The Portland daily press., 1874-06-12
THE PRESS.
History of Seven Days.
The news for the week ending Thursday
June l1th.
CONGRESS-.

June 11th.
CONGRESS.
This week Congress has completed nearly all
of the appropriation bills. The appropriations
are $40, 900 900 less than those made by the last
session of Congress. All of the appropriation
bills have been cut down to some extent, except
those for the care of the Indians. The Senate
has spent some valuable time in discussing
Senator WINDOWS resolutions for the survey
of water routes from the Mississippi to the
seaboard. No, good has come from 1t
but as several Senators desire to
appease the Changers, it is quite pos
sible that a resolution for survey will pass.
These schemes will cost $1,000 900 lat least
Mr.. Window proposes to tax tea and coffee
again to make the canals and for the balance
have faith in our glorious country The
Western senators of both parties in favor of the
scheme sniff dinner in it, Thursday the House
passed bill for more lfe-saving stations on
sea and lake coasts. On Friday after long
discussion a bill was passed to construct ca
nal from the Mississippi river near Fort st
Philip to the Gulf Of Mexico, which is to be a
national highway for the largest ships, The
Eades' imposition will be accepted. The work
will require two or three years and cost SIS 600
600. Several ex-rebes have been absolved of
their political sins by Congress, among them
Fitz Hugh Lee. Friday the Senate had grave
contest over the publication and distribution of
the reports of the Agricultural Department.
Quite number of senators thought the work
worthless, bat majority concluded that the
Changers would be pleased with 100000 and so
l,o+ ,hor orda tnr;n Go,
the tin pedler, but if the franking privilege is
to be restored, let us do it in manly way not
by shreds, as Senator Scott says, for these
wretched reports are to be sent in an envelope
free after proper certfcation that it really is
such report In connection with the legisa-
tive appropriation bill, Saturday, Mr.. Holman,
Democrat, first lectured the Republicans for
extravaganza and finding that his own party
voted nearly unanimously with the Republ-
cans, he lectured them an, hour. Mr.. Garfield,
who has good memory for bad fellows, re-
minded Holman that the biggest item in the
bill under discussion-harbor and river appro.
priations-the Louisville and Portland canal
had been lobbied most persistently by Holman.
The reformer subsidized. On the same day an
important postal bilswas passed by the House
for the prepayment of all newspapers etc. at
the Office of publication at the rate of one and
a half cents pound for dailies and weeklies
and those less frequently published than once
week, three cents pound. Mails are to be
weighed in bulk and stamped on the bags
county papers and newspaper exchanges free
Mail matter such as books, is taxed at the rate
of one cent for two ounces, and limited to four
pounds in weight. A report was also made to
abolish the western district court of the United
States in Arkansas, practically because its off,
GERS are thieves and because there is little need
for a court -...,
Monday the Senate very wisely laid aside Mr..
Merrimon's ranking bill and took up the bill
to abolish moieties to revenue officers and in
formers. The bill was discussed during the
day and the vote on an amendment indicated
that bill containing the essential features of
the House bill would pass. A bill to provide
for the publication of the statutes of the United
States was passed. On that day the House at
tended to its usual Mondays work. The mo.
ton to refer the Senate civil rights bill to the
Judiciary Committee was attempted under sus-
pension of the rules but failed by few votes
to get the required two-thirds because dozen
Republicans from Tennessee, Virginia and
North Carolina voted with the Democrats. 1t
is now asserted that the hill is dead for the
present session. The House also took up the
Louisiana contested election case and after
some debate decided that neither party was
elected-in fact that the election was fraud.
In the course of the debate Mr.. lamar, ex-Con-
federate and Democrat, from Mississippi de-
clarad hot fba
good faith the fact that the right of secession
is eliminated FROM the American system,
that slavery is dead and the South would be
the last to ask its restoration, as it had come
to believe that the institution is antagonistic to
all the elements of modern civilization and
that the amendments to the constitution giving
universal suffrage are as sacred as the instlu-
ment written by the fathers of the Republic.
Tuesday the Senate gave its time chiefly to the
discussion of the moiety bill. Numerous
amendments were made of minor Importance
A bill was also reported to abolish the present
government of the District of Columbia. The
stock gamblers also demonstrated against the
tax laid on sales of gold and securities Gam
bling is a luxury not to be taxed. The House
devoted its time to the bill to distribute the
stitute for the bill of the Judiciary Committee.
LIS essential points are, LIST pay every direct
claim; End all war insurance premiums paid by
those who preferred this course to putting their
vessels under foreign flag; Sd, payment to
such insurance companies as had suffered LOSSES
particularly mutual insurance companies.
Wednesday was sort of field day in both
houses The Senate occupied the day discuss
ing the moiety bill, which after some tinkering
was passed by a vote of 80 to 3. A provision
was inserted paying informegs their shares in
all suits up to May 1st The House spent the
day over the Geneva award bill, and the debate
was not OF a high order, Gen. Butler succeed
ing getting himself into wrangle with several
gentlemen. The amendment of Mr. FRYE, Civ
ing mutual insurance companies fair sight at
the award, was adopted. Mr. Hale warmly ad
vocated the bill and it was passed by a vote of
1872 to 101.
FINANCE AND BUSINESS.
The prominent topic of the week, in political |
and financial circles, is the remarkable pro /
Of President Grant on the duty /
of Congress affecting the currency The /
declarations of the President were made to Sen
ator Jones Of Nevada and their publication
authorized by the President Briefly stated.
Grants financial plan is as follows:
list. Repeal the legal tender act SO as to take
effect July 1st, 1875. This would correct no.
tions of value, and sales, contracts and wages
would be paid on the basis of coin
I'd. Provide by law for the redemption of all
currency issued by the United States in coin
by July 1st 1876, and that all currency SO re-
deemed be forever retired.
Sd. The reissue of all bills less than $40 re- |
turned for new bills, shall be of higher de- |
nomination than $40 from the date of re-
sumption, and a year later taat ali bills less /
Than 80 be Withdrawn, This would place
n the hands Of tap people large sums Of /,
,oin which would be projection in ti1ae ~ /
war or failure of crops and also keep naillfy ms
2 the hands of the people as circulating ma'
ilum. Coin is now locked up in, vaults ~ no.
feem circulation or for speculative purv ,oses0
practically lying idle-and the retiring of small
bills will bring it into, circulation and use
9Th. Previda by, economy of G ,penditure
md increased taxation if necessary q ravanne
g1esr than our expenditure. This noIicv
you'd work a constant reduction of interest IN
he national debt and provide coin to reaeem
Is notes, thereby forcing natio nal banks to re-
Gem in gold, With these provisions, the
banking. '''''' " i''o
This unofficial declaration of the President