Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-07
xxxvI1sh CoNGREss-Flr.t session.
THURSDAY, Feb. 6.

THURSDAY, Feb. 6.
SENATE.
AT y o'clock not single senator was in
tue chamber, soon after three came in, when
the senate was called to order
Several emancipation and other petitions
were presented.
Mr.. CARLISLE presented a petition, numer.
Dusty signed by citizens of Boston, asking
congress to leave the niger question alone,
and attend to the business of the country.
Mr. HARRIS presented petition for the re-
p cal of the reciprocity treaty.
Mr.. GRIMES introduced bill to allow the
corporation of Washington to issue small
notes. Referred
The bill defining the pay and emo ume nts
OF officers in the army was taken up
Mr.. SHERMAN opposed the bill In his
judgment, three propositions were needed
first a prompt levy of tax, not less than
$50, 900 900; second, careful revision OF the
laws regulating salaries and compensalions
third, rigid scrutiny in the disbursement of
all public funds, and the prompt punishment
of every officer taking away or allowing 9TH
ers to take it for property, in the service of
which the government does not receive benefit.
He moved to amend the ninth section, which
reduces salaries 10 per cent SD as to apply to
all mileage fees and contingent expenses
Mr.. DooLITTLE suggested that mileage
should be computed by the most direct mail
route, and the mileage to members of congress
be reduced so per cent.
Mr.. SHERMAN accepted it, as part of his
amendment.
Mr.. PoMERoY said there were no mail routes
to some places.
Mr.. SHERMAN modified his amendment, SO
as to compute mileage by the most direct trav-
cling route.
MIR. WILSON spoke against the amendment.
Mr. NEsMITH commented on the hardshps
in getting from Oregon to Washington, saying
it cost him $1,000 to get to New York with his
family. He might be told that he could leave
his family at home, but that was inconvenient,
and another drawback was that the laws of
Oregon allow divorce il man is away from
his wife for year.
Mr.. HOWE moved to strike out the whole
section,
Mr.. WILSON said the government is in debt
forty millions to-day, and not a dollar in the
treasury.
Mr.. Dixon thought if patriotic appeal was
made to the people they would soon raise
500 900, 900.
Mr.. HOWE opposed the ninth section. Mr..
SIMMONS commended that the resources of the
country are abundantly able to support the
expenditures He had faith in the people, and
they are able and willing to meet all the eX-
Denses. He had no idea of submitting the
country to an irredeemable paper currency,
and did not believe it was necessary The
banks had been very patriotic so far, but the
main reliance was on the people-the masses
OF small means.
After further debate Mr.. Sherman's amend.
ment was adopted.
Mr.. DAVIS spoke at some length, contend.
ing that we could not raise sufficient by taxa
ton, and that the government must issue paper
bearing interest.
Mr. DooLITTLE offered an amendment re
ducing the mileage OF members fifty per cent,
to be computed nv the most direct travelling
routes the mileage of mambers beyond the
Rocky Mountains to be computed by the most
travelled route. Agreed to yeas 20. nays,
Clark, Collamer, Henderson, Latham, McDou-
gal, Morrill,, Nesmith, Trumbul Wilkinson,
Wilson OF Missouri, 10.
MIR. HOWE moved to strike out the ninth
section. Disagreed to-yeas, Howe and Nc.
Dougal nays, 36, Mr.. HOWE moved to re-
commit it to the military committee After
executive session, adjourned.
HOUSE.
The house went into committee on the
treasury note bill
Mr.. KELLOGG favored the bill.
Mr.. THOMAS of Massachusetts, gave reasons
which would induce him to vote against the
bill as it now stands, and, in the course of his
constitutional argument, said the making Of
these treasury notes legal tender for all past
public and private debts, would be a breach of
good faith. 1t would change substantially the
conditions and impair the obligations OF con.
tracts.
Mr.. EDWARDS opposed Mr.. Morrills sub.
stitute, aud supported the original bill.
Mr.. CAMPBELL favored the legal tender bill
and was not to be controlled by very nice scru-
pies when the constitution and the Union was
in danger.
The committee proceeded to consider Mr.
81. Al
that part proposing to make the notes lawful
money, and legal tender in payment of all
debts, public and private, within the limited
states MIR. Morrill, stated that the pending
bill was reported by only half Of the commit
tee. The other four are as cordially united
on their own project The substitute pro-
posed by him was not his particularly, but
had been modified in order to meet the views
of those who had substituted amendments.
Mr.. Hickman and Il. Conking opposed the
bill MIR. Hooper briefly argued that striking
out the legal tender clause would render it
useless. Mr.. Crisfeld's amendment to strike
out the legal tender clause was rejected, %
against SO,
Various amendments were rejected whom
Mr.. HORROR offered Mr.. MorriIl's substitute,
with amendments, Tor the bill. Mr.. STE NSs
presented modification of the original -.
1t was agreed that the committee should rise
and report these measures to the house
Mr. lloRToNs motion was rejected - So
against 90. 1t limits the amount oil the two
kinds OF notes, so that together they shall at
no time exceed one hundred and fifty million
dollars, and retains the legal tender clause
Adjourned
Before the adjournment, Stevens substitute
passed by vote OF % against 80. The fol.
lowing are the yeas and nays -
YEAs--Messrs. Aldrich Alley, Arnold
Ashley, Babbitt, Bailey OF Mass, Bailey of
Pa, Baker Bearman, Bingham, Blair OF Mo-,
Blair of Pa, Blair of Va, Blake, Buffinton.
Durham, Cambell, Chamberlain, Clark, Col,
fax, Cutler Davis, Delano, Delaplane, Duell,
Dunn, Edgerton, Edwards, Ely, FentOn, FEES.
sender, Fisher, Franchat Frank, Cooch,
Granger, Gurley, Haight, Hale, Hanchet,