Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-19
CONGREsSIONA AL.
Desultory Debate on Finances
The Senate Cutting down the
Army Bill.
SENATE.
The Temperance Tidal Threatens the
Senate Bar.

4
laid before the Senate memorial of Mrs
| ID. r. Lawrence, of New York, announein,
that the tidal wave of temperance woul,
soon reach Washington, and asking that ;
band of praying women be received at th,
bar of the Senate, and that the present oc
cupant of the chair with Senators Chandler
and Sprague be appointed committee t.
receive them. (Laughter.) Referred to th,
| Committee of Finance.
The chair laid before the Senate a Join
resolution of the Legislature of Wisconsin
in favor of cheap transportation. Re
ferred.
Mr.. Oglesby presented resolutions of the
Chicago Board of Trade protesting against
any reduction of the appropriation for the
improvement of Detroit river. Referred.
Mr.. Oglesby, from the Committed ON In.
dian Affairs, reported back a communica
tion from the Secretary of the Interior ask
ing for an appropriation of S150000 to the
Mission Indians of California, to meei
their present wants and necessities, with a
recommendation that the committee be
discharged from its further consideration
So ordered.
Louisiana Postponed.
The Senate then proceeded TO the eOnsid-
Grafton of the bills on the calendar.
When the bill 10 restore the rights of
Louisiana was reached, it was laid over on
motion. of Mr.. West.
Financial Fuss.
At the expiration of the morning hOu
the Chair announced that the Senate would
resume the consideration of the bill TO
equaliZe The distribution of the currency,
that being unfinished business.
Mr.. West moved that the pending and all
prior orders be laid aside, and that the SEN
ate proceed with the consideration of the
army appropriation bill.
hfr. Logan said this way of postponing
the financial question from day TO day, and
taking up other matters, was rather a
strange proceeding.
Mr.. Sherman opposed any pOstponement
of the financial discussion. The whole
country was suffering on account of the
delay. No vote could be reached to-day rs
fifteen or twenty Senators were absent. He
trusted the Senate would dispose of the
question somehow in few days.
Mr.. Hamlin said in his opinion the dis
cuSsiOn of this question had legislatively
been carried to an extent which was crimi-
nal. If Congress resolved to do nothing
the effect would be good.
Mr.. Sherman submitted an order that
after the passage of the army bill the
finance question shall be pressed 10 vote.
two days being allowed for general. debate,
and after that the speeches not to exceed
ten minutes each.
Mr.. Thurman said before the discussion
should be ended, he would ask the indul-
gence Of the Senate TO submit his views,
though he would prefer to wait until the
committee should report. Without intend
ing any disrespect TO any one, he thought
the discussion already had been
= Useless Consumption Of Time.
He favored an agreement to take a vote on
Friday or Monday next, and had no doubt
if the Senate would sit il out, vote could
be reached before midnight.
The order submitted by Mr.. Sherman
having been objected to, it was laid over
till tomorrow.
Mr.. West said, as the Senate had mani
tested disposition to continue the finan-
cial discussion, he would withdraw his
motion to take up the army bill for the
present.
The bill to equalize the distribution of
the currency was then taken up, and Mr..
Davis, of West Virginia, addressed the
Senate. He reviewed the financial history
Of the country and the national banking
system, and expressed his conviction that
the remedy for present evils was in trans
fer of capital from New England to the
South and West, and not imitation. If
there must be an increase, however, let it be
In Greenbacls
and not in national bank notes. If a
transfer of banking capital could not be
made, he would favor an increase of
greenbacks to meet the wants of the West
and South. lie urged a speedy settlement
of the finance question, that the country
might be relieved and business revived.
No one else being ready to speak, Mr..
West moved that the bill to equaliZe the
currency be laid aside informally, and the
Senate proceed to the consideration of the
army appropriation bill. Agreed to, with
the understanding that the financial ques-
tiOn be resumed tomorrow.
The Army Appropriation Bill
Mr.. West then explained the provisions
of the army bill, saying that the total
amount appropriated for the support of the
army for the present fiscal year was $}1,-
100000. The original estimates for the
next fiscal year were S34,553 900, but I'M
der the revised estimates they were reduced
to S:}4,21S,0OO. The House had voted for
S2S,301,9l6. The Senate Committee on
Appropriations had reduced this amount to
| S21, ,7333 600, or S4,I33,000 less than the
amount appropriated for the present fiscal
year. The reduction was mainly due to
the curtailment of the army from 10000 TO
| -, 100 men.
The bill was then read and nearly all
of the first section agreed to as reported by
| the Committee. The most important OF
| the Committees amendments adopted by
| the Senate, reduces the House appTOpria-
tion for the pay of the army, travelling eX-
penses, etc, from S11 ,450, ,000to S11, 100000;
strikes out the provision that not more
! than 10 cents per mile shall be allowed for
travelling expenses; reduces the House APP
preparation far subsistence S2,452,4lG, to
| ., ,409, 900; reduces the appropriation for
quartermaSters supplies from Si,50O,OOO, TO
| S4,250,OG0. The appropriation for Incl
! dental expenses from 81, 100000, To 81 ,2OO,-
| 900, and that for hire Of quarters is reduced
| from Sl.j00O00, to $I,400,000. That for
preservation of clothing from moths is re-
duced from $4,000 to $4,000. The Com
miltes heretofore recommended that the
House appropriation of $1,000 for medical
works for the army, Medical Museum and
Surgeon Generals office be reduced TO
| $1,000, but to-day advised that the Amend
ment be Withdrawn and the amount be left
rs fixed by the House. Pending discussion
the Senate adjourned.