Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-07
CONGTsEs sTUNAL.
The Centennial Bill Recon-
mitted.

The Centennial Bill Recon-
mitted.
instructions tn Report am APP
pr0priatiOn of Three Mill
lions Rejected.
The Liquor Commission Bill
Passes the Senate.
A Rowing Commission to In
yestigate Drunkenness.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 6.-Mr. Chandler
presented memorial of citizens of Mlchi-
gan protesting against any increase in the
volume Of currency. Referred.
Mr.. Scott presented resolutions of the
Philadelphia Board of Trade asking the re-
vision and amendment OF the customs and
revenue laws. Referred.
Stamps.
Mr.. Scott from tie Finance Committee,
viding that no instrument or document re-
quired to be stamped which was signed
within the States of Virginia, West Vir-
ginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Tennessee; Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas or Texas,
prior to July 1, 1865, shall be deemed in
valid by reason of failure to place stamps
thereon. 1t Is, however, provided by an
amendment Of the committee that the right
of purchasers in good faith priorEtO the pas
SAGE of this bill shall not be affected
by it.
Mr.. Chandler from the Committee on
Commerce, reported adversely on bill TO
create National board of registration for
sea going.
Mr.. Thurman introduced bill appropri-
ating $4,000 TO pay the expenses of the
Joint Select Committee TO investigate the
affairs of the District of Columbia. After
opposition by Mr.. Conkling the bill was re-
ferred.
storing the Headwaters of the Missis-
sippi for Summer Use.
Mr.. Ramsey called up the resolution in
truduced by him Wednesday in regard to
cheap transportation and addressed the
Senate in favor thereof. He said there
were three practical ways of obtaining cheap
transportation: First, by improving the
navigation of the Mississippi river from the
Falls of St. Anthony to the Gulf of Mexico,
which could be easily and cheaply
done, first by damming up the
waters of the lakes in Upper Minnesota,
storing it for the dry season and so obtaining
uniform depth of five feet for the upper
Mississippi rivers, by continuing the other
Improvements now under way; third by
deepening the channel between New Or
leans and the Gulf. These would give
cheap freight by barge to New Orleans and
by steamers to Europe. Second by Deepen
ing the channels between the lakes, and
but small appropriation from the United
States would be required for this purpose,
as Canada would do the rest, and under
the reciprocity treaty all ships could be
landed at Duluthfor Liverpool, and so have
two complete water ways. Third, all the
Western States are not so favorably situat-
ed as Mississippi, with two water routes to
Europe. The Western States want and
must have all rail route for freight. The
constitutional right to charter and aid such
work is undoubted. We need reforms in
present roads, and a double track freight
railroad, chartered and controlled by Con-
greSs, with maximum rates of six mills a
ton per mile. This was practicable, and
with such road competing with the water
way, by river and the lakes, would give the
West what alone should supply access to
the markets Of the world for the products
Of her fields now rOtting in her graneries or
burning for fuel.
The morning hour having expired the
Senate resumed consideration of the cen
tennial BILL the pending amendment being
that of Mr.. Stockton as additional inStruc-
tiOns directing the committee TO report in
favor of an international exhibition.
Mr.. Sargent said appropriation of money
for the exhibition would be fatal
To the Republican Party,
and on behalf of the tax ridden people
of the country he appealed to Congress not
to make amy appropriation for the exhi-
bitiOn.
Mr.. Stewart moved when the Senate adj
journed to-day it be To meet Monday.
Adopted.
Mr.. Stockton Withdrew his amendment
instructing the committee TO report in
favor of an international exhibition.
The question recurring on Mr.. Freling-
huysen's amendment instructing the Com
mittee on Appropriations to report in favor
of apprOpriating a sum of money not to eX-
coed s., 100000 to defray the expenses of
the Exposition, it was rejected by a vote of
33 nays to II yeas. BrOwnlow's name
does not appear. Cooper voted nay.
The bill was then referred to the Com
mittee on Appropriations without division.
As amended and referred the bill is as
follows:
BE it enacted, etc, That the President
De requested TO extend a respectful and
cordial invitation to the Governors of each
one of the United States to be represented
and to take part in the National exhibition
to be held at Philadelphia under the aus
pices of the Government of the United
States in the year 1876.
Mr.. West moved that the Senate proceed
to the consideration Of the army appropria-
ton bill.
Mr. Sherman hoped that motion would
not be adopted as the Senate should 60 on
with the financial question Monday.
Mr.. West said he would agree to lay the
army bill aside till Monday if the Senate
desired TO 60 on with the financial debate.
Mr.. Wright said the understanding was
that the
Liquor Commission Bill
should be considered as soon as the Cen
tennial matter was disposed of. He there
fore moved the Senate proceed to the con-
sideration of the liquor commission bill.
Agreed to. \ vote was taken and the bill
passed without further debate, yeas 20,
nays p, Cooper voting nay and BrOwnlOw's
name not appearing. The bill as passed
reads as follows:
Be it enacted, etc, that there shall be
appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, a
commission of five persons, neither of whom
shall be the holder OF any office of profit or
trust in the general or State governments.
The said commissioners shall be elected
solely with reference to personal fitness
and capacity for an. honest, impair
tial and thorough investigation, and
shall hold Office until their du-
ties shall be accomplished, but not
to exceed one year. 1t shall be their duty
TO investigate the alcoholic and fermented
| liquor traffic and manufacture. having