The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-09
x1IIId CONGRESS-.
SENATE

StAlos Senate by Mr.. Gordon, Of Georgia,
granting aid 10 tho Atlantic and Great Western
Ship Canal. This IL project for uniting the
nAvigGble waters Of the Tennessee river with
the lido watern Of tho Atlantic.
On motion Of Mr.. Wright, OF Iowa, tho
Senate took up tho bill toprovidO for the APP
pOintmont Of q commlssion on the subject OF
followed this. Air. Upton Of EOb., hAd the
United States realized ninety millions Of dollars
every year from the liquor traffic, and should
make inquiries into the subject.
The yeas and nays were taken on Mr.. SCOTS
amendment 10 the currency bill, and Il was lost
-yeAs, IS; nays, 3d. Mr.. HoWO's amendment
was also rejectCd-by yeas. 10; nays, 40.
The currency bill being under discussion, Mr..
camorons amendment, repeating all acts Of
Congress which limit or may DO construed to
limit or restrict tho entire amount Of national
bank notes for circulation, was rejected by q
vote OF 90 yeas TO ~ nays. The question 70.
curing on Mr.. Atcrrfmoh6 amendment, Ia.
structing tho committee 10 report IA soon "a
practicable \ bill providing for the increase Of
National Bank circulation, 30 that the whole
volume thereof shall not exceed 900, 000, 900,
bIr. Gordon submitted q substitute, instfucting
tho committee 10 report AZ soon rs practicable
q bill for free banking. and providing for tho
eonyortibility Of United States Treasury notes
into loE interest bonds or gold coin, at the
option Of the Government, and tho bonds con-
yertible into Treasury notes at tho option Of
tho holder. RelectSd-Yeas, 20 nays, 30.
Mr.. Cooper, Of Tenn, moved to insert tho
following - q substitute for Mr.. Merfimon's
amendment ;-ThAt the Committee on Finance
DO instructed 10 report q bill providing for tho
conyertibnity Of United States Treasury notes
into gold coin or hyo per cont. bonds OF the
United States, aud also Tor FREQ banking under
tho provisions OF the National Bank act.
Adopted without roll call.
The Senate discussed tho tariff question, or
that part Of Il where an error Of comma had
led 70 the loss Of half million Of dollars Of
revenue, and which might lead to the loss OF q
larger amount Mr.. Sumner remembered hay.
ing been told by q learned Judge Of tho United
States Supreme Court that he never regarded
punctuation In interpreting q statute, and Il
was not believed the Government would DO a
loser In the matter when decision was
rendered. L
Mr.. herrimonG amendment 10 tho currency
bill was adopted by yeas % to nays Is. Mr..
MeTimon's amendment al adopted instructs
tho committee to report "A soon ~ practicable
bill providing for tho Increase Of tic national
bank circulation, no that the whole volume
thereof shall not exceed s4O0, 000, 900.
Tho currency bill being under discussion
Mr.. schurz spoke At length In favor Of specie
resumption. Mr.. Morton, Of Indiana, in reply
Ing said our currency was tho best tho world
ever raw Of ia kind. lilo argued that specie
payments could not be maintained now az We
owe about 81, 800 900, 900 In Europe, 1000, 0O0-
900 In Government bonds, and 500, 900, 900 In
railroad and other securities. Tho interest on
these bonds had TO be paid In gold, thus drain.
ing the country OF sGO,0OO,O 900 OF $4,000. 900
every year. Russia had hor bonds hold In
England, Germany, and France, and was an
nuRlly drained Of her gold 10 pay the interest
thereon. The result was that Russia had
suspended specie payment for years 10 with
Austria and 80 with Italy, and all those coun-
tries are now In state Of suspension and must
continue 40 for some time. This country n In
tho sAme condition and must remain TO- Undor
tho present currency tho country had pros
pered moro than 1t ever did before, and the
system would admit OF expansion Of tho cur
rency when necessary.
HousE.
The House took IN the contested election
case from tho Third District Of Arkansas; Inc
majority report bOlng that ". W. Wiltshire was
entitled TO the scat, and that Of tho minority
being TO recommlt tho matter with instructions
to tho Committee on Elections 10 make report
on It's merits. Mr.. Wiltshire was given the
seat.
On motion OF Mr.. Cox. of New York, the
Committee on Pablo Buildings and Grounds
was instructed % Investigate the alleged VIC.
lAtion OF the Eigllt-Honr law In the work on
the New York Poat"oAlce, with power 10 sond
for persons and papers.
Mr.. Frye, Of Me-. from the Judiciary Com.
nitteo. reported a bill providing that any nor.
son who shall DO convicted OF the crime Of
granddaughter In any United States Court In
any State or Territory, or In tho District OF
Columbia, shall DO imprisoned not exceeding
twenty years, and fined not exceeding $1,000,
lie stated that under tho existing law the
maximum imprisonment for manslAughter 4
three years. A proyiso was inserted that the
act shall not Affect any prosecution now pend.
ing or the prosecution Of any offehse already
Committed. Passed
Mr.. Frye reported the bill making the
punishment for oxtortion by officers or persons
acting under tho authority Of the United States
q fine not exceeding $500 and Imprisonment moi
exceeding three years. Passed.
A bill providing that no person shall DO prose.
cutod, tried, or punishedin any United State,
court for any otrenso not capital or for AM
ano or for feiturc under,any penal statute unlesi
indicted, or Information shall DO found or In
stituted within Ave year, except In tho case Of
persons fleeing from justice. Passed.
A bin providing that when an occupant Of
| Puthl Aauu AANllk Nglut VI tlklVt uhh ullut
valuable improvements thereon and his title Il
found Afterward not To DO good, he shall bt
entitled 10 all the rights and remedies as prn-
yidod in such cAsos In their respective Slater
or Territories. Passed.
The bill reported by the Post. Office Com.
nlttec in regard 10 tho distribution Of public
documents canno up a. tho special order. Il
provides for the distribution Of public doci.
ments printed BY authority Of Congress, and Of
seeds furnished by the Agricultural Depart.
ment for tho free exchange Of newspapers
between publishers, and for tho free trans.
mission OF weekly newspapers Nv mai within
tue county where published.
Mr.. Poland, Of VI, reported bin 10 provide
10 ftho appointment Of a commission on tlo
subject Of the alcoholic liquor traffic, Tho com.
mission to consist Of five persons, who arc Ia
serve without pay for two years, but are 10 be
allowed all necessary incidental expenses, and
. Secretary az e, 900 a year, Referred TO the
Committee of tho Whole, s7 r
Mr.. Butler, Of Mass, made an adverse report
on tho memorial for an Acknowledgement o.
Almighty God and the Christian religion in Inc
Constitution Of the United States. Laid on
tho table.
Mr. Potter. OF N. Y. reported a bill 10 on.
tablish an additional Judicial District In The
State Of New York. Referred to the Committee
Of the Whole.
The House took mp the bill for the dstribu.
ton OF public documents printed by authority
Of Congress, seeds furnished by the Agricui.
tural Department, for The free exchange Of
newspapers between publishers, and for the free
transmission OF weekly newspapers within the
county where published.
During tile discussion Mr. Garfield, ot Ohio.
said he would vote for that part OF the bill al.
lowing FREQ transmission 10 weekly newspapers
in the counties OF their publication. Tho whole
country newspaper press had been almost
fatally crippled by the repeal OF tho iranling
privilege. In bis Judgment tile 5000 weekly
newspapers OF the country were the best real
Oxpononts Of public opinion. A man WHO