Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-12
CON GREssIONA
The Army Bill Passes House.

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The Army Bill Passes House.
Claims for War Stores May be
Filed to Nov. L, 1875.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.-On motion OF
Mr.. Thurman the memorial presented by
him a few days ago in regard to the gov
ernment of the District of Columbia and
the memorial of the Governor of that Dis
trict were taken from the table and referred
to the joint select committee to investigate
its affairs.
Double Pay for Ku-KIuxing.
Mr. Bayard asked that the resolution Of
fered by him yesterday calling upon the
President to inform the Senate whether
any officer of the United States ARMY on
duty in South Carolina had been instrU-
mental in procuring legislation in that
State to compensate him for services rem
dered in the discharge of his duty, etc, be
passed. South Carolina had been deprived
of $4,000 given as rewards for the ccnvie-
ton of persons under the ku-klux act.
Mai. Lewis Merrill of the army, it was
charged, had received s2l. .4e0 Of that
amount and had been busy in obtaining
the passage of the act authorizing the re-
ward by the South Carolina Legislature.
He sent to the clerks desk and had the re-
port of the commission for the distribution
of rewards read, in which the name of Maj.
Merrill appeared as having received the
above amount.
Continuing his remarks, Bayard said the
convictions were secured by paying those
who had committed murders to testify
against others. Such things were in the
history of the country's administration of
Justice. Many of the men thus convicted
were now languishlng in New York pris-
ons.
wilkes Booth Not Such a Bad One.
Alr. Howe said few years ago the Con
greSS ofthe United States distributed $780,
600 among the officers of the army, for ar
resting one criminal, and not such bad
one either as these miscreants.
Mr.. Scott said it had been his good for
tune to meet Maj. Merrill and he thought
if the Senator from Delaware (Bayerd)
knew him personally, he would not think
be was man guilty Of any bad conduct. II
there was any one man living today to
whom the people Of South Carolina were
indebted for enforcing peace and order and
putting down their Ku-Klux organizations,
that man was Maj. Merrill. He (Scott)
did not oppose the passage of the resOlu-
tion.
Redistributinz tlIe Currency;
The morning hour having expired,
the Chair announced as the reg
ular order the unfinished bust
ness of Yesterday, being The bill for the
withdrawal OF S25,OO0,000 National bank
currency from those States having an ex-
cess and the reissue of it TO States not hay-
ing their pro rata of currency.
Mr.. Bayard moved tllst the Dill be laid
aside formally and that vote be taken on
his resolution without further debate.
Mr.. Patterson objected.
Mr.. Bayard's motion was lost and the
resolution went over,
The chair laid before the Senate a com,
munication from the Secretary of the Trea:
ury in answer to the resolution Of the SEN
ate yesterday in regard 10 the coinage o
silver to take the Place Of the present frac
tional currency. The Secretary says it vii
take four years to coin enough silver Il
replace the fractional currency. Re
ferred.
The regular order. tie bill to withdraw
| S25,0e0,0O0 National Bank currency. was
proceeded with.
Immediate Distribution.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Sherman
| to the section authorizing the comptrOllei
of currency to issue S25,000,0O0 to thOS'
States having less than their proportion
declaring that the Comptroller might do 81
without waiting for the return of the circu
| lating notes of other banks was agreed TO
sT5.OeO.OOa.
Mr.. MerrymOn moved 10 strike out tn
words "25' relating to the amount to 'b'
withdrawn and reissued, and insert in lieI
| thereof SO"
Mr.. Logan opposed the passage of TIN
| bill and said it would interfere with an in.
crease il the currency which he desired
He was willing to let the New Englan,
States have sS0,GO0,000 excess, but h
wanted the currency increased so that tn
people of the West could have the sam
| opportunity as those Of New England.
| Mr.. Anthony said bis State had S2l,030,
600 capital before the war, and have th'
same now.
Mr.. Logan-An1 you have not 60
enough,
Mr.. Anthony-No, sir.
Mr.. LOgan-Then, in heavens name
why do YOU stand here Obstructing the wa
of the Northwest and other sections whic
want more currency? Rhode Island is
great State, a rich Stale. She should hav
twice as much currency an sf5 has now
and Illinois should have none. Then "
would come and borrow from you and pa
you high rate of interest.
| Mr.. Morton said this bill did not GO fa
enough, not one-third of the way II
was right that currency should be equalize
at all, it was right that it should be full
equalized. The West had grown since tn
distribution of 1866, and since the read
justment of 1870. Sixty millions mere {
] National bank notes would not cheaper
greenbacks, nor enhance the gold premium
nor delay resumption. He said currenc
bred speculation. He believed in sp5cUls
tion. 1t was speculation built our raj
roads. The man who built town in Co
oradO was SPeculator and a public ben'
factor. The southern sections of tn
country should certainly be put in pos
tion to get increased circulation if the
| wanted it,
Mr., Ferry, of Michigan, argued again;
an equal distribution of the currency, al
said the West was far below what she wa
entitled to. He was not here TO create an
division of sections on this question in az
vance; yet it was great question, whic
would divide sections, rising above all part
questions. If New England continued I
protest in this manner, the West would dc
niand, and that demand would be felt. Th
West must have money to develop her II
| sources.
Mr.. Stewart favored immediate return I
specie payment.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, said until NeV
England ceases TO bring forth more mapl
sugar and more pretty girls than Othe
States in the Union, she wouldn't escap
reproach in this chamber. He had been i
favor of this bin, and expected to see
pass without debate. We are now eigll
years from the close of the war, and furthe