The Portland daily press., 1874-03-19
Fort Third COngress-First Session.
SENATE.


Washington, and asking that the band of pray
ing women be received at the bar of the Senate,
ana tnat the present occupant or the Chair,
with Senators Chandler and Sprague, be APP
pointed committee to receive them; =. (Laugh-
teri Referred to the Committee of Finance.
MI Morrill, of VT, presented petitions of the
citzens of Iowa, Massachusetts, West Virginia
ana New Jersey, asking Congress to take the
necessary steps towards establishing system
Tor tne settlement of difficulties between nations
Foreign Affairs
Lhe olll 10 employ competent person to
make survey and prepare "a plan for perma-
neht I'M provement of the Capitol grounds was
TAKEN up ana the amendment of the House
reducing the appropriation from $4,000 to $4,000
was concurred in
Mr. Spencer introduced bill amepdatory of
the act to provide for the better security of
LIE ON vessels propelled in whole or part by
steam Referred to the Committee on Com
merce.
Mr.. Oglesby, of the Indian Committee. re-
ported against an appropriation of $S150,O 900 to
meet the wants of n isson Indians of Califor-
MA, ana the committee were discharged from
the consideration of the subject
After the introduction of several bills the
Senate took up the calendar and passed Lum-
Der OF bills including one to encourage the es-
adjustment of public marine school.
Inc House bill to authorize medals commem-
Grating the Tooth anniversary of the first
meeting of the Centennial Congress and of the
Declaration of Independence was referred to
the re- Committee on Revolutionary Claims.
Inc OIL to restore the rights of Louisiana
was laid over
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill to equalize the distribution of the curren-
cy.
Mr. West moved that pending and prior or
ders be laid aside and the Senate proceed with
the consideration of the army appropriation
bill.
Mr. Logan said some arrangement should be
made about the financial question This way
of postponiug from day to day and taking up
other matters was rather strange proceeding.
Mr. Sherman said he would oppose any mo-
ton to postpone the iuanciall discussion. The
whole country was suffering on account of the
delay already occaSOned, and there is a univer
sal cutlery that Congress should do something.
He had received letters from different parts Of
the country complaining of Congress delaying
so long. The merchants were declining to,buy
their goods for fear the action of Congress
might depreciate the value. No vote could be
reached to-day, as fifteen or twenty Senators
were absent. but he thought it advisable to al
low the Finance Committee to have three or
four days to pass upon the whole subject before
taking any vote. though he would make no
motion to that effect 1t would probably ex-
pedite business if the matter should be referred
now and discussed again after the committee
had reported. He trusted that the Senate
would not bear long speech one day and then
postpone the subject or confine itself to one
speech day, but sit it out and dispose of the
question some how in few days s.e..
Mr.. Hamlin said the discussion on this sub
ject had been very long and the Senate owed it
to itself and the country that action be had
In his opinion the discussion had legslatvely
been carried to an extent which was criminal.
He received letters daily inquiring when Con-
gress would take some action. IT a resolution
should be passed declaring Congress would do
nothing in regard to finances the effect would
be good, because the country would then know
what to expect and how to shape business.
Mr.. Chandler suggested that when the ques-
ton came up again, after the speeches already
prepared had been delivered, it should be de-
bated under the five minute rule till disposed
of.
Mr.. West thought it advisable to devote three
days to further discussion of the financial
question and at the conclusion of the third day
TO take-a vote. . .-..
Mr.. Ferry of Mich aid not want to take ad-
vantage of the absence of Senators to propose
any agreement, but thought if the discussion
should be resumed, say Monday, for two or
three days vote might be reached if the SEN
ate could be made to sit it out at the end of the
second or third day.
Mr.. Sherman submitted an order that after
the passage of the army bill, the financial
question shall be pressed to a vote, two days
being allowed for general debate after that
speeches not to exceed ten minutes each,
Mr. Thurman said that before the discussion
shOnld be ended, he would ask the Indulgence
of the Senate to submit his views, though he
would prefer to wait until the committee should
report. Without intending any disrespect to
any one, he thought the discussion already had
been needless consumption of time. He ia
vored an agreement to take a vote on Friday or
Monday next. and had no doubt if the Senate
would set it out vote could be reached before
midnight
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, inquired if it be agrea-
BILE that the vote be taken Friday or Monday
what would be done in the meantime?
Mr.. Thurman-As for myself, will go and
discharge the duties on the Investigating Com
mittee imposed upon me by the Senate; but if
the Senator wanted to know what the Senate
will do, think may say, judging from the
light OF past experience. that 1t will talk
Laughter) He objected to the present consid-
Grafton of the order submitted by his colleague.
MIR. Stevenson said he opposed any postpone
ment of the financial discussion, believing such
action wond only serve to prolong the debate,
and it would only be waste of time to lay
aside the financial question to take up any,
thing else. He regarded the tinadcial question
the most important before the Senate
Mr. Ferry, of Conn.,. opposed any postpone
ment of the financial question to allow consid-
Grafton ofany other bill. The order submitted
by Mr.. Sherman having been objected to, it
was laid over till tomorrow.
Mr. West said as the Senate had manifested
disposition to continue the financial discussion
he would withdraw his motion to take up the
Amy bill for the present
Mr. Dennis, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported without amendment the House
bill amendatory of the act to prevent the exter-
mination of fur-bearing animals in Alaska.
Placed on the calendar.
The bill to equalize the distribution of cur
rency was taken up, and Mr.. Davis of W. Va,
addressed the Senate. He reviewed the finan-
cial history of the country and natl onal bark
ing system, and expressed his conviction that
the remedy for present evils was in the transfer
of banking capital from New England to the
PSI inf fhnro
must be an increase let it be in greenbacks and
not in national bank notes. If the transfer of
banking capital could uot be made, he would
favor an increase in greenbacks to meet the
wants of the West and South.
No Que else being ready to speak
Mr.. West moved the bill be laid aside infor
mally and the Senate proceed to the consdera-
ton of the army appropriation bill, Agreed
to with the understanding that the financial
question be resumed tomorrow.
Mr.. West then explained the provisions of
the army bill, saying the total amount appro
priaten for the support of the army the pres
ent fiscal year was $31, 10000. The original
estimates for the next fiscal year were S34
543, 600; but under the revised statutes they
were reduced to 1874 ,218.000. The House had
voted for $3S, 301 ,916. The Senate Committee
ON Approprat ons had reduced this amount to
1927, 1888. 800, or S. 1888 500 less than the amount
appropriated for the present. fiscal year. The
reduction was mainly due to the curtaiment of
the army from &c, 900 to % 900 men. n',
The bill was then read and nearly the first
section was agreed to as reported by the COM
mittee, the amendments all being concurred
in. The most important of the committees
amendments adopted by the Senate reduces the
House appropriation for subsistence from 49,,
452.4l6 to S2,489000; reduces the appropria-
ton for Quarter Masters supplies from "a, $780,
600 to $4,25O.0OO The appropriation for Incl
dental expenses is reduced from $1.300,00 to
S1,20O000, and that for hire of quarters is re-
duced from 81 10000 to $1,4O0,uOO; that for
preservation of clothing and equipage from
moths is reduced from 200 to $50, 900. The
committee heretofore recommended that the
House appropriation of $4,000 for medical
works for the Army Medical Museum and that
the Surgeon General Office be reduced to $780,
600. but to day advised the amendment be
withdrawn and the amount be left as fixed by
the House,
Pending the discussion, Mr.. Chandler moved
to adjourn
Mr.. Gordon presented memorial of the bus
mess men of New York, favoring the substitu-
ton OF legal tenders in lieu of national bank
notes and free banking. Referred to Commit
tee on Finance. Adjourned.