Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-02-19
CONGRESS-.
SENATE.


SENATE.
i WAsHIS6ToN, Feb. 1.-THE Chsi
presented the reply of tho Socretar,
of the Treasury to the resolution b
the Senate yesterday ia regard to tn,
coinage Of silver to replace the frac
tional currency. The Secretary cay
that II will take four years 70 coli
enough silver to replace the tractioua
currency now in circulation.
The regular orilcr being the bill 10
q redistribution of twenty-five mill
ions of national bank currency, Al
amendment WAS agreed to declaring
that the Comptroller Of Currency mar
issue tho TWENTY-FIVE millions to til
States having less than their proper
ton, without awaiting for the return
Of the circulating notes Of othel
banks.
Senator Merrimon moved an amend
ment increasing the amount to be re-
distributed to $75,OOOO 900,
Senator Logan opposed the bill ant
said 1t would interfere with an In
crease of currency, which he desired
He was willing New England shoult
have 480, 0,OU0, coo excess, but he wautet
the currency increased SO the pcopl,
Of the West could have the same. op
portunity as thOsc Of New England
Senator Anthony said that Rhod,
Island had "a, ,000,000 capital before
and had the same now. and inreply Il
the question by Senator Logan, saif
that she had not enough. /
Senator Morton said the bill aid moi
go far enough; not one-third of The
way. He urged the injustice to thu
West and South of the present distri.
button Of the currency, and argued ID
favor Of an increase Of the volume d
currency, ursi0g that the rapid growth
Of the West in population as havint
created an absolute necessity for mori
circulation. But If there was to be n,
increase in the currency he favored
this bill.
Mr. Ferry, Of Michigan. argued il
favor Of the bill, and presented th,
elaine ofthe West for more. currency,
Mr.. Stewart favored Immediate re-
turn to specie payments.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont, also favor,
ed return to specie payments, and
argued against an increase Of the cur.
cency but favored bill Gor y redis'
tribution.
After some further discussion, with
out reaching q vote on Merrimoni
amendment, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House went into eomlnit
tee of the whole ON the fortificatiol
bill The discussion of the bill ranged
through the whole question of tho NC
cessity for forts In concrete and in dc.
tail. Yhe testimony Of General Shcr
man taken before the Military Com
mittee was quoted on both sides, " hicl
prompted Butler, of Massachusetts,, te
say sherman was q good general but 1
very bad witness.
Mr.. CObb's amendment offered yes
terday, looking to the transfer of gov
eminent transportation from the At
Gibson, Topeka and SantaFee Railroad
to the Kansas and Pacific, was rejected
Several minor amendments were Of.
fcred and rejected, and several Of I
political character were ruled out on
points Of order, including an amend
ment by Mr.. Cox, that the army shal
not be used in aid Of the present Stat,
government of Louisiana.
Tho Committee then rose and report
ed the bill to the House, when ali th,
amendments made by the Committe'
were agreed to, sud the bill passed.
Tho item appropriating thirty thou
sand dollars for the fort at WiIlet
Point New York, caused extended de
tended debate. Mr.. Colmen woul,
reduce The amount TO Ave thOusans
dollars and quoted Gen. Sherman
testimony that until the channel at Hell
Gate was widened he wouldn't spens
q cent on the fort. The smendmen
was then rejected, and th
full amount was appropriated.
After disposing of abont half of th
bills the committee rose and the Huus
took q recess till evening before th
consideration of the codifcation &C
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.--Among th
Executive documents submitted By th
Speaker, after the reading of th
journal, was d response 10 a call fc
information In regard to the amount
paid for compromises of suits grow
ing out of frauds on New York an,
Boston Custom Houses. The docu
ment is very voluminous and was o,
dered printed.
A number Of bills were reporte
from the Military Committee. anon
fdnsvV thn 2ova 70 hs1v snshn~s~4~. -
Secretary of War, to ascertain th
amount Of expenses incurred by Terr
torial authorities in Dakota, for arm
equipments, military stores, supplies
i I'D all other expenses OF volunlee
sorces m In the Indian war Of 1852
Passed.
ssNATE.
Senator Ingalls,, OF : ss's r p'n."n's Ms.
the credentials Of Jane s.sa. - ..o -,
elected q. s. Senator from Il !. S'aF' =.
Harvey was sworn In. ->s
Senator Alcorn, Of Miss, presente.
the credentials Of Ell. Il. Pearce. Sana
tor elect from Mssissippi. vino wa
then swoPn in.
HOUSE..
| WASHINGTON, Feb 12.-Thc Hous,
then went into committee Of the Who'll,
on the Fertilization bill.
The item Of 10000 each for Fort
Foote and Washington on the Poto
mac, and the appropriations for Fort
McHonry and Jefferson, werc struel
out. Z,
The committee rose aud reported
tho bill to the House, and il wa,
passed.
The House again resolved itself int,
committee of the whole, Mr.. Wilson
OF Iowa, In the chair, ON the bill 4
repeal the stamp duty ON matches, an,
Mr.. Dawes proceeded to address th
House. "a
! Mr.. Dawes embraced il. HIS discus
sion the bill for the repeal of checI
stamps a. well az the pending bill, an,
stated that the repeal Involved ore
i've million dollars ioss to the reveu
ne.
The Committee ON WAYS an
Means were unanimous against tn
lrepeal.
He then proceeded to show the con
lditiOA of tho national treasury. stain,
tia V,psoxnYNA fn&~1 r~.t.k-~