Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-17
HOUSE

as the chief part Of consideration to be
given by the company for the grants OF
lands and bonds made by Congress.
BY Mr.. .Kellogg-abolishing the office OF
appraiser of imported merchandise, ap-
pointed under the act of Jan. ID, 1910.
By Mr.. Pendleton-to increase taxation
on whisky.
By Mr.. Crossland-To abolish the revenue
marine service, also to furnish certain Gus
tomhouses, and to discharge useless OIL
ceis.
BY Mr.. Hunter-To limit and regulate
the office of the War Department.
By Mr.. Phillips, by requeSt-To enable
the Central Branch of the Union Pacific
railroad to submit its claims against the
United States, under the existing laws, TO a
decision of the Supreme Court.
BY Mr.. AYerill-To revive grants of
land for several bonds of the Kansas Pa
cific railroad.
By Mr.. Cannon-A memorial of the
Utah Legislature, asking Congress to ap-
point commission of investigation to be
sent to Utah to inquire into all alleged
abuses in the Territorial affairs there, and
in the meantime to suspend all action for
special legislation.
By Mr.. Lawrence-To abolish pension
agents, and provides for paying pensions by
postmaSters and collectors of internal reve-
nue., thus effecting an annual saving of
half million dollars.
Attorney williams Extrayasance.
Mr.. Haynes offered resolution instruct
ing the Committee on Contingent Expen-
seS in the department of justice, to inquire
into the judicial expenditure in the west
ern district of Arkansas. Adopted.
Postal PensiOning.
Mr.. Butler introduced a bill to amend
and codify the laws in regard to the pay
ment of pensions, so as to secure efficiency
and economy. 1t proposes to abolish the
now existing pension agencies and make
the pOStmasters at each county seat ex-
Oficio pension agents, and makes it the
duty of pOstmasters to correct the rolls and
return notice of deaths and removals,
whereupon checks and drafts for the
amount due each pensioner are forwarded
to the pOstmaSters for distribution, for
which service they are to be allowed fee
of ten cents each, to be paid by the govern
ment.
Maynard's Banking BILL
Mr.. Maynard moved to suspend the rules
and make the bill reported from the Bank
ing Committee, in relation to currency, a
special order for Thursday night, and until
| disposed of.
The motion to suspend the rules was
defeated. Yeas 143, nays 80, less than
| two-thirds in the affirmative.
Mr.. Maynard then gave notice that if the
| House went into committee of the whole
| Thursday night, lie would move to set
aside all other bills on the calendar that
precede the currency bill.
The Centennial Job.
Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, offered a
! resolution that the members of the House
| and Senate reaSsemble in Carpenters Hall
Philadelphia, Monday, Sept. 8, 1874, in
| Centennial commemOration Of the assemb-
| ling of the delegates from the several Col
| Onies and Provinces of North America, on
Monday, the 5th of September, 1114, and
| that the Speaker of the House be invited to
| preside over the meeting, and that Vice
| President Wilson be Tequestedto deliver al
address appropriate to the occasion.
| After remarks in support of the resOlu-
| tiOn by Mr.. Kelley and Mr.. Waddell, Mr..
Hale, of Maine, opposed the resolution as
an unprecedented thing. The fundamental
objection which he had to it was that this
was but one of the many measures prepar-
atory to having Congress appropriate mon
| ey to pay the expenses of the great Cen
tennial Exposition of 1876, to an amount Of
| from four million to ten million.
Mr.. G. F. Hoar suggested its reference tC
the Committee on Centennial Exposition
He thought it something disrespectful tC
tne'Senate to propose that its presiding of
ficer should deliver an address, and that
the Speaker of the House should preside
over the joint convention.
Mr.. Kelley moved to suspend the rules
and adopt the resolution. The motion to
suspend was seconded by vote of SO to SO.
| The House refused to suspend the rules by
I25 yeas to to 95 nays, not twO-thiIds il
| the affirmative. So the resolution was re
jected.
A Leak Of two Million Dollars.
Mr.. KasSon from the Committee OF
Ways and Means, reported a bill providiEl
that monies paid into the hands of any col
lector or into the Treasury for custom!
duties in accordance with any decision o.
ruling previously made by the Secretary Of
the Treasury, shall not be refunded or re
paid except in pursuance thereof or in &C
cordance with the judgment of the United
States Court giving construction to the law
and from which the Attorney General shal
certify that no appeal or writ of error viii
be taken by the United States; also, pro
viding that no ruling or decision one
made by the Secretary of the Treasury il
regard to customs duties shall be charget
by the same as a succeeding Secretary, ex
cepting it be in concurrence with an Opini
ON IN favor of such charge given by the AT
torHey General or by reason of a iudicia
decision Of a United States Court aliectin
the same, from which the Attorney Genera
shall certify that no appeal or writ of erro
will be taken by the United States.
The discussion of the subject was partici
pated in by Butler, of Massachusetts
Dawes, Beck, Burchard, KassOn and Kelle
The latter stated that a conspiracy of NeV
York lawyers had been formed to procur
the refundiug of duties, they to have one
half of the sums recovered; and that al
enrolled bill in the State Department ha
been tampered with in order to enable tina
committee of lawyers to secure a reversa
ment $2,COO,0O0.
Mr.. Burchard explained how the error OF
curred, and held that the State Department
was not responsible for il.
Mr.. Kelley diSclaimcd the idea of holdin
: that department responsible.
Mr.. Dawes went into further explanatio
, Of the matter and argued that the Secretar
of the Treasury was right in his decision
! What he Dawes objected to was that an
Secretary Of the Treasury should hay
power to make his own construction of ii
7 law, and then draw his warrant on Il
Treasury for an amount which he decid,
should be refunded. That should requil
2 the action Of Congress.
Mr.. hasson moved to suspend the rul,
= and pass the bill. Agreed to, and the bi
= passed.
Mr.. Kelley then offered his resolution f
the celebration of the 9TH of Sept, 1ST
: which was referred.
The Civil list.
Mr.. Garfield, from the Committee {
Appropriations, reported the regular Legi
lative, Executive and Judicial Appropri
ton bill and moved that it be made Il
special order for next Friday.
Mr.. Woodward argued that the first gre
question which called a decision by Il
House was the status of the SA,O00O
reserve.
: The House decided to make this bill Il
! | special order for Wednesday and it was 7
ferred to the Committee Of the Whole
the state of the Union.
House then adjourned