The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-04-18
From Washington.


the circulation of the national banks /
concerned, is not the measure of imitation
II was supposed to be. Controller Knoi
being asked for his opinion as to the cffec
of these provisions on the existing volum,
of currency, replies that with the Scot
amendment, requiring three-quarters of tn,
bank reserves to be kept at home, the bill
will really cause an immediate contraction
upon its passage to an amount nearly equa
to the increase Of bank currency authorized
by it. II also appears that while contrac
ton must take place at once, through the
locking up Of an additional amount of the
reserves, the issue of new currency will be
very gradual. These calculations have sur
prised both the friends and opponents Of
imitation. The expansionists were totally
misled as to the effect of the Scott amend
ment, and its friends are almost equally
surprised, as they seem not to have aimed
at producing any such contraction. As
the Controller states the case, the Senate
bill, now passed by the House, authorize,
an increase Of the national bank currency
Of $4,000, 900, but requires quarter
of the amount Of the reserves of the banks
Of the redemption city to be held in New
York City, instead of one-half of the
amount, as under the existing law; and in
case Of country banks, one-quarter instead
Of three-fifths, as under the existing law.
This will largely increase the amount of
cash reserve to be held by banks. Under
the pending bill the Controller estimates
that the country banks will be required to
keep in their vaults an average of about
s25, 100000 of legal tenders in excess of
the amount under the existing laws, and
the redemption cities will be required to
keep from s17,000,000 to $4,000, 900
more than at present.
In the United States Senate on Tues
day, the Judiciary Committee reported the
Civil Rights bill. 1t provides that all per-
sons within the jurisdiction of the United
States shall be entitled to the full and
equal enjoyment Of the accommodations
and privileges of hotels, public conveyance
es on land and water, theatres and other
places Of public amusement, common
schools and public institutions of learning
or benevolence supported in whole or in
part by general taxation, and of cemeteries
so supported, subject only to the conditions
and limitations applicable alike to citizens
of every race and color Any person vio-
lating the provisions of this act Except
for reasons applicable to citizens of every
race and color, may be prosecuted for a
misdemeanor, and subjected to a fine not
exceeding $500. A civil action for dam
ages may also be maintained. The bill
provides that the United States Courts
shall have Jurisdiction in all cases growing
out of a violation of any of its sections.
Postal cards are extremely popular in
this country. 1t is not very long since
they were introduced, yet already the Gov
eminent has issued the enormous amount
of one hundred millions of them. Moth
ing can more plainly show the public ap-
probation Of these great postal convenien-
ces than the statement of this fact The
extent Of their use has exceeded the esti-
mate that originally was made of the de-
mand for them, The Post. office Depart
ment began issuing them May 18th last,
and il was then calculated that the first
years consumption would be one hundred
millions, That number, however, was
used up by the close Of March, and ten
millions more will probably be required for
the current year. During the period for
which returns are made, over two-fifths Of
the total were used in New York city alone.
The testimony in the Sanborn investi-
CATION, on Tuesday, puts the Secretary of
the Treasury in very awkward position.
Mr.. Odell, Treasurer of the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Central Railroad, testified
to sending check for s99,6s4 taxes in
arrears) TO the Secretary Of the Treasury.
He had never seen or heard of Sanborn or
any Of his agents in the matter. A letter
to the Secretary, bearing date two days
later than the check, was produced by the
committee, in which he speaks of this set
Element, names the amount, aud even the
number of Mr.. 0dell's check, and claims
his moiety. These data must have been
furnished him by some one in the Treasury
Department. The inference is irrcsistable
that there was collision between Sanborn
and some one of the Treasury officials.
POSTAL SERVICE. Hon. William
II. Stone Of Missouri has prepared special
for Postmaster General Cres-
well in the shape Of resolution specifying
numerous abuses and irregularities in the
letting Of mail contracts, on straw bids,
and calling for thorough investigation of
the matter. If the Committee on Post
Offices and Post Roads will only do their
work honestly they will gain great deal
of exceedingly interesting information, and
learn how il is that the expenses of the
postal service have so enormously in
creased. -Ncw York Sun.
The House Committee on Judiciary has
agreed to report bill for the distribution
of the Geneva award, being substantially
the bill introduced by General Butler, and
which passed the House February, 1873,
but was not acted upon by the Senate
The distribution is to be made bya United
States Court, to be designated by the
President, and rights of the various classes
of claimants that may be recognized by
the Court, are specifically defined.
The following letter to Congressional
inaationist hits the nail on the head II
see you are in favor of more money,
have few dollars in my pocket that |
should like to have inflated. ! have also
some debts that should like to have con-
tracted. If you gentlemen in Congress
will manage to literally increase the one
and decrease the other, think | can
come out about even"
The House Territorial Committee agreed
on Wednesday to report bill for the ad-
mission of New Mexico as State.