The Grange advance., 1873-12-24
CONGRESSIONAL.

CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.-Washington, Dec. Is. Mr..
Sumner presented petition of citizens
of Pennsylvania asking Congress to
take steps to provide for the settlement
of foreign difficulties by arbitration.
Mr. Sumner said the petition was re-
sponse to resolution by the British
House of Commons.
In the House over three hundred
bills were introduced to-day.
On the 10th, the Senate was occu-
pied principally with the discussion on
the Louisiana senatorial contest between
Pinchbeck and Mcmillan, but no decis-
ion Was reached. In the House Mr..
Willard introduced resolution instruct
ing the committee on civil reform to
inquire whether reduction can be
made in the cost of civil service, in the
number of officers, and their compensa-
ton. The bill repeating the bankrupt
act Of March End. 1867, was passed.
with saving clause as to cases now
pending, in which the fees of officers
incurred hereafter are to be reduced
one-half MIR. Hale's bill fixing the
salary Of Congressman at $500 per
annum, and repeating the Salary Grab
bill, except as the President and Judge
Of the supreme court, was discussed, du-
| ring which Butler offered an amend
ment to the effect that every one who
had received back pay should have that
amount deducted from his future pay.
This amendment was lost of course. No
vote was reached on Hale's bill.
On the 11th, in the senate Mr.. Sum-
ner introduced resolution instructing
the committee on finance to inquire into
the expediency of abolishing the office
Of Commissioner Of Internal Revenue
and other Offices under him. Mr.. Pratt
offered resolution restraining national
banks from receiving higher rates of in
terest than are allowed by law In ad
dressing the Senate OH report of finance
committee Mr.. Fenton said, "Instead
Of an expenditure by the government of
over $27 100000 more for the past fis-
cal year than for the previous one, we
must have decrease Of twice that sum.
He favors a reduction of paper currency
and return to specie. Mr.. Window
called up the House bill to adjourn over
the holidays. It was lost in the Senate.
When the House bill making special
appropriation of 81, 600, 900 for the navy
was called up Mr.. Sumner said II am
against the appropriation $of another
dollar in any such direction The facts
| are not yet sufficiently before the coun-
try, but think it my duty to declare
that this expenditure should stop this
hour, this minute. I think it an ILL.,
omened expenditure
Mr.. Sherman favored the appropria-
tion on account of the extra expenses
growing out Of the Virginius affair: but
| favored reduction Of expenses. Last
month the public debt was increased
over nine millions, this month it would
reach ten or twelve millions. The bill
passed.
In the House the substitute offered by
Mr.. Hurlbut. of Illinois, for Mr.. Hale's
salary bill was passed. This provides
that the salary Of Congressman shall be
$4,000 per annum, payable monthly,
and in addition thereto, actual expenses
in going to and returning from the seat
of government once in each session.
The speaker is to have $4,000 extra
and the Vice President the same as
the Speaker. There was an attempt to
secretly change the bill so as to give
the two latter officers $4,000 instead of
$4,000, but was discovered in time to
be defeated.
On the 18th Senator ingalls, of Kan
sas presented petition asking bounty
Of 100 acres Of land for soldiers in the
late civil war. Senator Sherman said
he would vote against the printing of
every public document unless some
means was adopted Of distributing them.
The report Of the financial committee
was then taken up and discussed at
great length. Senator Boutwell, op-
posed contraction or expansion. He
favored the maintaining the present
minimum Of currency. Senator Howe
thought that to add single dollar to the
present amount would be little less than