Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-02-28
Congressional Proceedings Yesterday
Sumner Opposes Making Our
Centennial Exhibition
International.
The Alcohol Traffic Bill Not Yet De.
eIded-A Few Thousand De-
ficieneies in Official Ac.
counts Squared.
A ISIim Dsy in the HOuse-The Frank
ing Privilege Again-DOings OF
the COmmittees-IR and
About the City,
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

Scott presented a petition of working
men of Pennsylvania, Illinois, ana
Michigan, agsinst any increase IN TAX
alton. Referred.
Senator sherman, from the finance
committee, reported favorably on the
house bill in relation to import duties on
fruit. being q bill TO correct an error IN
the rate of tariff. Passed. Also, the bill
authorizing the chief clerk OF the war
department to sign Tequisitions on the
treasury during the temporary absence
of the secretary of war. Passed:
Senator Hamilton called up the reso-
luton to print extra copies OF the Smlth-
sonian institution report. Passed.
Senator Oglesby, from the committee
on public lands, reported favorably on
the house bill extending the time Tor the
completion of the Green Bay and Lake
Michigan canal. Passed.
The house has voted to the widow of
General Meade, and the mother of Cen
eraI Mcpherson, 8 pension of fifty dol
lars per month each, and increased the
pension of the widow of Commodore
Elliott from thirty to fifty dollars per
month.
Senator Bayard, from the finance
committee, reported fsvorably on the
bill to give Thomas HillhOuse, assistant
treasurer of the United States at New
York. q credit of one hundred and eighty
five thousand dollars on his stamp Sc-
count: also on the bill to relieve that
officer of the proceeds of sales of inter
nal revenue stamps stolen by James j.
Johnson, q clerk in his Office, without
the default or negligence of The assistant
treasurer.
Senator Bayard, Of the finance COM
,nittee reported q resolution directing
the secretary of the treasury to inform
the seuate what, if any, additional leg
islation is required to prevent defalca-
tjons by officers receiving and disposing
of United States revenue stamps and
public moneys, and whether persons
having the custody of such stamps and
moneys should not, in all cases be re-
oiuired to give bond, with security, for
the proper execution OF their duty.
Passed.
Senator Sargent, from the committee
on appropriations, reported faVorabIy on
house bill making available certain un-
expended balances tC construct branch
mint at San Francisco. Passed.
The bill to provide for the appoint
mept of a commission in regard to the
alcoholic traffic, being the unfinished
business from the mornings hour of
Yesterday, was taken up, and the
amendment of Senator Morrill, Me- j
appropriating ten thousand dollars for
the expenses of the commission, agreed
10.
Senator Thurman opposed the passage
Of the bill, on the ground that it would
be the entering wedge for congress TO
enter upOn legislation affecting the
rights and powers of the States.
Pending the discussion, the morning
hour expired. and the house bill ia re-
gard to the centennial exhibition was
taken up.
Senator Sumner offered q substitute
for the house bill providing that the
calahrafion of the one hundredth anni-
varsarv of American independence shall
he national in its character; that the ar
rangements shall be left in the hands of
the oripiual commission, and shall be
carried out to conform with the pro-
visions of the act of congress, and that
no money shall be appropriated from
the national treasury on account OF the
ce3ebration. In advocating the adop-
tion of the amendment, Senator sum-
ner said that one of the first votes OF the
commission went to show that the cele-
bration should be national in character,
and not international, as they provided
that it should be open from the anniver-
sary of the battle of Lexington to the
anniversary of the battle OF yorktown.
Rut a change came over the guiding
spirits, and they now wanted to have a
worlds fair. The two ideas were incOn-
,yisteut, inharmonious twins, bound to-
0ether bv an unnatural ligament,
liz those two now lying on the sur
Veon's table in Philadelphia. England
wou,d be invited to participate; and
taking her seat on the centennial bench,
-would listen to the aTraignment of
George III, and his tyrannical qualit1ca-
tions. Italy would have representatives
of her two soVereigns, Victor Emanuel
and Plus X. Germany would have a
commemorative of her emperor, who be-
Iiaved in right divine. Austria would
he reprssented by her descendant OF Jo-
.sanb II. who declined an introduction
"a BENJAMIN Franklin, giving as a res-
-..n that his business was to be royal
ist Kings and queens, emperOTs,
nripces and pOtentates would be invited,
and this republic would be expected to
.yyaIconne them. He did not think
.tbav should be invited, as it
v..-ofJId not be consistent with our own self
--a9nect Another thing, worlds fair
mere would be different from one IN
Furore: the exhibition would not have
fine same number Of people as drawn by
European exhibitions. We had but forty
roillion people in this country, while
fine worlds fairs of London, Paris or
Viertua. had all Of Europe to patrOnize
them. II would be premature to at
tempt to hold worlds fair here only
three wears after that at Vienna. He
did not think the country able to incur
the expense of this exhibition.
Senator Scott said when the house
bill on this subject was passed, ana sent
70 the senate, it was referred to the
sseOmmittee on foreign relations, Of which
senator Sumner was then chairman.
sThe very title of the bill referred to an
International exhibition. IfBoston had
~ agreed upon as the place for hold
De, She exhibition, there would have
ing % adverse resolution in the Massa-
Oeen as legisiSture. If this interna-
chust exhibition failed, it would be be-
tlonal 0I1psress refused TO comply with
caIse ~, ~ %tion resting upon it to make it
lhe OoIls He had understood from the
success ,Snance that If congress-
poAIu i'l, ,,Dro, "a oriate three millions OF
Se1Ia HTIau @PPi aya on, one-half millions pay
Tin ~. ylrosa,t year, and one and one
6oif n1iIlions naya ble year after the
exhibition could be made a success nH,ess
Congress should not hesitate t 70 n,iIiEnUs 1RPro
pirate three, five, or even eieat qIidI mliIlons a
of dollars TO make the eXh1 q q
success, and have the products o.
our country compared with those oi
other nations. He had no doubt what
ever of the power of the general govern
ment to make such an appropriation.
The exhibition was not Pennsylvania
proiect, but great national project, and
n II failed the skirts of Pennsylvania
would be cleared from disgrace. The
people of Pennsylvania regarded it as a
national enterprise, and had at heart
the honor of the nation as well as that
of their own State.
Senator West submitted an amend
qnsu, to the army appropriation bill re-
neaISn0 20 much of the act of July q
ESS8. as pro tides for detail OF Officers
of the army as acting. paymasters
and providing thai hereafter the secre
arv IF war shall have the authority t.