Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-03-30
Congressional.
WASHINGTON, March

WASHINGTON, March 90.
After discussing various unimportant
bills, a message was received from the
House announcing the death of Hon. Owen
Lovejoy, oflllinois. appropriate eulogies
were delivered on the deceased by Messrs.
Trumbull, Pomeroy and Sumner. The usu-
al resolutions of respect were passed, after
which the Senate adjourned.
HoUsE.-Mr. Stevens said as several
gents desired to deliberately consider the
proposed amendment to the Constitution,
to prohibit slavery in all the States and
Territories, he [Stevensl would move its
postponement for two weeks. Agreed to.
Mr.. Rice, of Mass from the committee
on Naval Affairs, reported bill that per-
sons between 26 and 20 years of age, may
be appointed Assistant Paymasters; provid-
ed the number is not thereby increased, and
that the examination of students tor adj
mission into the Naval Academy shall take
place when they are between IA and IS
years of age. The bill was passed. a.4. .
Mr.. Rice also reported bill regulating
and changing, in some particulars, the
method of making promotions in the navy.
Heretofore, he said, promotions have been
made according to seniority, but this bill
provided for promotions according to Off
cial capacity and physical fitness, to be de-
ed by the President. Officers not recon-
mended for promotion are to have an OPP
portunity to be heard through revision
board.
Mr.. Pike, from the Naval committee, re-
ported bill authorizing, during the pre-
sent war, the appointment of acting Lieut.
Commanders and Commanders, at same
rate of pay as is allowed to such grades in
the regular navy. Passed.
Mr.. Pike also reported the Senate bill
regulating courts-martial, which was pass
ed after striking out the first section, which
provides that volunteer appointments in the
navy shall be subject to the action of the
Senate, the same as regular appointments.
The House went into committee of the
Whole on the bill amendatory of the ma
tional banking law. l
The amendment offered by Mr.. Hooper,
of Massachusetts,, on Friday, was agreed to
to-day. This amendment provides that
banks, with capital of not less than $780,
600, may, with the approval of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, be organized in any
place the population of which does not
exceed six thousand.
Mr.. Boutwell,, of Massachusetts, offered
an amendment to strike out the authority
proposed to be given to the banks to buy
and sell gold and silver coin, and bullion,
and loan money on real and personal secu-
rity. These banks, with q circulation of
$500, 100000, will be able to fix the standard
of value, which was the very thing the
House had been endeavoring to prevent.
Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, opposed
the amendment. The section left these
banks to buy. gold, the same as the state
banks and individuals; the time had passed
for us to consider gold as currency-it was
a commodity, the same as bill Of ex-
change. ura.F
The amendment of Boutwell, was reject
ed. 81 .HI2l
Mr.. Brooks, of N. Y, offered an amend
ment, the object of which was to prevent
banking on real estate, which, in New
York, had been found unsafe. Mr.. Brooks
said it was useless for him to protest against
wrong principle of banking, and he re-
ferred to the fact that on a bill of such vast
importance, they were acting without the
presence of quorum.
Mr.. Brooks's amendment was rejected.
An amendment was proposed, striking
out the requirement that every director of
q bank, during his whole term of service,
shall be citizen of the U. s. The amend
ment was disagreed to by So against 6S.
The committee considered the bill up to
the 23d section. -r. .....-s,-r,
On motion Of Mr.. Ganson, an amendment
to the 22d section was adopted, authorizing
the issue of bills of the denomination Of
one, two and three dollars. H!FI,A
Mr.. Hooper, of Massachusetts,, moved that
a proviso be added to the section to the eff
feet that not more than one-fifth of the cir
culation furnished to any bank under this
act shall be of a less denomination than five
dollars, and that after specie payments shall
have been resumed, no circulation of less
denomination than five dollars shall be fur
nished to any such association, which was
agreed to. The committee rose and the
House adjourned. 4g HaoY