The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-02-19
Forty Third Congress First Session
WASHINGTON. Fe'

w ASdlNGTON. EeD. 10.
Several petitions, etc., were presented; also a
resolution of the Legislature of Utah Territory
requesting a Congressional investigation into
the alleged abuses in that Territory. Referred
to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Cameron gave notice that to morrow af-
ter the morning hour he would call up the
House centennial bill
The bill for commission to investigate the
liquor traffic was taken up.
Mr.. Ferry OF Connecticut opposed it as bad
precedent. He tFerry) thought the subject be-
longed to the States and should there be treat:
ed. He asked for the:yeas and nays and de-
sired to record his vote against it.
Mr.. Wright said the subject was a proper
one for legislation by Congress.
Mr.. Conkling said he would support the bill.
Its whole function was to institute auy inquiry
and the Senate like any parliamentary body
had a right to make inquiry for the purpose of
leg -lation. The bounds to such inquiry were
the private rights and the liberty Of citizens.
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine favored the inquiry but
said he thought the Information could be OBJ
tanned bv any one of the standing completes
of the Senate AMI would be much more reliable
than that obtained by the proposed commits
sion. He did not think men competent to
serve on the commission could BE- obtained
without compensation end he moved an amend
ment appropriating $4,000 for the expenses of
the commission. -
Mr.. COnkling knew many persons who would
serve on the commission without compensation.
Inc bill did not contemplate that the commits
SION should bring witnesses before it by force.
ID ne would not object to appropriating $4,000.
LOT the expenses of the commission, having,
no doubt that would be sufficient.
Inc morning hour expired and the bill went
The President pro tenn submitted a MESSAGE
from the PRESIDENT transmitting the report
mace 10 the Secretary of State by Hon. j. w
mayer at the International Patent Congress at
vienna, where he was the representative of the
onited States. Ordered to be printed.
MI. Howe introduced a bill amending the
soldiers and sailors homestead law. 1t pro-
vides that persons entitled to the benefits of its
hrst section who have since June 8, 1872 en-
tered a less quantity of land than 100 acres
shall be entitled to make up the full quantity
in the same manner as persons who made par
tial entries prior to said date.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill to equalize the distribution of the currency
Mr.. Chandler said that at the proper tim he
would offer an amendment which was read.
1t provides that the Secretary of the Treasury
shall retire and destroy dollar of legal tender
notes for each dollar in National Bank notes
issued. Mr. Chandler said he believed his
proposition in regard to the resumption of
specie payments made some days ago was
feasible. He thought the nation could give
notice that it would resume specie payments at
an early day, say July 1, 1875; coin could be
accumulated in the Treasury by thai time
which with loan Of SlO0,OO0,OO0, that could
that would be the greatest measure of relief
ever proposed for the nation and the result
would be beneficial to all classas There
seemed to be rabid mania here Oh the part of
some Senators against the word ''coin." In
crease the circulation aud the purchase power
of money would diminish in proportion. lnfla-
ton was the grea est curse Senators could in
flict OH tne nation or their constituents. He
quoted the price of Confederate money from
time to time until at last il took $1,000 to NY a
dollar in greentaoks and e said that was in
Aation carried ont to its bitter end.
Mr. Logan said he was surprised that the
great war Senator should be comparing our
notes with Confederate notes. DID he not
know that those notes were based on pros
pective government. and the moment that gov
eminent declined the money would be worth
less? He uogan) was ashamed of his country
if such stuff as this was to be received as an
argument in the Senate.
ldr. Howe gave notice that he would submit
an amendment as a substitute to that to be
proposed by Mr.. Chandler, provided that the