The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-01-15
Forty Third Congress First Session.
SENATE.


Various unfavorable reports were made by
the Committee ON Claims on bills of private
nature, and their further consideration was in
definitely postponed.
Mr.. S .rgent, from the Committee on Mines
and Mining, reported bill supplemental to
the act to promote the development of the
mining resources of the United States, with an
amendment, and recommended it's passage.
Mr. Conkling presented the memorial of the
New York Chamber of Commerce, calling the
attention OF Congress to the inefficiency of the
merchant marine service of the United States,
and to the fact that the city of New York is
about to establish nautical school, and asking
that the Secretary Of the Navy be authorized to
detail U, S. officers to act as instructors when
not otherwise employed. Referred to the Com
mitteo on Commerce.
Mr. Ramsay, from the Committee on Post
Offices, called up the bill establishing post
routes in various parts of the countryr
Mr.: Morrill, of VT, called attention to the
fact that mail routes had been established Of
tentlmes in sections where scarcely any persons
lives. He moved as an amendment that the
mail service be discontinued on routes where
the receipts do not reach at least half the ex-
pendi.ures.
Mr.. Clayton said it wonld be injurious to the
Mr.. Morrill, withdrew his amendment and
had it referred to the Committee on Postoffices
with resolution directing that such bill be
reported.
line morning nOur expired ana the Senate
proceeded to the consideration of the resolution
from the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Schurz addressed the Senate.
Mr.. Schurz considered the issue now between
resumption and imitation. He thought procras-
tination in resumption of legal tenders danger
GUS and thought the public credit would be Sc
riousy impaired when the government adopt
ed the doctrine of Boutwell, that the govern
ment redeem its promises to pay only when it
pleased. He referred to the pgnic, the proposed
reissue OF the $44 0O0 900 and claimed that dis
cretionary power given to the Secretary of the
Treasury to issue any amount of irredeemable
currency was placing the private fort unes of
the country at the mercy of the federal gov
eminent. He advocated severe retrenchment
in public expenditures He deprecated inf1a-
llon, saying if the plan of the Senator from
Michigan was adopted we could bid coed bye
to economy. The plan of Boutwell, was do
nothing policy, the evils of which the country
had already seen while he was Secretary of the
Trtasury, and his successor had followed the
same course. The plan of Boutwell, was most
dangerous because it was plausible, and large
class would deem it plausible.
!, He (Schurz,) considered the present the best
times since the close of the war, to resume
specie payment and if not now awaited of, we
will have to await another financial crisis. If
it was understood that we are to resume specie
payment every man will take care not to run
in debt any ore than absolutely necessary.
He claimed that resumption was opposed by
honest men OF erroneous opinions-men who
think every move popular to increase the cur
rency and reckless gamblers who want endless
initiation. He claimed that any further expan-
sion would increase the difficulty of resumption
and any further addition to the currency Of the
country would send it further into bankruptcy.
Resumption now would lay basis for new
prosperity, and there could be 10 sound pros
perity with paper currency.
HOUSE.
Mr. &c E..
the New York Chamber of Commerce as to the
merchant marine, advising in what particular
it can be improved.
Mr.. Poland of VT, from the Committee on
revision of the laws reported bill relating to
the United States District Courts, making the
regulations as to holding the terms of the court
adjournment, travelling expenses of the judges.
certitication OF transcript, and prosec 1tons of
marshals Passed.
Mr.. Poland reported the revision and certifi-
cation of the statute up to LIST Of December 1873
and proceeded to give a history of the work and
a.statement of its Importance and necessity.
After long discussion as to the mode of con-
sidering and acting in the revision reported,
consisting of over 5000 printed pages, it was fl
nally agreed to hold two evening sessions in
each week for its consideration, beginning with
Wednesday and Thursday evenings of next
week.
The House then went into n committee of the
whole on the Naval Appropriation Bill.
S157, 900 for civil establishments at various ma
Wy yards:
Mr., Beck of KY. spoke of the extravaganza
OF he Navy Department, charging that where
as in four years of Buchanan's administration
the average annual expenditures were but $12,-
100000 while q irst-class vessels were built IN
that period, the average yearly expenditure
now was over 500, 10000, while not single
new vessel was built. What had become of all
this money? 1t had gone to the navy yards to
keep the civil service, and to keep up gangs of
retainers not used for building ships or for any
other than purely political purposes
Mr.. Hale of Me-, replied to Mr.. Beck, and in
timated that that gentlemen never got tired of
DINING this old subjec. matter into the ears OF
the House as if he had not asked the same
questions hundred times, and been answered
just as often. Appropriations for ships now
did not go any further than one-half or one
third of the amount went before the war. Cer-
tainly the $16,000,000 appropriated in this bill
would not go as far as $10,000O00 would go in
1859,
Mr.. Beck was further answered by Idessrs
Starkweather of Conn, and Kelley of Pa.
Mr.. Beck reterted upon Kelley, denocncing
him as the head and front of the monopolsts
who were plundering the country
Mr.. Cox reiterated his statement made before
the holidays, that New York was at the mercy
of foreign war vessels.
Mr.. Crooke denied it, and long discussion
followed Op this subject, which led Mr. Hale to
say that the discussion had taken fearful and
wonderful complications, and as he did not
know what would come next, he would move
that this committee rise
The committee rose without much progress
on the bill and the House adjourned.