The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-01-24
Congressional Proceedings.

good money was what he wanted. We
had now more paper money per capita than
any country in Europe. He did not CON-
nit himself to any plan of resumption, but
thought the proposition to authorize the
conversion Of greenbacks into some bond
which was ut par in gold, such as the Ten
forties, was judicious. Mr.. Boutwell, took
the floor in defence of the right of the
Secretary of the Treasury to depreoiate the
currency when it might seem proper by
means Of the forty-four million reserve
The bill appropriating s250O for busts of
Chief Justices fancy and Chase, to be
placed in the Supreme Court room, was
passed
Nothing of especial interest was done in
the House, the consideration Of bills of
private nature being the principal business.
Mr.. Small, of New Hampshire, asked per-
mission to introduce resolution of inquiry
in respect to the number of horses owned
by the Government in the District Of CO.
lumbia, by whom they were used, for what
purpose and at what expense, and also the
number and character of the vehicles used;
Mr.. Butler objected, and the motion was
withdrawn.
SATURDAY-The Senate was not in
session.
The House met in Committee of the
Whole, for speechmaking only, and was
addressed by Mr.. Hariss, of Georgia on
the subject of civil rights, and Messrs.
Kelley and Townsend, of Pennsylvania,
and Burchard, of Illinois, on finance and
the currency.
MoNDAY,-In the Senate Mr.. Thurman
presented memorial from the Winnebago
Indians protesting against their removal
from the State of Wisconsin, and com
planning of outragcs committed on them
by their white neighbors. Mr.. Logan in
trodueed bill which provides for the
of commission of five per-
sons mot prohibitionists) who shall inves-
tigate the practical results of restrictive
and prohibitory legislation in the different
States of the Union, and also ascertain
whether the evil of drunkenness has been
increased or decreased thereby; whether
the use of opium as a stimulant and a
substitute for alcoholic drinks has become
more general in consequence of such leg
islation, and whether public morals have
been improved, or hypocrisy or assembling
encouraged thereby.
\ large number Of bills were introduced
in the House. Mr. Ward, of New Jersey,
introduced new bounty bill, which will
excite the expectations of a class of claim
ants that has heretofore got nothing. The
bill provides that the heirs of any soldier
who was killed or died while in the mill.
tary service in the line of duty during the
late war, whose period of enlistment was
for less than one year. or who shall have
since died by reason of wounds received or
disease contracted, shall be entitled to re-
ceive the same bounties as if said soldier
had enlisted for three years. Mr.. Wilson,
of Indiana, offered resolution reciting
that owing to deficiency in the revenue
it was proposed to raise the sum of S42,-
900, 600 by increased taxation; declaring
that such a burden should not be inflicted
on the people; proposing an increase in
the currency as the true remedy, and d.
recting the Committee on Banking and
Currency to prepare bill in conformity
with these views. The House refused to
consider the resolution by vote of 1876
yeas to 9S nays (two-thirds not voting in
the afhrmative.l Mr. Young, of Georgia,
introduced resolution providing that
until July l, 1874, all matter printed by
authority of the United States shall be
carried in the mails without payment of
postage when the wrapper bears the sigma
turc of a member Of Congress. The reso-
luton was rejected by a vote of II yeas to
163 nays.
TuEspAY.--In the Senate, several
petitions, bills and memorials were offered
and referred A motion to take up the
resolution for the admission of p. B. s.
Pinchback was objected to and went over.
After short executive session, Messrs.
Brownlow and Gordon delivered speeches
upon the finances. The Post Route bill
was discussed, but no action was taken.
In the House, after disposing of some
routine business, the day was consumed in
debate upon new rule, requiring that the
majority assent to motions suspending the
rules, which was finally adopted. The
House then adjourned.
WEDNEsDAY.-In the Senate Mr..
Wright, from the Committee on Finance,
reported bill in relation to commission
of inquiry into the alcoholic liquor traffic,
with substitute for the same. The sub
stitute provides that the President shall
appoint, with the consent Of the Senate,
five commissioners, whose duty it shall be
to investigate the alcoholic liquor traffic in
its economic, criminal, moral and scien-
tifc aspect in connection with the pau
perism, crime, social vice, and the public
health and general welfare Of the people,
and shall also inquire and take testimony
as to the practical results of license and
restrictive legislation for prevention of
intemperance to the several States. Mr.
Anthony introdu ced a joint resolution
the publication in the "Con-
gressional Record, " ofspeeches not actually
delivered in Congress. The discussion of
the finance question was resumed, and
resulted in an animated debate between
Senators Merrimon and Edmunds as to
the state of society and the obstacles exist
ing at the South to capital and enterprise.
In the House nearly the whole session
was spent in debate on the Centennial
Exposition, brought about by motion
offered by Mr.. Kelley, requesting that the
President of the United States to extend
invitations on the part of the United States
to other nations, asking them to take part
in such centennial celebration. Mr.. Hale,
of Maine, opposed the resolution on the
ground that if passed it would afterward
be used as an argument that Congress
should make an appropriation to meet the
expenses of the Exposition. In the debate
that followed general good feeling was
evinced toward the Centennial celebration,
and the resolution finally passed by very
large majority. The West Virginia cleo
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