-g general
be directed to furnish to the Senate list of
the pOsto 3ices i'll Maine and the names of the
persons removed, and those appointed post
masters at the same, where the said :. s.
Brown has favorably recommended the same
M al hn 4
resolution offered by Mr.. Vest was agreed TO-
requesting the President to transmit to the
Senate the correspondence of the govern
ment with the governments of Italy and
Austria Hungary in relation to the appoint
ment of A NJ. Kelley as minister first
to Italy and then to Austria Hungary 80.
The following Joint resolutions We're intro
duced; BY Mr.. Blair proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution of the United States
extending the right of suffrage to women;
also, proposing an amendment to tho Consti-
tuition in relation to alcoholic liquors and
other poisonous beverages. Mr. Brown pre-
scented the petition of General Alexander II.
Lawton, OF Georgia, praying to be relieved
of political disabilities, ''if," said Mr. Brown,
there be any political disabilities in bis
case"
FOURTH DAY.-Mr. Elmunds introduced a
bill to provide for the establishment OF
postal telegraph. 1t is the same bill intro.
dured by Mr.. Edmunds last year, and was
again referred to the proper committee 80.
Mr.. Mcpherson presented joint resolution of
the Legislature OF New Jersey, recommending
congressional inquiry into the fitness of
portion of the Territory of Alaska for the
purpose of penal colony for long term or
life-t rn convicts. Referred to the commit
tee on Territories. Mir Dolph introduced
a bill to repeal tine law of last session
providing for the settlement of claims
of officers and enlisted men of the army for
loss of private property destroyed in the
military service of the United States, and
which is the law to which the President calls
attention in his message las indefinite in its
terms and rs to which ne says: "If 1t is to
remain on the statute book it needs amend
ment' Referred to the committee on mill
tary affairs. Various other bills We're also
introduced and referred
House Sessions.
Erpe- Nav pr,,,,,t 4. .,t ,,,,,, a.. ,i,rt.