The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-04-02
FROM WASHINGTON.
Reports OF Committees-Thc Freed
mems Bank, Etc.


Fred Douglass has been elected presi-
dent of the Freedmen's Savings Bank,
which has branches in nearly all the
southern states. DIR. G. b. puris, 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 OIL banking and cur
rency their desire to make the bank an
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 .
1867, was not signed by the president,
and, therefore, not the law until March
4th. This will involve the refunding of
duties on wooden goods and wool i'm
ported on March ID and 3D., 1867.
The special senate committee on priv
ileges and elections, in the Sykes-Spen-
Ger contest for seat in the senate from
Alabama, voted to report that Spencer
is entitled to the seat.
The senate committee on finance
have held special meeting at which u
compromise of the financial measure
vas agreed upon, to be reported to the
senate next Monday. The bill will fix
the amount of greenback circulation
at 33S2 100000, thus legalizing the re-
issue of that portion of the Sll ,OO0, 900
legal tender reserve which is now out
standing, making it part of the perma
] ,l,tta hnf I,n.
been reissucl and which is now out
standing is something over $2G, 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 rs lew national bank
notes are issued. This latter provision
is regarded rs measure Of contraction,
but the preceding authorization for
keeping in circulation $2G 100000 of
legal tenders that have been reissucd
from the reserve, is considered Il 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
mittcd as regards a portion OF the SILL
600, 900 reserve, the whole should be
accordingly placed i'll circulation.
The house committee on military af.
fairs have perfected their bill for the
re luction 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 LIST of
January, 1873. 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 i'll favor of striking ont
the last section of the bill rs 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 70, the use of the army of the
United States, and for the use or loss OF
vessels or boats while employed III mill
tary service as including any such
claims now pending and undetermined
presented to the southern claims com
mission before Nov. IL, 1879, who shall
have exclusive jurisdiction to hear all
such claims now pending and undeter-
mined in the department of the quar-
termaster general of subsistence shall
on the passage of this act, be transfer
red TO the southern claims commission,
together with the evidence thereon.
The house further provided that there
should be two additional members OF
that commission to devote their time
exclusively to the claims transferred.
But the committee reported III favor OF
striking ont that section and inserting
the following: The guartCrmaster gen
eral, commissary general and third
auditor of the treasury shall continue
10 receive, examine and consider the
stice and validity of such claims as
shall be brought before them under the
act of July 4, 1864, and the secretary OF
the treasury shall make IL report fol
each claim allowed by them at the com
mencement OF each session of congress
to the speaker Of the house Of repre-
sentativos, who shall lay the same be
fore congress for consideration.
The senate committee on pubic
buildings and grounds has submitted
report on senate resolution directing
them to inquire into the expediency o
suspending expenditure of ali appro
priations for public buildings, not YET
commenced, and of covering such ap
preparations into the treasury. Ih'
committee are of opinion that expendl
tues for public buildings, i'll the pre-
sent exigency for economy, should bt
cnt down with rs much severity as any
of the other expenditures, but that they
ought not to be singled out as the leas
meritorious of all, and denied Ill
lump. In the course of the report it Il
recommended that the following worl
be authorized Immediately to be done II
Washington city, in order mainly t.
plovide needed facilities for the publi
service, and save large expenditures 10
rent of private buildings now used
The court of claims should be removed
to the city hall bui ding, to give NOR,
space for committee rooms in the ca9i
til, AMI the city ball should be en-
larged SO rs to accommodate the per
sion bureau the postotfice department
sh uld be enlarged Il building shoul'
he erected for the printing bureau
the treasury department, and part o
the latter should be extended; ais
provision should be made for con
eressional library bureau, and the adJi
ton recently made to the caplto
grounds should be improved so to carr
out the design of their purchase.
The comptroller OF cnrrency has Is
sued circular calling upon the nation
al bank for u report Of their condition
a, the close of business on Friday, tn
27th OF February.