The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-02-25

The interest on these bon1s had to be paid in
gold, thus draining the country of $50 900 900 or
| $40 ,OOO, 600 every year. Russia had her bonds
| held in England, Germany and France, and
was annually drained of her gold to pay the in
terest thereon. The result was that Rus ia had
suspended specie payment for years. So with
Austria and so with Italy, and all those COun-
tries are IN state OF suspension and must con-
tinue so for some time. This country is in the
Same condition and must remain SO. Under
the present currency the country had prospered
more than it ever did before, and the system
would admit of expansion of the currency when
necessary.
Mr. Merriman obtained the floor, but reln-
pushed it an executive session. After few
minutes the doors were reopened and the Sen
ate adjourned.
large number of bills were introduced and
refesred, including the following: Regulating
tne outies on imported wares; to enable Russian
memohties TO settle on public lands; to abolish
the commission of internal revenue and of
customs, to increase the currency and provide
for its intercOnverson with government bonds.
to abolish the sinking fund, and to increase the
revenue from imports and reducing internal
taxation.
A resolution was introduced suspending the
power of the Secretary of the Treasury to re-
fund money collected as customs duties. Re-
ferred to the Committee on Ways and Means
The bill amending the existing regulations
for the expectation of distilled spirits was
passed.
The bill for the distribution of public docu-
ments seeds, free exchange Of newspapers and
free transmission of weekly newspapers in
counties was taken up.
This bill was declared to be in the interest of
the grangers. He was not granger He did
uot like the granger principles. The grangers
had not nominated him or voted for him. The
Republicans had Nominated hin. and voted for
him, and he should therefore stand by the Re-
nnhI Inn rfxr at,I Ix.v.x
sented in its platform He should give in his
feaity to the new party of the grangers never,
never, unless they should happen to establish
grangers In the northern part of New Jersey.
tLaughter.) There could not be any great suf-
ferlng for want of these public documents
when they could be had at any second hand
book store for a little more than they were
worth in old paper. If Congress wished to dis
tribute grammars, reading books, arthmetics
and other useful publications. He submitted
that it was fair, or just, or republican to tax
nifty people III order to give a luxury to the if
ty.hrst. After ridiculing Mr.. Cannon of Hi
nOls for his devotion to the interests of the
grangers he turned his attention to Mr., Gar
field of Ohio and saterized him very humorous
~ for the contrast he had drawn in his speech
between calm, cool, sensible country editor.
ard the editor OF the great metropolitan jour
nal who slashes off an article at midnight and
calls that the voice of the people.
he yielded to no man in the respect to the
affection, the awe to which he felt to this
country editor. He found it almost impossible
sometimes to catch the eye of the Speaker hut
he knew the eye of his country editor was on
him all the time, and that the pleasure or dis
pleasure of the country edi or might either mar
or make him. (Laughterl He reviewed with
admiration the ingenuity of the Committee
which reported the bill, in sugar coating, the
assafoetida pill so as to make it agreeable to
the taste of the country editor. If Congress
was going to habilitate this old Jacob of the
Thanking privilege it should be done boldly
Congress should not make the mistake of at
tempting to deceive the people by a false is
sue.
Mr. Phelps speech created much amusement
and was frequently greeted with applause
Mr. f. ii. Roberts spoke against the BILL He
said the country editors could not be induced to
abandon the denunciation of subsidies to rail-
roads, etc, by so small a bride.
Mr.. Mellish of New York gave notice of
substitute for the bill reducing the rate of letter
postage ON printed matter to half cent for two
ounces. The bill went yer without action.
MIR. Kelley of Pennsylvania, from the Com
mittee on Ways and Means, reported bill d.
recting the Secretary of the Treasury to sus-
pend payment of all duties heretofore paid on
imported fruits until further legislation by Con-
gress or until decision by the Supreme Court
authorizing the same
Mr.. Shanks of Indiana offered res luton
instructing the Committee on Indian Affairs to
investigate the status of Indians in the United
States and territories as to their citizenship I'M
der the constitution and touching their titles to
property and to other rights and privileges in
view OF past treaty stipulations and laws and
executive orders concerning them. Adopted
AT D O'Clock the House adjourned.