The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-02-21
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEED NGS.
HOUSE.

In the house, on the 4tb, among the
bills introduced and referred during the
morning hour is one by Mr.. Southard au.
thorizing the payment OF customs in legal
tender notes, and one by Mr.. Mills providing
that all bonds hereafter issued by the gov.
ernment shall be payable, principal and in.
terest, in gold, silver or legal tender. BY
Mr.. Davis, OF North Carolina: To reduce
the tax on brandy made from apples, peaches
or grapes, 30 cents BY Mr., Riddle: For
constitutional amendment providing for the
election of president by direct vote of the
people. BY Mr.. Sexton; Making receivers
OF railroad corporations amendable to pro
ccs ses aud judgments of the courts of the
several states through which said railroads
are ran ....Mr. MacMahon moved to suspend
the rules and adopt the resolutions reciting
that in the present condition OF public dis
tress it is important that the wealth OF the
country shall bear fair proportion of the
burdens OF taxation, and instructlDg the
committee on ways and means to report Il
bill at the eailiest practicable moment i'm
posing a gradual tax on excess of incomes
above a reasonable minimum to be fixed by
Law. Defeated-yeas, 1G5 nays, SS-less
than twohirds voting in the affirmative.
The Affirmative votes came chiefly from
democrats and the negative votes from re.
publcans, Adjourned.
IN the house, on the 9th, bill to au.
thorize the construction of bridge across
thu Mississippi river at Memphis, was taken
up and briefly discussed, and referred to the
committee OF the whole on the state of the
union .........Mr. Knott, from the judiciary
committee, reported back the bill introduced
Yesterday by Mr.. Hooker, authorizing the
holding OF special terms OF the circuit court
for the southern district of Mississippi at
Scranton, Jackson county, on the second
Monday in March for the trial of cases
arising out of alleged depredations on gov
ernment lands and the cutting of logs and
timber thereon. lie explained that the
object of the bill was to afford accused par.
ties speedy, convenient and cheap trial,
which they could not otherwise have. Ii
direction were made that this tr al of the
eases in the immediate vicinity of the
accused would lead to the impanneling of
Jurors whose sympathies would be with the
| defendants, the answe- to that was that the
court might direct the summOning OF Jurors
| from other parts of the district Mr.
Hooker described the utter prOstration oil
| business which had attended the seizure oil
the lumber mills in that region, the aggregate
business of which amounted to some $4,000,
coo a year. They had all been stopped
through the action OF the government, and
vessels engaged in the carrying trade there
have been left idle or have gone into Other
business. Finally the bill passed-yeas, l39
nays, lO2 The house then went into com
mittce of the whole. Mr.. Blackburn in the
chair, and resumed consideration of tn,
military academy appropriation bill. ....Mr
Clvmer intimated that there were far toe
many professors at West Point. There wer'
7 of Them to every 81 y students, and thei
pay, exclusive of quarters, etc amounted t.
about 5000 more than the cost OF supportln!
the 80 cadets. There was something radi
cally wrong in that The committee on ap
preparations had not wished to recommend
the reduction of the number OF professors
lest they might be accused OF absorbing to-
much liquidation, but he commended tn
subject to the attention Of the committee o
military affairs. Without disposlng of tn
pending amendment the committee rose an
the house adjourned.
In the house, on the 9th, Mr.. BruC
presented resolutions of the Mississippi les
slature in favor Of the passage of bill r.
munerating certain citizens, mill owners an
log men, for damages sustained by them O
account of the seizure OF certain lumber an
logs in the lumber district by agents of Il
United States. Referred THE senate bi
to remit taxes on insolvent savings banl
was called up by Mr.. Davis, of Illinois, an
discussed until the expiration of the mornII
hour, when the consideration of the silv
bill! was resumed, and Mr.. Thurman spol
in favor thereof. Mr.. Thurman argued tn
silver and gold had been the metallic mon'
Of the world for thousands Of years. Tn,
were also the money of the constitutio
They were the metallic money of the coloniC
and afterward Of the United States from d
, declaration OF independence until silver W
, demonetized by mistake, and without 4
| knowledge OF the people or congress, by Il
= enactment of ne revised statutes in lSi
Both metals are suited to perform the fun
!. lions of money, ANA silver does perform tn
o function among large majority of the
4 man race. Silver is especially suited
small transactions, and may therefore
properly called the money of tee people
humble circumstances. 1t follows that t
burthen OF proof rests on those who ins
1 that silver should be demonetized. 1t "
n argued that to rehabilitate the dollar wi
a il3H grains would deiraud the public ere
e itsr. This can not be true. COR the cOntra
=. is 10 pay in either gold or silver Of standa
|. value in the United States on July II, Is
e when the silver dollar of 4l2M grains was
, full legal tender, with the right of unlimit
: | --:..,.a anil ~ 70 sim nlv ip,nns aihIa that 4