The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-03-26
HOUSE.

Mr.. Potter, of N. Y, presented the memoir al
of merchants, bankers, officers of banks, in-
surance companies. and business men in New
York city, representing an aggregate capital of
over S47OOOO, 900, against any increase of
| currency by the Government.
A bill was passed to prevent the extermina-
ton OF fur-bearing animals in Alaska.
Mr.. Shanks, of Ind, called up his motion to
reconsider the vote rejecting the bill fo- the
free distribution OF public documents, etc
Mr.. Cotton, of Iowa, moved to table the mo-
ton. Rejected-102 to 124 The bill provides
that during any session Of Congress, and for
thirty days prior and subsequent thereto, all
written and printed matter, and such other
things as have been ordered by either House
for distribution, shall go free of postage. The
| second section provides that all newspapers,
regularly printed and not advertising sheets
simply, shall go free of postage through the
| mails in the county where they are published,
| but shall not be delivered under the free de-
| livery system. The third section requires all
postal matter to be prepaid. The bill was re-
| jected-yeas, Ill nays. 100.
The liquor commission bill was taken up and
passed-yeas, 26; nays, 81. The bill provides
| that there shall be appointed by the President,
| by and with the advice and consent of the SEN
ate, commission of five persons, neither of
whom shall be the holder of any office of profit
| or trust in the general or State Government
| 1t shall be their duty to investigate the alco-
holic and fermented liquor traffic and manufac-
| ture, having special reference to revenue and
| taxation, distinguishing as far as possible in
| the conclusions they arrive at between the ef-
fects produced by the use of distilled or spirit
| GUS as distinguished from the use of fermented
| or malt liquors, in their economic, criminal,
| moral and scientific aspects in connection with
| pauperism, crime, vice, the public health and
the general welfare of the people; also to in
| qure and take testimony as to the practical re-
suits of license and restrictive legislation for
| Of N the
| States and the effect produced by such legisla-
tion upon the consumption of distilled or spirit
| uous liquors, and of fermented or malt liquors,
and also ascertain whether the evil of drunk
| enness has been increased or decreased there
| by whether the use of opium as a stimulant
and substitute for alcoholic drink has become
| more general in consequence of such legisla-
| ton, and whether the public morals have been
| improved thereby. 1t shall also be the duty of
said commission to gather information and take
| testimony as to whether the evil of drunken
ness exists to the same extent or more so in
| other civilized countries, and whether those
| foreign nations that are considered the most
| temperate in the use of stimulsnts SO
through prohibitory laws also to what degree
prohibtory legislation has affected the con-
sumption and manufacture of malt and splritu-
| GUS liquors in this country.
| MIR. Butler, of Mass, presented resolution
of the Massachusetts Legislature resembling
the resolution of censure against Senator
| Sumner. .I....
Mr.. Oonger, of Michigan having introduced
a bill to change the name of the ship William
NJ. Tweed TO 90 Newburgh" Mr.. G.. F. Hoar
of Massachusetts, suggested that the House
would like to hear from Mr.. Cox on that sub
| iect. Mr.. Cox said that he had no persona
allusion to make. Mr.. Tweed was no Longer
an influence in New York politics. He was a,
extinct as the Dodo. [Laughter.] His FRIEND
from Michigan (Mr. Conger) knew that bird