The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-04

through our minister in Mexico concern
ing the Mexican records relating to lands
in Arizona and New Mexico, and the best
method and probable cost OF procuring
transcripts Of the same.
Mr.. Frelinghuyson offered q resolution
to print 265, 600 extra copies Of the report
fol the Commissioner Of Agriculture,
Referred.
Mr. Thurman introduced o bill 10 di.
vide Ohio into three Judicial Districts
and Tor other purposes.
Mr. Hamlin's resolution, instructing the
Committee on Appropriations To inquire
into the expedienCy Of reporting such ap.
preparations as will include just proper.
lion Of the expense Of improvements now
making by the board Of public works In
the District Of Columbia, which should
be borne by the United States, was adopt.
ed.
The Vice President appointed as a
committee Of conference on the bill to
provide for building six new sloops Of
war Mcssrs. Cragin, Morrell and Bayard.
At one o'clock, the unfinished business,
Webb's Australian steamship subsidy bill,
came up.
Mr.. Ramsey offered an amendment
providing that the subsidy shall take et.
feet from the datefof the contract with
the Postmaster General 81 4
Mr.. Thurman's pending motion to lay
the bill on the table, made for the purpose
of killing the bill, was then agreed to.
Ayes, SO; nays, 81.
A bill. Ito provide for a United States
public building at Atlanta, Gsd was
passed.
On motion Of Mr.. Sherman, the >ubsti.
tute reported from the Committee on FL
nance for the Buckingham banking bill,
was taken up. After some debate the 3rd
section Of the substitute was amended so
as 10 make it mandatory upon the bank
ing associations on and after January 1874,
to redeem their notes at such localities as
are now or may be thereafter designated
bylaw, either in coin Or United States
legal tender notes. The 9th section was
struck out as being already in substance
q law.
MIR. SChurz said that as this bill would
enable everybody to convert his green.
backs into United States securities, 1t
might be presumed that when money
was easy the amount Of grecnbacks flow.
ing into the Treasury for conversion
would be very large. He therefore would
ask the Chairman Of the Finance Com
mittce, MIR. Sherman, whether the Secre.
ttary ofthe Treasury, with the permission
gived by the bill, would not have it in his
power, whenever there should be q little
stringency, TO flood the market with these
accumulated greenbacks, and thus con-
troll the money market Of the United
States. go
. Mr.. Sherman replied that under the ex-
isting laws the Secretary of the Treasury
had the power to do just what Mr.. Schurz
feared he might be able 10 do under this
bill. Indeed, all our laws relating TO the
Treasury depended for their value upon
the fidelity and integrity Of the Secretary
Of the Treasury. II the Secretary chose |
to do anything harsh to promote his own
intercstor any other interests, he had the
necessary power.
DIr. Bayard said that after such ad-
mission as to the power OF the Secretary |
OF the Treasury, Congress could hardly
be too quick in placing that officer under
tho control OF the law, so that the welfare
Of the country should no longer be sub
ject to his judgment or caprice.
Mr. Sherman said he was in favor OF
limiting the powers Of the Secretary of
tho Treasury SO far as the nature of
things would permit. He would be glad
to have some one point out what further
limitation was practicable.
Mr.. Buckingham stated that in his
Judgment there was not a provision in the
bill of the committee tending to the re-
sumption Of specie payments, and he in
dicated some amendments which he
would offer at the proper time. @
Mr. Thurman moved an amendment
reducing h@interest on bonds to be ex- |
changed Tor greenbacks from 8 to 3 per
cent. ln ,s ts
Mr.. Edmunds reported from the Judici.
ary Committee an amendment TO the
bankrupt bill Tor the relief Of the Boston |
Insurance Company, sufferer by tho late
fire, which passed.
Pending further action on the finance
bill the Senate went into executive
session and soon aieer adjourned. u'fl