The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-24

| their interest to have vessels stuck In the mud
during the time employed in getting them on in
addition TO the towage fee. On one occasion,
when Captain Howell, the ofrcer under the War
Department in charge Of the excavation, had made
| some progress two boats, coming up with
large ives, vessel o ran aground across the chan
| further progress Of the excavation for weeks
Captain Howell was compelled to leave the south
west Pass on account OF distractions put there by
| the tow boat company and begin work upon an
other, but they followed him there and INSTRUCTED
| Mr.. THURMAN, Of ONO, said he agreed with the
| Senator from Minnesota as to the abuses there,
iations anu prescribe punishment not to deIe9ate
| that power to the Secretary OF War.
I'M c,o, ssa Re- rep WIS Mr Anthony in
season, and endorsed all that mad been said by the
| Senator from Minnesota lMr. WindOm) but he
| Thought it unconstitutional for Congress to dele.
| gate any such power as the bill proposed to the
| Secretary OF War. The bill was VOID on it's face.
and he believed II it passed no penalties could be
recovered under it. All wanted to see the i'm.
| provement OF the work referred to; but he would
not SIT here ana vote ior 6lll which would be
Mr.. CONKLING said he could not see how 1t was
within the power Of Congress to undertake such
| legislation as this. Congress had power to pre-
| scribe punishment for interfering with the mails
&c. but it had no authority to delegate that power
confer upon any executive or ministerial officer, or
anybody else, the discretion to determine what
saai anu wnat sna not constitute felony or mis-.
legislation must rest upon some reasoning beyond
his c0nCeptlOn. Congress must prescribe the pen
alties, but could not confer upon the Secretary Of
War police powers.
Mr.. THURMAN. OF Ohio, said the best thing to do
was to pass general law protecting all our rivers
and harbOrs from obstruction or any Interference
with public works.
Alter some further discussion The bin was recon-
mltted TO the Committee ON Commerce.
| THE MONEY QUESTION.
The regular order, being the resolution reported
ny the FINANCE committee. came up.
Mr.. STEWART, (rep OF New, spoke of the evils OF
a DEF reciated currency, and advocated Tree bank
rency, he contended, would be an evil. No matter
how much should be ssued-$5O, 900, 900 or
other crash would follow. Let q step be taken
toward specie payment in time OF peace and pros
perity. Congress- ought not to encourage any
| speculation by dealing out more money. He
! thought We could stand efforts toward return to
specie payment now. but If step be taken back
Mr.. WRIGHT, OF Iowa, moved the pending resolu-
tiOn be laid aside informally and the Senate pro-
coed 10 the consideration OF the House bill to
abolish the Office OF Deputy Commissioner Of Inter.
| nal Revenue.
Mr.. LOGAN, trep) OF H., objected.
| Mr.. BAYARD, ldem.) or Del, said he hoped no
| vote would be taken on the financial resolution to-
| day. He, with other gentlemen, desired to speak,
| but were not ready to go on to-day.
! Mr.. SHERMAN said while ne was an XiOus to get
the vote Of the Senate the resolution as soon as
| the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Morton) would
bring up his privileged questionable Louisiana
the further Consideration OF tue financial resoa.
ton be postponed till Tuesday next. 1t was SO
On motion of Mr.. ALLISON, of Iowa, it was
agreed that when the Senate adjourn to-day it
be till Monday next.
| PURCHASE OF THE LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND
The bill to pay the bonds Of the Louisville and
por.a4d tan MAJ was taken up ana passed It. pro-
continued in full force and made applicable to the
| payment OF the debts or SAID canal and so much
| as may be necessary shall be applied to the pay.
OF the interest it accrues and the principal
| OF the outstanding bonds Of the company as they
the Treasury may purchase and pay Tor any Of said
bonds at their market price, not above par, when
| The bill further authorizes the Secretary Of the
Treasury to take possession OF said canal ana all
property, real and personal, OF said company
within thirty days from the passage OF the act as
| the property OF the United States, subject how
ever, to mortgage or lien on said property in
| favor OF the trustees under said mortgage and
holders OF bonds Issued under It, The Secretary Is
authorized to pay the directors for the stock held
ceipts and disbursements of the company to be
made and to collect, and, II necessary, sue for
any money due to or held Tor the company by the
directors or the trustees under said mortgage. The
Dill also provides mat the canal and property ap-
pertaining thereto snail be held for the common
use and benefit Of the people of the United States
Tree OF all tolls and charges, except such as are
necessary to pay the current expenses of
they shall be at the rate OF ten cents
per ton capacity on vessels propelled by
to ascertain what rates Will pay current expenses
after the present year the Secretary OF the Treas
ury shall. on tue first Monday in January in each
year, ascertain from the expenditures OF the pre-
vtous year what tolls will probably pay expenses for
the current year. and fix the rate OF tolls thus as
certalned to be charged tor the current year.
THE POST ROUTE BILL
The Senate then resumed tie consideration of the
Post Route bill, the question being on Mr. Pratt's
amendment declaring all bridges heretofore or
hereafter to be erected over navlgabe rivers In the
United States or over lakes or the outlets OF lakes,
or over arms OF the sea or other bodies OF water,
and ali public roads, established or hereafter to
be established, in the States or Territories
Il .lIa hisvhu
vided that no service shall be ordered on the
routes until after an examination and the report
OF an agent OF the Post ONCE Department. and
that IN the judgment OF the Postmaster General,
such service Is demanded by the public convenience
Mr.. MORTON, of Indiana, opposed the amend
meni, and expressed the opinion that it would be
delegatlng the power OF C.ngress to the Post
master General. Congress alone had the power to
establish post offices and post roads, and 1t could
not be conferred upon any one.
Mr.. HAMLIN. OF Maine, also opposed the amend
ment. He SAID II every cowpatn in the country
was to ne opened up and declared mail route he
thought the duties OF the Postmaster General
would be overwhelming; besides, large expendi-
lures would be required.
IN Mr Morrill, LII rep? Of Vt, moved to insert in
leading from one town TO another or from one
village to another, or from any railroad depot
to %ne OF of M was psa agreed to- h,
Morrill, was then rejected.
TRANSPORTING FREIGHT BY MAIL.
Mr.. SARGENT, rep) or Cal, moved an amend.
ment that from and alter June 3d. 1874, the trans
pOrtation IN the mails Of all bound books seeds,
cuttings. bulbs and general merchandise should be
discontinued. In advocating the adoption of this
amendment be spoke OF the great inconvenience
resulting to the postal service from transporting
freight through the mails. In some instances
snakes and allgators were sent by mail, and in
one case q beehive
Mr.. MORRILL,, (rep.) OF Me-, said the adoption of
the amendment OF the gentleman from California
Mr. sargent, would be Of great benefit to the
postal service. The amount OF freight carried
through the postal service was overwhelming
Mr. FRELINGHuYsEN, OF New Jersey, said he
doubted that the Postmaster General desired the
passage OF that amendment. Some means should
be furnished for sending books throughout the
country, ana he had been told by the Postmaster
General. within few days past that he intended
to reduce the postage on books.
Mr.. RAMSAY. (rep9 OF Mimi, appealed to the
gentleman from California (Mr. SARGENT to with
draw the amendment. 1t had always been the
non a nostoi routa h,i ~