New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-19
BY TELE EGRAPH,
CONGRESS-.
Senate.

| WASHINGTON, February lS.-The bill ap
! pointing whisky commissioners to control
alcoholic traffic provoked a sharp debate
| Mr.. Ferry, of Connecticut said the subject
| proposed to be covered by this bill proper.
| ly belonged to the functions of the States,
| and he thought it his duty to warn the Sen
ate what they we're about to do when all
such bills interfering with the jurisdic ton
! of the States were brought up.
Mr.. Wright thought this a very proper
subject for congressional legislation and
saw no constitutional objection in the way.
Mr.. Conkling said the whole object of
this bill was to constitute an inquiry, and
for this reason he saw no force In the OBJ
jections of the Senator from Connecticut
Mr.. Ferry said he had objected to this bill
because of its tendency. 1t was based on
the thousand memorials which had come
here. and which looked to the future adop-
ton of regulations on the subject of liquor
traffic. He deprecated it as making another
steD in the assaults upon the constitution
which had of late years been so frequent
He had heard Senators assert that under
the fourteenth amendment it was in the
power OF Congress to pass any law for the
protection OF life. liberty OF the pursuit Of
happiness.
MIR. Morrill,, of Maine, expressed doubts a.
TO anything practical coming out of the bill
unless there was some provision to pay the
commission, he moved an amendment ap-
prOpriating $4,000 tor the expenses of this
commission.
Mr. COnkling though. $4,000 would
be enough. He said he could name
plenty OF men among his constituents like
Mr.. Bergh, who were willing to devote
their lives without any compensation for
the benefit of society and maintenance
of proper principles.
The subject of finances was resumed.
ScOtt's amendment to provide for the re-
demptiOn of national currency by gold or
United States interest bearing notes, was
defeated by vote of 80 to %. The follow
ing provso was defeated by 40 to l6 "Pro.
vided, That the Secretary of the Treasury
shall once in each month sell to the highest
bidder, for United States notes, coupon
of tho additional bank circulation
issued during the month preced-
ing. which bonds shall bear interest
at the rate of five per cent per annum, pay
ablo quarterly, and the principal shall be
payable at the pleasure of the government
after ten years from their date, both prin-
cipal and interest to be paid in gold coin,
but none Of said bonds shall be sold at less
than their par value, and the United States
notes received in exchange therefor shall
never be reissued, but shall be destroyed
Adjourned. No executive session.
House.
Mr.. Wiltshire was seated by a vote of 1876
to l29. He took the iron clad oath.
A bill providing that whenever any per-
son who shall be convicted of the crime of
manslaughter in any United States court
in any State or Territory or the District of
Columbia, such person shall be imprisoned
not exceeding twenty years, and fined not
exceeding $1,000. amended to exclude
cases now under prosecution, or offenses
already committed, passed
A bill Furnishing TOR extortiOn by officers
or persons acting under authority of the
United States by fine not exceeding $500,
and Imprisonment not exceeding three
years, passed.
A bill that no person shall be prosecuted,
tried or punished in any United States
court for any otfense not capital, or for any
fine or forfeiture under any penal statute,
unless indictment shall be- found or insti-
tuted within five years, except in the cases
of persons fleeing from justice, passed.
A bill to provide for deducting any debt
due the United States from any Judgment
received against the United States by such
debtor, passed.
The Judiciary Committee made an
adverse report on the memorial tor an
OF Almighty God and
the Christian religion in the constitution of
the United States; laid on table.
The House considered the bill for free dis
tributiOn of Congressional documents. seeds
and exchange papers. and adjourned.