Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-01-06
Re-assembling Of the Senate and
HOuse-The Bankrupt Bill
and Civil Service in
the Senate.
The Compensation of Senators,
Representatives, and Dele
gates - Department
Employees.
Smithsonian Regents-Specie Pay
ment in the Senate-RaiIrOad
Transportation in the
House.
The Array and Our FOrtificatiOnS
The Supplementary Civil
Rights Bill-Alex. Ste
phens's Speech.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, January 5.-The SEN
ate met at noon.
Chairman Carpenter laid before the
senate the report Of the secretary of the
senate, in reply to the resolution OF
December 18th, calling for information
as to the amount of compensation re-
ceived by senators since the Organiza-
ton Of The government. Laid on the
table.
Senator Edmunds, from the Judiciary
conn mittee, reported back the house bill
20 repeal the bankrupt bill, with sundTy
amendments, and recommended that,
with such amendments, the bill be
passed. Senator EGmunds said that he
had no hesitation in stating that the
committee had agreed substantially in
the amendments.
Senator Wright Iowa introduced a
resolution instructing the committee on
civil service and retrenchment to in
quire into the eXpediency of reporting
the bill making the reduction OF ten per
cent. Of compensation Ofall officers OF the
government, whose salaries exceed one
thousand dollars per annum, or five
dollars per day.
Senator Cameron objected, aud it was
laid over.
On motion of Senator Wright, the
house bill 10 establish the compensation
ot senators, representatives and dele
gates, was taken up, together with the
amendments reported by the senate
committee on civil service and re-
irenchment, striking out the first and
third sections, and substituting therefor
the sections repeating the act of March
Sd, 1873, and fixing the salary as it was
prior to the passage of that act,
and further providing that the cOmpen-
satlOn Of the several heads of depart
Inents be eight thousand dollars per
auEum.
Senator Cragin introduced q resolution
requesting the secretaries Of state, treas
ury, war, navy, interior, postmaster
general and encouragement TO COM
fnunicate to the senate the number OF
officers and employees connected with
their respective departments who are
furnished with official pOstage-stamps
either directly or indirectly, and if it is
custom when writing to parties not con-
nected with the department, for infOr-
nation, to enclose an official stamp for
prepayment.
Senator Buckingham submitted a
resolution directing the finance COM
mlttee, IN order TO prevent infistiOn Of
currency to meet the necessities Of the
government, aud To consider the
eXp5diency of reporting bill
which shall empower the secretary
Of the treasury 10 maize tempo
rary loans, and authorize national
banks 70 Use certificates of Indebtedness
as issues for such loans as part of the re-
serve; also to provide for the redemp-
tiou and cancellation of legal-tendeis
at rate equal IN amount 20 those which
have been OF may be paid out of the
fOrty-fOur million dollars heretofore held
by the secretary Of the treasury. Or
dered printed.
Senator Pratt offered a resolution,
which Nas agreed to, directing the
hnan'e committee to inquire whether
the national banking law should not be
80 amended as to prohibit the stOckbold-
ers and officers OF national banks from
being concerned in the business of pri-
vate banking in or near the locality of
national bank, whereby the means Of
such hank may be employed to produce
a greater rate Of interest than allowed
10y law.
Senator COnkling introduced a bill to
provide for a commission to prepare and
report 10 congress a bill with reference
10 the enactment of a general shipping
act, aud for other purposes. Referred.
Senator Stevenson introduced a Joint
resolution to appoint Asa Gray, Of Mas
sachussetts; J. d. Dana, of Connecticut
and Alexander F. Stewart, Of New
York, agents of the Smithsonian irsti-
tuition, IN place respectively Of Louis
AgsssiZ, deceased, Theodore y. Wool
say aud VIM. B. AstOr, whose terms
had expired, and also to TeappOint Jno.
Mclean, Of New Jersey, and Peter
Parker, of the District of Columbia.
whose terms have expired. The resolu-
ton was referred.
Senator Allison introduced a bill
to regulate and facilitate the trans
fer Of commerce across navigable
rivers forming a boundary Of States.
The bill provides that all railway
bridges across such rivers shall
be declared public highways, and shall
be equally open to the use OF every man,
having terminrs pr or near such
bridges, upon y; .. a. TO the owner Of
such bridges anu @. piOaches thereto Of
reasonable compensation, under limits-
tions and conditions, which the bill, in
detail, prescribes. Referred.
Senator Pratt renewed the legislation
bill in regard to the increase Of compen-
sation, and that congress hsd erred 10
this matter and should retrsce its steps.
He thought the bill should be repealed,
and hoped the demand for economy
now coming from all sections would be
heard.
The morning hour having expired il
was laid over for the resolution reported
from the committee on finance before
the holidays, declaring il to be the duty
Of congress at present, to adopt definite
measures to redeem the pledge made by
the government for the earliest, prscti-
cable redemption o. the United States
notes in coin, was taken up.
Senator BOgy addressed the senate.
He thought the whole system of legal
tenders vicious and contrary to sound
financial policy, but the wants Of the
country, ana OF his section particularly.
were so pressing now, that there was no
time now TO remedy the evil. The
country wanted speedy relief. He
thought there had been an unequal dis
tribution Of currency. The six New Eng
land States had received one hundred
and ten millions Of dollars, when they
were entitled to but thirty-nine millions.
The middle States had received an eX-
cess of nine millions, while the southern
states were deficient in their portion fif-
ty-one millions, and the western States
tWeuty-one million dollars; he ad-
vOcated the reissue of forty-fOuI million
dollars legal-tender reserve, an addi-
tionsl issue OF fifty million dollars in
legal-tenders, and an issue OF twenty
five million in national bank notes to
the western banks.
The consideration OF the salary bill
was then resumed.
Senator Pratt offered an amendment
that the senators, representatives, and
delegates Of the forty-third congress, /
who have received their compensation
since March 4, 1873, at the rate of seven
thousand five hundred dollars per an
mum, shall hereafter be paid in such
monthly installments as will make an
aggregate for the whole congress at the
rate OF five thousand dollars per anuum.
Senator Logan opposed the amend
ment. AS for himself, he would have
the salaries as al present, because he did
not believe them excessive. He an
nouneed that be would oppose any bill
that did not wipe out the entire salary
liJ, except as il related to the President
and the supreme court. He was opposed
ID any law 10 cut down the salary Of the