The Portland daily press., 1874-01-29
HOUSE.

Mr.. Garfield of Ohio from the Committee GU
Appropriations, reported a bill to revise con-
solidate and amend the statutes in relation to
the estimates OF appropriations and public ac-
counts; also bill to reduce the expenditures on
public buildings.
Mr. Patti of New York, moved that the lat
ter be referred to the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds.
Mr.. Holman of Ind, favored the immediate
passage.
Mr.. Garfield stated that the City of Boston
claimed to be heard before the Appropriation
Committee before the passage of the bill, and
the committee had fixed tine time when the
representative of that city should be heard
w. r. Roberts of New York. appealed to Mr..
Garfield to urge the measure at once. and stat
ed that the Democratic side of the House
would sustain him in it. The bill was finally
referred to the Committee on Public Buildings
ard Grounds
Mr.. Hale of Maine, from the Committee on
Appropriations reported bill establishing life
saving stations and appropriating $11,OOO.
Passed.
The House went into Committee of the
Whole, Mr.. Kellogg in the chair. On the army
appropriation bill, the bill appropriates $2S,
449.916.
The bill includes the following items:
Recruiting, $105,000; pay of the army, etc..
$11 450, 900; subsistence, 81 452 900; supplies of
Quartermaster's department, $4,5OO,OOO; incl
dental expenses of Quartermaster's department.
$1,300,0O0; purchase of cavalry and artillery
horses, 200; transportation of the army,
$4,000000; quarters for officers and troops, ST.
100000; clothing and camp equipage, 81 $780,
900; national military cemeteries. $3.50, 600;
nance service at arsenals, S200,000 metallic
ammunition for small arms, 500, 900; ordnance
stores, 100000; army equipments, 100000.
Wheeler explained the bill and where it had
been reduced.
Albright of Pennsylvania, deprecated the
cuttiDO down of The opria ciu 70
save money believing that such course in
many instances as false economy. If they
stop building Custom Houses and Post Offices,
and discontinue work on public buildings in
Washington, it will not be necessary to reduce
the army.
Mr.. Beck gave notice that he would offer an
amendment that no mileage be paid to any Off
Ger of the government in excess of actual trav-
cling expenses.
After considerable discussion the committee
rose.
Mr.. Potter of New York, presented memo
rial of New York bankers and merchants
against initiation of the currency Referred to
the Banking Committee.
Mr.. Cox Of New York, offered a substitute
for the bill introduced in the House by the
Ways and Means Committee, fixing the status
of an over issue of United States Notes, Re-
ferred to the Committee on Banking The sub
stitute is as follows.
Whereas, The Secretary of the Treasury
caused to be Used United States notes to sum
Of. in excess of 1856, DOC, 900 the amount
authorized by law the same being in every re
spect like legal tender tender notes of the
United States; and
Whereas, Said notes were issued without arl-
thority of law and are not legal tenders;
Whereas. Congress cannot give them the
attribute OF money, inasmuch as Congress has
not the constitutional power (under a recent de-
clson OF the Supreme Court) to make anything
by gold or silver legal tenders, except in sea-
sous OF great emergency, and as a last resort in
defence OF the government; but
Whereas, said notes have been issued and
paid to public creditors, and are therefore a
Just debt against the government of the United
States; therefore
Be it enacted, ETC., That certain illegal is
sue OF U. S. notes amounting to the sum of -
issued between the - day of - and the
day of - are just debt against the
United States, but are not legal tender, and are
redeemable at the pleasure of the government
in legal money, or convertible at the pleasure
OF the holders into U, S. bonds known as the
new 5sper cents,
ury shall cause to be prepared Immediately on
the passage OF this act a full ald complete list
designating the denomination and numbers oil
over issue, and hallscause the same with copy
of this act TO be delivered by mail or otherwise
to each and every national bank and to be
Published in one newspaper in every city con-
tanning 200 inhabitants in the United States
and thereupon it shall be the duty of every ma
tional bank on receipt of the list and copy OF
this law to Immediately stamp each note which
they then be possessed of; and thereafter every
note which may then be presented to them
which are including in the list furnished by
the Secretary as follows: This note is moi
legal iteuder." Provided further, that said
notes shall be receivable by the government
for all dues except duties on imports, and pro-
vided that when received into the Treasury,
they shall be cancelled and not reissued.
The House during the evening session, pro.
crossed as far as the 225th page1 to the end of
the judiciary act, and adjourned at quarter
past nine o'clock.