Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-02-12
Conversational summary.

OSbASo
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.
The bill to define the pay and emolu.
ment Of the officer OF the army was taken
up.
Mr.. Sherman said the bill did not meet
the difficulty. Ayear ago we were physl'
cally weak with no public debt, now we
are physically strong but financially weak
The total amount of the expences fol
next year will probably not be less than
five hundred and fifty million dollars
This was a greater expense than ever was
borne Ly any nation. The highest ex-
penditure of Great Britain was never five
hundred million dollars a year, not even
in the war with Napoleon.
Mr.. Sherman here quoted from the
London Post, the Government organ,
which said that we 1.-THE United States)
are approaching national bankruptcy In
his judgement three propositions were
needed: lst. The prompt levy of a tax
of not less than 1925, 000,0 o I'd. A care
full revision of the laws regulating salaries
and -compensations. Sd. Rigid scrutiny
into the disbursements of all public funds
and prompt punishment of every officer
taking money or allowing others to take
it for property in the service of which the
Government docs not receive benefit.
Mr.. King presented several petitions
asking for 500 GOO copies of the Agricul-
tural Report to be printed in the German
language.
Long discussion ensued on the bill to
curtail or tax officers pay, ETC., during
which Mr.. Doolittle said that the people
demanded taxation and victory BOTH
lie offered an amendment, which was
agreed tc, reducing mileage of Members
of Congress fifty per cent.
After Executive Session, Senate adj
ljourned.
The House then took up the Treasury
Note bill.
Mr. Thomas, of Mass, gave the reason
which would induce him 10 vote against
the bill as it now stands.
An incidental debate occurred, during
which Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, said the
pending bill was reported by only half the
Committee of Ways and Means.
After further debate the legal tender
clause "a rejected. Ayes So: nays SO.
Mr.. Horton offered Morrill's substitute,
with amendments to the bill. Rejected
So to 90.
Mr.. Stevens assented TO modification
of the original bill. Agreed to.
Adjourned.
FEBRUARY s..
The resolutions relative to the finances
of the country, offered in the Senate some
time since, were taken up and argued by
Mr.. Carlile, of Virginia who made 9 speech
stating that he was opposed to any unicn
nf fhn unvarprnant and fhn ha-ps OnH
further if the government depends on an
inredeemable paper issue, financial ruin
must follow. The resolution was referred
to the Committee on Finance. The bill
making appropriations for the support of
the Military Academy was reported back
from the Committee on Finance, without
amendment, and was then passed. A
resolution was adopted calling on the
President to furnish the Senate the re-
cent correspondence relative to the pre-
sentation of American citizens at the
court of France. Mr.. Wilson's bill to de-
fine the pay and emolument of officers of
the army was taken up and laid over,
owing to the expiration of the morning
hour. The case of Senator Bright was
taken up and debated at length. Speech
es were made in favor of and against the
expulsion of the senator, Senator Harris,
in the course of his remarks alluded to
the instruction resolution that had been
tried to be forced through the New York
He claimed that he had no
right to be instructed in the matter, and
that the vote he gave on the subject should
be in accordance with his eonscien-
convictions on the subject. The
resolution to expell the senator was car
ried-32 to IA.
The House went into Committee of the
Whole On the treasury note bill. Mr.. Al
ley said Congress has the power to incor-
porate to-day a system of financial policy
both for the government and the people,
which will establish our property upon a
firm foundation. Speeches were made
the legal tender clause on the
ground that it is a palpable violation of
the Constitution. Mr.. Wright said he
would vote for taxati n to the uttermost
limit, but the issue of paper money now
proposed would bring upon the country
more ruin than the rebels had wrought
He then argued in favor of Norris sub
for the original bill, proposing the
payment of the interest in coin, and the re-
lemption ofthe notesin from ten to twenty
i've years. The committee here rose and
he House adjourned with the understand
ng that general debate on the bill is
% cease two hours after it is again taken
I'D.