Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-03-19
EVENING STAR.
CONGRESSIONAL


Coneiuisn Of Yesterdays Proceedings.
sENATE--After our report closed
The Georgia bill was discussed by MeSSrs.
Pomeney Williams, Stewart, Howe, Sehurz and
Drake.
The qaestion was then announced by the Vice
President as on the amendment Of MI. Morton,
repeating that part of the army appropriation
act OF 1885, which forbids the reorganiz alton of
the militia Of the late rebel States; which was
agreed To.
TROOPS FOR the SOUTH.
The question then REQUIRED on the amend
men %est Of. Of h1, Drake, providing that the Presi
Legislature Of any Of the Southern States, send
United states troops into any insurrectonary
district, and the troops shall subsist on the dis
trict where they are quartered, and all disturb
ers of the peace who arrested shall remain
in custody Of the military until their cases are
disposed OF; and in case no United States troops
are available, the militia of the State shall
be called out in the service, and under the
same conditions As If they were United States
Mr.. Drake advocated his amendment. de-
clarIDg that there was grip in IL, and he so
intended in to be; as it was now, when these
troops were sent IL was at the expense of the
Government, bat the rebels should be made to
Suhsist them.
Mr.. Sh erman sand that while this proposition
indefeasable itself, II ought 70 be the ground
work for some legislation by which lawless CON-
binatiOns in the Southern States shall be put
down. He had information that in some of the
Overzwed the lawful authorities, and something
should be done to break this up The amends
ment of Mr.. Drake to quarter soldiers on the
inhabitants was in violation of the Constitution.
He would revive the old law OF the English hun
dred; he would make the municipality RESPONSE
BILE for all acts of violence committed within Its
boundaries. There was lately a case IN Tonnes
see where a whole railroad train was searched
for a gentleman who was disguised by his fellow
passengers 70 save him from murder. Now, this
Thing must be stopped, and Congress had the
power TO do this; soldiers should be placed In
every township, armed men must meet armed
nors of other States of the South should have the
power to call out the militia.
Mr.. Carpenter should not vote for this amend
ment, but he did think that the present laws
hoped for their early revision in such q manner
as to insure the suppression Of the lavless, mid
night marauders Of the South.
Mr.. Hamlin also expressed his dissent from
the amendment of Mr.. Drake, but he also
thought that some legislation was necessary.
Mr.. Fowler stated that the case alluded to by
Mr.. Sherman, of an outrage on q railroad tr ain,
happened in Alabama and not in Tennessee.
The Senate then. without further action, at
p. M, adjourned until Monday.
HOUSE.-After our report closed, Mr.. Cooks
substitute for the Senate bill to amend the
usury laws Of the District Of Columbia, was
debated at length
DEBATE os THE DISTRICT UsURY LAWS
M IngersoIl (IIl.) said laws relative to usury
were far behind the age, and he was opposed to
prescribing any rate Of interest whatever. He
did not think this matter should be limited.
Give us plenty OF greenbacks, and we will hear
more Of usury and usurers. We had CON-
menced by making 6ldek-backs free; now we
were making grey-backs free, and he proposed
that We should make backs free.
ILsughter.l
Mr. Cook.-HOw about the red-backs?
Mr.. IngersOlI was afraid they were to be ex-
terminated. But he wanted the experiment to
be tried here of making money free. There
was as much sense in passing law declaring
how much a man should sell his grain for, as to
declare by legal enactment how much should be
obtained for money.
MT. Kelsey said he had an old fashioned
opinion that ali power should not be left in the
hands OF the capitalists He would therefore
Mr. Mungen COhiol thought six per cent. was
enough, and he wanted it fixed at that. Then
money would ind its way INTO legitimate chan
nels-
Mr.. Kerr advocated the greatest freedom as
to the disposal of money. He said all these
laws were imperative, and failed 10 protect the
borrowers, for in spite of all laws, lenders dis
posed Of their money would best suit them
selves and the circumstances of the borrowers
The fact was that all these restrictive laws ope-
rated badly for the borrower, for account OF
the great risk to the lender he generally added
three or four per cent. He thought this bill ont
which should be adopted, although he would
favor more freedom in the matter.
Mr.. Scoheld pal advocated the bill. He SAID
the same system had been tried in Pennsylya
mia, and had been found to work well there.
Mr.. Morrill, Me- was a six per cent. man, but
he thought this was an exceptional case, and al
Maryland and Virginia charged a greater rate
allowed to do So He was informed that there
were mOney-lenders here who were charging
ten per cent month, and unless this bill was
passed the borrowers here would be left to the
mercy OF the sharpers who had money to lend
Mr. Coburn (lnd-) expressed himself in favor
OF allie wing ten or even twelve per cent. by con-
tract Men would not loan money at six oil
eight er cent, and if not allowed to ask more
they would evade the law somehow or other.
Mr.. Maynard (Tenn.) moved to amend BY
making the rate OF interest eight per cent. in
stead of ten. The amendment was rejected OF
vote by tellers-ayes IS, noes 70
The House then, by vote OF lOl to Il, ordered
the bill to be read a third time, and it was theI
passed
BALTIMORE AND POTOMAC RAILROAD.
Dir. Stone (Md-) reported a bill to amend tn,
act to construct a lateral branch Of the Balti
more and Potomac Railroad.
Mr.. Stone reported an amendment to the Sen
ate bill, to strike out the second section, Il
allow the road to commence at 4th street cas-
and South street; along South street to tn,
south bank OF the Canal; thence to South Capt
tOl street; thence nOrthwesterly to Virginia ave
Ninth street. The time for completion is eI
tended to February I, 1875. Passed.
THE DISTRICT JAIL.
Mr.. Stone, from same committee, reported
back the bill authorizing the construction OF
Jail in the District Of Columbia.
Mr.. Coburs (lnd. made the point of ordel
that the bill made an appropriation, and mus
therefore 20 to the Committee of the Whole OF
the state u the Union
The point OF order was sustained, and the bill
went 10 the Committee of the Whole.
OTHER DIST Riot OF COLUMBIA BUsruRss.
hT. Stone also reported upon Senate bill Il
continue in force the charter of the Potomac
Fire Insurance Company In the city OF George
town. Passed
Mr.. GilLilsn pa reported q bill to incorpo
rate the Washington and Boston STEAMSHIP
Company. Passed
Mr.. Boles ark reported back Senate bill t.
incorporate the Washington General Hospita
and Asylum Go mpany Of the District Of Coium
bia- Passed
Also, reported, from same committee, Senat,
bill IN larlOn al 4.
the District Of Columbia. Passed.
Also, reported bill to amend the act In re-
lation 10 exemption Of property of debtors in tn,
District OF Columbia Passed
Mr. Knott (ky) reported bill to amenC
the act incorporating the Mutual Fire Insur
ance Company Of the District Of Columbia
Passed.
Also, reported a bill to incorporate the Ma
tonzl Concrete Pavement &c mpany Of the Dis
tnct OF Columbia Laid upon the table on the
ground that the general Incorporation &C
should cover these individual cases
MT. ekenZie, (Na-) from same committee
reported back senate bill TO incorporate tn,
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