The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-17
CONGRESSIONAL.
yesterday's Proceedings.


FRIDAY, January 16.
Senate.-Mr. Logan introduced bill to
increase the Pay department of the army.
Also, to make obligatory the retirement of
officers of the army and marine corps after |
certain age. Also, bill authorizing APP
pointments and promotions in the Medical
and Ordnance departments of the army.
The bills were all referred to committee on
military affairs.
Mr.. Howe. from committee on the libra
ry, reported bill authorizing the placing in
the supreme courtroom of busts of the
late Chief Justices fancy and Chase, which
was passed.
Mr.. Davis submitted resolution in
structng the Attorney General to COM
municate to the Senate all information in
his Office relative to the sale of government
property at Harper's Ferry and pending
suits in regard thereto.
Mr.. Morton concluded his remarks on
the finances. In reference to Mr.. Schurz'
idea that one Of the causes of the late
panic was the premature building of rail-
roads, he dissented from this. Railroa ds
were the pioneers of civilization, and he
did not believe that one too many had
heen built, nor was there Senator here
who will name railroad in his state that
ought not to have been built. He re-
marked that behind all these arguments for
contraction he saw the old bank system
looming up. lie had been informed that
the -four countries in Europe which had of
late made the greatest progress were Aus
tria, Russia, Germany, and Italy. During
this period the currency of Austria had
been from 10 to 90 per cent below par,
Russia from 10 to 26 per cent, and Italy
from 8 to 20 per cent. He repeated that
the recent panic did not spring out
of any defect in the currency.
The currency really increased in
value during the panic. The other side of
the chamber, with but one or two excep-
tons, he believed, opposed the national
banking system, but he hoped the country
would never return to the old system of
state banks. The policy of contraction he
looked upon as fraught with ruin. There
was to-day smaller volume of currency
as compared with the wealth and business
needs Of the country than there was five
years ago. and he believed it best to have
moderate increase. Our difficulties were
not to be remedied by the theories of John
Stuart Mill. The system of prices and
wages in England would no more answer
in this country than map Of Europe
would answer for map Of North Ame-
RIGA.
Mr.. Howe introduced his bill to exchange
irredeemable legal-tender notes for redeem
able national bank notes.
House.-The naval appropriation bill
was discussed by the House committee of
the whole, the appropriations for the ma
rine corps being under consideration.
Mr.. Cox On. " offered an amendment
that after the term of the present incum-
bent of the Office of general shall expire
no appointment shall be made to fill the
vacancy,
After discussion an amendment was
adopted cutting the number of privates for
whom pay was appropriated down to ] 800
and the reading of the bill was concluded.
Mr.. Randall (Pa) offered an amendment
as an additional section, making it mis-
demeanor. punishable by fine not ex-
ceedng $4,000, for any officer or APP
pointee of the government to contract for
or authorize an expenditure of any sum
for any fiscal year in excess of the sum
appropriated for the specified purpose for
such fiscal year.
Mr.. Loughridge Qowa) offered an amend
ment to this, that in case of any sudden
invasion or instruction or like emergency,
the President may, on written application
to the heads of departments, authorize in
writing an additional expenditure, and re-
port the same to Congress within five days
after its next meeting.
After spirited debate the amendments
were seyerally rejected
The committee then rose and reported
the bill to the House.
The amendments adopted in committee
were adopted and the bill passed.
The resolution on the finances was taken
up, and Mr.. Sherman proceeded to address
the Senate.
Mr.. Swami (Md) presented the petition
Of Susan Wheeler, Sarah w. Scott, and
others OF Baltimore, Md, asking for the
appointment of a commission of inquiry
concerning the liquor traffic. Referred
TO the Judiciary committee.
Mr.. Foster Ohio, from the committee of
ways and means, reported a resolution
calling upon the secretary for information
relative to the fund arising from cotton and
other captured and abandoned property.
Adopted.
Mr.. Dawes (Mass.), from the committee
on ways and means, reported bill for the
relief of dstllers of spirits who have pur-
chased on deposited money with the inter-
nal revenue bureau for Tce meters.
Mr.. Dawes moved the recommtment OF
the bill, and said he reported it as one of a
class, to test the sense Of the House as to
the matter of reference, whether claims
growing out of subjects connected with the
customs and internal revenue service should
go to the ways and means committee or
the committee on claims.
After debate, Mr.. Hawley Qll.) moved
to refer the bill to the committee on
claims.
The motion was disagreed to--ayes p,
noes 70.
The bill was then recommitted.
ARCHBISHOP WHATELY used to hold
that there was one Characteristic distinc-