The Portland daily press., 1877-11-19
XLVth CONGRESS-Extra Session.
HOUSE.


WASHINGTON, Nov. II.
Mr.. Atkins, chairman of the Appropriation
COMMITTEE, reported back the army appropria-
lon Dill with Senate amendments, recommend
Ing concurrence in some of the amendments
and non.concurrence in others. Mr. Atkins
explained that the Senate amendments were
mainly immaterial, the chief point of differ
ence between the two Houses being the clause
limiting the army to 10000, the Senate limiting
it to %, 900.
The House then proceeded to vote upon the
amendments
pration for expenses of the commanding gene
RAILS Office from $4,000 to $500 was concuired
in.
The next amendment was the one striking
out the clause providing for four full cavalry
regiments to be kept upon the Texas frontier
and inserting instead of it proviso that caval-
~ regiments may be recruited to 100 men to
each company, and sufficient cavalry shall be
employed in defence of the Texas frontier. The
recommendation of the Committee of Appro-
prations was to non.concur but Mr. Foster
moved to coucnr. Agreed to-yess 140, nays
126. The following Democrats voted with the
Republicans in the affirmative: Messrs. Aiken
OF South Carolina, Benedict, Lockwood and
KEY of Philadelphia Williams of Michigan,
Williams of Delaware, Culberson, Giddings,
Schle cher, Throckmorton and Mills of Texas
The amendment Of the Senate was to insert
$4,000 Sustead of 10000 in the clause prohibit
ing the recruiting of the army beyond that num-
Der. Mr.. Foster movsd to concur: Vote re-
suited yeas 1874, nays 100. The Republicans
voted soidly 10 the affirmative and were joined
by Messrs. Williams of Michigan, Williams of
Delaware, Culbersop, Schleicher, Giddings,
Mills and ThrockmortOn Of Texas, Luttrell of
California and Randolph of Tennessee.
The next amendment of the House was to
strike out the works "of which four full cava-
~ regiments shall be kept in service on the
- t.
in without opposition. The paragraph now
reads, "F0r the purchase of horses for cavalry
and artillery, and for Indian scouts and for
such Infantry as may be mounted $4,000, pro-
vided that the cavalry regiments may be re-
cruited to 100 men in each company, and be
kept as near as practicable at that number, and
sufficient force of cavalry shall be employed
in defence of the Mexican and Indian frontier
of Texas. Provided, that nothing herein con-
tanned shall authorize the recruiting of men on
the army rolls, including Indian scouts and
hospital stewards, beyond $4,000"
The amendment striking out the appropria-
ton Of $4,000 for the conversion of 10-inch
smooth bores into rifles was non-concurred in.
The bill now goes back to the Senate for ac-
ton on such amendments as we'e not concur
red in.
L. S. Metcalf was then sworn in as Repre-
sentative from the Sd District of Missouri, tax.
ing the ir0n-clad oath.
Mr. Stephens of Georgia, introduced bill for
tate return to specie payment without iDjuri
ously affecting the commercial business and
general industries of the people. Referred to
the Banking Committee. 1t provides that the
Secretary of the Treasury shall have prepared
an issue of exchequer bills of various denomi-
nations to the amount of $3.50, 900 ,000 and that
they shall be used for the redemption and pay
ment Of outstanding legal tender notes, and
that such exchequer bills shall be receivable in
payment of all public and private dues, and
shall be fundable in three per ceut. bonds. 1t
directs the Secretary of the Treasury to give
public notice OF the proposed redemption of le
gal tenders and to redeem them iu exchequer
bills when presented 10 sums of $50 and its
multiple, which exchange shall continue until
January 1, 1879 1t also provides for series
of 3 per cent bonds payable thirty years after
date, which bonds are to be sold or exchanged
at par for bonds or exchequer bills, and are to
be also eXcbangeable after the first of January,
1879, for such legal tenders as may be outstand
ing. 1t provides that all exchequer bills and
coin received in payment for these per cent.
bonds shall be used in retiring outstanding
bonds bearing higher rate of interest, and in
order to meet the interest which is payable in
coin until the exchequer bill and coin be on
par the Secretary is required to procure coin
by sale in Europe or elsewhere, OF the four
and four and half per cent. bonds already au-
thorized. 1t empowers the national banks to
hold their legal reserves in per cent bonds,
and provides that their stock shall not be as
sessed by state authorities above their par val
ue.
Mr.. Swan called up the bill appropriating
S150,000 for representation at the Paris EXPOSE
ton.
Mr.. Buckner raised question of considera-
ton, that is whether the House would now con-
slider that bill and vote resulted, yeas IA,
nays 1913.
The House went into committee of the whole
on the Paris Exposition bill, The bill and va
rious amendments having been read, Mr.. Swan,
chairman of the Committee on Foreign AZ
fairs, sent to the Clerks desk and had read the
report of that committee on the subject He
then proceeded to express his views orally, but
it was impossible to hear a word which he ut
tered beyond an arear of few feet, and there
tore, the members who had any curiosity on the
subject surrounded him 10 very close and mar
row circle.
Mr.. Hamilton sent to the Clerks desk and
had read the report of the minority, adverse to
making any appropriation out If the Treasury
for the purpose proposed. He spoke in support
of that view, placing it on the ground of pop
uar demand for economy and retrenchment.
He said be had voted for the repeal of the OBJ
noxious resumption act, for the bill to remone-
tie silver, and for the reduction of the army,
and he would vote against any expenditure of
public money for such purpose as that pro-
posed in this bill
Mr.. CalkiDs saying that his district contained
several large manufacturing establishments
which were much interested in the matter, ad-
vocated the bill. He sent to the Clerks desk
and had read letter from the president of
large wagon manufacturing company at South
Bend, urging the importance of action on the
subject, and he said it was the universal feeling
such of men that Congress ought to make libe
raj appropriation SO that the country might be
suitably represented at the exposition.
Mr. Williams of Wisconsin, favored the bill.
Without action the committee rose and the
House adjourned