The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-01-21
Forty Third Congress First Session,
SENATE.

Mr.. Sherman presented the credentials of A.
G. Thurman, who is reelected from Ohio. Ia
bed.
Mr.. Chandler presented the petition of the
National Board Of Trade for revision of the
internal revenue laws. Referred to the Com
mttee on Finance.
Mr.. Fenton presented petition from the Ma
tional Board of Trade endorsing the petition of
the New York Chamber of Commerce in re-
gala to legislation for the prevention of COLI
siOns at sea. L
MIR. Thurman presented petition of the Ma
tional Board of Trade against the increase of
the volume of currency.
By Mr.. Sumner, petition of the citizens of
New Mexico and Colorado, in regard to the
Maxwell Land Grant and Railroad Company
asking the enactment of law limiting the
amount of land grants.
Mr.. Ogesby presented the petition of the
National Board of Trade on the question of
transportation. He said he did so as an ex-
preston of increasing feeling on the subject
throughout the country. There was no ques-
tion of such concern to Western people as this,
and the question must be solved by Congress
He had lost all hope of bringing railroads to
fair and just compensation for transportation,
and he believed Congress had the power to meet
any question of national Importance. There
must be a market for the vast products of tne
West, and the markets of Europe and the East
can be reached only by cheaper routes than
now exist, and he had no doubt as to Congress
legally comforting power upon corporations to
construct railroads and prescribe tariff of
freight charges. He had no hope that the re-
port of the Transportation Committee on this
subject would be satisfactory, but it would be a
step in the right direction.
Mr.. BOZy followed, In advocacy of water
routes to the seaboard from the West.
A resolution was adopted that the Secretary
of the Treasury report the amounts paid for
extra clerks in his department.
bill Incorporating the National Inebriates'
Home was reported, but the committee do not
recommend its being built now
Mr.. Anthony presented petition of employ
ing printers of Washington in regard to the
work being done at the government printing
office, such as the printing of law records Con-
gressmen's speeches, etc., IN violation of law.
He said all the speeches printed at the govern
ment office by Congressman were paid for by
themselves, they having the rdght under the
law to have the printing done at the govern
ment office by paying for it. As members of
Congress IN our days were accused of stealing
everything from railroad to tooth-pick, he
desired it to be understood that their speeches
printed at the government printing Office were
paid for by themselves.
A bill for the relief of the officers and crew of
the United States steamer Wyoming was refer
red to the Naval Affairs Committee
A bill for the relief Of purchasers of lands
sold for direct taxes in insurrectionary States
was referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Clayton called up the resolution sub
mitted by him on the 9Th of December, in
structing-the Committee on Railroads to con-
slider the expediency of reporting bill proyid-
ing for a general system of railroad incorpora-
ton. He said in view of the eat importance
of the question of cheap transportation and
the probability of its being determined that
Congress has no constitutional power in regard
to chartering railroads through the States, he
desired to have the resolution referred to the
Judiciary Committee at au early day and lay
before the Senate their views as to the power
of Congress to legslate upon this subject. The
resolution was SO referred. Mr.. Morrill,, from
the Conference Committee on the bill making
an appropriation to pay the salaries of official
reporters made report which fixes the amount
to be paid by each House at $40, 900 each Con-
gress. ess-t
Several other petitions were preseeted, when
the consideration of the financial resolution
was resumed and the remarks of Mr.. Browlow
were read by the Clerk.
MIR. BrOwnlow thought immediate return to
specie payments would destroy the business of
the country. The principal defect of our finan-
cial system is in the unequal distribution of the
currency, and measures should be taken to
give more to the South and West, which need
it under the present system. Producers grow
poorer every year and non-pro ducers grow
RICHER. The cultivation of the soil is net re-
munerative because such high prices have to be
paid for use of circulating medium. He claim
ed that great power is exercised all over the
country by the Capitalization OF capital, and if
not checked, it will soon dictate legislation in
Congress as it does now in some States. The
evil can be remedied by Congress and the
shortest mode was to give the country more
currency.
give more currency and more fexiblity to the
currency and that hour would bring forth mil
lions of greenbacks now boarded up The
most beggary country in the world Spain,
has nothing but specie. Cheap money is what
We want and he hoped the debt-burdened
SOutb and Mast wOu1d hao1 fha ory ha
South is poorer to-day than when Lee surren-
dered and unless Congress bring relief, nothing
but ruin and bankruptcy awaits its people,
He hoped the day would come when money
would be issued not founded on gold, but on
the faith of the government, receivable for al
dues.
Mr. Chandler agreed that we wanted more
money but we want better money and more
stability. These changes destroy and over
throw the business of the country, now rapidly
recovering from the effects of the late panic,
and before thirty days money would be cheaper
than for the last twenty years. He thought
the best plan was for the government to say it
would resume specie payments Jan. l, 1875
and authorize the Treasury to borrow $500, 900,
QUO in gold at that time. Stop gold sales
now, and by next JAN we would have $780,
100000 to begin the redemption of our leg al
tenders. He opposed any initiation of the cur.
rency.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Rusk of Wis, from the Committee on
Invalid Pensions, reported a bill to eqnalize
pensions in certain cases. Recommitled
Mr. Wells of Mo-, introduced bill to ex-
| tend the provisions and limitations of the act
OF March Sd, 1851, to limit the liability of ship
| owners.
Mr.. McCreary of Iowa, from the Committee
ON Railroads and Canals, reported bill to reg
nlate commence by railroad among the several
States. Printed and recommitted.
| Mr. McCreary's bill provides for the regula-
ton of passenger and freight charges on rail-
ways through a commission of nine members
to be appointed by the President and to hold
Office, two, four and six years, with compen-
sation of $4,000 and actual travelling expenses.
MIR. Maynard, from the Committee on Rules,
reported new rule providing that all motions
to suspend the rules, except to go into Com
mittee of the Whole, shall, before being sub
mitted to the House, be seconded by majority
as in case of the previous question. The pro
position gave rise to considerable discussion,
the new rule being advocated by some as
means Of preventing the House being forced to
vote by yeas and nays on buncombe resolutions
and being opposed DO others as an infringement
| on tbo Of the minOritV