The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL IN THE
SENATE.
Passage 0f the Military Academy and
Fertilization Appropriation bills.
THE SENATE,

THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 3.-The Senate was
called to order at noon
Senator Morrill, introduced bill authoriz-
Ing the Issue OF certificates of deposits in
sums not less than $40 and not exceeding
$1000 bearing interest at the rate Of 1865 per
cent, and convertible within the year into
per cent bonds Referred to the Committee
on Finance.
Numerous petitions and bills We're filed by
Senators Edmunds, Mitchell, Booth. Withers,
and others.
On motion of Senator Anthony the stand
ing committees of the last session were or
dered to be continued until otherwise Or;
dered.
Senator Saunders motion to print the tes-
timony concerning the turning over OF the
Bureau of Indian Affairs to the War Depart
ment was adopted.
A Senator called up the Texas Pacific Rail-
road bill and proceeded to speak upon its
merits favOrably.
This Is Senate bill No 942. which was re-
ported to the Senate March 49, 1878, by the
Committee on Railroads, in lieu of Senate
bills Nos. 404 and 440 for the same purpose.
Its provisions have been published.
Mr.. Matthews described in some detail the
requirements of the bill and argued, first,
the necessity of a new trans-continental line;
secondly, the propriety OF the government
guaranteeing the payment of the interest on
q sum not exceeding s8s 75o, 900 five per cent
fifty-year bonds; and thirdly, that such guar
antee, under the provisions Of this bill, would
be an act entirely safe from loss. He con-
tended that, taking the amount paid now by
the government for transportation to the
Union and Central companies as a criterion,
the earnings OF this road from government
transportation would more than equal the
liability incurred by them for interest. Be-
sides this. it would give large saving to the
movement, over its present methods, OF the
transportation Of troopso and supplies for
troops and Indians. He denied that this
guarantee was subsidy, but held 1t to be In
hn n n contract hpnntipinI
During the delivery Of the remarks OF
Senator Matthews a message from the Eresi-
dent was delivered by one of his secretaries
covering Executive nominations. .
Among the bills introduced and referred to
the Committee on Finance was one or two
more providing for making trade dollars a
legal tender for small amount and author
izing their re-coinage into standard silver.
dollars. =
Mr.. Conover offered resolution authorizing
a commission of three Senators to inquire how
the omission of clause in the Hot Springs
amendment Of the civil bill occurred, and
whether Senator Conover had any connection
with such commission, and have power to send
for persons and papers. II
The Senate then went into executive session
and soon after adjourned. 1
THE HOUSE. II
On motion Of Mr. Hale, the States were
called for resolutions for reference, as in the |
morning hour of Monday. Among large |
number OF bills referred were the following
ByMrWood Of New York To authorize the
Issue OF certificates of deposit. ~
BY Mr. Cox, OF New York: Authorizing the |
President to give the required notice of the
termination of the treaty between the United
States and the North German Confederation |.
on account of the deprivation by Germany Of
American citizens of their rights.
By MIR. Chittenden, of New York: Granting 1
pension to the widow Of the late Rear Ad
mral Paulding.
By Mr.. Freeman, of Pennsylvania: Making
an appropriation for a dry dock at League
: By Mr.. Ward, Of Pennsylvania To abolish
By Mr; KamsO Of South Carolina: To;
congressman and to punish frauds therein. /.
By MIS Harris, of Georgia To repeal the
resumption act; and also a bill to amend the ,
Internal revenue laws; and also bill author :
izing the producers OF tobacco to dispose Of i
the same without the payment Of taxes
thereon.
By Mr.. Singleton, OF Mississippi: To reduce
the expenses OF the public printing and bind s
By Mr.. Gibson, OF Louisiana: To appoint a. {
commission of Senators and Representatives i
to inquire into the causes Of yellow fever.
BY MT Young, OF Tennessee: bill on the {
same subject. :
By Mr.. Hunter, of Indiana: Requiring the {
Secretary of the Treasury to cause the trade i
dollar to be received and exchanged for legals ]
tender silver dollars of the United States: );
L.
change of the trade dollar for legal tender !.
dollars, to recoin the same into legal tender. /
dollars and stop the coinage of trade dollars ::
By Mr.. Harrison, of Illinois: To amend re- s
vision OF the statutes so to allow the regis =
;ry of foreign vessels by citizens Of the United {
States. !
By Mr. Baker, OF Indiana: To make the !
rade dollar convertible into the legal tender y
lollar at the option of the holder, and to stop n
he further coinage of the trade dollar
number of other bills on the same subject S
we're introduced.
On motion of Mr.. Durhart OF Kentucky !
he House went into committee Of the whole [
q the Military Academy appropriation bill; j
Ir. Blackburn, OF Kentucky, In the chair: S
Mr.. Beebe offered an amendment, which @
ps agreed to, appropriating $4,000 for
ornament supply of water at West Point, L
Wich was amended by a proviso that not S
mre than $4,000 should be expended for the c
prchase of water site. AS amended the O.
aNndment was adopted. The above was the c
on amendment made, and the committee L
TIN roo and reported the bill to the House, !.
a it passed as amended.
he House then went into committee again 81
oithe fortlfcation appropriation bill, Mr.: :
Her, Of New York, In the chair. The bill