The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-12-24
Washington News and Gossip.
WASHINGTON, Decemb,

WASHINGTON, December II.
Ihave excellent authority for saying that there
is real prospect that the Republicans IN Con-
eress will come to some agreement as to de-
funits, positive action on the various pubic
questions pressing for settlement Meetings
are being held of the several State delegations
to try and arrange matters. Of course the
difficulty in the way is the large proportion OF
lawyers who infest the halls or Congress.
Their habit of mind is to procrastnate and de-
ay and many of them are the paid attorneys
of wealthy corporations and national banks.
If the Republican party fails to take popular
aud decided ground this winter it will be be-
cause of this excess of legal men among them
and the private interests which control these
persons. Among the measures which are like
ly to pass are the following:
l. The. civil rights bill-but with important
amendments. Those parts of the bill will be
omitted which insist upon equality in churches,
schools, seminaries and colleges. The rest OF
the bill, it will be remembered gives the colored
people by statute those rights which the whites
enjoy at common law With these amend
ments it is believed the bill will pass, and be
approved by the President
2. A bold foreign policy will be outlined
and followed out, especially with regard to
Cuba. 1t is safe to say that the performances
of the administration will be quite up to the
tone of the Presidents message.
8. Something will be done for our foreign
commerce and for internal improvements. The
difficulty in the way is of course the impecuni-
osity of the treasury. 1t is not improbable that
an additional ten cents will be put op whiskey,
that the taxes on the tea and coffee will be re-
imposed, and that means will be taken to in
crease the efficiency of the internal revenue and
customs departments so as to insure larger
revenue. Public works will not be suspended
during the winter, and everything will be done
to keep laborers employed on government
work.
4. An agreement of some kind may be ar
rived at on the question of the finances; but
here the real hitch occurs. It is well-nigh i'm
possible to get united party action on this sub:
iect, in relation to which the views of East and
West are so diverse Mr.. Kelley has a large
following and could vote be reached his
scheme would be endorsed by majority of the
House-the Republicans being very evenly di-
vided on the question. 1t is not impossible
that the compromise will be the preparation of
law involving some change in the currency,
which, it is thought, will revive business but
not passing it unless business should not revive.
But if the present stagnation continues then
something which may be called imitation, but
which will really be nothing more than an
endeavor to start anew the wheels of industry,
will be adopted.
WASHINGTON, December 16
In the House, Maynard, of Tennessee, repor-
ted adversely bill to amend the Internal Rev
enue law, by increasing the tax on the circula-
ton of National Banks from one-twelfth to one
quarter of one per cent. per month. Young.
of Georgia, reported bill for the relief of
certain States and Territories on account of
ordnance stores issued during the late civil war.
Recommitted. Garfield, who championed the
repeal of the .franking privilege, says he did
not find it as great blessing as ne hoped, but
wishes to give it another years trial. Kelley
wants the franking privilege restored. Finally
the motion to strike out the appropriation tor
official stamps was rejected by II to II: Butler
reported supp elemental civil rights blll. Ihe
Senate bill is adopted as basis, but the clause
regarding the cemeteries is stricken out, and
separate schools are allowed; provided that
each race has pro rata of allowance and ac
commodation. Whites substitute providing
for separate but equally comfortable quarters
in cars taverns and other public conveniences
will be voted upon first. The bill was ordered
to be printed, and was recommitted.
In the Senate, Boutwell,, of Massachusetts,,
submitted resolution instructing the commit
tee on finance to inquire into the expediency OF
providing for the redemption of mutiated
United States currency by the postmasters OF
the several cities and towns of the United
States. Merrimon, of North Carolina, pre-
sented resolutions Of the North Carolina Leg
islature in relation to the repeal of the tax on
tobacco and the repeal of the whole internal
revenue law. He also presented resolutions of
that body for the erection of Court House
and Post Office at Asheville, and other public
buildings and grounds also, resolutions OF that
body asking for the improvement of Cape Fear
River. The Senate bill to remove the political
disabilities of Henry Heth, of Virginia, and
James Jackson, Of Georgia, passed. A bill to
provide for new government for the District
of Columbia was taken up, discussed at some
length, and then laid over. A motion is pend
ing to postpone its consideration till the 10th
of January next. Pratt moved that the House
bill to amend the act granting pensions to GER
tain soldiers of the war of 1872, and the wild
ows of the deceased soldiers, and to restore to
the pension rolls those persons whose names
were stricken therefrom in consequence OF dis
LOYALTY, be taken up for consideration on Mon
day next. Rejected; yeas 20, nays II; two
thirds not voting in the affirmative. The chair
laid before the Senate a communication from
w. L. McAlilan, claiming to be Senator from
Louisiana, and asking speedy action in his
case. Referred to the committee on privileges
and elections. The bill to consolidate the laws
relating to the security of life on board steam
vessels was partially read.
The House judiciary committee this morning
settled the civil rights bill question by adopting
an entirely new bill and rejecting the bill re, e;
ported to them at yesterdays session. The bill
in many features is the same as the other bill,
except that the penalty attached to the cemetery
clause is stricken out. The new bill also pro-
vides that, where schools OF equal facilities, Ca
pacty, tutilagc, length of session, &C., arc pro-
vvided for the blacks, the penalty shall not be
enforced. 1t also provides that the penalties
shall be alternative and not cumulative; that
the party proceeded against shall have the right
to select civil or criminal proceeding, and one
shall act as bar against the other. The COM
mittee decided to call up, as soon as possible,
the Senate bill now on the House calendar, and
offer the new bill as substitute. If it passes