Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1874-03-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
BUSINESS Men Of New York Alarmed at
Imitation.
EirsI Session E0rty.third Congress.
WASHINGTON, Maich /.
SENATE.

Senator Fenton presented memorial
men Of New YORK ~ Expressing s alarm &C
the unlawful action of the Secretary of
the Treasury in issuing the reserves, that
never before had any civilized government
resorted to putting out irredeemable pa
per currency in time of peace and asking
Congress to Immediately prohibit the
Secretary from issuing any more of the re-
serve, and to withdraw at once the amount
issued to this date. Referred to the Com
mittee Oh Finance.
Mr.. Fenton said the signers to tue me-
mortal represented at least $4,000, 900.
Mr.. West submitted reselution i'll
structing the Committee OH contingent
expenses to enquire as to the propriety of
text book published by w. IT. & Q. III.
Morrison; also including the national
banking laws and information concerning
the public debt. Adopted.
Mr.. West moved TO postpone the Cen
tennial bill and take up the Army Appro-
priation bill. r ,.- .-
Mr.. Sherman suggested that the centen-
NAL bill could be disposed of in an hour,
and that the finance resolution, which had
been postponed until to-day, could be pro-
ceeded with.
Mr.. Sumner advocated proceeding with
the appropriation bill, and expressed the
belief that if Congress went into the CEN
Len0lal business IL WOulu result III inc e&-
pen 1iture of thirty millions.
The motion of Mr.. West was lost-ayes,
16; noes, 80.
Mr.. Carpenter said that to morrow, when
the Senator from Indiana, (Morton) who
was detained from the chamber by indis-
position, would be present, he would ask to
take up his Louisiana bill for the purpose
of making his promised remarks.
Mr.. Hamilton, of Maryland. gave notice
of his intention to submit remarks upon
Louisiana affairs.
The centennial was discussed to adjourn
ment. -.. ..-- --.s<--...-~
The House took up the bill to secure
homesteads to actual settlers on the public
domain,
The bill was amended by adding pro-
viso that he oath should be required of any
one desiring to secure homestead, except
the oath to support the Constitution of the
United States. This was mainly for the
benefit of the people in the Southern
quiring the taking Of the iron-clad oath,
can not avail themselves of the benefit of
| the pre-emption laws. The bill also re-
| peals the pre-emption laws,
! 1t was further amended by previso that
| all lands granted to railroads shall be sub
ject to the provisions of the bill in all cases
where such roads have failed to comply
with the conditions of the grant.
| The bill was then passed as amended,
| The House had under consideration the
bill reported from the Committee on Rail-
ways and Canals to regulate commerce by
railroad among the seveeal States, and
which proposes to prevent the imposition
of unreasonable rates, and to prohibit dis
! elimination of rates. 1t provides for a
board of commissioners to be appointed by
| the President, who are to institute a
thorough investigation and inquiry into
the rates of toll and compensation charged
| for transporting freights and passengers
and into the rates of toll and compensa.
ton charged for the transportation ot
reights and passengers, and into the rea-
onableness thereof. The commissioners
are to fix for each railroad line separate
schedule of reasonable maximum rates OF
charges for the transportation of freight
and passengers, and cars loaded and un'
loaded, and the railroad companies are te
be bound by those rates. Speeches were
made by McCrary of Iowa, in support O
the bill, and by Arthur, of Kentucky
against it. The bill is special order from
day to day,