The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-12-11
HOUSE,


MIR. BECK offered a resolution calling
Tor report OF the present condition OF
the Freedmen's Bank, setting forth what
progress has been made towards closing
up It's affairs. Agreed 10.
MIR. Whethorne introduced a bill d.
recting the Freedmens Bank Commits
sioners 10 declare an immediate dividend,
and TO institute suit against the trustees,
officers and agents of the company, with
a view Of holding them personally liable.
Referred.
MIR. Fort introduced a resolution to
print 2J 600 copies OF each OF the agriCul-
tural reports for 1872 and 1873. Referred.
Alr. Holman offered resolution 10
amend the rules 10 make it in order 10
move 10 amend any appropriation bill by
abolishing.
MIR. Swami, from the Committee on
Appropriations, reported a diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill appro-
prlating 81 ,344, ,7S5, which was made the
special order for the 23d inst.
MIR. Negley, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported bill amendatOry Of
the act for the construction OF q bridge
across the Mississippi river OF St. Louis.
The resolution was made thespecial order
for Monday next.
MIR. West, from the Committee on APP
prOpriatiOns, reported back House bill ap.
propriating $4,000 for the purchase Of
scales Tor postoflces, with the amendment
that proposals for furnishing scales shall
be invited for at least seven days, and the
contract awarded TO the lowest re-
sponsible bidder. The amendment was
agreed TO, and the bill passed.
The House then went into Committee
Of the Whole, Tyner In the chair, and re.
sumed consideration Of the bill author
izing the issue 3-G5 convertible boDds,
MIR. Stowell, rising 10 the question Of
personal privilege, referred 10 the
charges made sgsinst him by his political
opponent, AIr. Porter, of having sold a
naval cadetshlp for 81 900 to one School.
craft, and of having sold his votes He
had, in letter 10 the Petersburg Inder,
denied the charges Of Porter as Infamous
lies and vile ISLANDERS. lie now asked
for an investigation by q committee of
the House. The matter was referred 10
the Committee on Naval Affairs, with
power TO send Tor persons and papers,
and 10 report at any time.
Mr. Willard, OF Vermont, from the Com.
mittGe on Foreign Affairs, reported bill
repeating the third section Of the last dip.
lOmatic appropriation bill, which after ex.
PLANTATION passed.
The repealed section iOrbids the cOnsu.
lar officers 10 grant certificates Tor gOods
or merchandise shipped from countries
adjacent to the United States which have
passed a consulate after purchase for ship.
mCnt.
Mr.. Holman offered a resolution 10
amend the rules 80 as TO make il in order
TO move TO amend any appropriation bill
by abolishiDg any oiliCe OF public employ.
ment or by reducing the salary or COM
pensatiOn to such offices. Referred.
Willard, Of Vermont, offered on amend.
ment to it, providing that greenbacks
shall not be legal tender in payment oil
debts contracted alter the 1st OF July,
1875.
Dawes spoke at length in opposition to
the bill. He declared that with the gen.
tleman from Ohio, (Garfield) ho rejoiced
that the hands of Congress were being
stayed up in the eilort-it it had courage
toHmakG ii, to bring the country back 10
the laws Of trade, and argued that the
direct and inevitable consequences of the
substitution Of the pending bill for the
existing state Of affairs, instead Of bringing
relief by appreCiating greenbaCks TO gold
would sink il ten to fifteen per cent, and
thereby take from labor ten and fifteen
per cent Of the purchasing power of his
days wsges and cut down his now scanty
loaf of bread. The greenback would be
worth as much as gold to-day, II the Gov.
ernment would pay it when presented,
and 1t never would be worth as much as
gold until the Government did that. Let
Il do that and all the rest would follow.
In conclusion, he said that those who are
responsible for public affairs have no time
10 lose, we can put oil our duty in promises
no longer. The Republican party has Just
three months to save or 10 destroy its ex-
istencc. No other power than itself can
accomplish its ruin. twill pss3 out of
mind and memory in politics iE this
country II at all, by its own hands. 1t
has the power as well as tho priv
ilege OF accomplishing either OF these
results. Whatever in the near future
awaits that party, let 1t not die for want
Of courage.
Mr.. Phelps argued against the pending
measure and said: This Is what l ask
the Government 10 dol ask the Gov
ernment to fulfill the epromises 1t made
twelve years ago 10 psy these grCenbacks
on demAud, dollar for dollar, aud l ask
the Government TO do so by borrowing
on It's bonds, payable so years alter date,
money with which 10 pay It's present in.
debtedness. In my opinion there is but
one way 10 make currency equal tOI
money, and that Is to follow that straight