Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-03-18
SENATE.


Senator Wright presented the petit
tions of the merchants of Des Moines
and Council Bluffs, for an increase in
the volume of currency. Referred.
Senator Ferry Mich. presented pc
. tition from about four hundred of the
leading business men of New York,
some Of them using millions of dollars
in their busioess, in which they protest
against the efforts making to reduce the
volume of currency, and praying that
the same may be increased, so that the
business ofthe country may be carried
on.
The chair presented memorials from
the legislature of Wisconsin, in refer
ence to the improvement OF the st.
Croix river, and for preliminary sur
vey for a canal from LIS ke Superior to
the Falls of st. Croix. Referred.
Senator Logan presented petitions
from citizens of Illinois, for an increase
in the volume of the currency. Re
ferred.
Senator Chandler presented petition
from citizens of Detroit, in opposision to
any increase in the volume of paper,
and favoring a speedy return to specie
payment. He said the petition was
signed by all classes of business men,
and represented ninety-five per cent. of
the whole business interests of that
place. Referred.
Senator Frelinghuysen said that some
weeks ago, when the civil rights bill was
under discussion, upon his statement
that if the bill SHOULD be referred to the
judiciary committee, it would be re-
ported back soon, the late senator from
Massachusetts [Sumnerl agreed to the
reference. He [Frelinghuysenln now de-
sired to say that theeommittee had spent
two days in perfecting the bill, and it
was now ready to be reported to the SEN
ate, having received the approval of a
majority of the committee; but as the
author of the bill had been taken away,
he Frelinghuysen] would not report the
bill, or call it up, until the chairman of
the committee Edmundsl, who fayors
it, should be present that he might take
part in the debate. The senator from
Massachusetts [Sumnerl had consented
to delay in reporting the bill oD ac-
count of the ill-health of Senator Ed
munds.
Senator Stewart said that ON the thir-
teenth OF March, just as the senate was
about to adjourn, the president pro tenn.
appointed him chairman of the joint Sc
lect committee to investigate the Dis
trict of Columbia government affairs.
The question having arisen in the COM
mittee as to the authority of the presi-
dent pro tenn. of the senate to appoint
the chairman of the committee, he had
come to the conclusion that there was
cause for doubt as to the power of the
chair, and he had therefore declined to
act under the appointment, not feeling
warranted in doing so.F
Senator Thurman argued that the ap-
pointment of Senator Stewart as chair
man was irregular, and that the presi-
dent of the senate pro tenn. had not the
right, unless specially authorized by the
senate, to appoint the chairman of any
committee whatever.
After remarks in q similar strain by
other senators, the chair [Senator Car
penter1 said he had no desire now, nor
had he had any intention to usurp
any authority. The original resolu-
ton made the provision that a joint
committee be raised, and the opinion of
the chair was, without much reflection
on the subject, that the power which
the senate possessed was ordinarily con-
ferred upon the chair.
Senator Thurman moved that the
journal of March 18th be corrected by
the appointment of the senator from
Nevada lStewart] as member of the
committee instead of chairmaIp of it.
Agreed to.
The senate then resumed the consid-
Grafton of the bill to equalize the dis
tribution of national bank currency, and /
Senator Logan being entitled to the
floor, addressed the senate. Senator
Logan referred TO the speech of. the SEN
ator from Missouri [Schurzl, and said
the senator imagines himself in London
or New York, and forgets that he clans
to be from Missouri. He seems to fmag-
inc banks and clearing at every
village and cross-road in the west. He
tells rs at one time that money will seek