Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-14
FORTY.THIRD CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, May IL.

there was q quorum In attendance.
| The roll was called and only thirteen Sena-
/ tors answered TO their names.
Mr.. Window said the Committee on Appro-
priatioDs had obtained leave TO sit during ths
/ sessions OF the Senate, which accounted for the
absence Of the Senators who were on that com
| Mr.. Hamlin said number of other Senator
| were probably engaged in the committee rooms
| The Chair said the rules of the Senate pro-
| hibited the transaction of business in the alb
| sence Of quorum, and his attention had
| been called to the absence of 30 many Senators
this was the reason of his action to-day.
Mr.. Salisbury moved to meet hereafter al
| TIE Chair said no motion could now be made
| but motion to adjourn.
| Mr.. Chandler then moved to adjourn, but af-
| terwards changed it into motion for call OF
| the Senate.
The roll being again called 10 Senators, 3 more
| than quorum answered to their names, and
business was then proceeded with.
Mr.. Pratt, from Committee1on Pensions, sub
| mitted adverse reports on a large number OF
petitions for pensions for soldiers and soldiers
| widows Of war Of 1872. He explained that such
been directed a few days ago by q majority
| Of the committee to report fsvorsbly
| the House bill giving pensions OF 80 per month
| gard to time Of service, and also to the WIDOWS
| OF survivors In reply to question from Mr..
| Salisbury, he said he would call this bill up
although there were some features of the biii
| which did not meet his approval. In answer to
i question of Mr.. Merrimon, he said there was
| no provision in the bill for the soldiers of the
Mr.. Spencer, from Committee on Commerce.
reported House bill for relief Of owners OF steam
ferry boat A. Burton, Of Illinois. Passed.
| Mr.. Boutwell,, from Committee on Commerce,
reported, with amendments, bill to relieve
| ships and vessels in certain cases from payment
of compulsory pilotage fees.
Mr.. FrelInghuysen, from Committee on Com
merce, reported House bill in reference to ope-
Tst1ons OF shipping commissioner act Of June,
Mr.. Gordon, from same committee, reported
bill to change the name of schooner Jennie
Spear to Sarta Rosa. Passed.
Mr.. Conover introduced bill to change the
laws relating to the United States district courts
in Florida. Referred to Committee on the Ju-
dietary.
Mr.. Conover submitted q resolution REQUEST
ing the President, If in his opinion il is expe-
dent, to transmit to the Senate copies of the
correspondence in the case of the arrest Of r. A
Dockrsy by the Cuban authorities.
Mr.. Cenklng objected to its present consider
alton, and it went over.
MIR. Hitchcock called up the bill to incorpo-
rate the Capitol north y street and South
Washington railroad.
Mr.. Morrill, (Vt.) said he would object to the
bill unless that part of it authorizing the lay
ing of tracks on Massachusetts, avenue was
struck out. This avenue was unquestionsbly
the finest in the city, and it ought to be pre-
served from these Railroad tracks.
The bill was then laid over until tomorrow.
MIR. Gordon, from Committee on Commerce,
reported House bill for the relief Of Charles j.
Sards, OF Brooklyn, n. Y. Also, from the same
committee, reported adversely on the House
bill amending section 10 Of the diplomatic and
consular act OF August Is, 1856.
Inc bill prohibits consular agents from
ceing absent from their posts for a longer
period than ten days without the permission OF
the President, and also prohl bits such agents
nom corresponding in regard to the public at
fairs OF any foreign government, with any per-
son other than the proper officer OF the United
States
The committee was discharged from the fur
Their consideration of the bill.
Mr.. Crsgn called up bill for the relief of
Philip 5. Wales, medical inspector United
The unfinished business, being the currency
bill, was then taken up, the question being on
the amendment of Mr. Wright, providing that
the proportion of greenbacks to be retired shall
0e % instead of so per cent.
Mr.. Washburne asked ifthe Finance Commit
tee contemplated to com pei the government to
retain also portion of its gold ia reserve, to be
ready for specie payment.
MIR. Sherman.-No; and such an attempt
would be useless. The government had surplus
revenues, which, unfortunately, is not now the
case.
MIR. washburne thought ID at the government
should take also a step In the direction ofspsce
payment, as il required il of the national banks.
IL he became satisfied that it would be TO the
interests OF the country that the circulation OF
national banks should be done away with, and
government issue all the currency, he would
favor it. But in all fairness he would say TO the
committee that he entertained serious doubts as
to the effect the bill would have. Its passage
might cause greater uncertainty than that now
hanging ever the country, and probably the
country would better off withoutit than with it.
AS to whether il would work contraction or ex-
pansion would depend upon the number of ma
tional banks organized under it. He thought
the banks would be apt to wait until 1877, when
they could get bonds at par.
The amendment OF Mr.. Wright was adopted,
YRA.-Mc ssrs Alcorn Aljson RoOr par~ran
Can eros, Csrp,ster' O1ayton, Conover, Dennis,
DON Harvey JOhsstcS Lnssn Mco1es s
~, Msrrimon, Mitchell, Morton, Oglesby. Pstter-
West, Widow a% Wight Spencer Upton
:. RAxs-Messrs Anthony. B.yara, Chandler, oonk,
aaser. Hsmilton Md J. Ha@iites n eTe.asl. Ham
In. Howe, Morrill, Mej, Morrill, iYt.J, Sargent,
SsIlsR W sohusz, Scott Sherman, Stewart, Thur
Mr.. Chandler moved to lay the bill on the
table; lost-ayes 10, noes IS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Lowndes (Md.) introduced bill making an ap-
preparation to purchase a building adjoining
the Army Medical museum, to be used for
scientific pu rposes. 1.-THE property consists OF
stable and carriage house, and Is offered for
sale by DIR. A. Y. p. Garnett, for between three
and four thousand dollars.l Referred to Com
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
Mr.. Durham, Ky) from Committee on Bank
ing and Currency, reported back the bill to
FRRKDMAN's SAVINGS AND TRUST COMPANY.
MIR. Durham proceeded to explain, and re-
ferred to the several acts Of ncor alton OF the
institution. The purpose OF the charter was Q
good one to enable the freedmen to lay up their
money, no matter how small the amount may
be. The committee had examined into the con-
dition of the bank, and while they could not
discover the least evidence of fraud, there had
been Irregularities, and the bank and its
branches were not as solvent now as they ought
to be. But the bank has been &c well conducted
as any banking institution in the country. He
called attention to the fact that in the crash of
1873, when other banks went under, the Freed
mans bank sustained itself, although called
upon to pay large amounts to depositors. The
originator OF this banking system did certainly
confer Q vast benefit upon the colored race.
Under the original acts there was no provision
whereby the banks could be wound up, but this
bill points out method to that end. He thought
that this institution deserved, and should COM
man1, the fostering care Of the government,
for he believed the colored people would save
two dollars where they would not save one, IL
required to mako deposits in q bank not con-
trolled by men Of their own color.
Mr.. Bromberg (Ala.) had read the report Of
the examiner, Mr.. Meigs, to show the condition
Of the bank, and said the examiner had sup
pressed facts In the case. In other words, when
Mr.. Meigs made his report he had not heard
from all the branches, and reports which he
(Br0mberg) had received from the Controller
showed that beside the deficit of s2l7 900 in the
ar Wa thara In