New-York tribune., 1870-02-01
WASHINGTON.
THE SUPREME COURT AND THE LEGAL-TENDER
ACf-THE TARIFF BILL TO BE REPORTED IN
THE HOUSE TO-DAY-JUDGE DAvIs's NATU-
REALIZATION B1LL-THE GOLD PANIC INVEs-
TIGATION
GRAPH TO THE TRfBuNR.l


lBY TELEGRAPH TO rHB TRfBuNBl
WASHINGTON, Monday. Jan. 81, 1870
FROM information which unQuestionabe II Is
learned that Saturday consultation held by all
the members OF the Supreme Court including Justice
Grer who had heard all the arguments relating thereto
ana desired to give his opinion before retiring from the
bench the subject of the Legal Tender act Of lse2 All
the cases now before the Court were instituted
to recover gold for contracts made before
the passage Of the Legal Tender act, instead OF
greenbacks on the ground Of the unconstutonalty OF
the law in question. decision OF the Court was eK
pected to-day, but not delivered. There is ground
for believing that the decision will not into the ques
tion OF the constuonaity Of the law but will decide
that all contracts made previous TO the Of the
act contemplated payment In gold and the Court will so
decide 1t is believed the decision will be rendered next
Monday.
Mr. Revels tho colored Senator from Mississippi,
the floor OF tho Senate time to-day, and In
troduced to several Senators. Mr. Morton introduced
b declaring Mississippi entitled to representation, and
the President shall have officially communica.
ted TO Congress the action Of Mississippi, bill will be
passed, and the Senators admitted to their seats The
Postal Telegraph bill was reported from the Committee
on PostOfices. bill was introduced by Mr. Cragin to
abolish the Office OF Surveyor Of Customs At previous
sessions bills have been pressed 70 abolish the Office Of
Naval officer II is known that In many cities the
other Of these Offices is necure and there seems to be
wing impression In favor OF abollshing OF thcm
The resolutions the Ohio Legislature, ratifyng the
Fifteenth Amendment were presented with conRratua
tory remarks, by Mr. Sherman. Mr.. Thurman who few
days denied that OHIO would ratify the Amendment,
was not In his seat The Currency bill taken up at
o'clock and debated all day. Senator Cameron made
carefully prepared speech the finances. long discus
sion took place Mr. Shermans amendments allowing
National Banks from State into another
but their circulation not to be deducted from the quota
of the additional circulation to which the State may be
nv fha' mai Of
As An amendment OF Mr. Chandler, increasing the
volume Of circulation by $Oo,OOO,0oo voted down,
without division Mr.. Mortons amendment increasing
by opposed by Mr. Sherman and others,
but vote taken It, II was unanimously agreed
that vote shall be taken the bill tomorrow, when
Senator Buckingham will deliver speech the finances
generally As indicated in these dispatches, Mr. Ramsey
reported promptly, without amendment, the House bill
to abolish the Franking privilege short Executive
session followed, and the Senate adjourned.
The Honse did absolutely nothing OF the least i'm
pOrtance to-day. All the Committees seem to be behind
hand with the work before them, especial the Com
mtees Appropriations, Ways and Means, and
Elections The latter Committee received genteei
rebuke for its tardiness oday, in the OF Wm Nc
Renze OF Virginia. which taken out of their hands
and the gentleman admitted The Ways and Means
Committee expect to report the Tariff bill to morrow, and
the largo Appropriation bills will be reported
during the present month. To-day large
number OF bills and resolutions introduced and
ferred to committees Among the number bill to abol
sh the Bureau Of Agriculture; bill to reduce the salaries
OF Congressman from 900 10 5000 year. and mileage
from 30 cents mile making saving of nearly
g. OOOOO yearly to the Government, and bill to admit
the State Of Mississippi into the Union. None OF the
members elect OF the House from Mississippi
have yet presented their credentials Inger-
soil tired to have the House compel the
Banking and Currency Committee 10 report the bill re-
sl, Anth hn.t, aHd
tonal Issue OF A5OOOOOo egalteDder notes. but the
House refused by the decisive vote OF 43 to H. Wash
burne Wisconsin also badly beaten In an attempt
to have his Special Committee the postal telegraph
given authority to investigate the subject with power TO
persons and papers which. OF course would in
yolye the expenditure OF q large sum OF money.
The first provision Of the financial bill introduced by
Mr. Armstrong OF Pennsylvania in the House to-day. au
thOrzes the Secretary OF the Treasury to issue
OF bearing notes The second section pro-
vdes the holders Of u g. Bonds may at their option
exchange said bonds at their market value for the notes
authorized by the bill, and rice In the event OF
the adoption OF this It's author believes that the
ouestlop OF expansion aud contraction will regulate IT.
self aud that under s operations there will always be
sufficient OF currency to meet the requirements
Of trade and commerce.
The Commissioner OF Patents submitted very able re-
port today wing the great increase OF business in the
Patent Office and proposing several important reforms
One Of these TO substitute photography and photoho-
graphy for the present expensive style OF Illustrations III
the report, which he condemns.
Gen. Banks this afternoon sought to get tic House to
aaopt q resolution authorizing the withdrawal OF W. L.
IIanscoms resignation Naval Constructor, but Objec-
ton made that 1t wonld present difficult question
for solution and that Is exercising the Commit
tee on Naval Affairs namely as to the rank that one
takes when reinstated. Those who remain continu
ousIy in service claim that they, having been
promoted by reason Of the temporary. voluntary
or involuntary displacement OF an officer shall not be
affected rank position upon the reinstatement OF that
officer The same question has given the War Depart
eut great deal OF trouble and learned counsel have
argued that, when a dismissal shall be revoked the
officer thus reinstated shall the rank position
he held at the time OF dismissal. But the War Depart
nent has determined otherwise and when dismissal Is
the officer intended to be reinstaed must wait
for a vacancy IN his original rank before he resume
his former position.
The House Judiciary Committee at their meeting to-
day had under consideration the Naturalization bill
prepared by Judge Davis IL Is stringent In It's
provisions and will in measure prevent the Issuing OF
fraudulent naturalization papers IL does away with the
present law requiring aliens to declare their Intentions
and allows naturalization at tho end Of four years aud
six months After that period they allowed to vote
The authority to issue naturalization papers Is placed In
the United States Courts in the counties In which the
persons reside II there Is United States Court then
in the highest Court The Committee will endeavor
concurrent action on this bill at tho present
session. with view Of preventing repetition Of the
wholesale Issuing OF fraudulent naturalization papers
which took place last Fali NowYork IN other local.
ties.
George Opdyke was examined by the Banking and
Currency Committee to-day concerning the effect Of the
gold speculation and panic In September last upon the
general business Of the cosntry He entered very fully
INTO the subject being familiar with the which led
to IT, as his own and a largo number Of other Wast