Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-01-26
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings
WEDNESDAY, January q.

AAiS AltoruoOnS fr0ceeQlngSs
WEDNESDAY, January &.
SENATF.-Ar. Harlan presented the creden-
uais OF James b. Howell, elected by the Iowa
Legislature TO nil the uncxpred term OF Hon. =.
w. Grimes, which were read, and the Senator
elect sworn in.
Mr.. Hamlin offered an order, that all memo
ras for the abolition OF the franking privilege
be handed To the Secretary of the Senate, 10 ee
referred TO Committee on Post Ofices. Passed.
The Vice President laid before the Senate
!olnt resSlu,loms S o. ,ne hegslstare OF kansas,
IL avenworth military reservation. Referred 10
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds
Mr.. Pratt presented memorial of Hos. Thos.
cianapolis bar, asking that the salaries OF the
justices Of the Supreme Court be increased.
Mr. buckingham introduced bill supplement
tary to the act TO provide national currency.
Ordered to be printed and laid on the table.
Mr.. Spencer introduced a bill 10 provide for
the appointment Of an appraiser of merchandise
at Mobile. Referred TO Committee on Com
merce.
At one O'Clock the currency bill was taken ur,
and Mr.. Corbett, who was entitled 10 the floor
said the financial status Of the country was heing
much improved, and we were gradually return
ing to a sound basis. The bill very properly
proposes to pay of the three Per cent certin-
Gates, and the gold now accommodating could be
held in the place of them. He thought that
more banking facilities should be EXTEND
ed to the South and West, as proposed
eStab-
lished on q firm basis would supersede the pres
ent banks. He hoped the Finance COMMITTEES
would also mature a bill 70 insure a return 70
specie payments within two years or two years
and a half. He did not agree with Mr. Morton
that the establishment of these gold banks would
be productive Of speculation in gold. These
specie banks must be established at some time,
and he did not see any reason why they should
not be established now. He hoped that no
amendment would be put to the bill but that IL
would be speedily passed a. it came from the
Mr.. Sumner said no withdrawal of bank circu-
lation can be made from the East without pro-
du ting the most serious arrangement. To pro-
duce financial trouble i'm New York is to produce
1t throughout our whole country. Any distribu-
ton Of the circulation IL necessarily UNEQUAL
and il distribution was made to-day appa-
rently equal, IL would i'm a few months be
unequal. He could not deem 1t fair to cripple
the banks Of New York, Philadelphia and Bos-
ton by depriving them Of circulation. when they
had come forward and advanced $50 600. 600 i'm
gold to the Government i'm 1861 to carry on the
war. He regarded the provision looking to free
banking on q coin basis as impracticable and
inexpedient
HoUSE.-Ar. Hay Qn) introduced resolu-
ton, which was adopted, directing the Commit
tee on Mines and Mining to investigate the
causes which led to the late Avondale disaster.
and to inquire il it was in the power of Congress
to pass laws regulating the manner i'm which the
business Of mining should be conduced.
MI. Cox IN. T. introduced resolution direct
any ofhcers OF the army are serving in both A
military and civil capacity, and receiving saIa
ries for both, and to report TO the House; and il
true what orders have been issued on the sub
iect. Adopted.
Mr. Van Trump (Ohio) introduced a resolu-
tion directing the Secretary Of the Treasury to
furnish to the House a statement of the amount
of accruing interest the Government has paid TO
the Pacific railroads and their branbhes.
and the amount of interest paid by said roads:
had transported for the 6overnment' sna sosee AN
rates charged for the same, and the rates
charged for the transportation of Government
troops; also, wig the statement of the amount of
such bonds had been omitted in the monthly
statement Of the public debt, SC. The resolu
Mr.. Churchill n. W offered a resolution
which was adopted, calling on the Secretary of
War for information in relation to improvements
in the harb0r of Oswego.
Mr.Wood (N.Y.) offered resolution inouiring
OF the Postmaster General by what authorify
blank petitions for the abolition of the franking
privilege had been sent through the mails, and
ton was made, when Mr.. Wood demanded the
regular order, and the House resumed the con-
sideratlon OF the League Island bill.
tablishment Of navy-yard at League Island.
but the establishments of any Government wards
He believed private yards could build vessels
eneaPer and better. He gave notice OF his In
tention to introduce bill establishing four lines
OF ocean steamers, the vessels to be Of class
that could be made available by the Govern
ment a. war steamers, as the necessity arose.
Ar. Hill IN. J.) combatted some Of the state
ments Of Mr.. Dawes, few days since, and con-
tended that the Government was economically
administered.
Mr.. Calkin On. W supported the bin.
Mr. Randall (Pa.) said the only real objection
to the bill had been presented by the gentleman
from Massachusetts,. (Mr. Dawes,) in his able
address the other day. That was a good speech,
an important speech to the taxpayers OF the
country. He then proceeded to show that the
gentleman's ideas Of general economy were not
applicable to the League Island bill.
Mr.. Dawes said that it was admitted by the
friends Of the side that it was Of value unless
followed by an appropriation of $50, 900. The
prepared to expend this amount to prepare the
way for the removal of this yard. The more he
thought OF the large amount of estimates pre-
sented the s more he was satisfied the people were
MI. Randall thought it was hardly fair for the
gentlemen 70 use an extravagant estimate of the
Secretary of the Navy against the bill. The
side Of the House. The Democratic party stand
before the people As its advocates. lrhe place
where the shoe pinched was there, IL this bill
passed II was the end Of New London.
The main question was then ordered.
Mr.. Starkweather (Conn.l urged the recon-
initial of the bill, and threatened the defeat of
the h APPROPRIATION % ~ 60 cary into effect If the
Mr.: Woodward (Pa.) charged the friends OF
the bill with insincerity in saying il involves no
at the Navy Department ready TO follow the
bill. He agreed with the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts Mr.. Dawes) that this was no time for
80 large . public expenditure. He had voted
against the New London bill, and would vote
against the League Island bill, and would then
be In situation to vote against all the extrava-
gances enumerated by the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts. It was his opinion that the sale Of
the old yard would never secure the establish
ment Of the new one.
Mr.. Schofeld Pa.) said there had been a mis-
plate an appropriation. All who had opposed Il
seemed TO have argued from that standpoint.
AT the conclusion Of Mr.. Schofelds remarks
the House proceeded to vote.
Nh: Dawes moved to lay the bill on the table.
and demanded the ayes and noes.
The bill was laid on the table by q vote Of
ayes 81, noes 81.
CITIZENS RAILROAD ASSOCIATION
This association held its regular weekly meet
ing last evening, in the Aldermen's Chamber,
at the CITY Han. EicA Rreaideuf Eashx