The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-04-03
FROM WASHINGTON.
Reports of COmmtttees-The Freed.
mems Bank, Etc.

FROM WASHINGTON.
| Reports of COmmtttees-The Freed.
| mems Bank, Etc.
Fred Douglass has been elected presi
dent of the Freedmens Savings Bank,
which has branches in nearly all the
southern states. DIR. @. b. I'uris, an
other colored man, has been chosen
vice president. Forty out of seventy
clerks employed are colored. The new
board OF management stated TO the
house committee Oh banking and cur
rency their desire to make the bank au
institution for colored people, and one
which they would regard as their own
The treasury department has decided
to acquiesce in the decision of the
| United States Circuit Court at New
York, that the wool act of March 2,
1857, was not signed by the president,
and, therefore, not the law until March
| 4tb. This will involve the refunding of
duties on woolen goods and wool i'm
ported on March I'd and Sd, 1867.
The special senate committee on priv
ileges and elections, in the Sykes-Spen-
Ger contest for a seat in the senate from
Alabama, voted to report that Spencer
IS entltled TO the seat.
The senate committee on finance
have held a special meeting at which n
compromise of the financial measure
Eas agreed upon, TO be reported 10 the
senate next Monday. The bill will fix
the amount of greenback circulation
at 1882, 900, 900, thus legalizing the re-
issue of that portion of the $i4, 900, 900
legal tender reserve which is now out
standing, making it part of the perma
nent circulation. The amount that has
been reissued and which is now out
standing is something over S26, 600, 600.
1t will also authorize free banking or
national banking system, but will con-
tain requirements that legal tender
notes shall be retired from circulation
proportionately as new national bank
notes are issued. This latter provision
is regarded as measure OF contraction,
but the preceding authorization for
keeping in circulation S26, 900, 900 of
legal tenders that have been reissued
from the reserve, is considered a sub-
stantial victory for the advocates of an
increased volume of currency, who, it
is understood, will claim in the senate
that the principle having been thus adj
mitted as regards portion of the S44,-
900, 900 reserve, the whole should be
accordingly placed in circulation.
The house committee on military af-
fairs have perfected their bill for the
reduction of the army. 1t is proposed
to cut off five regiments of infantry
and one of artillery and cavalry. This
is to be done gradually by the 1st Of
January, 1875. The number of enlisted |
men is to be twenty-five thousand.
Such officers as may resign before that !
time are to receive n years pay. The |
army, according to the bill, will con-
sist of twenty regiments of infantry, |
nine of cavalry and four of artillery.
The committee on appropriations |
have reported in favor of striking out !
the last section of the bill as it passed
the house which provided that all
claims of all citizens who remained
loyal during the war for stores or sup
plies taken or furnished during the re-
bellion for the use of tho army of the
United States, and for the use or loss of
vessels or boats while employed in Hili-
5ary service as including any such
claims now pending and undetermined
IN any debt of the government, shall be
presented to the southern claims com
mission before Nov. IL, 1875, who shall
lave exclusive jurisdiction to hear all
uch claims now pending and undeter-
mined in the department of the quar-
ermaster general of subsistence shall
IN the passage of this act, be transfer.
ed to the southern claims commission,
ogether with the evidence thereon. |
The house further provided that there
hould be two additional members of
hat commission to devote their time
Il l. IL -. | 4
But the committee reported in favor OF {
tIiking out that section and inserting
he following: The quartermaster gen 9
raj, commissary general and third /
uditor of the treasury shall continue I
D receive, examine and consider the {
lstice and validity of such claims as s
hall be brought before them under the /
ct of July 4, 1864, and the secretary of '
he treasury shall make n report for q
ach claim allowed by them Mt the com q
of each session of congress I
, the speaker of the house of repre-
who shall lay the same be- q
)re congress for consideration. O
The senate committee on public ]
and grounds has submitted I
eport on senate resolution directing I
lem to inquire into the expediency of /
expenditure OF all appro T
riations for public buildings, not yet j
and of covering such APP I
ropriations into the treasury. The i
Ommittee are of opinion that expendi- 4
lres for public buildings, in the pre- r
ent exigency for economy, should be '
Mt down with as much severity as any O
{ the other exUenditures, but that they
ught not to be singled ont as the least I
leritorious of all, and denied in n c
mp In the course of the report it is a
that the following work j
q authorized Immediately TO be done in b
city, in order mainly TO b
lovide needed facilities for the public "
srvice, and save large expenditures for 81
mt of private buildings now used. u
he court of claims should be removed ! q
, the city hall bui ding, to give more b
pace for committee rooms in the capi- b
u, and the city hall should be en- 81
rged so as to accommodate the pen y
on bureau the postoffice department 81
uld be enlarged a building should
3 erected for the printing bureau oi ii
IN treasury department, and part OF is
Ie latter should be extended also n
revision should be made for con- il
library bureau, and the addi- c,
on recently made to the capitol
.ounds should be improved so to carry b
1t the design of their purchase. b
The comptroller of currency has is q
ed a circular calling upon the nation Ii
bank for a report of their condition d
the close of business on Friday, the Il
th OF February. Fl
C,
That Little Hatchet. p