Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-12-31
ALEXANDRIA:
VEDN.ESDAY, DECEMBER 81.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT WASH
INGTON.
Tnesdnu. December so. 1917.

Some days ut least will elapse, before
large subjects, that demand elaborate dis
cussion, will be brought before Congress.
The attendance is comparatively thin,
and for that reason, the movers of great
and weighty measures do not wish to urge
them forward. Among the most emPhati-
calIy important Of those, the bill for an
uniform Law Of Bankruptcy stands the
very forenost--siuce there is none the
want Of which has done more grievOus
mischief-none, the accomplishment OF
which would do so much good 10 such a
number of our fellow citizens. or wipe
or from our various state laws so shame
full a stain. 1t was among the orders OF
the day called up on yesterday; but was
postponed in order to have it sanctioned
BY fuller attendance. Much business
Of the smaller kiRd-petitions, resolu-
tons, reports and bills on private claims,
however, were despatched, and will. by
so much at least, make a more clear
ground for the unembarrassed march Of
the greater ones. Some Of the former
which passed yesterday, even may be
considered as harbingers Of some Of the
latter, of which l shall, perhaps in a few
weeks, have to speak. 10 give you one
example.-Mr. Pitkin, who, you know,
in the statistical part Of national know
ledge, stands higher than any man in the
house, proposed some resolutions, the ul-
innate drift Of which may be perceived
at once, and will no doubt be felt, before
the end of the session, on the floor OF
congress. They were to the following
effect: +" That the secretary Of the trea-
sury be directed to lay before the house
a state of the American and foreign ton
mage employed in the foreign trade OF the
United States. in the years 1915, 1916,
and 1917, Distinguishing the nations t"
whom the foreign tonnage belenged."-
" Also oil the British and American tor
mage employed'in the trade between the
United States and the British dominions
in Europe for each Of the said years, dis
tinguishipg the amount employed between
the United States and the United King
doms of Great Britain and Ireland and
their European dominions. -" Also of
the British tonnage in the trade between
the United States and the British West
Indies, and the United States and British
North American colonies in the said
years, containing the amount entered in
and cleared from the American perts in
each of said years." And also state
ment Of the quantity Of sugar, coffee,
rum and molasses, imported into and eI-
ported frsm the American ports in each
of said ycars-together with the cOun-
tries and places whence the same we're
imported, and the quantity imported
from each country or place" This, as
he intimated, was to ascertain how lar
the European nations, since they had be-
gun to recur, in consequence Of the peace,
to the strict observance Of their naviga-
ton and colonial laws, had come in COM
petition with the United States.-They |
were, he said, all important in some
questions that would take place during
the present session respecting the West
India trade.
A resolution leading to an exchange OF
some of the United States lands for lands
belonging to the Choctaw, the Chlckasaw
and the Cherokee tribes Of Indians, in
Georgia, vas also passed. The policy
of this measure is to enable those Indians
who are disposed to enter into the Anne
rican family, to cultivate farms and live
upon the fruits Of them and at the same
time, to enable those who are incorrigi-
bly attached to the hunters life to get
lands not exhausted Of game, which those
in Georgia are.
The bill providing by law fot the re-