Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-17

JecU ana the speaker TOOK the point under
advisement. The house then adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, June 8.
Sendte-Senator Butler read a telegram
from the mayor and a large number of
citizens of Spartansburg, n. c., urging
the senators in congress from that state
to use their influence in defeating the
oleomargarine bill, which the signers
declare to be the worst kind of protection.
Let the people buy oleomargarine, they
say, as they would any other articles of
food. After the other routine business.
the senate proceeded to the consideration
of the bills on the calendar, under the five
minutes rule. Among the measures pass
ed were the following: A bill to realize
the incorporation of the national trades
union. A bill amending section 1898 of
the revised statutes, relating to the trans
pOrtation of obscene publications through
the mail. The bill extends the scope of the
old section. A bill referring to the court
of claims for exemption, and reported to
congress certain claims for property
seized by Gen. johnson in the Utah ex-
petition of 1857. Sen. Teller declared it
to be burning shame for a government
like that of the United States to keen
pushing honest claims off for a quarter of
a century. Sen. Hoar-"And then reject
them as stale" Sen. Edmunds had not so
poor an opinion of the government If
wrong was done the claimant had his
rights under the law. When the debate
was closed the bill was passed A con-
siderable number of bills for private re-
lief were passed, and the senate ad-
journel.
ROuSe-Ihe house went into committee
of the whole on the legislative, executive
and judicial appropriation bill. long
discussion followed in which many of the
members took part, after which the gen
eral debate was closed, and the reading of
the bill was commenced. Mr.. Morrison,
of Illinois, raised a point of order against
the words, I'm full compensation where
they occur in the general appropriation
section of the bill. Pending the decision
of the point of order, the committee rose
and the house adjouroed.
THURSDAY, June 10.
Senate-The chair laid before the
senate a message from the president,
with letter from the secretary of state,
in relation to the distribution of the fund
for relief of the owners, officers and crew of
the boat General Armstrong. Referred.
Among the memorials presented,was one
mems clubs of the United States, PRAYING
for the passage of the bill establishing
post office savings banks Referred. The
agricultural appropriation bill was then
taken up. Sen. Miller, in the course of some
remarks on the bill, referred to the ravages
of the rice birds, which, he said caused
loss equal to seven dollars per acre of all
the rice crop Of the United States. The
ravages Of the English sparrow, he added
were very much worse than those of the
rice birds, and amounted to many millions
of dollars per year. The sparrOws were
rapidly on the increase, and it was believ-
ed by the archaeological association of
the United States that steps should be
taken to exterminate these sparrOws.
On motion of Sen. Allison the bill was
passed appropriating $150,000 as an ad-
ditlonal sum to complete the Des Moines,
Iowa, public building. After the execu-
tive session the senate adjourned.
HOuse-The house this morning went
into committee of the whole on the
legislative appropriation bill. The
pending question was on the point
Of order made by Mr.. Morrison, of
Illinois, against the words sin full COM
pensation," where they occur in the gen
eral appropriation clause of the bill.
Mr.. G. B. Taylor, of Ohio, offered an
amendment providing that none of the
money should be paid until the senate had
confirmed the appointment of Mathews
for register of deeds of the District of
Columbia. He wished, he said, to bring
out the latent powers of the house to
supervise all branches of the government
as it proposed to supervise the conduct of
The amendment having been ruled out on
the point of order, Sen. Taylor
thanked the chair for his decision.
Having finished the consideration of
nine of the 1O6 pages of the bill, the COM
mittee rose and the house adjourned.
FRIDAY, June IL.
sSenute-On motion of Dolph the senate
then took up the Northern Pacific rail
ed the senate on the bill, commenting
generally on the enormous quantity of
land hundred and seventy-nine mil
lion of acres, given by congress to various
railroad corporations, from 1860 to 1875.
Sen. George said it was larger area of
land than that constituting the republic
of France, or the empire of Germany.
The present value of the railroad land
grants at the average price already real
lied by the companies was $773, 796,893.
After further debate the bill went over till
tomorrow, Sen. Spooner took the floor, and
offering a resolution of coincidence on the
death of Hon. Joseph Rankin, late repre-
sentative in congress from Wisconsin,
delivered an eloquent and touching tribute
to the memory of the deceased. The SEN
ate then adjourned till tomorrow.
House-On motion of Mr.. O'Neill
MO- the senate bill, similar to the
one introduced in the house by Mr..
O'Neil to legalize the incorporation
of national trades unions was passed.
Mr.. Cobb, of Indiana, from the COM
mittee of public lands, reported back the
Atlantic and Pacific land forfeiture bill
with small amendments, and moved con-
currence in the amendments. No action
was taken, and the motion was laid over
till Monday. The house then went into
committee of the whole on the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial appropriation
bill. 1t was finally agreed to strike out the
clause appropriating $4,000 for the salary
of vice president, and to appropriate
$4,000 to pay such senator as might be
selected to preside over the senate.
When the house met this evening it i'm