Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-02-11
Congressional Proceedings Doings
Committees, and General News
Of tbs City.
Debate in the Senate on the Distribution
Ct the Geneva Award-msursnce
Companies to be Left Out.
4 PrOhibltory LIquor-LaW Desired in
the District Of COlumbia-SenatOr
Wilson's Resignation.
Senator POmerOy Says a Piece IN the In
terest OF Pomeroy-He Asks Fer ami
Is Granted q Committee Of
Investigation.
Expert Of the Committee or the Loaisi
ana Eleeti0ns-The Electoral Fste Of
Neither Party Correct.
WAsHINGTos, February io
CoNGREssIONAL PROCEEDINGs.

CONGRESSIONAL EkOCEEDANGS-
IN THE SENATE.
memorial from the clerks was pre-
sented, asking for q prOhibitory lquo
law in the District OF Columbia.
1 Senator PomerOy rose to a persona
explanation. He said that he embraces
the first opportunity to make q state
Il ment personal to himself and IN justice
to the officers, members and body 0
Senators. The public were aware of thi
deep and successful conspiracy laid t,
accomplish his defest-a Yillainy un
paralleled. He denied now every state
ment made affecting his integrity. H,
pronounced all the allegations made
against him as specifically false. He
had never entered into an agreement
with any member of the Kansas Legis
lature, and had never paid one dollar Il
any member of that body to vote fO
him. He asked for a special committee
composed largely Of his political Oppo
nents, to investigate in the fullest anC
promptest manner the charges against
him, so as 10 make a report before hi:
term expired, the committee to havt
the power to compel the attendance ol
witnesses. He concluded by offering s
resolution for the appointment ofa select
! Investigating committee Of five. The
resolution was adopted.
The Viee-PTesideut announced SIS 8
/ Special Committee to Investigate the
charges against Senator Pomeroy-Sen-
at0rs Frelinghuysen, Buckingham. Al
corn, Thurman and Vickers.
The Viee-President submitted letter
! from Hon. Henry Wilson, announcing
that he transmitted to the Governor Of
Massachusetts, his resignation as Sena-
| tor, to take effect at the end Of this Con-
gress.
Senator Morrill, (Maine) offered re-
solution that a select committee be ap-
pointed to consider the testimony trans
mitted by the House, affecting certain
Senators, with leave to sit during the
session Of the Senate. Adopted.
Senator Window, from the Commit
tee on Public Lands, reported with
amendment the bill extending nine
months as the time allowed the st. Paul
and Pacific Railroad Company for the
completion Of its roads.
Senator Ramsey Of the POstoffice
Committee submitted an amendment
to the postal appropriation bill, directing
the Postmaster General 70 contract with
the Webb Line Of Steamships for an ex-
tension OF the existing mail service be-
tween San Francisco and Honolulu,
New Zealand, and Australia, touching
az NaYigators Island, thirteen round
trips yearly, for four hundred and
twenty-five thousand dollars.
Senator Hamlin, from the same COM
mittee, submitted an amendment to the
postal appropriation bill, directing that
a contract be made with F. Alexander
& Sons, and other prOprietOrs Of the
New York and Mexico Steamship Line,
for carrying the mails between New
York and Vera Cruz, V5a Havana, semi
monthly, at five thousand dollars per
trip, for ten years.
Senator Terry (Michiganl, from same
committee, transmitted a proposition
for making the existing mail service be-
tween New York and Brazil semi
monthly, with a total annual subsidy of
four hundred thousand dollars.
Senator Cole submitted an amendment
intended for the proposed postal appro-
priation bill, directing the Postmaster
General TO write proposals for carrying
the mails between San Francisco and
Australia, at q maximum annual COM
pensatiOn OF three hundred snd sixty
five thousand dollars, the Postmaster
General to have the power to terminate
the contract by giving two years notice,
being what is known as the Burnside
subsidy bill, with its maximum rate OF
pay increased one hundred and forty
thousand dollars.
Senator Logan called up the House
bill TO provide for the erection Of a mill
tary prison at Rock Island, Illinois,
which was discussed and laid over.
81 Nr>-S Sh,rw,,,, T.,
| Committee on Printing was Instructed
10 inquire into the best method Of dis
posing Of public documents sfter July l.,
1873.
House bill extending the Southern
Claims Commission for four years was
taken up. The question being on the
amendment Of the Senate committee,
extending il to January l, 1873, which
was agreed to. The second amendment
was to exclude all claims not present ted
on or before March 8, 1878. The
amendment was opposed by Senators
West and Hill, and the bill was laid
over for further action.
Senator Martin, from the Committee
on Privileges and Elections, submitted
q report relative to the electoral vote Of
Louisiana, which was laid on the table
and ordered TO be printed.
Senator Patterson, from the Commit
tee on the District Of Columbia, submit
ted a recommendation for Rn appropTia-
ton OF one hundred thousand dollars to
improve the harbor Of Washington; re-
ferred to the Committee on Appropria-
tions
Senator Thurman, rom the Commit
tee On Private Land Claims, reported
L. -, 1,rr ~ rhgrr, -
Bowling TO q portion Of Goat Island.
Senator Davis reported a bill to pro-
vide for the erection OF public buildings
at Parkersburg, West Virginia; passed.
On motion OF Senator Sherman, the
Vice President was authorized to sp-
point the teller, on the part Of the SEN
ate, to count the electoral vote on
Wednesday. - a
The unfinished business being the
Alabama claims, the bill was then taken
up. Senator Frelinghuysen argued
against paying any portion Of the fund
that they had recovered their ad-
vanced war rates; that it
was their business to take such
risks, and they charged accordingly; /;
besides, as all know, stock Of insurance
companies, as Of other corporations, is
constantly changing hands, and, as a
general thing, the parties who paid loss-
G. would not be the parties who would
now receive this allowance. The ship
owner has no legal claim, because his
loss was Occasioned by the act in war of
a public enemy. The man who had o
lust claim was the merchant whose
goods were destroyed, and who had no
Insurance. Every intelligent citizen
knows that the injury done US by Great
Britain was q national injury, and il was
perfectly absurd TO make any argument
on point so plain.
Senator Buckingham argued for a
plan OF distribution by which each case
could stand on It's cwn merits.
Senator Stewart argued in favor Of the
pending bill and its provisions in refer
ence 20 Insurance companies. He also
held that they had no claim whatever
on the United States.
Senator Corbett also argued that there
was no Just claim on the part Of In
surance companies.
Senator Bsyard said he wanted to 60
so far as to insist that the stockholders
Of insurance companies should have
equal standing before the law with all
other citizens. Many stockholders OF
these corporations were of that class
which always challenge our sympathy.
Widows aud orphans were no more re-
spOnsible for the war than any other
class Of citizens. II Insurance rates were
higher daring the war, they we're law
fully higher; their profits were Just as
legitimate g. profits Of merchants, who
had extra hazardOus ventures during the
war. -
The motion Of Senator sherman to