The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-01-16
Fort; Third Congress First Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. Jan. Is.
The following petitions were presented and
referred:
By Messrs. Fenton, Buckingham and Scott
for commission to investigate the manufac-
ture and sale of alcoholic liquors. Referred to
the Finance Committee
BY Mr.. Feuton, from Susan B. Anthony, for
right of suffrage for women. Similar petitions
were preseoted by Messrs. Sargent Ingalls, aud
Logan. All were referred to the committee ON
Privileges and Elections.
By ,. Boutwell, a petition from the New
England Shoe and Leather Association, 10 ref
erence to the extension of the posuofBce
grounds and building in Boston. Referred to
Grounds
Mr.. Ramsey. from the Post Office Commit
1r, repoIsea iavorahly on petition that the
salal'es OF letter carriers be fixed at one thou
sand dollars per annum.
By MIR. Wright, Introducing hill to estab.
lish an Assay Office at Helena, Montana Re.
ferred to the committee on Finance,
MIR. Sargent presented a resolution of inuuirv
into the expediency of allowing the return free
of duty on grain sacks manufactured in this
country which have been sent abroad and filed
with grain. Agreed to.
Mr.. Mofrill of Vermont introduced resolu-
ton of inquiry into the expediency of confirm
ing the mail service on routes where the actual
receipts are not one fourth the expenditures.
The consideration of the bill to establish post
routes throughout the country was resumed.
Mr.. Morrill, of Maue urged that the service
be Invested of all express and freight system.
Mr. Ramsay said that there were but six or
seven states which paid the expenditures in
CURED for transporting mails in them and in
formed the gentlemen from Maine and Ver-
mort that their States were not included in
that number.
Mr. Morrill, said that his State paid for the
transportation of its own mails but the heavy
mails which passed through the State for Can
ada made his expenses appear large for Yer
mont service.
Pending its discussion the morning hour
expired and the Senate resumed the consider
alton of the resolution reported by the Finance
Committee.
Mr. Morton differed from Mr.. Schurz as he
Deieved our currency could be brought to par
Dy other means than contraction.
Mr. FentOn considered the best way to re-
sume specie payments would be in gradual
way.
Mr.. Morton said Mr.. Fenton's plan was in
some respects as Mr. Schurz's
Mr.. Morton said it would he we'll for the
country to understand now that the PROPOSE
ton IS that we return to specie payments by
contraction OF the currency. He did not think
the experience of England was fair criteran
Tor TINS country as most of its population lived
within five miles Of some bank. England has
81 100000 people and six hundred milio, cur
rency while the United States with 4O,OO0,OOO
people has only eight hundred million currency
he c0nteuded against contraction, instancing
the history of Austria, Russia, Germany and
countries and yet their currency had been dis
counted during the last ten years from five to
twenty-five per cent. He saw behind all this
argument for contraction, the old State bank
ing interests coming up. The policy of con
traction would he ruinOus A little more ex-
pansion would do good. The policy of Europe
relative to the system of wages would no more
answer IN this country than a map of Europe
would answer for North America.
Mr.. Howe thinking it imp Atriotic not to say
something on this subject, offered bill pro-
vldng for the gradual withdrawal of irredeem-
able and substitution of redeemable notes and
removing unjust restrictions upon the amount
OF circulation. He thought the business of the
ways from solid ground, sustained by a statute
which. if repealed, would tumble business
down.
The country has not money enough to float
Eria at par. nor Northern Pacific at 200, and
Congress should take medium between those
demanding more and those requiring LEST cur
rency.
Mr.. Schurz said Boutwell, claimed that he
had been unjust to him yesterday, but as Bout
well says ne meant in r. cent speech to say
government was bound to redeem legal tenders |
as soon as able, he (Schurz), was glad to make
this explanation.
Mr.. Buckingham argued that Congress could
not determine the amount of banking for coun
try as that would be regulated by the business
of tine country. He opposed the expansion of
the Indebtedness of the country, but thought
temporary loans might be used to relieve strlr-
gency: He favored free banking when blsi-
ness demanded it,
Mr.. Cox of New York, presented petition
in favor of woman Suffrage,
Mr.. Smith of New York, from the Committee
on Elections, reported resolution declaring
Messrs. Wilson and Martin entitled to seat
from the 1st aud I'd Congressional Districts of
west Virginia The minority report presented
by Mr. Hazelton was ordered printed.
Mr.. Hyde of Miss, introduced resolution
looking to the regulation of commerce on the
navigaoIe rivers to prevent tug boat and other
co COMBINATIONS, and 70 estsh,ish q uoitorn, rate
on railroads and canals.
Mr.. Sener of Virginia, presented a resolu-
iu'tvu for a eommittee GU expenditures III the
department OF justice, as there is a committee
for all the other departments. Referred to the
Committee on Rules.
Mr.. Poland Of Vt, from the Committee on
Revision of Laws. introduced bill providing
Ior appeals from Circnt Courts to the Supreme
Court in case of habeas corpus
Mr.. Randall of Pa, from the Committee on
Rules reports rule investing the appointment
and removal of official re porters Of the House
III the Speaker, aud requiring chem to furnish
each day.
After discussion, the rule was adopted and
the Speaker appointed the present corps of re.
porters.
After long discussion in which Mr. Potter
OF New York, took the ground that Congress
never should have the power to pass private
bill at any time
Garfield of o. under the statement that with
out counting the bills introduced last Mopday,
there had been introduced and printed this SEES
sion 1011 bills, of which 3S9 were private bills.
The whole subject was then laid on the table.
Inc House then went into Commi ttee of the
Whole on the Naval Appropriation bill. A
long discussion took place on tho amendm cut
to punish officers for making OUTLAWS in excess
OF appropriations, to which Mr., Loughridge of
Iowa, offered an amendment excepting cases of
sudden emergency in which the President may
authorize in writing such expenditure.
Mr. Hawley of Conn.,, condemned both
amendments, the first as eing too restrictive
and the second as giving too much latitude in
misty sort of way, and both as being derogatve
of the sound principle that there should be no
in appropriation bills. Finally both
were rejected by vote of II to SO.
The committee then rose and reported the,
bill to the House. The bill then nassad and the