Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-05
CONGRESsIONA AL.
Butler Paving the Way for I'M
peachments.
Judges Durell, Busteed and
Sherman i'm Danger.
Kelley Ventilates His 3.65 Bond
Scheme.

WASHINGTON April 4-Mr. Negley,
from the Committee on Commerce, report
ed an act amendatory of the act of 1893 in
regard to the enrolment of coasting and
fishing vessels. 1t provides that the act
shall be so construed as to apply to canal
boats or boats employed on the internal
waters or canals of any State, and that all
such boats, except only such as are provided
with sails or propelling machinery, adapted
to Lake or coastwise navigation, excepting
shuch as are employed with Canada, shall
be exempt from the provisions of that act,
and from the payment of all customs and
other taxes under any act of Congress.
Passed.
Mr.. Adams offered resolution instruct
ing the Committee on Indian Affairs 10 in
yestigate all frauds, unfairness and iregu-
larities connected with the Indian admin
istration in 1ST3-74. Referred.
Impeachmenfs Ahead.
Mr.. Butler asked leave to report from the
Judiciary Committee bill to prevent NAL
administration in the civil service of the
United States by officers against whom i'm
peachment has been presented. The bill
provides that whoever, being an officer of
the United States, except the President or
Vice President, shall be impeached for
high crime and misdemeanors by the House
of Representatives, shall be suspended till
he shall be discharged from such impeach-
ment by the Senate CT the withdrawal of
the impeachment. The second section pro-
vides that the duties, jurisdiction and pow
ers of every suspended officer during the
term of such suspension shall be exercised
by any other officer authorized by law to
exercise the functions of the Office in case
of the resignation, death or inability of
such civil officer, or in case of no provision
by law, it authorizes the President to ap-
point an officer toperform the duties of such
suspended officer, and to receive the salary
and emoluments belonging to the Office.
Mr.. G. F. Hoar asked whether the bill
included Judges of the Supreme Court.
Mr.. Butler replied it did, and was report
ed in view of certain Judges. The Judi
ciary Committee had now before it charges
against three Judges. He had in his mind
one Judge (alluding to DurelD against
whom it was alleged that as soon as he
could hold his court to clear up his bust
ness for his friends, he would resign. 1t
was
A Scandal
that lie should continue to exercise the
functions of the Office.
Mr.. Moiey objected to the bill being re-
ported.
Mr.. Butler-That would not save Du-
rell.
Objection being made the bill was not
reported.
Attached for Contempt
On motion of Mr.. Wilson. of Indiana, it
was ordered and the Speakers warrant was
issued for the attachment of G.. II. Patrick,
of Montgomery, Ala, and that he be brought
before the House for contempt for refusing
to appear before the Judiciary Committee
and testify in the matter of the impeach
ment of Judge Busteed.
The House then went into Committee
of the Whole Ga the private calendar, Mr..
McNulta in the Chair.
The Committee rose at three and report
ed forty private bills. More than, half were
pc Dsion bills which were thereupon passed
by the House. None of them were ofany
public interest.
The House then resumed consideration
of the currency bill, and was addressed by
Mr.. Kelley in opposition thereto, and in
favor of the 3-65 bond bill, introduced by
him. He regarded the pending bill as
fraught with great danger TO the country
and the revenue. The title was delusive.
1t was represented in the bill as proposing
to establish free banking. He was in favor
of free banking, and therefore opposed to
this bill which sought to
Extend the Monopoly
of the banking system already so OdiOus to
the country. 1t proposed to extend the
provisions of the present law as to the de-
posit of bonds to secure circulation, so that
it might be well entitled. "a bill
to increase the market price of UNI
ted States bonds, aud to promote spec
laiion therein" The only banking system
that had maintained its integrity had been
that which had discarded bullion as securi-
ty for the redemption Of notes. Who had
ever lost pound by the notes OF the bank
Of England or who had ever lost a dollar
by the failure of United States Treasury
note, to buy him a dollars worth Of any
American production?
Mr.. Eldridge asked Mr.. Kelley whether
the man who bought bonds with green
backs or National Bank notes, had not to
take some 123 per cent. less in bonds than
the face value of the notes.
Mr.. Kelley declined to answer, and said
he preferred to make his own speech. The
South and West were in no condition to
buy bonds in a speculative market as they
would have to do in order to establish
banks if the bill passed. They were i'll no
better condition to do so now than they
had been for the last four years, and if new
banks were established under the bill in
the South and West it would be the cap
italists' capital, now east Of the Hudson.
They would represent an
Absenteeism
which would be as fatal to the industry
and prosperity of those sections as English
land holders in Ireland had been fatal to
the prosperity of that unhappy island.
Mr.. Kelley's positions were criticised by
Burchard and Merriam and to the latter
Butler replied, sustaining the 5.65 bond
proposition, saying in answer to a question
about the effect of adding A, 100000 to the
currency, that the increase was only
1-42 part of the whole issue and no man
would consider his whisky much diluted
if it had only 1-42 part of water added to it.
The House soon after adjourned.