The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-02-12
Forty Third Congress First Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. Feb. II.
Sevaral petitions were presented, including
one from the Mexican veterans of New York
for PENSIONS
Memorials of citizens, and memorial of the
Governor of the District of Columbia, were
taken from the table and referred te the Joint
Select investigating Committee.
Mr.. Bayard called up the resolution calling
for information as to whether the officers of the
army received mOuey from South Carolina for
services rendered in the discharge of their
duty.
A debate ensued, during which documents
were read showing that Maj. Merrill of the
army, had received $21, 400.
Mr. Scott defended Maj. Merrill, but didn't
oppose the resolution.
The morning hour expired, when Mr.. Bayard
tried to have the bill for the withdrawal of $25-
100000 bank currency from States having an
excess, laid aside, but was unsuccessful.
The bank currency bill was then taken up,
The chair submitted communication from
the Secretary OF the Treasury in answer to the
the capacity of the minis for the coinage of
silver, other than trade dollars, is about S1O,-
100000 per anAum, as the issue of fractional
currency is $40000,000 it will take four years
to coin enough silver to replace the fractional
currency Referred to Committee on Mines
and mining.
The regular order, the bill to withdraw $685.
900, 900 of national bank currency, was pro-
ceeded with. The amendment offered by Mr..
Sherman to the section authorizing the Comp
troller of Currency to issue the $25, 000, 900 to
those States having less than their proportion,
and declaring that the Comptroller might do
so without waiting tor the return of circulating
notes of other banks, Was agreed to.
Mr. MerrimOu moved to strike out the words
twenty five, relating to the amount to be
withdrawn and re-issued, ard in place thereof
insert 'seveniy-fve."
A long and rather spirited discussion follow
land to having part of its bank currency
drawn and given to those States that have not
their quota
Messrs Morton, Logan and other expansion
lists urged further issue of b nix currency and
Messrs. Anthony. Morrill, of VT, and others
insisted that any further expansion of the cur
rency would result in evil only.
Without reaching vote ON Mr.. Merrimon' s
amendment, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Several bills on Indian affairs were introduc.
ed and referred.
mttee making stringent provisions relative to
contracts and agreements with the Indians by
private parties, and that no government official
shall recognize contracts unless endorsed by the
Secretary of the Interior and the Indian Com
missioner. Passed.
Another bill from the Indian Committee, con-
tanning detailed provisions to prevent fraud up
ON the Indians. Reported and passed.
MIR. Roberts of New York was excused from
serving on the District Investigating Commit
tee, and Mr.. Bass of KY, was appointed
The amendments by the Senate to the joint
resolution for a court of inquiry into charges
against Gen. Howard were agreed to.
Mr.. Foster Of Ohio, from the Appropriation
Committee, asked leave to report substitute
for the resolution of Mr. Randall of Penn, re-
lative to the Sanborn contracts, directing the
Secretary of the Treasury to furnish full copies
of the contracts and of all schedules, cores
pondence and orders CT the department relat-
ing to them, statement of the amounts paid
to them d to whom, Sc.
Mr.. Butler objected to the resolution and it
was not received.
The House went into Committee of the
Whole on the army appropriation bill. A large
number Of amendments were offered and re-
jected, when the committee rose aud reported
the bill aud amendments to the House, all of
which were adopted and the bill passed.
The House then went into Com mittee of the
Whole on the fertilization bill. The estimates
of half of the bill, including \ aine, etc. were
considered and adopted, when the committee
rose and adjourned to "A o'clock to consider the
bill revising the statutes. r-tr