Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-02-17

committee in relation TO currency, spe cial
order for Thursday next and until disposed
OF. The motion TO suspend the rules was de-
feated; yeas, l4S; nays 80; less than two-thirds
in the affirmative. Mr.. Maynard then gave
notice that II the house went into a commit
tee of the Whole on Thursday. he would move
10 set aside all other bills OH the calendar that
precede the currency bill.
Mr.. Kelley Penn.l offered a resolu-
ton that the members of the house and sem
ate reassemhle in Carpenters hail, Philadel-
phla, ID an informal joint session, on Mon
day, September z, 1874, in centennial COM
memoration of the assembling of delegates
from the several colonies and provinces of
North America, on Monday, September, IVA,
and that the speaker of the house be invited
TO preside over the meeting, and that Vice
President Wilson be requested TO deliver an
address appropriate to the occasion. After
remarks In support of the resolution by
MeSsrS. Kelley and Waddell,
Mr.. Hale lMainel opposed the resolution
as an unprecedented thing. The fundamental
objection which he had to il was that this
was but one OF many measures preparatory
TO having congress appropriate money to pay
the expenses of the great centennial exposi-
tion of 1876, to amount to from five million
10 ten million dollars.
Mr.. Hoar suggested its reference to the COM
mittee on centennial exposition. He thought
IL something disrespectful t0 the senate to
propose that its presiding officer should ad-
dress and that the speaker OF the house should
preside over the convention.
Mr.. Kelley meved to suspend the rules and
adopt the resolutions The motion to suspend
was seconded. The house refused TO suspend
less than two-thirds in the affirmative, the
motion was rel ected.
Mr.. Kasson, from the committee on ways
and means, reported bill providing that
moneys paid into the hands of any collector
or into the treasury, for customs duties in ac-
cordance with any decision or ruling pre-
viously made by the secretary of the treas
ury, shall not be refunded or paid except in
pursuance therefor, or in accordance with the
Judgment of the United States court giving
construction to the law, and from which the
attorney shall certify that no appeal or writ
OF error will be taken by the United States;
also providing that no ruling or decision once
made by the secretary of the treasury in re-
gard to customs duties shall be changed by
the same or a succeeding secretary, ex-
cspt it be In concurrence with an
opinion in favor of such change given by
the attorney general, or by reason of judicial
decision of the United Stares court, affectinz
the same from which the attorney general
shall certify that no appeal or writ OF error
will be taken by the United States.
Discussion of the subject was participated
Beck, Burchard, Kasson and Kelley, the
latter stating that conspiracy of
New York lawyers had been formed
they to have one-half of all sums recovered,
and that enrolled bill i'll the State depart
ment had been tampered with by the chang
ing Of a comma, in order to enable that con-
sptracy of lawyers TO secure reversal or the
decision, and that this had cost the govern
ment two million dollars.
Burchard explained how the6error occurred
and held that the State department was not
for it.
Kelley disclaimed the idea of holding that
department responsible.
Mr.. Dawes went into further explanation of
the matter, and argued that the secretary of
the q easury was right in his decision. What
he Dawes objected to was, that any secretary
Of the treasury should have power TO make
his own construction of the law, and then
draw his warrant on the treasury for the
amount which he decides should be refunded.
That should require the actioh of congress.
Mr. KaSsOn moved TO suspend the rules,
which was agreed to, and the bill passed.
Mr.. Kelley then offered mis- resolution fOf
the celebration of the fifth of September, 1874,
which was referred.
Mr.. Garfield from the committee on appro-
priations reported the regular legislative, ex-
scutive and judicial appropriation bill, and
moved that 1t be made the special order for
next Wednesday. Mr. Woodford argued that
The first great question which called for de-
cision, was the status of the forty-four mil
lions reserve. The house refused to make
This bill the special order for Wednesday, and
& was referred to the committee Of the whole
)n the state of the Union. The house then
Id iOUrned.