Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-28
FORTY THIRD CONGRESS
WEDNESDAY, January IS.

OF the OIL Tor AT ming anu egulpPing the whole
body OF the militia OF the United States. Re
ferred 20 Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Morrill, VT presented memorial of Yer
mopt Pharmaceutical Association asking re
pea OF stamp taxes imposed by schedule Z o.
internal revenue laws. Referred TO Committee
on Finance.
Mr.. Anthony presented petition OF citizens OF
New York asking a modification of the laSs
governing the relation OF masters and seameu
In merchant marine service. Mr.. AnthoUg
spoke of the present deterioration OF the sea
men in the merchant service, and said there
was necessity for some legislation on the sub
jeCt.
Mr.. Wright introduced bill granting pensions
to the surviving officers of the war uf lsl2. Re
terred 10 Committee on Pensions.
Mr.. Boutwell,, from Committee on Public
Lands, reported, with amendments, bill to re
organize the clerical force Of the General Land
ON motion of Mr.. Morrill, of Vt, the Senate
concurred in the House amendments to the bill
establishing telegraphic communication be-
tween the capitol and the departments.
The bill granting relief TO the heirs OF Gen.
James Carleton was passed.
Mr.. COnkling presented memnr al IT National
Board of Trade, asking removal of instructions
at the mouth OF Detroit river. Referred to
Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. Cameron, from Committee on Foreign
Relations, reported bill to amend an act re
latng to the consular and diplomatic service.
The bill for the relief of Robert Brent and
Jack Smith was passed.
The bill for the relief of Marius Otterbourg
late consul of the United States at the City OF
Mexico, was taken up and discussed. The bill!
makes an appropriation to pay Mr.. otterbourg
the salary OF minister resident while acting
a. such to the republic of Mexico.
The bill was passed-ayes y, noes l9-and
MI. Edmunds then entered motion TO recon
slider.
TIRE RESOLUTION on THE FINANCES
was then taken up, ON which Mr.. Bayard wss
entitled to the floor.
Mr.. BsyaTd commenced by an allusion TO the
panic OF September last, and a brief review OF
n fh.1 arf1rfa anf
past. He read from the remarks of the gentle
man who first introduced the legal tender act.
that he regarded il as temporary measure, a
measure justified by the eXigencies OF the war
and which could not be sustained in times OF
peace, and that it was in effect a forced loan.
MIR. ID. said that our financial condition had
now ccme TO such point that the roads forked
as il were and the question now to be considered
is whether we will take the path to the ght or to
the lett. He held that a standard of value
should be declared by putting all currency on "A
gold basis. He did not doubt that the people OF
the country would cheerfully make sacrifices t.
deliver themselves from the evils OF such a cur
rency as we had had for twelve wears. He
contended that specie resumption at the earliest
practicable day was demanded alike by duty
honesty and wisdom. He held that the action
OF the Secretary of the Treasury in reissuing
the reserves was an actual violation OF law. He
criticised the action of Mr.. Boutwell, in paying
at hi gh rates of premium 80 mach of the public
debt before IL was due.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Mr..
Townsend Pa presented a letter from Hon
W. DrummODd, Commissioner OF the General
Land Office, concerning a reorganization of the
clerical force OF the Land Office. Referred to
Committee on Public Lands.
The Speaker laid before the House a commu-
nication from the Secretary OF state transmit
ting the annual report OF the commercial rela-
tons OF the United States with foreign co1n-
tries for the year ending December 3lst, 1873.
Referred to Committee on Commerce.
Also, a communication from the Secretary of
the Treasury covering he draft OF bill for the
relief of the Assistant Treasurer of the United
States at New York city. Referred to Commit.
tee OF Ways and Means.
EXPENDITURES FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Mr.. Garfield (OhiO), from the Approximations
Committee, reported a bill introduced yester
day to reduce the expenditures for public build
ings, and asked its recommittal, giving notice OF
an intention TO call IL up in ten DAYS.
Mr.. Platt Na.) said he had been instructed
by the Committee on Public Buildings an6
Grounds to ask the reference of this bill to thai
committee.
Mr. Garfield contended that the bill related
to appropriations, and belonged TO that com
mittee. He said the Secretary of the Treasury
had sent communication to the House stating
that there were thirty five buildings either be-
gun or the constr uctiOn authorized. under the
charge of the supervising architect of the
treasury, which, with the present assistance to
that Off Ger, could not all be carried on at once
and the attempt to do so would be an unwise
and imprudent expenditure. The committee
had, he said, three lists: first, Of buildings not
ComHtHctu, second, OF tnOse commenced but
not far advanced; and, third, those so far along
that they could be finished in the coming year
or at farthest in the next succeeding year. The
committee did not touch this latter class and
only portion OF the second, but the bin pro-
yded that no work should be done on those OF
the first class.
Mr.. Platt (Na.) argued that. under the rules
of the House, the bill should 90 to his commit
tee, and moved to amend Mr.. Garfeld's motion
to recommit to that effect.
On this motion the yeas and nays were ordered
and the motion was agreedtO-yeas 10. nays &c.
Mr.. Garfield also reported bill TO revise and
consolidate the statutes in relation to estimates
Of appropriations and public accounts. Referred
TO the Committee OF the Whole.
LlFE-sAvING STATIONS.
Mr.. Hale Me-, from the same committee
reported bill to establish life saving stations
ON the Atlantic coast, from Maine TO North
Carolina. and explained that the object OF the
bill was to provide force to man the life-sav-
into operation. The amount appropriated is
s1l ,0e6.63. He stated that during the past year
there had been over four hundred lives saved by
the stations already established.
The ith section provides that all claims Of
loyal citizens for stores and supplies taken or
furnished during the rebellion for the use OF
the army, and for the use or loss of vessels or
boats while employed in the military service,
including claims now pending in any depart
the claims commission before the LIST of Novem-
Der, lsii Claims not presented to that COM
mission prior to that time to be barred without
further action by Congress.
Mr.. Albright Pa addressed the House hold
ing that it was unwise TO diminish the army or
leave the defences unprotected to too great an
extent.