Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-04-08
FOrty.Third Congress.

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Mr. Sargent of California presented the
memorial of 5000 citizens of California.
,sking that the liquor traffic be prohibited
The consideration Of the financial COM
mittee's compromise bill was resumed. Mr..
Morton's motto to strike out the fourth
section which provided for retiring 20 dol
lars greenbacks whenever 100 dollars
more of national bank notes should be
| issued, was carried 90 to 81. Various
other amendments were defeated.
House. The House passed the bill APP
propriating money for paying the debt
If the Louisville Ky.) and Portland
canal company, after rejecting an amend
ment providing that, if the cession of the
jurisdiction should not be made by the
state of Kentucky to the United States. the
tolls on the canal shall be raised to their
existing rates. and adding an amendmen;
providing that no money he paid under
this act until Kentucky shall have ceded
he jurisdiction over the canal property to
the United States.
Mr.. Dawes presented the petition of the
taxpayers of South Carolina. reciting the
excessive taxation to which the people OF
that state are subjected, and that the pro-
ceeds of such taxation are Systematically
squandered or stolen instead of being de
voted to the Legitimate purposes of the
government, and asking Congress to con
slider their condition, and devise some
means of relief.
! WEDNESDAY. ,ScHutc. The currency
and free banking compromise bill was
discussed
The free banking amendment of Mr..
| Logan, which WAS offered as Il substitute
for the third section of the committee
bill, with the amendment of Mr.. Gordon
and that of Mr.. Davis, which substituted
Pennsylvania for Maine as the basis of the
proportion of wealth and population to cir
culation. was rejected, % to 26.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont offered an
amendment, which was rejected. 10 to So.
providing that the maximum limit of frac-
tional currency issued for circulation shall
| be fixed at $40, 600, 900, and that the excess
outstanding be withdrawn rs early as prac-
/ tiblc.
/ The feature of the day was a speech by
Mr.. Jones, the new senator from Nevada.
He was known to be rich but had net been
counted as good for much in the Senate
except to vote But he was drawn into a
speech upon this bill, having begun to say
a few words and being questioned by Lo
gan and Morton. He made several good
points against Morton. and sustained his
position by statistics. He said that the re-
bellon might have been put down for fiji
teen hundred millions less than it cost, but
for the manufacture of irrcdeemable paper
money, which allowed debtors to pay cred
itOrS SO to 30 per cent less than they owed.
He favored hard money and a return to
specie payment in January OF July, 1876.
House, counter petition to that pre-
sented by Mr.. Dawes, from South Carroll
MT, was presented by Mr.. Rainey. 1t de
clarcS that the taxpayers have no one but
themselves to blame by not aiding the work
of reconstruction, and that the figures Civ
en- by the memorialistS are distorted and
skilltully arranged to deceive.
The currency bill was taken up and
Phelp, of New Jersey, and Hawley of
Conn. spoke against the bill and earnestly
opposed imitation.
THURSDAY. .Senate The Sherman
compromise currency bill was discussed,
and Mr. Merrimon of North Carolina of
fcrcd substitute for the third section 0he
| free banking section). allowing national
banks $40 .0U00 in circulating notes adj
ditiOnal to those now allowed. TO be dis
| tributcd among the states as provided in
section ! This amendment was carried
33 to 10. Many of the amendments were
/ rejected. The next day being Good Fri
| day. Mr.. Anthony moved to adjourn over,
| but the Senate did not come to Il vote on
| it. Mr.. Morton said the motion was cal
! cuatcd to waste the time of the Senate
/ Mr.. Anthony said that when he was ac-
cuSed of wasting the time Of the Senate
| bv Senator who had not spoken more
hours than he had minutes, he would de
I fend himself. but not till then.
/ H0tSe Considerable debate occurred
over a bill reported by Mr.. Cragin of New
Hampshire, authorizing the appointment
of some person To examine and report re-
/ @arding the seal fisheries and fur trade of
/ Alaska condition Of the natives. etc, with
Il salary of - per day and actual travelling
expenses. The bill was finally laid over.
/ Mr.. Willard of Vermont, opposed the
measure, and Mr.. Conger of Michigan.
who reported the bill, said if Mr.. Willard
did NOT object, it would he Il sign of i'll
health on his part and the elegant Conger
proceeded to freely complain of the OPP.
posing nature of the member from Yer
mont.
| The consideration of the currency bill
was resumed, and speeches were made by
Messrs. Niles Of Mississippi, against the
bill. by Harris of Virginia. in favor of
more currency, and Burchard of Illinois,
in favor of free banking and the reduction
Of the reserve of the banks from twenty
five To five per cent.
/ Mr.. Wilson of Indiana started a pun
gent discussion by accusing New England
of acting in an unfair spirit. Dawes and
G.. +. Hoar in the operation got by the
ears. and Generals liawley and Butler Of
course had 10 take Il part in the wordy
combat
FRIDAY. Stnotc. Mr.. Anthony made
two attempts To get an adjournment on
account of Good Friday remarking.
however, that it WAS not on account of any
conscientious scruples he had. but for those
of others The chair ruled it ont of order
during the morning hour, except by unani-
nous consent. and, ut the end of that time,
it was voted down. 80 to -.
The bill to pay the school teachers of the
District was reported fivorably, and placed
on the calendar.
At the request of Mr.. Sherman, who
said he had one or two amendments to
offer. the finance bill was laid over. and
the bill on the payment of the bonds of
the Louisville and Portland canal COM
pany taken up, the pending question being
as to Il conference committee.
House. The House devoted the day to
the consideration of private bills, and sew
cnty in all We're passed Among them
was the bill for the appointment of IN
agent to investigate the seal trade, etc, of
Alaska. with an amendment that a naval
officer shall be detached in connection
with the civil agent for this purpose, and
to report whether the contracts as to the
seal fisheries have been complied with and
can be safely extended.
The ways and means committee were
instructed to inquire into the charges of
corruption in connection with the increas-
ed subsidy to the Pacific Mail steamship.
SATURDAY. House. Forty bills were
passed \ sharp discussion occurred over
a request Of Mr.. Butler of Massachusetts,
! e.; I'LL from th.a i,,li....,: