The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-02-04

put snch provisions are not to 60 into effect
m Mntll TWO months after the passage of this act.
ane period OF SIX months mentioned in the
same section OF the original act is changed to
three, but not to take effect until three months
after the passage of this act.
When the 9TH section of the committse's re-
port on amendments in regard to attempts to
| defraud creditors was read, Mr. Ogleshv 81 Tl1;-
nois, said he had seen it ANNOUNCED that the
Legislature of his State had passed a resolu-
ton requesting Illinois Senators to vote for the
repeal of the bankrupt law, but he had no Off
clal notification of that fact. When such noti-
in was received he would obey it, As
| long as there was credit system in the coun-
Try We should have national bankrupt law.
instead of repeating and being thrown back to
tne old State system, he moved to strike out the
words, "or who has stopped or suspended and
not resumed payment of his commercial paper
WITHIN period of forty days." so that class OF
persons should not be deemed to have commit
yea an act OF bankruptcy. He thought with
that clause odt we should have bankrupt law
which would reach around the country, and in
time meet with universal favor.
Mr.. Edmunds inquired what was to be done
with that clause if the amendment prevailed
Mr. Oglesby replied that the matter would be
lett under the present State laws.
Pending the discussion the Senate went into
executive session and subsequently adjourned.
HOUSE
;. Mr.. Stewart of Va. from the Post Office
Committee, reported bill providing for law
which limits contracts in the Post Office De-
partment 10 one year, shall not apply to mail
locks and keys, mail bags, stamps, stamped en-
veiopes, postal cards or newspaper wrappers.
Passed.
the House took up the bill reported some
days since from the Banking Committee, au
thorlzing the National Bank at Hagerstown,
Nd, to change their location to Washington
and become the Citizens National Bank of
Washington.
p The bill was discussed by Messrs Phelps of
h: L, Merriam of N. Y, Lawndes of Md, Todd
OF Penn, and CHAPMAN and passed.
Inc House went into Committee of the
Whole on the army appropriation bill
MI. Beck charged that the currency was de-
preclated by the government on purpose to en-
rich men who hold United States bonds, and to
increase the premium on gold. When the gov
eminent would abandon it's policy of gold
gambling and take its own paper for its own
debts, then The country would reach a gold bl-
sis.
Mr.. Cox compared the cost of English and
American soldiers.
Mr.. Hawley of Conn.,, asked Mr. Cox if he
desired reduced pay for American soldiers.
Mr.. Cox said he proposed to reduce the
army.
Mr. Hawley-would you reduce the pay.
Mr. CoX-I do not say that, but 1 will not
vote for soldier or bayOnet to be used in
continuing the usurpation in Louisiana. There
was no heed of an army for foreign war; He
Ac.oVo
an army as 10000,
Mr. Wheeler closed the debate by saying that
the bill met an assault on introduction from
Mr.. Hawley OF Conn.,, as being i'll advised and
i'll considered. He (Wheeler) and ten others
had carefully considered the matter, and yet it
was stigmatised by Mr.. Hawley. He thought
Mr.. Hawley was like the man in Maine who
fayo ed the Maine liquor law but opposed its
enforcement. The only remedy was that pro-
posed by the gentleman from the COMMITTEES,
namely that the uuaStiOp of the raductiOn of
the army should be referred to the Military
Committee.
Mr.. Hawley of Conn. asked liberty to with
draw that suggestion and have it referred to
the Committee on Commerce or the Committee
on Contingent Expenses, if it will suit him
better. daughter
Mr.. Wheeler-The gentleman is not begging
for mercy, trust.
Mr.. Hswley-You will have due notice when
do.
MIR. Wheeler then proceeded to explain the
BILL and said it appropriated enough to recruit
800 men during the year for frontier regiments
only, and it these are not enough to go to pri-
vate houses In Washington and take enlisted
men who are acting as servants.
Mr.. Hancock of Texas opposed the reduction
of the army, but Mr. Wheeler retJrted that
during the late unpleasantuess Texas contr we'd
not only to furnish some of the best regiments
in the rebel army but to protect her citizens
from Indians.
Mr.. Hawley of Conn.,, felt that the :extraor-
binary thunderbolt had fallen on him. He
must have made mistake as to the ability of
appropriation committee to take care of eleven
departments of the governluent-one to each
member. He should rather have submitted to
have had TIE whole question of the army COM
united to the fostering care of its beloved friend
from New York (Wheeler). He should lhave
admitted that every member Of that committee
who took in charge one of the navy. one of the
army, and so on, was better qualified than any
eleven men selected by the Speaker for that
special brahch.
Mr.. Hale af Me-. said the lot Of the econo-
mist in the House was hard, and that the ses-
sion would have passed away unless the ap-
propriaton bills compelled reductions.
MIR Potter favored reduction. He had
been informed there were thousand enlisted
men in the District of Columbia about the
drawing rooms and stairways of Washington
officials. 1000 mem were used last year to pro
tect surveyors of the Northern Pacific railroad,
scheme which had badly injured American
cnaracUer, anu anorner military fUrUc 10 over
awe Louisiana.
Mr.. Garfield said an amendment would be
offered restricting the army to %, 600 men, say
ing there We're 1924 men in New York harbOr
and 1000 men on the Canada line, while not a
British soldier from the mouth of the ST. Law
renee to Pembuna.
A provisco to the bill was adopted that no
money shall be paid for recruiting the army
beyong %, 900 men.
A report was made from the Election Com
mittee that Mr.. Hodges of Arkansas has prima
facie right to seat. Without any further ac-
ton the House adjourned,