The Portland daily press., 1874-02-11
Forty Third Congress- First Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON Feb. 10.
Mr., Bogg presented joint resolution of Mis-
souri, relative to the Union Pacific Railroad.
Referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Mr.. Anthony presented petition of the cti-
zens of Rhode Island, protesting against legis-
lation tending to diminish the volume of cur
rency IN that State. Referred to the Commit
tee on Finance.
vefted to the theory that currency should be
ustripnted among States according to territory
SsaSing that Texas on that principal would have
10Y tlmes as much as Rhode Island.
vas MT th SCOT OF Penn said that the Inequality
per cent; to New England for eighty millions
excess OF currency.
Mr. Logan said that another inequality which
should be remedied was that his section naid
twenty-one and half per cent. to get circnIa-
ton.
Mr. Anthony responded that ILLINOIS had but
million and half of banking capital before
national banks were established.
Mr. Logan reminded Mr. Anthony that the
West was growing fast.
Mr. Ferry of Mich, said that allowing it was
! unfortunate in not having capital, that it sent
more than required to suppress the rebellion.
Here the debate stopped on point of order
by Hamilton.
Mr. SumDer presented a petition of New Bed
ford merchants asking aspeedy return to spe-
Gle payment. Referred.
Mr. Gordon introduced bill relieving the
political disabilities of Rhaphael Semmes. Re-
ferred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Mr. Bayard offered a resolution asking the
President for Information whether any army
| officer used efforts to procure leg station in
South Carolina to compensate him for services
rendered in lieu of duty and whether any such
officer was admItted to the bar and practiced
| his profession while holding his commission.
| Laid over.
Mr.Stewart submitted resolution asking the
| Secretary OF the Treasury what time will be re-
| quired after the resumption of specie payment
to enable mInts to manufacture enough of sill
yer coin to replace the fractional currency.
| Agreed to.
Mr.. Jones introduced a bill authorizing the
| coinage OF twenty cent pieces in silver. Refer
| red to the Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Cameron reported unamended the House
bill requesting the esident to extend cordial
| Invitation to foreign governments to take part
in the Centennial Exposition.
MIR. Scott reported amended the House bill
| authorizing the establishment at any mort of
entry bonded warehou es for storage and the
| cleansing Of imported uncleaused rice and pad
| dy intended for expectation
Mr.. Sherman from the Finance Committee
reported with amendments Mr.. Boutwelrs bill
to revise, consolidate aud amend the statutes
| in relation to estimates, appropriations and
| public accOr nts. Placed on the calendar.
The bi as reported requires that the annual
book of estimates shall include full statements
| OF all permanent appropriations, both specific
| and indetiaite remaining in force; that the es-
| Inmates for all appropriations for public works
| shall be accompanied " detailed estimate Of
the entire cost of said works, and that state
| ment shall be furnished, showing the total
| amount expended under each head of all the
appropriations during the preceding four
| years.
1t provides that estimates for contingent or
| miscellaneous expenses shall not include the
| salaries of any kind, makes it unlawful for any
| department to expend for the service of any
one year, any sum IN excess Of the appropria-
lions for that year, or to involve the govern.
| ment in any contract for future payment of
money in excess of such appropr ations; and it
| requires the Secretary of tue Treasury in the
month OF June of each year, to cover into the
Treasury such portions of all balances of APP
| preparations unexpended on the 3lst of Nav
previous, as will not be needed to meet out
standing liabilities or fulfil contracts prop
erly made within the current fiscal year,
Mr. Gordon introduced bill granting aid to
the Atlantic and Great Western Canal. 1t d.
reefs the Comptroller of Currency to issue to
to the Atlantic and Great Western Canal Co.,
currency notes to extent of $4,000 per mile for
each section Of seventeen miles of canal that
| shall be constructed.
| The Chair announced as a member of the
Committee to investigate the management of
the Government IF the District Columbia in the
place of Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, excused, Mr..
Allison Of Iowa.
| The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bankrupt bill, the pending amendments being
that of MIR. Merriman, giving to State courts
| the same power as federal courts in executing
| the bankrupt law. Rejected.
! Mr.. Edmunds moved to fill a blank in the
| section in relation to the compensation with
creditors so as to provide that an arrangement
for settlement between creditors and debtors in
order to be vailed shall receive the signatures
of two-thirds of the number os creditors repre-
sentlng one-half of the debts Agreed to.
Mr.. Thurman moved to fill the blank as to
the time when the provision of the 39th section
as amended by the committee should take eff
feet by inserting the first day of Dec 1873 so
that the section shall apply to all cases of COM
pulSOry or involuntary bankruptcy commenced
since thst date. Agreed to-
MIR. Sumner offered an amendment to the
21st section of the original as follows:
But creditor proving his debt or claim
shall not be held to have waived his right to
action CT suit against the bankrupt when DIS
charge has been refused or the proceedings have
been determined without discharge" Agreed
The bill having been considered in Senate as
a Committee of the Whole, was reported to the
Senate and the amendments concurred it,
Mr.. johnson offered an amendment provid.
ing that notices of assignees' sales shall be
Published in such papers as the judge shall
consider will give the most general notice of
che SALE Agreed to.
The bill was passed by vote of 43 yeas and
II nays
The bill gees back to the House for concur
renee.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the bill reported
from the Finance Committee to amend the act
to provide for the redemption of three per cen
tum temporary loan certificates and for the 10.
crease of national bank notes.
This bill authorizes the Comptroller of Cur
rency to withdraw national bank CURRENCY from
States having an excess of circulation and is
sue it to those States and territories having less
han their proportion; provided that the whole
amount of circuat on so withdrawn and issued
shall not exceed SIS, 100000.
Pending consideration of the bill the Senate
went into executive session and soon after adj
journed.
HOUSE.
A resolution was offered that the Secretary
OF the Treasury report the amount of certified
| checks or clearing house certificates of deposit
issued to the redemption of banks that have
| suspended, which is now in circulatio !, what
pendeded payment to depositors, and what
banks are still suspended. Referred to the
| Committee on Banking
The bill prescribing oath of office to be taken
| by the Postmaster was passed.
Mr. Banning of ONO, from the Post Office
Committee, reported bill authorizing the
transmission of law manuscript, books, reports,
Sc, in the mail at reduced rates. Laid on
| the table.
Mr. Howell of Virginia from the same COM
mittee, reported adversely to the bill providing
| for advertising mail lettings. Laid on ia
BILE. Also bill providing that on mail matter
of the third class. the ma ne and address of the
sender may be written; also the number and
kind of article enclosed, and there also may be
written In any book or pamphlet sent through
the mail form of presentation without extra
postage being charged
On the motion of G. f. Hoar it was made
to apply to the matter heretofore sent, and then
| passed.
Bills were passed establishing an Indian res
| ervatiOn in Montana, and authorizing the paw
ment of So, 900 into the treasury of the Semi
| mole Indians.
Mr. Butler of Mass. rose to a personal ex-
| explanation, and Immediately the member.
left their seats and commenced TO gather
| around him, but in a point of order raised by
Mr.. Beck, they we're required by that Speaker
| to resume their seats, and Mr.. Butler proceeded
| with his remarks. For the second time since
| he had been member of the House, he had
thought it due 70 himself to make a personal
| explanation, and he should not have done it
| now if his own personal rights only were in
| volved, but as two important committees of
the House and a high officer of the govern
men: were concerned, he felt it proper to do 80.
| 1t had been represented that the Judiciary
! Committee had taken certain action with
| a certain improper view. 1t had also been
| represented that the Committee on Ways and
| Means had been approached through HIM by
the Secretary of the Treasury on questions az
| fecting more or less the rropriety of admins
trative action. He thought he could establish
| in a moment, that there was not a r,article of