Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-17
FORTYTHIRD CONGRESS
"WEDNESDAY. December II.

ment Of home for the cure Of inebriates. Re
ferred to Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Bogy reported from Committee on In
dian Affairs private bill, and took occasion 20
criticise severely the administration OF the Ia
dian bureau, and pronounced the whole Indian
legislation farce from beginning TO end.
MIR. Crsgin, from Committee on Naval At
fairs, reported House bill TO increase the mum
Der of enlisted men in the navy 70 10000.
Mr.: sherman stated that he was opposed TO
the bill, and IL went over.
Mr.. Scott, from the Committee on Claims
| reported adversely on a petition asking paw
| ment for Indian depredations In Minnesota in
| 1862. He asked that the report OF the commit
tee be agreed TO, and said that hereafter in ali
adverse reports he would ask the Senate TO adout
them, as claims which had been reported
| against were frequently sent back to the com
| mlttee. The adverse reports was then adopted.
| Mr.. Ramsey introduced bill authorizing "a.
| Secretary of the Interior to discharge the obi.
cations OF the United States to the upper and
| lower bands of Sioux Indians. Referred u
| Committee on Indian Affairs.
Mr.. Lewis introduced bill supplementary to
| the act authorizing extension of Washington
city and Point Lookout railroad.
Mr.. Davis introduced bill to reimburse the
state of West Virginia for losses of schol houses
| bridges, &c, during the war, caused by the
| military operations. Referred to Committee on
Claims.
| Mr.. Frelinghuysen introduced bill to provide
| for printing the report of the Commissioner OF
| agriculture for 1872 and 1853. Referred to Com
/ mlttee on Printing.
Mr.. Sumner offered a resolution, which was
| adopted, instructing the Committee on Finance
| TO inquire into the eSpediency of reducing the
| national expenditures; of abolishing the office
| Of Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and OFF
GERS under it, for the collection Of ali internal
taxes by stamps, unstamped articles to lie liable
| to seizure and coniscation by any L. S. court
the law to be enforced under the direction OF
the Secretary of the Treasury.
On motion OF Mr.. Wright, the Committee on
Pensions were instructed 70 inq uire into the ex
| pediency of amending the pension laws, SO as 10
allow the same pension for loss of arm above
the elbow az loss of leg above the knee.
| Mr.. EdmuDds moved that the
HOUSE, BILL TO REFEAL TIE BANKRUPT LAWS
| be takenup.
The motion was agreed to, and the hill WAS
taken up and read the second time.
Mr.. Edmunds then moved that it be referred
70 the Committee on the j Judiciary. He aliaded
TO the earnest desire pervading all sections OF
the country in reference TO the bankrupt act
He was satisfied of the impolicy of an absolute
repeal of the bill, but thought that the commit
tee would be able to prepare bill which would
relieve the present law of its obnoxious features
ard would at the same time protect the Interests
of both creditors and debtors
Mr.. Conklng favored allowing the bill to re-
main on the table If il was deemed best to pas
il before the holiday recess. The Judiciary
Committee had already before il the subject OF
the bankrupt act; several bills on the subject
had been referred to II, and the consideration
of them could be made the occasion for the
foundation of any recommendation which the
committee might see proper TO make. The
reference of this bill TO the committee would
interpose delay TO action upon it, and its pros
| poets of passage would then be not better than
that Of the other bills on the subject now before
the committee. The best way to secure early
action on IT. was TO let IL lie on the table. He
would say that the present bankrupt act, with
its fees, its costumes, its unusual methods OF
proceedings, to which neither the bench, the
bar, nor the commercial community was accus
somed, with its opportunity to individual credi-
tors to control the tate of those who owed ia EN-
that this act ought TO be repealed or essentially
| modified, he could not doubt. This was the
sentiment OF every community with which he
| was familiar.
| Mr.. Thurman also wished this matter acted
| on before the recess, and preferred that the bal
should not be referred, but should DC LEFT on thU
table.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen moved that the bill be re-
ferred 10 the Judiciary Committee, with leave
| to sit during the session of the Senate. and g.
report TO day. He indicated his opposition
absolute repeal. We had had three bankrlp-
| laws in the history of the country and ever
one of them had been passed IN seasons of finaD-
| cial disaster. Now, In a season of financial
disaster, it is proposed that we shall have no
The morning hour here expired and the sub
iect went over.
Mr.. Fenton, who was entitled TO the floor
proceeded to read lengthy essay on the gen
eral subject of the finances. He argued strongly
In favor Of immediate contraction OF the cur
rency and the reduction OF the government ex-
peGditures.
Mr.. Crozier stated that he desired to submit
some remarks upon the finances, bat was not
prepared to do SO now. He then called up bill
l lOI inc Tcitl VI Oh lue usage lnuld0
lands, and proceeded to address the Senate on
the same.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Mr.
Wilson (Ind.l rising to a personal explanation
said that in anything he had said yester day in
relation to the lawyers Of Jay Cook having been
employed to prepare the bill TO repeal the bank
!upt act. be had no reference TO any member on
this floor, but he meant that the bill had been
prepared by the lawyers of Jay Cooke.
Mr.. Stephens (Ga.) said that il had bee pre-
sent Yesterday he would have voted for the re.
peal of the bankrupt act and agains: the repeal
OF the salary bill.
On motion OF Mr.. Wilson, Und., } the ,Judici-
airy Committee, which was directed TO inves.l-
gate the official conduct OF tia district Judge OF
the district Of Alabama, was authorized to send
for persons and papers. He also moved thai
the same committee be directed 20 inquire whe-
ther Judge Durell, of Louisiana, should be i'm
peached, and that the committee be authorized
| to send for persons and papers. Adopted.
On motion of MIR. Poland. Mr.. Durant's re
port on the revision OF the laws was referred 10
Committee on Revision OF Laws.
Mr.. Sener (Ns.) offered a resolution, which
was agreed TO, directing the Committee en- For
| eign Affairs TO revise and adjust the compensa-
ton Of consular officers of the United States
Mr.. Stephens (Ga.) presented the memorial
of the Cuban meeting held in New York, re
questiD2 the recognition OF Cuban belligerency.
Referred to Committee on Foreign Affairs.
On motion of Mr. Duell N. VI, the Commit.
tee on Expenditures of Public Buildings
directed to inquire-frst, as to the condition
and management of appropriations for the erec-
ton of public buildings; second, if all the money
had been disbursed in accordance with law;
third, what retrenchment could be made in the
erection of public buildings without detriment
to the public service
Mr.. Frye (Maine) offered a resolution direct
ing the Com mittee on Printing to inquire wheth-
er the printing of the debates of Congress was
not cheaper under the Congressional Globe sys-
tenn than under the present system. Object
ed to.
BILLS PASSED.
Mr.. Dawes from the Committee Of WAYS and
Means, reported back the bill for the redemp-
ton of the loan Of 1855, with the Senate amend
ments. He said that the committee had yester-
day directed him to ask for Q COMMITTEES of
conference, but as there was an important rea-
son why the bill should be passed ct once, the
committee this morning directed him to move
concurrence in the Senate amendments. The
bill vas then passed.
Mr.. Beck, (Ky.,) from the Committee on
Ways and Means, reported . bill to % amend
the laws In relation to internal revenue Is TO
allow distillery warehouses to continue business
after . change in the managers thereof aud
briefly explained the existing necessity for the
passage OF this amendaesry oct. The bin was
WHISKY AND CIVIL RIeHrs.
MI. Butler (MAae.l sid he rose % . privilege
question, and desired 70 report nom the judi
ciary Committee the civn rights bill.
Thu 20Aakrr ar n highof Ufivfl-