Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
The MOiety Bill Before the Senate
Butler Again Fails to Open His
Pandora Box.
Horace I'll. Harrison Goes Back
ON His Backers.
The Observation-Disclosures Contest
Pinchback Amuses the House
with Derisive Description
Of His Fraudulent
Election.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, June s.-Mr. Stevenson,
from the Judiciary Committee, reported
favorably on Senate bill 10 incorporate
the First Presbyterian Church at Salt
Lake. Passed.
Mr.. Pratt, from the Conference Commit
tee on the disagTeeing rates Of the two
Houses upon the bill to revise, consolidate
and amend the laws relating TO pensions,
made report which was agreed to. He
also made a report from the Conference
Committee on the bill to increase the pen
sions of soldiers and sailors who have been
totally disabled. Agreed to.
Mr.. West called up Senate bill for the
better organization Of the District Courts
of the United States within tine State of
Louisiana. Passed, yeas "a, NAYS 10.
Mr.. Wright, from the Judiciary Com
mittee, reported with amendments, bill
providing for the collection OF money due
the United States from the Pacific Rail
road Company. Placed on calendars
Mr.: Frelinghuysen reported IA orably on
House bill fixing the time for the election
of Representatives from the State of Penn
sylyania to the 44th Congress. Passed.
Franking.
The morning hour having expired, the
Char called up unfinished business, being
the bill to provide for the sale of extra
copies of public documents, aud for the dis
uibution of the regular official editions
thereof.
Mr.. Merrimon offered an amendment au-
thorizing Senators and members to frank
the documents now apportiOned to them by
law.
Mr.. Sherman said it was evident that the
bill could not be passed without debate,
and be therefore moved it be laid aside,
and that the Senate proceed to the consid-
Grafton Of the bill amendatory Of the Gus
toms and revenue laws and TO repeal
Notifies.
Agreed to. Moiety bill taken up.
Mr.. Bayard objected to the amendment
of the Finance Committee, which author
lies the United States Attorney to examine
books or papers Of defendants. In his OPT
Mon it impaired the constitutional rights
of citizens to compel him to criminate
himself.
Mr.. Sherman argued that the provision
was Of vital Importance, it did not impair
the rights of the citizen, Neither did it
compel him to criminate himself but only
protected the Government.
Mr.. Cameron said the idea of seizing the
books and papers of merchant was
Horrible,
and he would not vote for any such prop
Osition.
Mr.. Wright advocated the adoption of the
amendment and said the bill would be of
no use without it. 1t prevented any I'M
necessary or improper prosecution of a mer-
chant, as the books were not to be produced
without an order of court.
Mr.. Scott thought no honest merchant
would object to this provision, as it would
do away with the Onerous feature of any
thing like arbitrary seizure. The object of
the committee had been to prevent the oc-
currence of such a case as that of Dodge &
Co., and at the same time provide means
by which dishonest importers could not
eyade their dues to the Government.
Mr.. Boutwell, thought the proposed sec
ton, judiciOus one and would therefore
support it. He defended the course of the
Government toward Phelps, Dodge & Co.,
saving it was not known the informer was
a clerk ofthe House till after the evidence
was presented.
The amendment was then rejected by
vote of u yeas to 20 nays, Cooper voting
nay.
Pending discussion on the mOiety bill,
the SeLate adjourned.