Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-02-25
Forty.Third Congress.

TUESDAY. Senate. The consideration
of the bill to equalize the distribution Of
the currency was resumed, the pending
| motion being that of Mr. Buckingham Of
| Ct to recommit the bill to the finance CON-
mittee.
Mr.. Merrimon of N. C. moved as an
| amendment to instruct that committee to
report as soon as practicable a bill pro-
viding for an increase of the national bank
circulation, so that the whole volume
thereof should not exceed $4OO, 900, 900. e.
A long debate ensued during which Mr..
Hamlin of Me- said that he was disposed
to give the South and West more banks.
but he would vote to take $50,0O0,00O
from New England and give it to other
sections before he would vote to increase
| the irredeemable paper currency one dol
Lar. New England organized these banks
to aid the government when it was rock
ing to the very center. He claimed that
| this circulation was worth something now,
and it would be unfair to take it, away.
However. rather than meet the hazards
and evils of giving more irredeemable
paper currency, he would vote to take
away from New England more than was
proposed by this bill. The question as to
Increasing the currency might as well be
met here now. 1t was the labor of tn
country which must furnish the means to
pay the Indebtedness of the country, and
if the currency should be increased, the
time for payment would be prolonged.
We had partially got out Of the terrible
calamities of the war, and he asked if it
would be wise to increase the volume OF
the currency, and thus g, over again the
ground already trodden. 49,.
House.. The House spent the major
part of the afternoon over the contested
election case from the third district OF
Arkansas. and finally adopted, 11S to'96. a
resolution declaring Wiltshire. entitled
prima facie. to the seat. Among the re-
pablicans voting in the negative were
Messrs. Dawes, E. r. Hoar, G, F. Hoar,
Harris and Pierce of Mass Willard of VT,
Crook, Mellish E. R. Roberts, Hale and
Woodferd of n. Y; Eames and Pendleton
of R. T.; Kasson, McCrary and Wilson of
| Ia; Monroe, Smith and Waldron of O. !;
HaZelton and Williams of Wis and
Townsend of Pa.
Mr.. Butler of Mass moved to reconsider
and lay the motion on the table, which
was followed by dilatory motions of the
democrats, whe wanted it to 90 over till
tomorrow. The House finally adjourned
without action.
WEDNESDAY. Senate The bill for ap-
pontment of a commission to investigate
the liquor traffic of the country was dis
cussed by Mr.. Ferry of Ct, who thought
it bad precedent, the matter being one
that should be left to the states Mr. Wright
of Ia, who believed Congress could pro-
perly legislature on it; Mr.. Morrill, of Me-,
who favored an inquiry, though he thought
Senate committee could make it better
than a commission, and, as competent men
would not serve without compensation,
moved an amendment appropriating So
900 for the commission; Mr.. Conkling of
n. Y. who thought good men, of the
stamp of Henry Bergh, could be obtained
without pay. though he was willing to vote
$4,000; and then the bill went over without
decision.
The debate on the currency question was
resumed.
Mr.. Chandler said he believed his prop
osition in regard to the resumption of
specie payments, made some DAYS ago.
was feasible. He thought the nation
could give notice that it would resume
specie payments at an early day. say July
l, 1875 or even January l, 1873, and that
sufficient coin could be accumulated in the
treasury by that time, which, with loan
of Sl00,000,000, that could be negotiated.
would enable such resumption That
would be the greatest measure of relief
ever proposed for the nation. and the re-
suit would be beneficial to all classes.
There seemed a rabid mania here, on the
part of some senators, against the word
coin" Increase the circulation. and the
purchasing power of money would be
diminished just in that proportion. Infla-
ton was the greatest curse senators could
inflict upon nation or their constituents.
He quoted the price of confederate money
| from time to time until at last it took
$1,000 of it tolbuy one dollar in greenbacks
and said that was initiation carried out to
its bitter end.
| Mr.. Logan said confederate money was
based on a prospective government.
Mr.. SCOTS amendment to that of Mr..
Merrimon, providing for the redemption
of the whole body of Irrational bank curren-
cy in specie or Understanding bonds of
the United States, was rejected, % to 30.
House. The contested Arkansas election
case was settled at once by LAYING the
pending motion to reconsider on the table.
and admitting W. w Wiltshire to the seat.
and he was sworn in, taking the iron-clad
oath.
| Mr.. Butler of Mass, from the Judiciary
committee, made All adverse report on
the memorial for the acknowledgment of
Almighty God and the Christian religion
! in the constitution of the United States.
which was laid on the table.
Mr.. Poland of VT, from the same COM
mittee, reported a bill to provide for the
appointment of a commission on the sub
ject of alcoholic liquor traffic, the commits
sion to consist of five persons, to serve
without pay, two years but to be allowed
all necessary incidental expenses. and a
secretary at $4,000 year.
The bill reported by the post-office COM
mittee in regard to the distribution of pub
lie documents came up. The bill provides
for the: distribution of public documents,
printed by authority of Congress, and OF
seeds furnished by the agricultural depart.
ment, for the free exchange of newspapers
between publishers. and for the free trans.
mission of weekly newspapers by mail
within the county where they are published
Mr.. Hale wanted to offer Il substitute
simply repeating the law which aboiseC
che franking privilege
I Mr.. Packer refused to allow the amend
ment to the bill. He stated that there wer,
now in the document rooms of the House
and Senate some 900 volumes ofvalua
bic public documents, folded and ready fol
transportation, besides pamphlets. TIL,
postage would be about $4,000; but, i
not distributed free through the mails. the,
( would be sent by express. The bill only
applied to Congress the same principl,
under which the various executive depart
ments were now allowed for postage, b,
special stamps. and which We're furnished
to the 9Th of September, 1873, to the nom
inal value of 81 ,990,47S. In the treasur,
department these special stamps were fur
nlshed to 678 spersonsyaH over the country
and he thought it safe to say they wer
used by ten7times that number of persons
In reply tora question as to whether Their
had bnpu apu dim in tho ovnoncoe -