The crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1877-1878, 1878-03-21
THE NEWS.
XLVth CONGRESS-.

Dlll lor felleI OF William III. hammond, late
surge general, was taken up, and Mr..
Plumb spoke In opposition, The bill then
passed without amendment-yeas5 55, nays
l. In the discussion OF the Pacific rail
roads sinking fund bill Mr.. Davis, OF ILL
nois, member of the judiciary committee,
spoke OF the necessity OF making some pro-
vision for the payment Of the Indebtedness
due from these Pacific railroads, and
argued that Congress had right to pass
such bill as the one proposed. He refer
red to the 18th section Of the act of July
lst 1862, chartering the road, wherein Con-
gress reserved the right to add, to alter,
amend or repeal the act, and said the pass
age of the pending bill as nothing beyond
the exercise OF the justly reserved power.
In the House the consular and diplomatic
service appropriation bill was taken up in
committee of the whole and discussed at
length by Messrs. Hale and Cox. Mr.. Cox
made a speech of some two hours duration
during which. referring to the President
he enumerated various appointments un-
der the present administration, specimens
OF civil service reform, and asked why
Wells and Anderson had been appointed
and retained in office when one OF them was
already sentenced TO the pententiary and
tho other about to be rewarded for assist
ing to build up the rotten fabric OF the very
throne which dispensed power.
The Senate on the 18th passed the
bill making persons charged with crime
competent witness in United States and
Territorial courts. Mr. Morgan, from the
committee on claims reported n bill for the
relief of book agents of the NJ. L. Church
South. II appropriates Sl50000 us compen-
snton for damage done to property In Nash
vile during .the war. A report from the
same committee signed by Teller, Mcmillan
and Cameron was also submitted adverse
to the appropriation. The military acade-
my bill was passed after being so amended
as to prohibit the appointment of addition
al cadets ut large to West Point until the
number Is reduced to ten, then the number
is to be kept at ten. The bill was passed
continuing the Hot Springs commission
until February. 1879.
The House passed tie diplomatic appro-
priation bill with n large number Of amend
ments. The bill to aid James Gordon Ben
nett in tho proposed polar expedition was
taken up and passed. II now goes to the
President. Mr.. Humphrey sent to the
clork's desk to have read, letter of Mr..
Cox, OF New York, recommending Geo. II.
Butler as postmaster at tho Black Hills.
Mr.. Hewitt, of New York. raised point Of
order that the paper, not pertaining to the
to have 1t read. Amid much laughter Chair.
man Cox. OF New York, stated that under
the circumstances he would Ovcrrule the
point OF order, and tho letter was read but
at the end Of tho reading Mr.. Humphreys
time having expired he had not an oppor-
tunity to speak upon the letter.
On the expiration of the morning
hour, in the Senate on the 18th, Mr.. Teller
t,,t. I,ta
fare and freight tariff on the Denver Pacific
and Kansas Pacific railroads. Mr.. Mat
thews explained the bill reported by the
committee on railroads, AMI said tho bill of
the railroad committee did not embody the
propositions which had been used by the
railroad companies. 1t was bascd-as all
legislation on the subject ought to be based
on the consent Of the parties. Without
this consent It was his deliberate convic-
tion that Congress had NJ authority Of law
to insist upon matters, tho performance of
which would violate an existing contract
between parties. He argued that the gov
crnment, by the exercise of this sovereign
power. could so bind itself that 1t could not
unloosc itsclf. Referring to the difference
between the bills Of tho committee on rail-
roads and that of the judiciary committee,
he said one proposed to. alter contract
by n contract, and tho other was the act Of
the power, and nothing else. One was Il
settlement which was complete and final,
and put an end to controversy and litiga-
ton. 1t contemplated nothing further in
the way of legislation, as it contemplated
no further necessity for liquidation.
Whereas tho bill repealed by his distin-
guishcd colleague from the judiciary com
mittec did not even pretend to be full and
equal settlement. He believed that II the
bill of the judicial committee should be-
come law II would be the most deliberate
attack upon the rights of property and con-
tract ho knew Of In the annals Of legisla-
ton.
The House in committee of the whole had
for consideration tie bill providing that
distilled liquors could lay In bond the tax
to be paid only when removed from bond,
the limit being fixed at three years, instead
of one year, as now. Mr.. Congor said that
this resolution was an old acquaintance,
its face was familiar to him and the House;
it has been here before. Its principal
claim ut that time was that expectation of
change in tax on distilled spirits, wholly
disarranged business and threatened with
loss and bankruptcy those engaged in the
business. That claim had been promptly
met by the adoption OF resolution that 1t
was the solemn judgment Of the House
that 1t was inexpedient to change the tax
on whisky now. Under apparently the
stimulating power of fouryears old whisky,
the House was asked to extend the time
for paying the tax not three months as be-
fore proposed, but three years. He could
not account for the boldness Of the move
ment. Was 1t true as they were informed
on tho other side Of the House that the
treasury needed all tho revenue 1t could
get, and that expenditures must be cut
down in all departments of the government?
If that were so, how could the government
afford to postpone for three years the col
lection of tax on distilled spirits. He would
| leave 1t to the gentlemen whose districts
were threatened with bankruptcy by the
tariff bill being concocted in corner OF
the capitol, by committee which forbade
approach and kept out all information.
there was marvellous tendency to favor
whisky in the House. [Laughter.l There
seemed to be an opinion that 1t was safe to
appeal to Congress to favor the whisky in
terests and to destroy all other interests
Mr.. Butler spoke in favor OF the bill and
the committee rose and the bill passed.
The Senate having adjourned to Mon
day. the House only was in session on the
10Th Mr.. Robbins, from the committee OF
ways and means, reported a substitute fol
the bill to promote the deposit OF savings
In the treasury, and the refunding of the
national debt. which was referred to tht
committee of the whole. The bill provides
that for the purpose OF refunding tho out
standing six per cent. bonds into bonds
bearing lower rate Of Interest. any person
may deposit Mt any postal money ordel
office lawful money Of the United States il
funds not less than one dollar, and shall b,
entitled to receive therefor postal none,
order on the treasury, that when sucl
money orders shall be presented to tn,
treasury at Washington. they shall be en-
tered to the credit Of the depositor. Whel
such dedosits amount TO $50 they shall, n
tho option Of the depositor be convertibl,
into four per cent bonds.
In the House on the 10th, at the con
clusion Of the morning hour, Mr.. Brigh
moved the House so into committee of TIN
whole on private calendar. Unnnishe,
business being the bill making available
for payment Of certain ante-bellum mai
contractors, the S375, 600 already,appropri
ated, IL was moved that all debate be limit
cd to ten minutes. Republicans objecte,
to the limitation Of timo, and the year AM
nays were ordered on that motion. Th
House concurred In the report OF the com
mlttee of tho whole, striking out the enact
ing clause Of the southern mail contractor