Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
DesultOry Debate ON Salary and
Finance.
A. III. Stephens on the Civil
Rights Bill.

A. HI. Stephens on the Civil
Rights Bill.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The Senate met
at noon. The chair, Mr.. Carpenter, laid be-
fore the Senate the report of the Secretary
of the Senate in reply TO a resolution OF
Dec. II, calling for information as to the
amount of compensation received by Sena-
tors since the organization of tie govern
ment. Laid on the table.
The Bankrupt Law.
Mr.. Edmnnds from the Judiciary Com
mittee reported back House bill to repeal
the bankrupt law with sundry amendments
and recommended that with such amend
ments the bill be passed.
Mr.. EdmuIds said he had no hesitation
in stating that the committee had agreed
substantially in the amendments.
10 Per Cent.
Mr.. Wright, of Iowa, introduced a reso-
luton instructing the Committee on Civil
Service and Retrenchment to inquire into
the expedieney of reporting bill making
reduction of 10 per cent in the compensa-
tlOn vi OAhNCAo AO1 bAC eONOlAhhCiAS "A1OoO
salaries exceed one thousand dollars per
annum or five dollars per day.
Mr.. Cameron objected and it was laid
over.
The Salary SquabbIe.
On motion of Mr.. Wright the House bill
to establish the compensation of Senators,
Representatives and Delegates, was taken
up, together with the amendments reported
by the Senate Committee on Civil Service
and Retrenchment, striking out the first
three sections and substituting therefor
sections repeating the act of March 3, 1873,
and fixing the salary as it was prior to the
passage of that act, and further providing
that the compensation of the several heads
of departments be $1,000 per annum.
Mr.. Pratt reviewed the legislation in re-
gard to the increase of compensation, and
said Congress had erred in this matter and
should retrace its steps. He thought the
bill should be repealed, and hoped the de-
mand for economy now coming from all
sections would be heard.
A National Bank Abuse.
Mr.. Pratt offered resolution which was
agreed to, directing the Finance Commit
tee TO inquire whether the national bank
ing law should not be so amended as to
prohibit stockholders and the officers of
national banks from being concerned in the
business of private banking in or near the
locality of the national bank where the
means CT such bank may be employed to
produce greater rate Of interest than is
allowed by law.
Mr.. Buckingham submitted resolution
directing the Finance Committee in order
to prevent an imitation of currency and to
meet the necessities of the Government to
consider the expediency of reporting bill
which shall empower the Secretary of the
Treasury to make temporary loans and
authorize the national banks to use ceTtifi-
Gates of Indebtedness issues for such
loans as part of their reserve; also to pro-
vide for the redemption and cancellation
of legal tender notes equal in amount TO
those which have been or may be paid out
of the forty-four million dollars heretofore
held by the Secretary Of the Treasury.
Ordered printed.
Specie Resumption.
The morning hour having expiredthe bill
was laid over, and the resolution reported
from the Committee on Finance before the
holidays, declaring it to be the duty of
Congress at present to adopt definite meas
ures to redeem the pledge made by the
Government for the earliest practicable re-
demption of United States notes in coin
was taken up.
Mr.. Bogy, addressed the Senate. He
thought the whole system of legal
tenders vicious and contrary TO sound
financial policy, but the wants of the cOun-
try and of his section particularly were SO
pressing that there was no time now Ito
remedy the evil. The country wanted
speedy relief. He thought there has been
an unequal distribution of the currency.
The six New England States had received
10 million dollars when they were entitled
to but 30 millions. The Middle St1teS had
received an excess of nine millions while
the Southern States were deficient in their
portion 81 millions, and the Western States
q millions. lie advocated the reissue of
the II million legal tender reserve, an ad-
ditional issue of 50 million dollars in legal
tenders, and an issue of % million in Ma
tional Bank notes to Western Banks.
The Advance Pay.
The consideration of the salary bill was
then resumed. Mr.. Pratt offered an amend
ment that Senators, Representatives and
delegates of the Forty-third Congress who
have received their compensation since
March 4, 1873, at the rate of $500 per an
mum shall hereafter be paid in such month
" inStalments as will make the aggregate
for the whole Congress at the rate of 5000
per annum.
Mr.. Logan opposed the amendment. As
for himself he would have the salaries as at
present, because he did not believe them
excessive. He announced that he would
oppose any bill that did not wipe out the
entire salary except as it related to the
President and the Supreme Court. He was
opposed to any law TO cut down the salary
of the next President and he believed he
should have the same salary as the present
one, be he Democrat, Liberal, or Republi-
can.
Mr.. Thurman did not see any difficulty
in voting for the amendment of the gentle
man from Indiana (Pratt). He felt it to
be his duty to undo as far as in his power
the law increasing salaries and the effects
thereof.
Mr.. Logan thought that money re-
ceived by Senators was their private prop
erty and could not be taken from them.
He inquired of the Senator from Ohio
(Thurman) if the bill should become law
to-day and he (LOgan) should resign his
seat in the Senate tomorrow, could the
Government of the United States recover
money already paid him. He hoped the
Senator from Ohio would answer that
question.
Mr.. Thurman-I am afraid to answer.
The Senator might resign his seat in order
to keep his money. [Laughterl.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, opposed the
He did not believe Congress
had a right to exercise that power. He
favored the repeal of the bill and should
vote for its repeal, but would reject all 9TH
er propositions.
Mr.. Stewart opposed the amendment.
The VirSinius Correspondence.
The chair laid before the Senate ines
sage from the President transmitting the
in regard to the Virginius,