New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-12
BY TELE G RAPH ..
CONGRESS.
Senate.


WASHINGTON, February 1.-The bill for
the equalization of national banking circula-
ton was resumed, and occupied the entire
day. No action was taken.
There was no executive session.
Mr. Bayard, in the Senate, to-day, ex-
planned his resolution Of yesterday, calling
upon the President to inform the Senate
whether any officer of the army has re-
ceived money or fees from the Legislature
of South Carolina, for services rendered the
State. He said he was morally convinced
that Major Lewis Merrill, of the Seventh
United States Cavalry, received from the
State Of South Carolina $24, 100 for his agen-
cy in securing the arrest aud conviction
OF persons engaged in ku-Klux outrages,
and that said Merrill aided in lobbying the
bill through the South Carolina Legisla-
ture, giving $35, 900 to the persons who
should secure such arrests and convictions,
Mr.. Howe reminded Mr.. Bayard that the
government had distributed $lOO,OOG among
army officers for the arrest Of jeff Davis,
whose offense was, perhaps, less than that
of the perpetrators Of ku-Klux outrages
Mr.. Scott defended Major Merrill as an
accomplished officer, and believed he de-
served the reward which he may have rec
ceived.
No nominations were made TODAY.
House.
III Oo"hAlCOCC VI Cuo W1Ol0 AmcQOW00VS
to the army bill, placing two additional
members on the war claims commission
passed.
Mr. Bromberg, of Alabama, moved an
amendment that the additional commits
sioners provided for in the bill shall be
selected from the Southern States. Re-
jected.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, offered an amend
ment that the army shall not be used in the
aid Of the pretended State government
known as the Kellogg government in Lou
isiana, or so as to interfere in the elections
of that or any other State.
Mr.. Wheeler made the point of order that
the amendment proposed new legislation,
and was not in order.
Mr.. Sypher, of Louisiana, hoped the
amendment would be admitted, for the Kel-
logg government had troops enough to
thrash out the rebel Democracy.
Mr.: Randall, of Pennsylvania-It has
rascals enough.
The point of order was sustained and the
amendment was excluded
The committee then rose and reported the
bill and the House proceeded to vote on the
amendments. The first vote was on the
amendment offered by Mr.. Young, of
Georgia, extending the time for the pre-
sentation of claims to the first of Novem-
Der, 1875. The amendment was agreed to.
ments were agreed to in bulk, and the bill
was passed.
Mr.. Giddings, of Texas from the Coma
mittee on Indian Affairs, reported bill au.
thorizing the Secretary of War to construct
and operate line of telegraph, connecting
the military posts on the line of the Rio
Grande. Referred to the committee of the
whole.
Also, a bill for the removal of the Ala
bama, Ouachita and Muscatine Indians
from Texas and Louisiana to the Creek Ma
ton, Indian Territory. Same reference.
Mr.. Shanks, of Indiana, from the same
committee, reported bill relative to pri-
vate contracts or agreements made with the
Indians prior to the twenty first of May,
1872. The bill makes very stringent pro-
visions as to the examination and indOrsee
ment of all such contracts by the Secretary
of the Interior and the Commissioner Of
Indian Affairs before any payment is al
lowed to be made under them. He made
an explanation of the measure, and said
that statute passed in lS47 forbade the
making OF or executing contracts with
Indians, but that, nevertheless, contracts
were made and were recognized, and very
large amounts of money had been collected
under them. Another prohibitory law was
made in 1872. The bill applied to the con-
tracts made prior to 1872, and required that
they should be subjected to the scrutiny of
an official examination, and should be in
dOrsed either as not being exorbitant or
fraudulent, or as being exOrbtant or fraud
ulent, and until contracts are indOrsed by
the Secretary of the Interior and the Com
missioner of Indian Affairs, their legality
official. After the explanation the bill was
naaaed.