Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-29
WASHINGTON MATTERS.

The bill making an appropriation for the
busts of fancy and Chase, to be placed in the
United States Supreme Court Room with the
busts Of other justices OF that court, passed
tho House Monday under a motion for the
suspension of the rules, with but little opposi-
ton.
| There are indications that the Centennial
| Commissioners intend to make an effort upon
| Congress through the medium of the State
Legislatures. Monday resolutions were pre-
scented to the House from the States of New
Jersey and Tennessee earnestly indorsiag
the purposes of the Centennial, and recon-
mendng whatever appropriations may be
necessary to accomplish its objects.
Colonel Tom Scott wants Government to
guaranty the interest on the Ave per cent.
to sell the land granted to the Company to Sc
cure their payment while the earnings of the
road for mail and Government transportation
will repay the interest.
The Banking and Currency Committee
finally disposed Monday of Mr.. Kelley's 3G5
convertible bond bill, deciding by a large
vote to report adversely, authorizing its
Chairman to recommend to lay it upon the
table. Mr.. Kelly proposes to move to refer
the bill to the Committee of the Whole on the
State of the Union, where it will receive
full consideration and ample discussion. He
holds that the maj ority of the House favor it,
and if square vote is reached it would pass.
The action Of the House on this measure will
be a test of the subjects of contraction or ex-
pansion.
Congressman are already beginning to spec
ulate concerning the possibility of an ad
journment on May l. They argue that, now
that the House has assumed such position
as regards retrenchment, no bills taking
money from the Treasury can possibly COM
mand attention from Congress at this session,
except the ordinary necessary appropriation
bills. There will consequently be few sub
jects which with this limitation, can claim
the time of Congress. The reduction of sal
aries, and the consequent necessity of ill.,
creased economy on the part of the less
important element in considering the proba-
bility of an early adjournment
The Senate was treated on Monday to an
old school speech from Senator McCreery,
stalwart specimen of the Kentuckian of the
Blue Grass region. He is about five and fifty
years Of age, TALL stout, with a massive head,
bald on tho top, but surrounded with black
hair, and pair of very black and very ex-
pressive eyes. A classical scholar and pos
sessing a great fund Of humor, he wields the
weapons of logic with much skill and effect,
and while reviewing the action of Senator
Morton on Louisiana to day he displayed so
much native good nature that ali asperity
was lost, and the friends of the Senator from
Indiana joined heartily in the laughter pro-
voked
The House Committee on Banking and
Currency have laid GU: the plan of bill to
improve the present banking system. The
following was agreed upon as the leading
feature of the bill: First, that restriction on
the total amount of bank circulation shall be
repealed, which is equivalent to authorizing
free banking under the provisions of the pres
ent law, except as modified by the commit
tees bill second, that the requirement that
banks shall keep reserve of greenbacks in
their vaults to redeem their notes shall be re-
pealed, and that, instead every bank shall de-
post in the Treasury greenbacks amounting
to five per cent. of its circulation as fund
for the redemption Of its notes. and shall keep
this reserve good; third that banks shall! not
be allowed TO pay or receive interest on de-
posts with each other; fonrth, that country
| banks shall be required TO keep their deposit
reserves at home; fifth, that gold banks shall
be allowed TO issue notes to the amount of
SO per cent. only Of their bonds, instead Of
| ninety, as at present 1t is understood that
only three members of the committee voted
against reporting bin combining these fea-
lures, and that these were Messrs. Hawley,
Phelps and Mitchell. The committee sub
sequently agreed to report adversely upon
the postal savings banks bill, but in order to
give the friends Of the measure an opportunity
to advocate it in the house, it was arranged
that the bill, with the adverse report, should
be put on the calendar for discussion In COM
mittee Of the whole