Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-12
Tie Bill Recommitted.
SENATE.

met at noon.
Vice President Wilson being absent, Mr..
Anthony moved that Matthew IL. Carpen-
ter be elected President pro TEN of the
Senate.
Mr.. Stevenson nominated Allen G. Thur
man.
Messrs. Anthony and Stevenson were APP
pointed tellers. The vote was by ballot.
and resulted as follows: Carpenter, 80;
Thurman, IS; blank, 2; the whole number
of votes cast, As; necessary to choice, %.
Mr.. Carpenter was elected and by Mr..
Thurman escorted to the chair, before tax
ing which he said: 'SSenatorS, please ac-
cept my grateful thanks" The usual order
directing the Secretary TO notify the Pres
iden of the United States and the House OF
Representatives of the election of Mr.. Car
penter was made.
Want a Rest.
Mr.. West submitted concurrent resolu-
tion that when Congress adjourned on
Friday, the 10Th, it be to meet again on
Tuesday, Jan. 6. Objected to by Mr.. Nor
ton, who said there was a decided objec-
tion to that.
Mr.. Anthony moved that when the Sen
ate adjourned to-day it be to Monday next.
Adopted.
Summer ON the Finances.
Mr.. Sumner called up the bill introduced
by him on the first day of the session to
substitute compound interest notes for the
legal tender notes, etc, and addressed the
Senate in favor thereof. He said he was
for specie payment at the earliest day, and
would support any measure to secure that.
Mr.. Sumner said: Imitation was death to
business. Contraction was the proper rem
edy: The bill he offered received the en-
couragement of prominent Iinanciers and
business men. 1t had been approved by
the Boston Board of Trade and leading
newspapers of the East and West. The
substitution proposed by his bill was in the
nature of contraction, but without taking a
dollar from the people. The present disor-
dered currency owed its origin TO Congress.
The eXigency of war has ceased and Con-
greSs should improve the financial cOndi-
ton. The bill was referred to the Finance
Committee.
Big Rebels.
A bill removing the political disabilities
of Thomas 5. BOcock, of Virginia, JnO. IL.
Reagan, of Texas, and others, passed.
A number of petitions asking for the ap-
pointment Of a commission to regulate the
traffic in alcoholic liquors were presented
and referred.
Mr.. Gordon introduced a bill to repeal
the section of the bill of March 3, 1873 for
bidding the free transmission of perf0di-
Gals, magazines and newspapers through
the United States mails and restoring the
franking privilege. Referred.
MIR. Wright said that during his tempo
Z
resolutions were reported from the Commit
tee on Finance. While he did not concur
in either he consented to the one reported
by the majority for the purpose of getting
the question before the Senate. He did
not see the necessity for hasty legislation
on the subject, but was III favor of addi-
tiOnal circulation as the increased pOpula-
ton and business interests of the country
demanded.
A Christmas Jaunt ut Government
Expense.
Mr.. Window offered a resolution that the
select Committee on Transportation routes
to the sea board have authority TO hold a
session during the holiday recess at such
place as they may select, and that they have
power to send Tor persons and papers.
Passed.
Mr.. Ramsey introduced a bill extending
the time for the completion of the st. Paul
and Pacific railroad. Referred.
Precedents wanted.
Mr.. Davis submitted the following reso-
luton:
Resolved, that the Secretary of the Senate
be directed to furnish the Senate all the in
formation in his Office relating to the fixing
of the salaries of Senators and Representa-
tiyes in Congress from the formation OF the
government; in what cases provisions for
salary were made retroactive; how long a
time in each case was covered blythe retro
active provision; the names Of the Senators
who drew their pay under such provisions;
the amount drawn by them respectively,
with the dates Of payment, names of Sena-
tors who covered into the Treasury the
amounts due them under such retroactive
provisions, and the date of such action, and
also a comparative statement of the total
compensation and allowance Of Senators
under the acts of july 2S, 1869, and March
5, 1873, respectively. Ordered printed.
Catch-Penny Economy.
Mr.. Gordon submitted the following
resolution, which he said he would call up
tomorrow:
Whereas, the abolition of ahe franking
privilege was intended to ecOnOmiZe the
expenditures of the government; and where
as, its abolition prevents the general distri-
button to the people of improved field and
garden seeds, thus defeating in a measure
the benefits which would otherwise accrue
to the agriculture of the country from the
establishment of the Agricultural Bureau,
and also discourages the distribution Of
public documents which afford important
information and are educators of the peO-
pie; and whereas, to compensate the people
for these losses there should be an impOr-
tant reduction Of expenditures int the postal
service of the government; therefore,
Resolved, that the Postmaster General
be requested to report for the information
of the Senate: First. What amount Of eX-
pense, if any, has been saved to the gov
ernment by the abolition Of the tranking
privilege. Second. How many employees
in the mail service, if any, have been dis
charged, and how much less, if anything, is
charged by the railroads and other carriers
for the mails since the abolition Of the
fianking privilege. Third. How much less
appropriation will be required for thepostal
service by reason Of the abolition Of. said
privilege.
Mr.. Bogy introduced a bill authorizing
from and after April /, 1874, the payment
of customs duties one half in legal tender
notes and one half in gold.
Five National Samplers.
Mr.. Howe introduced a bill relative to
the liquor traffic. 1t provides for the ap-
pointment by the President, with the con-
sent of the Senate, Of five commissioners to
investigate the alcoholic liquor traffic in its
economic, criminal, moral and scientific as
poets, in connection with pauperiSm. crime,
social vice, the public health, and the gene
raj welfare Of the people, and who shall.
also inquire and take testimony as TO the
practical results of license, restrictive and
prohibitOry legislation for the prevention Of
intemperance in the several States Of the
Union. The commissioners are to be ap-
pointed from civil life, irrespective Of po-
litical or partisan considerations; are to
hold Office one year, TO serve without Sala-
ry or other compensation, except the pay
ment Of incidental expenses, and are to
make their report to the President, by
whom it shall be transmitted TO Congress.
Mr. Spence from the Committee on Com
merce reported back the bill introduced by
Mr.. FentOn early in the session to provide
for the better protection of the Northern
and Northwestern frontier and to facilitate
commerce and diminish the expense OF eX.
change between the States. Referred to