New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-05


gress from raising its own compensation.
The Committee will probably adopt the caucus
BILL and will present it either tomorrow Monday.
II is their intention to allow limited amount of de-
bate before calling the previous question. The only
question will be upon making some increase in the
old salary to compensate for stationery and mileage,
now abolished and in lieu of allowance for post
age The bill will unquestiOnably be passed by an
overwhelming majority.
THE FIRST BILL DAY. OF THE SESSION.
THE PROBABLE COURSE OF LEGISLATION INDICATED
Two HUNDRED AND THIRTY-Two BILLS INTRO
DUCED, AMONG THEM BILLS TO REPEAL THE IN
CREASE OF SALARIES, AFFECTING THE CUR
EESCY, REGULATING FARES on RAILROAD
FREIGHTs, RESTORING TIE FRANKING PRIvI-
LEGE, RECOGNIZING CUBAN BELLIGERENCY, AND
FOR VARIOUS OTHER PURPosEs--A MULTITUDE
OF OLD AND NEW JOBS.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The first bill day" of the
session is always interesting occasion. The old
members show, by the measures they Introduce the
notifications their opinions have undergone while
mingling with their constituents during the recess,
and the new members, impatient to have a hand IN
the work of legislation and to show that they have
IDEAS of their own are prolific in bills that. while
: orally somewhat crude, often contain many fresh
and valuable suggestions. The Hood of new bills
and of old bills rejuvenated, which pours in upon
the Clerks desk from every quarter of the Hall as
the States are called. often furnishes outline
sketch, faulty in parts but instructive as who'll,
from which it is possible to gain an idea of the
probable conrse of legislation for the coming session
To-day 232 bills were introduced, beside a number
of resolutions proposing to change the rules Of the
bn hills IN rnpaa1 tho incrnasa of
salaries, elsewhere spoken of, the most important
class of measures was that embracing bills affecting
the currency. They were surprisingly numerous,
and among them were nearly all our old acquant-
ances of the past FIVE siX years, and plumber Of
new plans never preached before The well known
three-sixty-ive introcOnyertibility plan that has
been floating about Congress for long time was
presented by Mr.. Kelley. Several bills offered
to initiate the currency by putting out whatever
amount of greenbacks Mr. Richardson has left OF
the Si4,O00.0OO that was called in by law. There
were, however none for direct issue of additional
legal tenders. Plans for expanding the national
bank circulation abOunded. proposing absolute
free banking and Others the issue of the 2j000000
of circulation required by the present law TO be
taken from the banks in certain States and given To
Others which have not their quota, Is additional
currency. leaving the law uneXecnted.
Cmiousy enough, there was no bill for resumption
of specie payments although one offered by Mr.
Burchard requiring the banks TO retain the gold in
terest on their bonds as a part OF their reserves.
looked in that direction. A novel plan to secure
some elasticity in the currency and at the same time
to authorize free banking was that introduced by
j. NJ Wilson of Indiana. This bill proposes torepeal
all limit on the bulk of the national bank circula
ton, all requirements for the banks to keep on baud
reserve of legal tenders and to prohibit the paying
by one bank to another of any interest deposits
1t provides that as fast as national bank notes
are issued the Secretary of the Treasury shall retire
legal-tender notes until the amount retired, added
to that already retired shall amount to 800 600
and this shall constitute the lega-tender reserve
ANY person. firm or corporation, who desires to
any OF this legal tender may obtain il by depostng
in the Treasury u. ). bonds for the same amount.
These bonds may be redeemed by their owner BY
returning the legal tender and paying the interest
that has accrued on the bonds.
Next to the bills finance the most noticeable
feature OF the calf was the number OF measures
to regulate fares freghts on railroads by direct
Government interference. These measures are the
immediate results of the Grange movement, and all
emanate from the West Some of them 90 no further
than to impose penalties for discriminating charges.
while Others go TO the length of providing for the
fixing of rates by boards of Government commissions
Among the miscellaneous measures. was bill
10 restore the Thanking privilege, which Mr. Leach
of North Carolina had the hardwood 10 Introduce,
and one presented by Mr.. Eames of Rhode Island to
reduce letter postage to cent. Mr. Cox presented
the only bill offered for the recognition OF Cuban
belgerency. Mr.. Hoar revived his old scheme Tor
devoting the proceeds of land sales among the States
to aid education. A few members labored under the
deluson that political capital could be made at this
late day. by presenting bills to eqnalize bonnties.
The first bill for removal of political disabilities
came from Mr. Young of Georgia, and Mr.. Randall
of Pennsylvania made the first move to repeal the
now useless " iron clad" Oath--another vestige OF
the days Of prescription.
multitude of old and new jobs appeared. among
them being ali the canal schemes OF last winter
end bill TO saddle the debts Of the Southern states
upon the General Government Finally. there were
ten twelve constitutional amendments, providing
for the election of Senators by popular vote; Tor
making the Presidents term Elk years, and making
him o,h IN there AfteT