The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-05-22
FROM WASHINGTON.
Freedmen's Bank LegisIation-COurt

one passed by the house last year an
| defeated by the senate.
| The Davis bill, to extend the jurisdic
| ton of the court of claims, Introduce
in the senate, provides that the cour
shall have jurisdiction over all claim
of loyal citizens for supplies furnishes
to or taken by the army or navy, ant
| for the use or occupation of real estate
| and for the loss or destruction of pro
perty during the war of the rebellion
All such claims exceeding $4,000
which are now pending before the de
partment of justice or the southern
claims commission, are to be immedi
ately transferred to the court of claims
with all the papers and proofs accompa
nying them.
The house votes 100000 more fol
victims by the overflow.
At an adjourned meeting of the sena
tOral caucus there was long discussion
of the pending civil rights bill, with 6
view of making it acceptable to all mem.
bers of the majority by agreeing upon
some modification of its provisions. Nc
definite conclusion was reached, but it is
believed action will be taken at another
caucus, to provide for such changes in
the bill as will clearly admit of separate
schools being provided for white and
colored children, and also for separate
accommodations by inn-keepers, propri-
etors of theaters, ETC., on condition that
equal advantages are secured to all
classes.
The house committee on Pacific rail-
road unanimously agreed to report and
recommend the passage of bill, di-
recting the secretary of the treasury to
demand from each of the Paciic rail
road cashiers, the immediate payment
of the five per cent per annum of their
respective net receipts, required by law
to be paid over to the government, and
applied to the liquidation of interest on
their bonds. The bill will also contain
provisions directing the attorney gen.
eral to commence proceedings, to en-
force the payment of the five per cent,
in case the demand of the secretary of
the treasury be not complied with.
The bill reported from the house COM
mittee on banking and currency to
amend the charter of the Freedmen's
savings and trust company provides
that hereafter it shall be the duty of
the trustees and officers of said company
to make deposit to the extent of one
half of the deposits by them received
upon bonds and notes secured by mort
cages or deeds of trust upon unincum-
bered real estate situated in the vicinity
of the agency or branch of said county
from which the deposits are received,
worth upon a cash appraisement az least
double the amount of said loans exclu-
sive of the buildings. The other half
Io1 Syo-yoab ~ TTni4nI Sfo4aC hAn1e
or keep on deposit in some national
bank such sums as may be necessary to
meet current payments. 1t is made the
duty of the officers of the bank to col
lect as speedily as Il ay be done all sums
1f money lonnod upon TUu1 estate out
side of the state from which received,
and as the same be collected loan the
funds in accordance with the preceding
part of this act as it shall appear the
interest of depositors may require. It
may be lawful for the trustees, with the
consent of the comptroller of the cur
rency, at any time to close any of the
agencies or branches or portions, paying
10 the depositors of such agencies or
branches pro rata amount of the
principal or interest which may be due
hem and also a relative proportion of
any surplus which may have accumula-
ed, whenever it may be deemed advis-
lble or when so ordered by congress.
The general business and affairs of the
shall in like manner be
closed up by the trustees or corporation
1nder direction of the comptroller
If currency. The officers of the com
1any are prohibited from lending any
person or company at any one time
more than ten dollars of the funds.
There is a stringent provision to punish
Interest exceeding five
DER cent shall not be paid On deposits.
Whenever it shall be deemed advisable
~ the trustees to wind up the entire
business of the bank and its branches,
shall be appointed to
axe charge of all property, make col
ections, etc, and distribute proceeds
Lmong the creditors pro rata, according
o their respective amounts.
The report of the court of inquiry in |
he case of Gen. o. 0. Howard, has |
losed its labors. Their findings hon
'rably acquit Gen. Howard of every |
harge. The papers are now in the |
lands of Judge Advocate Gen. Holt, |
nd will be by him laid before the pres |
dent for approval.
The house committee on post-offces |
lave agreed to recommend the enact
nent OF law which shall require the |
of postage on all newspa-
'ers and other printed matter. Post
master general Cresswell was present at
he meeting to assist in perfecting the
etails of the bill, which will provide
or the prepayment of postage by the
ound, probably at the rate of two
ents per pound for newspapers and pc
iodicals mailed regularly by publish
RS, who can thus put up and prepay
ackages without the trouble of sepa-
ately stamping publications destined
or the same postoffice.
In the house last week, Mr.. Conkling
resented a memorial of the working
len's convention that the two houses of
ongress adjourn sine die. He said the
ldgment of these memoralists was that
be uncertain feeling now prevailing
the country on account of
nancial troubles would be most effect
ally ended by the adjournment of con-
ress.
An argument was made before the
Ommittee on war claims, in favor of
aging the citizens of Frederick, Mary
md, 5000, 900 reimbursement for con-
.ibution of the same sum levied upon
le citizens by the confederates during
ne rebellion. This sum is asked for
OF on legal grounds, but as an act of
race in view of the loyalty of the citi-
ems of friedrich and the fact that at
le time the confederates entered the
ity the Maryland troops were absent
ghting in the union army.
House committee on expenditures in
le department of justice, which has
cen investigating the expenses of the
-nited States courts in the western dis
.ict of Arkansas, have concluded their
Lbors. The committee will probably
,port recommending the consolidation
{ the western and eastern districts.
his meets with the appreciation of the
;torney general.
The president has signed the act to
1able the secretary of war to carry out
le act of April 23d for the relief of
lfferers by the overflow of the Missis-
ppi river.
Blue Sky and White Clouds.
The ethereal blue color of the sky is
ne to minute particles of matter which
oat in the air. We're these particles
smoved. the sky would be dead black.
; is f ct in optics that exceedingly
ne portions of matter disperse or scat
,r the blue rays of light, coarser por-