Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-26
xLIat coRGRESs---2d SESSION.

WASHINGTON, January 25.-HotsSs.
The Committee on Elections have
decided to remain for the examination
of the credentials of Mr.. Porter, on
account of his alleged disloyalty re-
cord; of Mr.. Steager, by reason of the
question of the right of Virginia to
send Representative at large; OF
Messrs. BroOke5 and McDeuzie, be-
credentials Of the rest Of thS lelega-
tions will be reported upon + vorably
at once, subject to their taking he usual
oath. 1t is expected no jectiOns
will be made to swearing iii the SEN
ators without the reference of their ere
dentials to the Committee on the
Judiciary.
The Committee on Ways and Means
to-day had before them propositions
to admit all coal free of duty. 1t was
not agreed to. Yeas: Hooper, Alli-
son, Maynard, Brooks and Marshall,
5. Nays: Kelly, Mccarthy, Blair and
Jchenck, 1. This subject caused a good
deal of excitement, 1t IS probable that
Maynard will change his vote to the
negative.
Some time ago the Committee on
Elections decided to report in favor of
| giving the seat now occupied by Green
20 Van Wyck of New York, the con-
| testant, but on further consideration
! it is said they have decided for both
| parties to examine the votes in the
| contested district.
In response to a resolution hereto
!
age TO the House to-day, enclosing
| letter from the Secretary of the Navy,
in which the latter says no appropria-
tiOns for the navy have been diverted
to the survey of the Isthmus Of Da-
rien. An act of Congress, approved
July %, 1866, appropriated $4,000 for
the purpose ofsurveying the Isthfnus,
with a view to the construction of
ship canal.
Mr.. Arnell offered a resolution call
ing for information as to- the pay
ments made by the Nashville and De-
catur Railroad Company, of Tenn
essee. Adopted.
Mr.. Wheeler introduced a bill au-
thorizing the Northern Pacific Rail-
road Company to issue its bonds for
| the construction of the road, and to
secure the same by mortgage. Re
| feTred.
Mr.. Schofeld, from the Committee
on Naval Affairs, reported q bill for
the reorganization Of the navy. Re
committed.
Mr.. Benjamin introduced bill
granting pension of $50 month TO
the widow of Gen. James A. Mower.
Mr.. FarnsWOrth remarked that it
was going beyond any precedent yet
established 10 give g. EeHsion except
| in case where officers died III cOnSe-
quence of wounds received, or disease
acquired In the army. The bill should
| be sent to a committee.
Mr.. Benjamin said he introduced it
| at the request of the President and q
| General of the Army. He withdrew
! the bill,
Mr.. Bates introduced a bill granting
! lands to Arkansas and Missouri for Il
railroad frOmc9he Mississippi to the
Arkansas referred.
The House then resumea the consid-
Grafton Of the League Island navy
yard bill. Speeches were made in its
support by Messrss Myers, ONeill
and Reading. The morning hour
having expired, at 2 O'Clock The bill
went over until tomorrow,
Mr.. Davis introduced bill to amend
the act passed yesterday for the ad-
.,.;e-i"n .,.;.,.-i, of Virginia, providing that
the word oath wherever it-oecurs shall
be construed IS including an attirma-
ton.
The Speaker suggested that as no
official information had been received
of the act having become a law, that
the bill lie on the table for the present.
Mr.. Davis acceded.
Mr.. Burdett, from the Committee
on Elections, called up the report of
April last on the contested election
case from the Fourth Congressional
District of South Carolina declaring
! A. s. Wallace entitled, prima facie, to
! his seat.
The question was discussed pro and
con by Burdett, Randall, Burr, Mar
shall, Bowen, WhittemOre, Stevenson
and Peters.
Finally the debate closed, and a
resolution offered as an amendment
! by the Minority Committee-Messrs.
Randall and Burr-that neither claim
ant was entitled to seat, was adopt
ed-yeas l03; nays 70.
After a good deal of techniealities
| the whole subject was laid On the ta-
| BILE, and the resolution recommitted.
The question of election to be ex-
| amined on its merits was offered by
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, and
agreed to.
The evening session was for debate
only.
Se,1me.-The Committee on Politi-
| cal Disabilities reported fayorably on
| the bill to relieve certain persons from
| legal political disabilities.
Mr.. Hanlln called up the Joint reso-
| luton relating to the seizure of dis
titled spirits In California, the ques-
ton being upon its indefinite post
ponement. After some discussion 1t
was laid aside, and at pm, the cur
rency bill was taken up.
Mr.. FentOn spoke against any ex-
pansion of currency and In favor OF an
early return to a specie basis. Pend
ing the bill neither retarded nor tend
ed to advance to the desirable result.
| He favored gradual contraction of
currency, but concluded that this bill
contained little to alleviate the evils
of the hour, The SecPetaFy's plan
for funding the debt and furnishing
new bonds for banking purposes in
place of the old might be best. We
could hope to get it at all events. He
had no pet measure of his own,
Mr.. Sumner moved to amend by
substituting for the bill similar bill
recently introduced by him for an in
crease Of bank circulation to $500, ,000,-
600 upon the retirement OF green
backs,
Mr.. Ramsey inquired whether 1t
was proposed to take action on the
bill to-day.
Mr.. Sherman, on behalf of the FL
nance Committee, desired the Senate
to take action ON the bill. He said il
was preliminary measure, and npon
its disposal the Committee would pro-
ceed to consider other important meas.
ures before them, among them one
now offered as an amendment, but
which had no pertinence here.
A plan of retiring three per cent
certificates was n commended by the
Secretary Of the Treasury and tbs
President, and no objection to it thai
: he knew of haG been made in the pub
lie prints. 1t seemed to be considered
the most innocent way in which th'
pressing necessity for q partial distri
; button could be made. Other pro
! visions Of the bill were also generally
. assented to. The only doubt now 1
} whether such banks would be author