New-York tribune., 1873-12-10
HOUSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
THE COMMITTEES ON EDUCATION, THE JUDICIARY
AND BANKING AND CURRENCY, IN sEssIoN-THE
SCHEME FOR DISTRIBUTING THE PROCEEDS OF
LAND SALES FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES TO BE
REPORTED TO THE HOUSE DIFFERENCE OF
OPINION on THE CURRENCY QUESTION AMONG
THE MEMBERS OF THE BANKING AND CURRENCY
COMMITTEE.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBUSEI
WAsHINGTON Dec. 9-The House Committee on
Education has begun work early. Its first meeting
was held this morning when it determined to
report George F. Hoar's bill to distribute the pro-
ceeds of the sales Of public lands the States
for educational purposes. This scheme was formed
in the last Congress, but there was not then time
for report. Its main features are, FIRST: The SET
ting apart of ope-half Of the money accruing from
land sales, to form a permanent educational tund ;
Second The annual distribution OF the other halt
and of the interest of the fund among the States
and Territories which maintain free common
school SYSTEM Third The distribution to be made
on the basis of literacy for the first five years, and
afterwards on that of population. Chairman Mon
roe will report the bill as the Committee Is
called. Its fate in the House is doubtful
The House Judiciary Committee had short pre-
lmiuary discussion this morning upon three Of the
most important subjects now before CoDgress-the
disposition Of the Geneva award, the repeal of the
Bankruptcy law snd the Civil Rights bill. No def
mite action was taken upon either From the opin-
ions expressed il is probable that Mr.. Buffers bill
for the disposition of the award, which places the
adjudication of claims upon it in the United States
Circuit Court, and shnts out the claims of under
writer's will be adopted. The Committee will proba-
bly, favor the repeal of the involuntary
clause of the Bankruptcy law, if they
20 no further The Civil Rights bill is likely to be
somewhat modified to meet certain constitutional
objections brought against it, and, modified, will
no doubt be reported and pushed through as party
measure. In its present shape the bill prohibits the
States from making certain determinations III legs-
lation against colored people, 1t is held by members
of the Committee that it is competent for Congress
to prohibit the Objectionable actions, but not to pre-
scribe what laws the States shall or shall not make
If they make any which contravene the law Of Con-
gress such laws will be null and void. a" -.
An interesting meeting of the House Committee
on Banking and Currency was held to-day The
whole subject of the currency was freely caDvassed
in conversational way by the members. and the
opinions expressed showed such wide divergence
of views on first principles, that il is easy to predict
that the Committee will not be able very soon to
harmonic upon any measure involving an important
change in the volume character OF the circulating
medium, if they come to any important conclusion
during the session. Speaker Blaine in constitutngthe
Committee appears to have intended that 1T should
represent all the various shades of financial opinion
entertained in the House. and also the lack of definite
conviction, which is the state of mind in which
considerable proportion Of the body find themselves
The Committee although holding as many
different opinions minor points as there are men,
bers may be divided into three classes-trst the
positive infationsts who want to get the greenback
mill grinding and who believe that an abundance
of paper money makes flush and prosperous times
second the incidental iniationists, who want either
free banking OF increase of the present bank cir
culat1on; and, third the conservatives. or antin-
fationists who think there is currency enough in
the country and oppose anything that tends to post
pone resumption The latter propose no war upon
the banks but instead of enlarging their privileges
they want TO make them more secure by prohibiting
them from paying interest deposits and enforcing
the existing law which forbids the certifying Of
checks unless the money drawn upon is actually on
deposit.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr.. Maynard,
appears to have no decided views on the subjects
that are before it. He said this morning that the
field was new to him, and that he had no precon-
ceived theories to bring forward. The question
came no Of how often meetings could be held when
Mr. Hunter said that the country wanted more
money Immediately, and the Committee ought to
meet every day until it matured bill. The anti
inflationists thought week was often enough,
and after considerable discussion they carried their
point. The Committee is understood to stand as
follows: Messrs. Hunter, Hubbell, Niles, and Dur
ham are greenback infatonists Messrs. Hawley,
Phelps Randall. and Mitchell are against all inta-
ton and are conservative on all currency questions;
Messrs. Farwell and Merriam are for Tree banking
and AGAINST imitation except as il NAV result nci-
dentally from free banking; Mr.. Maynard is nncon-
mitted and open 10 conviction.
CURRENT TOPICS At THE CAPITAL
spKAKER BIAINE's REASONS FOR REArroINrNG THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON TIKI CIVIL SERVICE.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Dec. Q, 1873.
sneas.r Blo,ns will proosbly explain tomorrow his
,,,n.nt NJ the Select Committee on the Civil serv-