Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-22

said legal tenders in gold, the Secretary may
redeem them by exchanging the aforesaid
bonds at par for them. Mr.. Gordon submit
ted resolution, which was read and laid
over, instructing the retrenchment committee
to report bill reducing the salaries of officers
of the army and navy whose pay and emolu-
ments now exceed $4,000 per annum. The
House of Representatives passed the salary re-
peal bill, which went through the Senate the
day previous, putting the salary of members
of Congress back to $4,000 per year. The
act does notaliect the salaries Of the President
and Supreme Court Judges. Resolutions were
offered and carried, to the effect that in the
Judgment of the House there is no necessity
for increased taxation or for all increase of
the public debt by further loan, if Congress
shall exercise severe economy; and in view
of the financial condition of the country, this
House will do all in its power to bring about
reduction of the appropriations and expen-
ses. Also, that in the opinion Of this House,
there should be no further loan or issue of
bonds.
The Senate, on the 18th, resumed considera-
ton of the finance committees resolution,
pledging the faith of the United States for the
redemption of legal tenders in coin at the ear
liest practicable period. The bill removing
the political disabilities of William Steele, of
Texas, was passed. The annual post route
bill being called up, Mr.. Morrill, submitted a
resolution for the dscontinuance of mail SER
vice on routes where the receipts do not
amount to one half the expenditures. The
proceedings in the House were unimportant.
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia., as personal expla-
nation, said he was absent from the House on
the day previous, when the vote on the bill
repeating the salary bill was taken. Had he
been present, he would have voted no. Mr..
Lowndes, of Maryland, made similar expla'
nation, stating that if he had been present he
would have voted in the affirmative.
In the Senate, on the 18th, a bill was passed
authorizing the Secretary of War to ascertain
the expenditures incurred by the territorial
authorities of Dakota in suppressing Indian
hostilities. Resolutions were agreed to in
quiring into the expediency of discontinuing
mail service on routes where receipts are less
than oue-fourth the expenses; inquiring into
the expediency of allowing the return, duty
free, of grain sacks manufactured n this coun-
try and sent abroad filled with grain and a
resolution expressing belief that yellow fever
is introduced into this country usually by sea,
and directing the Secretary Of the Treasury
to have prepared by the supervising surgeon
general a history of the yellow fever epidemic
of 1873, with observations adduced from ex-
perience as to the best method Of preventing
its ravages hereafter. A bill was reported for
the relief of the East Tennessee University.
After discussion of the annual post route bill
and the expensiveness Of the postal service, the
resolution of the finance committee was re-
sumed. Mr.. Morton replied to Mr.. Schurz,
holding that rapid contraction would bring
down ruinously the price Of labor and prop
erty. If contraction must come it must be
gradual. The United States could not be
guided by England in this matter. England
being thickly settled, every man living within
five miles Of a bank, and the majority in sight
of one, the facilities for bank credits were
thus much greater than in this country. There
was not the necessity there for so great vol
ume of currency; yet England, with thirty
millions of people, had s6OO,00O,O00 currency,
and the United States with forty millions had
OO,OOO,OOO of currency. Our currency was
not then redundant. A comparison with 9TH
er countries in Europe resulted in similar de-
ductions. In the House, resolution was
adopted directing the committee on commerce
to enquire into the expediency of reporting
bill for the most effectual means promoting
cheap transportation on the navigable waters
of the United States and to prevent combina-
tions to prevent competition, including tug
boat combinations adopted. Also similar
resolution for the committee on railways and
canals in relation to transportation by canals
and railroads; adopted. A bill was reported
from the committee OH the revision of the
laws for the relief of the owners and purchas'
ers of land in the insurrectionary States. The
point of order was made that the bill contains
an appropriation, and it was referred to the
committee of the whole. The House then
went into committee of the whole on the naval
appropriation bill.
In the Senate, on the 18th, Senator Lewis,
of Virginia, introduced bill to remove the
political disabilities of Gen. O. R. Morgan, Of
Virginia, which was referred to the judiciary
committee. The remainder of the morning
was occupied on the postal-route BILL In the
House, Small, of New Hampshire, asked leave
to offer q resolution, instructing the committee
on appropriations to inquire and report how
many horses are owned and maintained by
the Government in the District of Columbia,
the expense and uses of the same, and who
use them, and whether they are required for
the public service; and also as to carriages
and vehicles owned by the Government and
used with such horses. Butler, of Massachu-
setts, objected. Kellogg, of Connecticut, sug-
gested the reference of the resolution to the
committee on Civil Service Reform. Butler,
of Massachusetts, objected, and the resolution
was not received. A large number of private
bills were reported. A large proportion of
the private bills reported in the House, went
to tho oonmittee of the whole. under a new