The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1873-01-25
FROM MASHLNGTON

Washington specials state that Mr.. Mon
roe's bill 10 furnish twenty-five million dollars
Of additional currency to the West and South,
will be further discussed and acted upon at a
future meeting of the Committee on Banking
and Currency when all the members of the
committee are present
The bill to refund the cotton tax Is at
tracing much attention in Congress, and l
thirty-five members from the cotton growing
States have signed a memorial stating that
they intend to press the measure at the pre-
sent session This memorial is accompanied
by resolutions from the Legislature OF Ken
tuchy. Tennessee Alabama, Georgia, Missis-
sippi, Virginia and Texas, and memorials from
the Memphis Chamber of Commerce and the
Union Merchants Exchange of st. Louis, in
favor of refunding the tax The bill chiefly
favored is one providing for commission to
be appointed by the President and confirmed
by the Senate, to hear and determine all
claims and direct payment. There are other
competing propositions, but this is the only
one with chance to pass. The claims capa-
bic of being proved mp are estimated at some
thing less than twenty million dollars, and It
is stated that they are nearly all held by the
original parties.
The House Committee on Claims have
agreed to the Senate bill appropriating some
thing like 500, 900 for the relief of Loudon
County. Virginia, claimants, whose property,
principally live stock, was taken by order Of
General Sheridan. sold, and the proceeds con-
veyed into the Treasury. They also agreed
to the bill for the relief of East Tennessee
University, paying $3.50 for property used
and occupied by the United States army.
Bills have been introduced authorizing
the Secretary of War 10 contract for the
building of several light draft snag boats, for
the Mississippi Missouri and Arkansas rivers.
Senator Sawyer has introduced bill in
the Senate which, if it passes. viii stir up
flood of litigation at the expense of the Cen
eral Government. 1t provides for the exten-
sion of the jurisdiction of the Southern
Claims Commission. and opens the Court of
Claims to all citizens of foreign Governments
with whom our Government has treaty rela-
tions. and who resided in the Southern States
during the war and remained strictly neutral,
to present claims for the use of buildings,
stores and supplies, including ships and YES
sells furnished the Federal authorities. during
the rebellion. provision is also made for
appointing special Commissioners by the Court
of Claims to take evidence in every county
pending in said court.
The decision of the Postmaster-G General
that mail matter not fully prepaid at the Office
of its mailing had TO pay double postage, even
though one full rate is prepaid, has met with
such general opposition and censure that the
| house Committee on Post-offces took up the
| question for discussion, and decided unani-
mously, except one vote that Mr.. Creswell's
construction of the law improper one.
The 70 lowing joint resolution then
agreed TO by the committee
Resoiued, That the true intent and mean
ing of sections Isl and 152 of the act to re-
wise. consolidate and amend the statute relative
to the Post-office Department, approved June
8, 1872. are, among other things. that where
one full rate of postage has been prepaid. as
required by law, ON the mail matter shall be
forwarded to its destination, charged with the
unpaid rate, to be collected on delivery. and
that no double rate of postage shall be coli
lected where such partial payment has been
made The Postmaster-General was before
the committee in consultation ON the general
subject of his department. and it is probable
that he will modify his order before the reso-
luton is presented. 1t may possibly go to the
Acknowledgement for his decision. The ques-
ton OF the reduction OF letter postage 10 two
cents for each half ounce, was discussed by
the committee at some length, and seems to
be favorably regarded The Postmaster
General ia also understood TO favor it, II
seems probable the committee win agree to the
proposition for the prepayment of newspaper
postage, in order to avoid the transportation
of large quantities of newspapers which are
never paid for, and not taken OF of the office
"A conference of about forty members OF
Congress from the cotton-growing States vas
held last week in order to arrange upon a com
mon measure for refunding the cotton tax.
There are several bills for this purpose now
before Congress; one was proposed by Mr.
Mckee, and another BY Mr.. Mcintyre, OF
| Georgia. Although there has been strong
feeling in favor of refunding this tax, yet il
has been insisted that the interests of the
producer were not sufficiently provided for in
the Mckee bill- Some important notifications
were ordered TO be made in the Mckee bill.
which were in the interest OF the producers.
and were accepted by the friends of that
measure. This unanimity OF opinion gives .