The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-05-15
FROM WASHINGTON.
Bills IntrOduced-New Finance Bill-The
Freedmen's Bank, etc.

In the house the following bills have
been introduced For the construction
of the Fort st. p lillip canal In Loulsl-
ana, at q cost not exceeding the esti-
mates, tie yearly installmehts not TO
exceed four million dollars granting
aid in the construction of a canal from
Rome, Ga, to Macon, and a canal con-
Meeting the Tennessee and Coosa rivers,
| by guaranteeing the bonds of the COM
pauies in the first case not to exceed
twenty-three million dollars, and In the
latter case fourteen million dollars.
Mr.. Vance offered a resolution in
structing the committee on ways and
means to inquire into the propriety of
repeating the tax on leaf tobacco and of
changing the character of the fines and
penalties for the violation of the inter
nal revenue law. Adopted.
Mr.. Sergeant introduced bill rela-
ting to army distinctions. It provides
for repeating those sections of the act
of 1866, which limit the service of col
ored men to a certain number OF regi-
ments. 1t proposes to open all regimen
tai and company organizations, and all
other branches of the military service,
alike to all American citizens, regard
less of race or color; makes it the duty
of the secretary of war to obligate their
transfer and assignment cf all such ex-
listing distinctions, and provides that
the number of colored soldiers in the
army shall by enlistment be made to
correspond with 15a proportion of the
colored population of the United States.
Mr.. Goldthwaite introduced a bill to
aid the construction of q steamboat
GalrIaV, Kx, NUatYv,aV,lyo A 1o
It provides for a government guarantee
of the interest of thirty-year bonds of
the company to the extent of $50, 600
per mile, and for a grant of eight sec
tions of the public lands for each mile
of canal along the Coosa river, the
whole canal, 40 miles in length, to be
completed within six years, and is to
transport government troops and sup
plies free of charge.
Mr.. Stewart introduced a bill to re-
sumo Legislative control of the District
of Columbia and provide for the govern
ment thereof.
Mr.. Pease submitted resolution re-
questing the house to return to the SEN
ate the bill of last week, appropriating
800, 900 for the relief of persons suffsr-
ing from the overflow of the Mississip
pi river. He said his object in submit
ting the resolution was TO have the bill
again before senate, that he might
move to increase the appropriation. He
had a telegram from the governor of
Mississippi, stating that at least $4,000
people were suffering, and another from
the sheriff of a county stating there
we're 5000 persons in want of bread
there. He (Pease) had conference with
the secretary of war Saturday, and that
officer said the amount of the appropri-
alton would supply but small number
of persons, not more than the number
in Louisiana alone. He appealed to
congress to be charitable to these sui-
fering people, and said he would call
the bill up tomorrow If the senate
should order its return. The resolu-
ton was agreed to.
Mr.. Thurman introduced a resolution
the finance committee to in-
quire and report whether the provision
Of law forbidding the sale of tobacco
by the producer thereof to any person
not licensed dealer, ought not to be
repealed.
The supreme court has decided the
case relative to the Slidell
property, and several other similar
cases, holding that the proceedings in
the district court, in pursuance of which
The property was sold, were regular,
and passed full, indefeasible title TO !
the purchasers, Notwithstanding the |
repeal of the law under which the pro-
took place.
Tt seems to be settled that the expose |
Of the affair of the freedmen's bank |
will lead to the winding up of the bank |
and it's branches. A bill has already |
oeen prepared for this purpose by one
IF the subcommittee on banking and
currency. This course seems to be
and yet it is regretted, as it
S believed that the sale of its real es-
ate will show large falling off from
he assessment at which it figures in the
lssets of the bank.
It is stated that the senate finance
committee has virtually agreed upon a
dill embodying the following features
/. Free banking. 2. Greenback re
Iemptior, as provided by the present
banking law, and that for every 81, ,000,-
100 of bank notes to be issued there
hall be retired 81, 1000, 900 of legal ten
lers. 3. Abolition of the reserves to
protect bank circulation, except the five
Der cent. required to be be kept at the
United States treasury department for
mutilated currency. 4. Spe-
lie resumption in 1877 or 1879. It is
lot probable that such bill as this can
PASS congress. The contractionists aud
,astern men are Just now very fruitful
,f schemes, but they lead in no direc-
ion, and involve a contraction of green.
packs either now or some years hence,
10 as to swell the profits of creditors
nd capitalists, and make it hard for
he debtor class. The contractionists
profess now a readiness to have S25,-
100, 600 of bank currency redistributed,
nd some say that il it be not done, il
Vill go hard with the republican party.
The president has signed the bill pro
iding for the issue, temporarily, of army
upplies to the people on the Lower
in danger of starvation.
According to the terms of the Louis
lille and Portland canal bill, which has
ow passed both houses of congress, the
ecretary of war is directed to take
of the canal thirty days after
Is passage.
The senate select committee on trans
ortation has agreed to report bill in
avor of the iettv project of Capt. Eads
u the mouth of the Mississippi river,
18th the object of bringing the subject
efore the senate.
The encouragement has decided that
hen mail contractor fails to fulfill his
new contract cannot be made
-ithout advertisement; also, in order to
ender mail contract valid, a complete
chedule of route should be embraced
4 the advertisement.
The house committee on appropria-
ions has agreed to report and recon-
lend the immediate passage of bill
ppropriating ninety thousand dollars
3 enable the secretary of war to carry
ut the provisions of Mr.. Morey's bill
or the purchase of supplies Of food, to
,e issued to persons suffering from the
nundation of the Lower Mississippi.
Suread of Certain Diseases.