Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-09
HOUSE.

WAsfISGrdE, spril s.-Mr. Negley,
| from the Committee on Commerce, report
! ed bill giving consent for the erection Of
a bridge across the Arkansas, at Pine Bluff,
! sfS. t,aasssseett:
Mr.. Sessions reported bill to provide
for sale of the present marine hospital,
and the erection Of new marine hospital
at PittsbuTg. After remarks from Messrs.
Nealey. Randall, and Speer, in explanation
and advocacy of the bill
Mr.. Garfield offered au . 1tfendn1eItt ati
thOrislng tine Secretary oi the Treasury %
contract with the city authorities of Pitts
burg to care for such persons as are now
cared for in the marine hospital. Amend
| irieT1t rejected and the hill passed.
One Man Power.
Mr.. Plat, from the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds, reported bill au-
thOriEing the Secretary of the Treasury to
defer operations on public works author
| lied but not yet commenced, or to proceed
with the satne - be 'hey deeth best fo- the
! public interest. Referred, ON a point of or
der, to the Committee of the Whole.
A Juggle with the Labor Reformers.
Mr.. Kellinger, from the same committee,
made report on the subject of the alleged
violation of the eight hour law in the New
York pOStOfiice building. The committee
reports that the law is not Being violated iri
tile work done under government super
vision, and as to the work done under coz
tractors, there is no way of enforcing the
| law.
Mr.. Cox believed the eight hour law
should either be carried out or repealed. 1t
had not been carried out In public build
ihgs 6ithst in New fork CT elsewhere.
There was juggle in that business, and he
wished the House TO take action on the
subject. He had brought it to the attention
of the House and that was all he could do
in the presence of the adverse report.
Mr.. Plat denied Mr.. GoS's stqtemeut IS
to the violation Of the eight hour Law on
public buildings by express orders of the
Secretary of the Treasury.
Mr.. Killinger remarked that he did not
think it necessary to have the testimony
taken by the committee printed.
Mr.. Cox said he would like to have it
printed.
Mr.. Killinger-The committee has no
| objection. .
The rsprrt and testimony We're ordered
printed and the committee discharged from
further consideration.
More Law instead Of Enforcement.
Mr.. Woodford from the Committee on
Civil Service Reform, reported a bill pro-
viding that no officer of the United States,
shall directly or indirectly receive or be
paid for his own use or benefit any money
or property of the United States, except his
salary or compensation, and that no public
property shall be used bg officials, or by
any person FOR private purposes. The act
is not to be so construed as to prevent the
payment of all actual necessary travelling
expenses when travelling on legitimate and
necessary duties pertaining to their offices.
MIR. Maynard inquired how the bill
would affect the collectors Of ports whose
compensation was made up largely of fees.
Would il restrict them to their salaries and
no more.
Mr.. Woodford replied that it would.
Mr.. Dawes offered an amendment by in
serting the words or make any private profit
oruse of thelabo services of any person en-
ployed by the United States, which labor
service is paid for by the United States.
The morning hour expired and the bill
went over until tomorrow.
The House then resumed consideration
of Che
Currency Bill.
Mr.. Coburn made a speech in favor of
the bill. He denied the assertion that
what the South and West lack was not cur
rency, but capital. He maintained the
contrary, that it was not capital they
wanted, but currency. The census tables
shows that they had wealth and capital in
abundance, quite enough to command the
respect and silence of those who insoIently
made such a statement. He could see no
safety in contraction and none in standing
still. The bill passed by the Senate was
now on the Speakers table. So far as it
went it was measure of relief, and his ad-
vice would be to adopt that measure with
out amendment as the best thing that could
be done at present. Specie payment was a
myth everywhere. The banks always sus-
pended on run. Time and credit would
work the government out of debt and bring
up the currency to a gold point. At the
close of the war the paper circulation was
twice its present volume and the people did
not suffer, but prospered. The pains of
contraction had been felt. Business had
increased and more currency was needed.
If contraction was necessary, why did not
the great Eastern bankers who urged it give
the example by Withdrawing their circula-