Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-04
CONGRESSIONAL A L.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dee. 3.-Bills were in
| troduced TO provide for the better protection
| of the northern northwestern frontier and
| facilitate commerce between the States; to
organize the Territory Of Pembina and pro-
| vide a temporary government to aid in the
| execution of the laws in Utah. This last
bill embraces all the amendments to the
bill introduced last year.
At 1890 Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, begun
an address on his resolution instructing the
| Committee on Finances to consider the eX-
pediency Of reporting bill to provide for
the resumption Of specie payments Jan. l.,
| 1874.
Mr.. Morrill, argued at length in favor of
the resumption of specie payments, and
urged upon Congress the necessity Of legis-
| lation in that direction. He was not, he
said, welded to any special plan, but
| favored that proposed by a prominent
| financier of New York, that the Secretary
of the Treasury shall issue certificates pay
able in four years, with interest at 3.65 at
par in U. S. notes or gold, at the option of
the holder; requiring banks to keep moi
ETY. of their reserves, and for the govern
ment to give notice that on Jan. 1. 1875, it
| will pay its notes in cash in New 7 ork;
authorizing the government to negotiate a
loan of 100000 in coin at per cent.
per annum; the certificates, as fast as re-
| funded, may be paid out by the Secretary
| of the Treasury TO satisfy claims against
the government. He hoped soon to osubmit
bill providing for the desired return to a
specie basis.
Mr.. Ferry, Of Michigan, moved to take
| up the resolution offered by him on Mon
day, to provide for a settlement Of the
| financial arrangement.
Mr.. Wright, of Iowa, moved that the
Senate proceed to the consideration of the
| executive business, with the understanding
| that Mr.. Ferry be entitled to the floor on
| his resolution tomorrow. Agreed to.
Mr.Stevenson, of Kentucky, presentedape-
tition of $500 citizens of Kentucky, asking
for the passage Of law prohibiting. the
manufacture of spirituouS liquors in terri
| tories of the United States.
The Senate at two o'clock went into eX-
ecutive session. After twenty minueS the
doors were opened AID the Senate ad-
| journed.
Bills were introduced by Mr.. Davis, ap-
propriating S150.000 for constructing a
Government buildingat Charlestown, West
Virginia; by Mr.. Sherman to provide for
redemption of the loan of 1853. This bill
is same as one introduced in the House by
| Mr.. Davis.
| Mr.. Pratt submitted a resolution instruct
ing the Committee on Judiciary to inquire
whether Congress has constitutional au
| thority to create corporations for construct
| ing railroads or canals penetrating two or
more States, and whether it has authority
| to regulate rates of railroad transportation
| over existing roads chartered by States,
which, by consolidation, have continuous
| lines running through two or more States.
| Mr.. Fenton's bill to provide for better
protection of the Northwest frontier, etc,
| provides for loan of $S,000,000 i'll United
| States 1850 a per cent bonds to be made
| by the United States Government to the
State of New York for the purpose of en-
larging acqueducts and one tier of locks on
the Erie and Oswego canals to a capacity
to pass vessels of war % feet in width and
200 in length, and merchant vessels of two
tons burden, propelled by steam, wherever
said canals are less than 80 feet wide.
The bill also provides that after the pay
ment of the debt for which canal revenues
are now constitutiOnally pledged, and after
the canals are thus enlarged, their net rev
enue shall be paid into the Treasury of the
United States until the proposed loan o.
eight million is repaid. Bonds are to bt
issued upon the report Of commissioners as
the wOrE; progresses every three months.