Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-02-06
HOUSE.


phia Board of Trade asking the establish
ment of an Ocean mail steamship service
IN American built iron steamship with Eng
land. !
The Natural Rights of Producers.
Mr.. Beck from the Committee on Ways
and Means reported amendments TO the
internal revenue laws: The first section
restored the provision of the law of 1862,
allowing producers of tobacco to sell at the
plac5 OF production TO consumers to an
amount not exceeding 500. The sc cond
section proposed TO increase fractional parts
of barrels required to be stamped by in
Guiding thirds of barrels. The third sec
uon proposed TO provide that man who
made wine from grapes raised by himself
might sell at the place of production with
out paying the So special tax now required.
The bill passed.
Mrs. Wood Again.
Mr.. Moore, Chairman of the Committee
on Invalid Pensions, proceeded to make
report of the pension bill, but before doing so
commented unfayorably on the action of
the House yesterday in passing bill max
lug the pension OF the widow Mrs. Wood
date back TO the date of her husbands |
death. The rule was that pension should |
take effect from the passage of the bill, and |
there was no propriety in making distinc-
ticn between the widows of general officers
and the widows Of private soldiers.
MIR. Blaine, the Speaker, who Yesterday
left the Chair and introduced and advocated
the bill referred to, again took the floor
and defended the propriety of that meas
ure, remarking that it was the only instance
of person of the lineage of Gen. TAYLOR
receiving any benefit from the Government
of the United States.
A large number of pension bills were
passed.
Memphis Wants to Bridge the Missis.
sippt.
Mr.. Packer from the Committee on Roads
and Canals, reported a bill authorizing
the construction OF railroad bridge across
the Mississippi river at Memphis, Tenn. In
reply to question by Mr.. Fnkelnburg he
stated that the main span Of the bridge was
to be at least 400 feet in the clear, and that
the bridge might be built with draw.
MIR. Finkelnburg opposed the bill, remark |
ing that all were agreed that no bridge with |
draw should be built over the Mississippi |
below st. Louis. Such bridges had already |
done damage enough above that point, and |
such detriment to commerce should not be |
permitted below that point, and it was |
questionable whether any bridge should |
be permitted between st. Louis and New /
Orleans. The Merchants Exchange, of |
st. Louis, had met yesterday in order to
consider that subject, and he expected to
hear from that meeting tomorrow. He
hoped that the bill would either be recon-
mitted or referred to the Committee of
Commerce.
Mr.. Cox gave notice that he would move
to lay the bill on the table.
Mr.. Potter asked Mr.. Packer whether the
bill had been recommended by the Engi-
neer officers of the Government.
MIR. Packer replied that it had not, but
that the interests of the Government were
entirely guarded by making the matter sub
iect to the judgment and control of the Se-
cretary of War.
Mr.. Potter cautioned the House against
repeating the blunder it had committed
some time ago in authorizing the bridge
across the Ohio river at Cincinnati, which
had subsequently to be CHANGED at great
expense, for which the Government was
now held responsible. He was satisfied
that no bridge should ever be permitted by
Congress across any of the great rivers of
the country without the most careful coz
sideration aud without the examination and
report Of some officers Of the Government
not connected with private interests.
The morning hour expired and the bill
went over without action till tomorrow.
Postal Expenses Reduced Si,5OO,OOO
by AbOIishiDg Franking.
The House then went into Committee
of the Whole, Mr. Burchard in the chair, on
the postoffice appropriation bill. The bill
as reported Jan. Is appropriates $32, ,503,-
767 Of which all but $6,S10, 602 are to come
from the revenues of the the department.,
but Palmer who has charge of the bill re-
marked that since the abolition of the frank
ing privilege the Postmaster General was
willing to have the appropriation reduced
by 81, 100000.
Letter Carriers.
Mr. Cotton offered an amendment in
creasing item for letter carriers from 81 ,600,-
000 to $l,700,000, and allowing their en-
ployment in places with population of
10000 inhabitants within the Postoffice de-
livery.
After long discussion involving the