Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-02-25
CONG REssIoNAL.
Capitalists MemOrializing for specie
Payments.
Senator Gordon Wants the Pension
Laws Amended.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. Il.
SENATE.

Mr.. Fenton presented a petition in favor
of and urges the passage of his bill TO re-
form abuses in customs and of the revenue
service.
The leading bankers and business men
memorabilia for speedy return to specie
payments and against an increase of the
currency.
Senator Gordon introduced bill to re.
peal all laws which deprived the widows
and children of old soldiers at the South
of pensions because of participation in the
rebellion. 1t makes it the duty of the Sec
Secretary of the Interior to restore to the
pension rolls the names of all who were
dropped from the rolls during the war and
to all their rights under the pension laws
Bills were passed relieving Mcmillan, of
the IcchC District, Louisiana, and detail
ing "a board of medical officers from the
army, to inquire about cholera.
The bill to equalZe the distribution of
the currency was discussed the remainder
of the day without action.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 10.
y bill appointing the Whisky Commits
sioners to control alcoholic tai iic, provoked
u sharp debate. Mr.. Ferry, of Connecti-
cut, said the subject proposed to be covered
by this bill properly belonged to the func-
tons of the States, and he thought it his
duty to warn the Senate what they were
about to do when all such bills interfering
with the jurisdiction of States were
brought up.
Mr.. Conkling said the whole object of
the was to constitute an inquiry, and for
this reason he saw no force in the obiec-
lions of the Senator from Connecticut.
Mr.. Ferry said he had objected to the bill
because of its tendency; it was based on the
thousands of memorials which had come
here, and which looked to the future adop-
ton of regulations on the subject of the
liquor traffic. He deprecated it as making
another step in the assaults upon tho Con-
stitution which had of late years been so
frequent. lie had heard the Senator assert
that under thefourteenth amendment twas
in the power of Congress to pass any law
for the protection of life, liberty or the pur-
suit of happiness.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Maine, expressed doubts
rs to anything practical coming out of the
bill unless there was some provision to pay
the commission. He moved an amend
ment appropriating ten thousand dollars
for the expenses of the commission.
Mr.. Conkling thought five thousand
would be enough. He said he could name
plenty of men among his constituents, men
like Mr.. Bergh, who were willing to devote
their lives without any compensation for
the benefit of society and to maintain pro-
per principles.
The finance bill was resumed.
Mr.. SCOTS amendment to provide for
the redemption of the national currency
by gold or United States Understanding
notes, was defeated, so to IS.
The following proviso was defeated, 40
to Is:
THAT the Secretary of the Treasury
shall, once in each month, sell to the high
est bidder, for United States notes, coupon
bonds equal to eighty-five per cent. of the
additional bank circulation issued during
the preceding month, which bonds shall
bear interest at the rate of five per cent.
per annum, payable quarterly, and the
principal shall be payable at the pleasure
of the Government after ten years from
their date, both principal and interest to
be paid in gold coin, but none of said
bonds shall be sold at less than their par
value, and the United States notes received
in exchange therefor shall never be re-
issued, but shall be destroyed
The Senate adjourned without an eXecu-
tive session,
HOUSE.
y bill providing that no person shall be
prosecuted, tried, or punished in any
United States court for any Ofiense not
capital, or for any fine or forfeiture under
penal statute, unless indicted or informa-
Jion shall be found or instituted within five
years, except in case of persons fleeing
from justice, was passed.
n bill to provide for deducting any debt
due the United States from any judgment
recovered against the United States by
such debtor, was passed.
The Judiciary Committee made an adj
verse report on the memorial for an ac.
acknowledgement of Almighty God and the |
Christian religion in the Constitution. |
Laid on the table.
The House considered bill for the free |
distribution of Congressional documents, |
seeds, and county and exchange papers.