National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-01-21

Hcls-of-Wnr-bin Dny IN Tue house-
Miscellaneous business.
SENATE.
wAsnIseroS, Jan. ~, is7o.
LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
Mr.. Wilson presented petition OF Wendell
Philips and others praying the appointment Of "a
commissioner TO investigate the subject Of the
liquor trafic. Referred to Committee on Reyl-
sion Of the Laws.
BOSTON RELIEF BILL.
Mr.. Carpenter, In behalf Of the majority Of the
Judiciary Committee, submitted a written report
adverse 10 the COnstitutlonalIty OF the Boston
relief bill.
Mr.. Edmuuds, In behalf Of himself and Mr..
Wright the minority Of the committee, submit
ted report fayOring the bill.
Both reports were ordered TO he printed
BANKRUPT LAW.
Mr.! Edmunds, from the Judiciary Committee,
reported adversely various House and other bills
rePeslllg o. amending nc bankrupt ., law
mIttee, submitted new bill In reference TO the
DEPARTMENT or JUSTICE.
Mr.. Elmunds offered a resolution instruCtng
the Attorney General TO report to the Senate the
operations Of the Department Of Justice for the
last fiscal year, together with such operations VI
the same Department for the present fiscal year
US he may deem advisable. Adopted.
On motion Of Mr. Carpenter, the Senate con-
Curred In the amendment OF the House to the
bill liking the time for the annual meeting Of the
Supreme Court.
TELEGRAPH LINES.
Mr.. Stewart offered a resolution instructlng
the Committee on Post Onces to inquire into and
report to the Senate as soon as practicable the
cost OF construction and the present market
value Of existing telegraph lines now In success
full operation within the United states, and the
character Of the franchises and special privileges
Mr.. Conkiing objected to the present considera.
ton OF the resolution, az he wished TO offer
MI n ,NrunnttsVn
Bills were Introduced:
by Mr.. windom Fixing $3.50 as the minimum
Femsang 10 III nsd sstn. wib nv tSs mis
81 grants for rail or wagon roads, excepting
lands within indemnity lpits and claims Of pre-
existing homestead laws to soldiers and sailors.
in the navy the same as that now nxed BY law
by Mr. Anthony Directing the Postmaster
Generalwlth the consent Of the President, to con-
tract with the lowest bidder, within three months
the mails between San Francisco and Australia
and New Zealand, touching at the Sandwich and
Navigator Islands; the service to be performed
monthly for ten years from July l., lsil, in first
class Alnerlcan-built steamships Of not less than
1900 tons burden, and at compensation not ex-
mlttee on Post 0nices and Post Roads.
The bill reported by Mr.. Wright from the judi.
eiary Committee repeats the bankruptcy act Of
March 2, 1851, and all supplementary amendatory
acts said repeal to take effect on list day Of next
July; provided that this repeal shall not in any
way AFFECT any proceedings In bankruptcy COM
menced before the list day Of next July.
DEPARTMENT OF CUSTOMS.
Mr.. COfbett offered q resolution lnstructlng the
Secretary OF the Treasury to report to the Senate
rs to the condition Of the business Of the depart
ment Of customs, the amount Of force employed,
and what Increase Is necessary TO put the busl-
ness and accounts Of the ofllcc In proper condi-
ton. Adopted.
SIX STEAM vEssEls-oFNwAR.
Mr.. Cragin, in accordance with previous no
n a hR In
construction Of six steam yessels-of-war, the
amendment reported by the Naval Committee
increasing the number to ten, as originally re.
ported by the House Naval Committee.
Mr., Cragin said the Importance Of this measure
was so great that he could hardly deem II posi-
ble that II would provoke any opposition, or that
Il could TAKE more than an hour TO pass 1t, ltwa,
absolutely necessary TO preserve the efficiency Of
our naval marine. lie then briefly reviewed tn,
condition Of the navy, COntendnR that the bes
interests OF the country required the building O
more war vessels,
position both TO the original bill and the amend
ment. lie read statement Of the number o
war vessels now In commission, and argued tina
was no necessity whatever for any increase O
our naval establishment lie commented upoI
the large yearly expenditures for the navy, las
year before the war. The Inference might b,
that this large expenditure was due to corrupt
Ing and denoralzlng influences. But he pre-
ferIed rather to take the view that by this larR
expenditure the navy was In such condition o
efficiency that no further expenditure was neces
lection IN any portion nor Of he SababIe p"b r pro
lie had failed to discover any good or practice
reason for THIS proposed increase Of the navy
well-settled principle that we were not to riya
European nations In the magnitude Of thei
armies and navies; Il was nothing 70 us hoN
much they had We had eschewed their politics
institutions; hut u we were to go into emulatln
them In keeping up large standing armies an
immense naval ornaments, we would next dt
nRaD0flan N
opposed 10 Increase, In the absence Of any eme
geney, either In the army or navy, regarding
as an unnecessary and onerous tax upon the II
dustry OF the people and as dangerous to the
liberties. Much was said nowadays about
but certainly there was no decadence In expend
lures LOT Us support. Judging by us cost, o.
navy must now De Twice rs htge ~ ever oeIoIt
ahu " ought 10 Oe reuuceu' " was very pleasan
NATIONAL nae wHersyer t6ey Went thronghont n II
Noitu, Dut u Gust 700 inuCh 70 ptoNlue lhem VI
E IN sunulhg army a1d ~ navy We y
Doln uhnRetOus 70 lrceuohl, Dut o. lhe TWO y
navy was the more dangerous, because no d
ienee agalnst u could ne llhpIoNlsen. Inc W.
r MTn ,nS na S0 U, , pc maui , n%
IIesnoLn nal Deeh wei hInstIa'eu not long ~
Ut ne" ioIh anu new OlIeahs, .
,,, Nh. SiE ADyoCAIhp I'VE BILL 4,
ISst sun should 20 down Il would 70 down on Il
hSlOhAl navy. a.. , ,,,,
MI, ML. cole THOUGHT lhat slH Vessels audiIlo o,
would be enough, and mat there was great
need iof additional Legislation 10 promote o.
commerce than 10 build more war vessels. .
Mr. stockton replied 70 tne argument OF N
llamlllon, and contended tnal We were plac
cAly without navy. II we could not make Q
navy compare with that Of other countries '
hau oe,,er ABOLISH y a'ogetnet' ,.,,,- -, Z,
MT. MOrflll, OF Me-, argued IN favor OF I
bill.
Mr. MfARD WAS NOT NEhsk -
70 the bln, but Thought u TOO INDEFINITE III teiil
1hefe was no restriction as 70 the size OF the
vessels. lie called attention 70 tue TACT that !
Anana, when w 80 hs g,. aesuct ~ 70
nine huhdTeu TONS, anu ne moved these new y,
sels 10 Oe bullt SHOULD moi eAceeu nine huhuf
tons. a., -. .. - .
nenllng dlscussiuh' the senate ~ ESo p !
auJoufned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Ellis AND RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED.
Under the usual Mondays call OF states
bills and Joint resolutions, for reference on
the following, among others, were introdu'
and referred to the committees named, viz:
by Mr.. Poland, Of VI: A bill providing for
distribution Of the Geneva award, Judiciary,