The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-12-23

Washburne said he would refer to that
before he got through. he announced his
intention to ask the House Is appoint q
Select Committee to investigate he whole
system of telegraphing, and determine
what the cost would be of connecting the
telegraph with the postal system, and pro-
vide for the establishment of a telegraph
office at every postofnce in the United
States where the gross re cefpts amounted
to given sum, on which he had not yet
determined. He believed this country. in
consequence OF the long distances, was
adoption OF the system than Begium or
Switzerland.
Washburne proposed that the Government
should buy the existing lines.
Washburn replied that he did propose It.
FarnsWorth AT the appraised value?
Washburn-Preciseiy
Orth addressed the committee en- the
question pertaining to the public debt and
banks and currency, specie payments and
the revision of the tariff ana internal rev.
enue questions. The taxes, he said, should
be so adjusted by wise and prudent Iegik-
latiOn, that the burden will fail as lightly
as may be on the labortng man. and the
wealth of the country Will not receive un-
due exemptions. Enormous as was the
national debt, the country had the ability
TO pay 1t, and of its willingness there re-
no countenance or support IN any locality,
but was summed and abhorred as an en-
taken was 10 enforcs rigid economy in ali
branches OF the public servfce-tO see that
not 8 dollar or the puDllc revenue Il stolen
or diverted from its legitimate purpose.
He believed the army should be reduced to
twenty thousand, and that the expenses OF
the navy might also b9 much diminished.
Tne public LANDS should be husbaDded
and made a source OF revenue, and to
secure homes for actual settlers. As TO the
Interest paid on the public debt, he be-
neysd the rate of six per cent. not only
added direetly to the burdens of the peO-
pie, but had NEST injurious effect upon
business Interests, by drawing to invest
ment IL public bonds capital which would
otherwise be invested IA business. Con.
gress should at the present session provide
LEGISLATION for funding and conso .Idating
the pu bic de bt at not over four per cent.
as To the national banks he favored re-
moval OF the present limit TO the amount
OF circulation and capital: in other words,
the incorporation with the present bank
ing system OF the principles OF fIee bank
tDg. This would asiow the withdrawal Of
legal tender notes. and their retirement
would naturally and necessarily be follow
ed by specie pay ments, as god and silver
would then be the only legal tenders As
to the tariff. he argued that tariff laws
should be enacted for the sake of revenue
tariff needed thorough revision and a very
general reduction, while the FREQ liSg
should be very considerably enlarged. AS
to the internal revenue, he Thought that
was susceptible of stiu further TeducsioD
and that the duties should be confined to
spirits fermented liquors and tobacco
sales, gross receipts on banking and
stamps, and on c9nVeyRDceS. Such q pol
icy as ne advocated would stir11a late agri.
culture, trade and commerce, build up
American towns and cities, construct rail.
roads and other works OF internal inn
prOyement, and enable the people, Un-
der the providence of God, to enter upon
career OF unexampled prosperity.
Loughridgs next addressed the commit
tee urging the necessity of economy in all
branches OF tue public service, and indi-
cating how very extensively and properly
the present expenditures OF the q .yern-
ment can be diminished.
Eldri6ge referred to the remarks OF Mr..
Dawes, and said when the reconstruction
measures were introduced by the Repub-
lican party, he felt 10 DOUBT the day Won q
come, and come soon, when those who
were most ardent In the advocacy OF the
destruction OF states, rights, woE-d be
neard 10 pray iust as tbs gentleman from
Massachusetts, mad been heard 70 pray to-
day. He hoped now the gentleman from
Massachusetts had taken that position,
and that the gsntlem an on the other side,
Notwithstanding the ruin which they ha
slider the course they had pursued and
come back to the position occupied by bho
fathers Of the Republic. The Union de-
pended Tor It's life on the maintenance OF
the rights OF States; the Union had been
upl1fted and was upheld by States; Il had
no exlstsncs except in the life OF the
States, and must 1all when the States were
destroyed. lie hoped the gentleman from
this Time forward would stand with those
on the Democratic side Ia defense of the
Dawes sud that In no matter would
he be found more scrupuiOus than IA re-
begged the gentleman from Wisconsin to
make the distinction; the failure to make
which by his party had involved the eoun-
try in the direst war between State rights
and State sovereignty.
Some further coilOQuy took place be-
tween EIdIidge and Dawes but IL embrace
ed mere repetition OF the views expire -sed
In the foregoing.
Sergeant addressed the Committee on
! the subject Of mining and mining laws in
| CalifOrntG.
Kerr spoke OF the necessity of fBerea sing
| the number OF Federal Courts in In llama.
Lawrence spoke in support Of his bill re-
/ Quiring Pension Agents 10 maze ont PEN
/ sion papers without fees or charges to pen-
/ siolers.
| The Committee rose, when the following
| bills were introduced and referred:
/ By stevenson, to amend sthe Internal
| Revenue laws, repeating the clause allow
/ Ing street railroad com mpanles to add the
| Government tax to the fare OF passengers.
Also to amend the same by repeating tue
| clause allowing gas companies to add the
] Government tax TO the contract price of
1 gas furnished to customers.
| BY WashDurne, of Wisconsin, 10 grant
certain Islands to the State OF Wisconsin,
/ as swamp lands.
The House, at half-past four, adjourned
| until the 10th OF January.