Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-12-16
the FEDERAL LEGISLATURE.
Proceedings In Both Houses of cORgrsts
Yesterday.
HOUSE.

HOUSE.
A Ajointresolution was introduced by Mr.
Dswes, donsting cannon for the soldiers
monument in Pittsfeld, Massachusetts,.
Mr.. snspp offered q resolution for tn
abolition OF printing and Transporting
public documents st the public ex
pense.
Several private bills passed.
Mr.. Slocum presented petition for the
reduction Of duty on rice.
Mr.. GAyheld, from the committee on sp'
propristions, reported bill authorizing
the sscrstAry of the treasury to purchase
At private sale or by condemnation, the
remainder Of the square of ground on
which the postOflce building st Chicago
recently stood, not now owned by gov.
ernment. II the same cannot be procured
at 9 reasonable price, then purchase some
| other square not more than two squares
distsnt from the late locslity, and have
erected thereon a fre-proof building for
the acoo mmo istiOn of the custombouse,
sub-tressury, pOstofhce, United States
courts, pension, and internal revenue
| Offices. The bill sppropristes 81, ,000 900 and
| provides that the total cost of site aud
building shall not exceed s. OO0. 900. He
| explained the features of the bill, and sd-
vocated it's prompt passage.
Mr.. Randall moved 70 strike out that
part Of tbs bill limiting the selection of
the old site to within two squares OF the
locality of the old oOstoffice. He thought
such Limitation would place ths govern
ment In the power Of real estate com mbins-
tions.
Mr.. Plat spoke sgsinst the amendment.
He explsined that even with the proposed
limitation the government wOuld still
have twenty-four squsras TO select from,
50 that there was nothing TO be feared
from any such combination.
Mr.. Ho man moved to reduce the total
cost TO e 100000.
Mr.. Plstt opposed that amendment, and
referred TO the fact that the postofics
buildings in New York and Boston were to
cost IS 600 900 esch, and 10 sec0mm 1dste
only the postofice and the Ulitsd
States courts.
amendment, contending that 81 600 00O
wss liberal allowance Tor the sils of the
building. He thought the sllusion 70
New York and Boston customhouses
rather unfortunate, because by corruption
and prohigate expenditure OF the public
money, and Oy enlargement OF the origi-
nal plans, tbs buildings in New York srs
likely to cost ten millions instead Of three.
Mr. Kelly ,of Pennsy lvsnis) dissented
entirely from the views OF his colleague.
He thought his constituents would rej0ice
in hberal appropriation for Chicago, and
that tbs government should put mp q
building there that would be q monument
in al time to come Of the fire which had
desolsted that city. The government
could guard sgsinst fraud in the expendi.
ture Of money there as it could anywhere
al IN y.
the Tsmmsny leaders had so corrupted
the whole atmosphere that honesty W8s
almost impossible. He was willing TO
vote Tor 81 600 900 for Chicago, and only
regretted that the amendment had been
reduced from s. 900 600. The amendment
had been recJhumended by tbs committee
on public buildings and grounds.
Mr.. Randall reminded his eollaRgues
thst the question was not one of chaEity
ct all
Mr Kelly replied that be was not sE k
ing charity; he was only asking that the
government should deal with generous
justice TO : stricken people; that there
wss no charity in he proposition.
Mr.. Randall said that was the tone Of
the gentleman's argument.
Mr.. Marshall said that as a member of
the committee on appropriations ne had
given bis assent to the bill, and protested |
thst neither Ohio ago nor Illinois asked |
any appropriation on account of charity. |
Chi,-SSo-One of the finest cities on the |
continent, and the most rapidly growing |
city on the fs5c OF the esrsh-had been |
dssOlsted and laid In sshes. Tne govern |
msnt had important interests in thai city. |
It had no customhouss there, no court |
house, no postofics, no public buildings. |
1t was the duty Of the governmsnt to FAR
nish proper accommodations tor the |
transaction Of Its buEiness.
After discussion ths bill for the Chicsgo |
customhouse wss passed, with linits-
tion of the smount 20 $4, 900 coo.
The house passed an appropriation bill 1
to carry out the Treaty Of Washington,
and then adjourned until Monday.