Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-02-11
FOrtv.Third Congress.

TUESDAY. OCaUtS. " drlOuS pttttIOnS
and bills were introduces. The most inn
portant of the latter were couple by
Senator Sherman. The first provides for
|equalizing the currency by withdrawing
425. 100000 of national bank bills from
States in excess. and allowing that amount
70 be added to the circulation in States
now most deficient. The second provides
for resumption of specie payment Jan. 1st,
1875; or in case the treasurer sees fit not
to pay specie he may redeem the green
backs by gold bearing per cent bond.
The consideration of the bankrupt bill
recently reported by the judiciary commit
tee was resumed. and Mr.. Edmunds of VT
explained the amendments thereto. The
amendments were considered seriatim. and
The first six sections of the amended bill
agreed to, and the seventh, which relates
to attempts to defraud creditors, was read
The two most important of those agreed
to, provide that no discharge shall be
granted a debtor whose assets shall not be
equal to 33 per cent of the claims proved
against his estate, without the assent of his
creditors, and that, in cases of involuntary
or compulsory bankruptcy, the period Of
four months mentioned in section 50 OF
the original law be changed to two months
but such provisions not to 60 into effect un.
til two months after the passage of this
act. The period of six months mentioned
in the same section of the original act is
also changed to three, but not to take effect
until three months after the passage of this
act.
House. A sharp discussion on the army
appropriation bill came mp, and Mr.. Haw.
lev of Connecticut desired to know Of
somebody if he wished to reduce the pay
of the American soldier" Mr.. Hawley
became periodically severe upon the ap
preparation committee Mr. Wheeler o.
New York, of that committee, explained
the bill, showing that it appropriates
enough to recruit 5000 men during the ye;,l
for frontier regiments. Mr.. Wheeler
thought if this was MT enough it would bt
well to 90 to private houses in Washing
ton and take the enlisted men who arc
acting as servants.
WEDNESDAY. Senate. A bill to encour-
was introduced. The amendments to the
bankrupt law We're discussed at length.
House Mr.. Asa Hodges was admitted
from Arkansas, taking the s. modified oath.
The army appropriation bill was taker
up. Mr.. Beck of Ky. offered an amend
ment to the item for transportation, pro
viding that only actual travelling expense:
be allowed any person whatever in the
service of the United States, and declaring
illegal all allowances for mileage and
importation in excess of the amount ac-
tually paid. Mr.. Beck instanced the cast
where a treasury official, making a trip
from Washington to Boston, charged mile
age first from Washington to Baltimore,
then from Washington to Philadelphia
then from Washington to New York, and
then from Washington to Boston.
The amendment passed.
Mr.. Holman offered an amendment for
biddingpayment to railroads for transporta
ton where the road was constructed by aid
of land grants He argued that such roads
are public highway, and said the Illinois
Central had been paid 100000 during
the war. Mr. Hurlburt said this was only
two thirds of regular rates and the govern
ment was given first right of way
There was quite lively spat" between
Mr.. Holman and Mr.. George f. Hoar
Mr.. Hoar ntimated that Mr.. Holman was
a bit of Il demagogue, and Mr.. Holman re-
turned the compliment by describing Mr.
Hoar as the shameless attorney of greedy
monopolists.
After further discussion. substitute Of
fered by Mr.. Willard Of Vt. WAS adopted
as follows
And no part of the money appropriated
by this act shall be paid to any railroad
company for transportation of any property
of troops of the United States over any
railroad which. in whole or in part. wa:
constructed by aid of Il grant of public
lands. on condition that such railroat
should be Il public highway for the use o
the government of the United States, free
of toll or other charge. for such transport
tation; nor shall any allowance be mad,
out of any money appropriated by this &c
for the transportation of officers of tn,
army for any such road, when on duty an,
under orders rs military officer of tn,
United States; but nothing herein con
tanned shall be construed is preventing
any such road from bringing suit in til,
court Of claims for charge of said trans
portatiOn. and recovering for the same i
found entitled thereto by virtue of the law
in force prior to the passage of this act"
| 4 like amendment offered by Mr. Coburr
was adopted in reference to railroads il
the South which had purchased railwa,
material and rolling stock from the gov
eminent, under the executive order of tn
Sth of August and 18th of October. 1868
and which are indebted to the United State
therefor, and which refuse to give to tn
quartermaster's department an order 70
such amount on the pOst-otfice department
The committee for investigating the Dis
trict of Columbia affairs, now stand a
follows Wilson of Ind, f. II. Roberts q
! N Y, Hubbell of Mich. Hamilton of \
j., and Jewett of 0.
A recess was taken in the evening, whe
81 members came together, concluded
was no use to attempt to make any proges
with the codification of the laws, and adj
Ijourned.
THURSDAY. Senate. Mr. Carpente
introduced Il bill providing for the holdin,
of an election in Louisiana on the fourt
Tuesday of next May, for such state officer
and members of the Legislature rs ough
to have been chosen. November I, lS7.
The president of the United States is rc
quired to appoint some person, or designat
some officer of the army, not below til
rank of ma general, to act as superin
tendent of said election, and this superin
tendent is to appoint two citizens of Louis
lana, of opposite political parties, to b
state registrars; the registration to b
commenced within 90 days after the enact
ment of this bill, and to be completed
days prior to the date of the election. TIL
registrars are required to appoint two su
pervisors of registration, of opposite polit
ical parties, in each parish.
Mr.. Robertson said he had noticed tina
the clerk continued to call the name of Nh
Ames of Mississippi on the roll 1t wa
his impression that Mr.. Ames had vacate
his seat in the senate by accepting the offic
of Governor of Mississippi. The chair
Mr.. Carpenter, remarked that the Senat
had received no official notification of til
fact, and the chair had no power to diret
the omission of the name from the cal
The fact was. however, that Governor
a State might be Il member of Congress.
House. Numerous bills were reported
including one by Mr.. Poland of Vt, frol
bo CON, N, itfaa ~, tho revision of bo l., 49,,