Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-07
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
JUDGE WOODS SUCCESSOR IN
THE FIFTH CIRCUIT.
The Government and the Freed
msn's Bank BIll-COngressiOnal
PrOceedings-The Funding BnI
Under Discussion in the House
The Secretary of she Navy.


WASHINGTON, d. c., January ct is
learned tonight beyond the shadow OF a
doubt that Judge Woods successor as
United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth
Circuit will be Judge Edward C. Billings,
Of New Orleans. His nomination will be
sent to the Senate in day or two. Judge
Billings is at present United States District
Attorney for Louisiana.
A bill is pending for the purchase by the
government of the Freedmen's Bank build.
ing In this city. Senator Bruce is confident
OF the early passage OF the bill, and has
prepared one to follow it, which provides
for the distribution of the money realized
by the purchase pro rata among the de-
positors.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, Mr.. Eaton, from the Com
mittee on Appropriations, reported with
amendments the consular and diplomatic
appropriation bill. Placed on the calendar.
The Senate then proceeded to consider
the calendar, the first bill being one to pun
nish tramps in the District of Columbia.
Pending debate thereon, the morning
hour expired, and the army appropriation
bill was read twice aud referred to the Ap-
propristions Committee.
The Senate then resumed consideration
of the bill for the relief of Ben Holiday,
which was supported by Messrs Garland
and Teller, and opposed by Messrs. Nor
rill, Mcpherson and Wallace. Pending the
conclusion OF the debate, the Senate, at
p. M, went into executive session, aud,
when the doors were reopened, adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Tn the House, On motion of Mr.. Tucker,
of Virginia, the morning hour was dis
pensed with, and at 1920 the House went
into committee of the whole (Mr. Covert,
of New YoTk, in the chair, upon the funding
bill. The only arrangement in regard to
the limitation Of debate was that which was
made before the holidays, which limited
general discussion to one day.
Mr.. Kelly, of Pennsylvania, took the floor
in opposition to the bill. 1t had been stated
that the only question presented was whether
Congress would have the sagacity and hon
esty to borrow at 3 per cent. the money re-
quired to ray bonds which were carrying
and per cent. interest. There had never
been more misleading statements made to
Congress and the country. The real ques-
tion which would come up was whether the
government could not pay this debt with
out borrowing money. Sixty millions q
year for ten years would pay IT, For fif-
teen years the government had paid en-
average of within three milltoas of that
amount, and in the year just closed it had
paid nearly seventy-four millions Was ii,
then, necessary for the government to
borrow money to pay six hundred and
thirtY-seven million dollars In the next ten
or eleven yearsf He was in favor of
temporary loans-loans redeemable IN one
or two years, to supply any deficiency,
should any be found in the current revenues,
at the hinge Of which he had no apprehen-
sion, and he would shortly ask for vote on
his bill TO authorize such loans.
Mr.. Weaver, of Iowa, opposed the hi l.,
arguing that there were fifty millions of
silver dollars in the Treasury which should
be used in the payment of bonds, and be
gave netice of an amendment authorizing
the Secretary of the Treasury to devote all
the silver in the Treasury vaults to this
purpose.
Mr.. Chittenden, of New York, stated
that he would, at the proper time, offer an
amendment repealing all the acts imposing
a tax on the capital and deposits of savings
banks, national banks, State banks and
private bankers, providing that the tax
on circulating notes Of national banks IS
sued on bonds authorized by this act shall
not exceed oue-half of l per cent, and pro-
viding futher that the total smouat of silver
dollars OF 41215 grains, authorized uUder
the act of February 2Sth, 1873, shall not
exceed 100,000,000.
Mr.. Chlttenden then spoke at some length
in support of his amendment, the main
point of which, he said, was that 1t reduced
the tax on circulation issued upon the per
cent. bond to one-half of the present rate.
This he believed TO be an indispensable con-
ditiOn OF the success of the per cent.
funding bill. Unless the banks should be
encouraged TO buy these bonds, the prospect
of disposiHg OF them would be poor.
Mr.. McLane, Of Maryland, opposed the
bill In it's present shape, being persuaded
that there was no necessity for 1t. lie
thought it should be so modified as to carry
out the views Of the Secretary Of the Trea-
sury, as set forth in his last annual report.
Mr.. Springer, OF Illinois, declared him
self opposed to the bill unless it should be
considerably modified. He thought the
public debt could be paid off without any
increase OF taxation much more rapidly
than this bill proposed. He favored bonds
to run shorter time.
Mr.. Lonnsberry, OF New York, opposed
the general features of the bill. He was IN
favor rather of paying the bonds as they
fall due than of refunding them.
Mr.. Mills, OF Texas, argued against the
bill, declaring himself opposed to the issue
Mr.. Phillips, OF Missouri, spoke briefly In
favor of the bill, which he proposed to offer
as a substitute for the funding bill.
The committee then rose, Mr.. Tucker, OF
Virginia, stating that he would on Satur-
day move to go into committee to consider
the funding bill ty sectione.
The House then adjourned.
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
The President TO day sent to the Senate
the nomination of Nathan Goff, Jr., of
West Virginia, to be Secretary Of the Navy.
The nomination Of General Golf caused
general surprise, except to few who knew
of the Presidents intention to make it.
When the nomination was presented to the
Senate, General Gof vas at the capitol in
the room of the Senate Committee on APP
propriations. lie Is a nativo Of West Vir-
ginfA, residing at Clarksburg, and is
forty years Of age. He was Colonel
Of the Third Virginia Regiment 10 the Union
army, and rose to the rank of Brigadier
General during the war. He earned the
reputation OF gallant and able commander.
He has been United States District Attorney
OF West Virginia for twelve years. Four
years ago he was the Republican nominee
FOR Governor, and T. Is said ran ahead of
his ticket considerably, but was of course
beaten by the Democratic nominee, Cover
nor Matthews.
THE FLORIDA LEEISLATHRE