Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-29
ERTYTHIRD CONGRESS,
THURSDAY, January -.

| men OK New York, PRAYING against any inf a.
ton OF the currency. Referred to Committee
Mr.. Ferry lMich.) presented a memorial OF
cluZens OF Illinois, asking the issue Of the en-
| tire reserve and the issue of a SOS convertible
| bond. Referred to Finance Committee.
4 Mr.. COnkling introduced a bill 10 amend the
national currency act. Referred to Committee
on Finance,
\ Mr.. Ramsey presented memorial of citizens
of Montana, asking the creation or a new terri.
tory. Referred to Committee on Territories
| Mr.. Boutwell, introduced bill to provide tor
| more eff cient system Of quarantine. Referred
TO Committee on Commerce.
| GAS.
Mr.. Morrill, tVt.) submitted a resolution in.
4 stTucting the Committee on Public Buildiuys
| and Grounds to inquire into the amount OF gas
| consumed and paid for by the government al
Washington, and whether the cost cannot be
| reduced. He said that some years the govern
ment had paid as much as 100000 a wear Tor
| gas, and that the price had not been reduced
since the war. Gas of a standard quality was
| furnished in London for about One-third the
cost OF that furnished here.
| The resolution was adopted.
| GETTING BACK ON THE BOYS.
The chair Mr.. Carpenter) said he desired to
| call the attention of the Senate to a matter in
| which he must ask for its advice The press OF
the country had frequently called attention to
The abuses OF the contingent fund of the Senate
| The chair was aware of but one, that of fur
| nishiDg stationery to the reporters gallery of
the Senate. The chair had this session signed
two or three acquisitions for stationery for the
| reporters gallery, and another was now in his
| desk awaiting his signature He had been
unable to lind any authority for so doing, and
ne now iald the matter before the Senate for its
own action.
Mr.. Conkling asked the chair to read some of
these redulsitiOns.
| The Chair said there was one dated January
| Hth, which called for dozen lead pencils ami
| 800 small envelopes; another requisition called
TOT half ream OF note paper, ; dozen lead PEN
els, half dozen small erasers, dozen pen hoI-
ders, and half dozen large blotters; another
order caled Tor ream paper, dozen pen hOl-
deTs- box pens, and dozen pencils.
Mr.. Conkling.-Who sends and who brings
these orders?
The Chair stated that he understood that
when the reporters wanted stationery they in
formed the keeper of the stationery what they
wanted, and he then made the req uistion.
Mr.. ConkliDg--1s this used by the correspon-
dentsot papers, by the persons who SIT in the
The Chair said that he understood that this
stationery was for the use OF the reporters in
the gallery.
Mr.. Conkling.-And these reporters of whom
the Chair now speaks are reporters for news
Senate q?
The Chair said so he believed. He had called
or instruction. He had already signed four
orders, and if the Senate said he had no right
10 do THIS, he would give check for the
amount already used, but if the Senate made
10 order, he would continue to sign the requi-
Sitions.
Mr.. Hamlin.-will the Chair receive advice
Chair wants.
Mr.. Hamlin.-Well, will give my advice As
one member OF the Senate Formerly the sta
tonery was used ad lbitim. Senators took ex
actly what they wanted, ard in this way it went
10 the reporters also. Subsequently a law was
made prescribing the exact amount TO he drawn
by each Senator. How the reporters continued
10 receive 1t lie did not know He now submit
ted motion that the practice of distributing
stationery to the reporters gallery be discOn-
tiDued.
Some further discussion ensued. when the
Chair stated that he had Just been informed by
the sergeant at arms that he acquisitions were
sent down by the messenger who was in charge
OF the reporters gallery, and who distributed
the stationery to them on their application. He
further stated, in reply to a question of Mr.
Morrill, OF Maine, that he understood that for
four years past the Vice President had extend
.n's corr'"SU to the raporters,
Mr.. Morrill, (Mafne(- then moved to refer the
subject to the Committee on Contingent EV-
penses with instructions to inquire into the al
tnorlty lor the practice, and whether 4 is ex,
pedient to continue il.
Mr. Fenton said there vas no authority for
the ice fresdent TO 80 this thing, but he
would say that he thoaght the people Gould well
anord 10 pay iof f.Ie stationery used by the re-
porters in cons' alton of the inform alton fur
Gsned theTI. Bus he was opposed to this whole
practice of distributing stationery, and hoped
the whole thing would be stopped.
The motion Of Mr. Morrill, was then agreed
to,
Mr.. CARPENTER on LOUISIANA AFFAIRS.
Mr. Carpenter then took the floor and ad-
dressed the Senate on Louisiana affairs. reply-
ing at some length to the arguments of Mr. Nor
ton in favor OF the Kellogg government.
HOUSE Of REPRESENTATIVES,
KilliDger Pa asked unanimous consent TO H.
troduce resolution requesting the Speaker to
cause the halls and passages in the House end
Of the Capitol to be cleared of all distractions
and stands for the sale of merchandise, allow
ing the telegraph offices to occupy positions in
the old Hall of the House OF Representatives,
TO be assigned by the Speaker.
Messrs W. h. Roberts n. Y and Eldridge
WIS., objected, eharacterizing the proposed
action as small business.
Mr.. Wheeler q. " demanded the regular
order OF business, and the Speaker in the morn
ing hour proceeded with the call OF committees
Mr.. Maynard Tenn, from the Committee
ON Banking and Currency, reported bill to
currency, and TO establish free banking and
for other purposes.
The bill, the general provisions eli which
have already been made public, repeats the act
OF j une Sd 1861, so far 1t requires a reserve
to be held on account of circulation, but
1uires five per cent. of its circulation to be kept
notes are presented TO the Treasury from any
source in sums OF 81 900, the Treasurer Is to
notify the banks, which are required to pay
into the Treasury an equal sum in L. S. notes,
when new notes, printed and engraved at the
expense OF the banks, are to be issued to such
banks to the same amount, the old potes being
Cancelled and destroyed. The bill also repeats
all laws allowing reserves to be held elsewhere
IMAM IN It's own vaults, and authorizes the es
ADJUSTMENT OF banks without circulation, on
tne deposit OF 900 in the Treasury OF the
nited States
Some time was spent in discussing the time
and manner in which the bill should be dis
cussed, whether in Committee of the Whole, the
morning hour, or in the House, and finally Mr..
Maynard moved to recommit the bill. The
House rejected this motion, and the bill went to
the Committee on the Whole.
Mr. Maynard gave notice that two weeks