Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-24
CAPITOL TOPICS.
senator Morrilrs Adverse Report Upon MT.
Coke's National Bank Bil.

i
| Coke's National Bank BNl.
Senator Morrill, today reported adversely
Senator Coke's bill to amend the law regarding
their circulation.
In a report submitted Mr.. Morrill, says it il
obvious that the bill would cause a large re-
| duction, on the day of its passage,
of the money now in circulation and
create severe contraction by prohibiting
the banks at once from using their circulating
notes and would also compel them within six
months to curtail and collect their loans to
such extent as would enable them to redeem
their entire circulation. The sudden collection
| of this large amount of Indebtedness would be
| difficult. he says and might involve serious
| loss. At present, says the Senator, there is a
small but steady increase i'll the circulation OF
| national banks, which has been in progress for
the past year, and a sudden measure. practi-
cally winding up and extermina ting national
banks would, he thinks, be national disaster.
Continuing, he says: "How national bank
ing associations can be expected to sur
vive and flourish after all lighments have
been sundered that have hitherto bound
them to the nation is problem that
needs explanation. Their circulating
notes having ali been redeemed and the bonds
which were deposited for the security OF these
notes 1t would seem az though Che banks
were completely divorced from the
nation and might assume names
and continue the banking business il
they chose to do in any state where the laws OF
the state do not forbid it. The permission to
loan on real estate security, if accepted. would
at once change the function of national banks
associations to that of savings banks and en-
bark them III business with which they are
wholly unac quainted. and would be likely to
involve them In serious losses"
In conclusion Senator Morrill, that with
out condemning the other points of the bill it is
enough to say that the measure is premature
and that its general effect would not be to pro-
mote the general welfare of the country.
VIRGINIA WAR CLAIMS INTRODUCED.
In the House today Mr.. Meredith of Virginia
introduced bill appropriating $4,000 to COM
pensate the trustees of Hunters Chapel and
Arlington Heights for the use of the church dur
ing the war; also bill appropriating SSl,ooo 10
recompense Geo. s. Ayre for bonds and money
taken by the United States troops; also a bill
appropriating u, 500 for the use OF the United
States troops of the st. Paul Church, hay
market, Va.
ESTIMATES FOR IMPROVEMENTS
There was today laid before the House
communication from the Secretary OF War
submitting estimate of appropriations ag-
gregating S13l 800 for buildings and improve
ments at the Pacific branch OF the National
Monica, Cal, for the fiscal year 1873
TIE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS.
A bill providing for the incorporation Of the
Society of American Florists was favorably
acted upon by the House committee on agri-
culture today.
THE ANTI-oPr1oN BILL
The anti-option bill was not considered by
the committee today. 1t is generally under
stood that it will be allowed to remain I'M
acted upon for several weeks SO that the mem
bers of the committee can have an opportunity
to think about the features of the bill and to
reld the large number of arguments that were
made on both sides while hearings on it were in
progress.
EASTERN SHAWNEE INDIANS.
Senator Perkins today introduced bill max
ing an appropriation of S47, 900 for fulfilling
treaty stipulations with the eastern band OF
Shawnee Indians.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
The Senate committee on interstate COM
merce today heard further argument upon the
pending bill to amend the interstate commerce
act in various particulars, especially in respect
to the weight to be given to the findings of the
commission.
The speakers before the committee this
morning were ex-Commissioner Schoonmaker Of
Stahlman. commissioner for the Southern Rail-
road Association. These gentlemen opposed
the bill at length, holding that it was lnexpe-
dent measure and would fail of list purpose.
THE MUrILATIoN OF COINS.
Senator Henderson struck blow at the
bangle industry today by the introduction of
an amendatory bill which provides that every
person who, within the United States or any
territory thereof, for any purpose whatsoever,
willfuly. by any art way or means. defaces,
mutilates, impairs, dIminishes, falsifies. scales
or Gghtens the gold and silver coins which
have been which may hereafter
be coined at the minis Of the United
States, or any foreign gold or silver coins, or
who by any process Intentionally changes the
appearance of any coin 80 asto make it resemble
Ill color coin OF greater value SHALL upon con-
viction, be punished by Imprisonment at hard
labor not more than two years or fined not
more than e 900, or both, at the discretion Of
the court
PROPOSED PENSION FOR AN ARMY NURSE.
Twenty-Five dollars a month is the sum which
Senator Warren thinks ought to be paid as pen
sion to Mary A. Abbott, who was an army
nurse in Union Hotel Hospital. Georgetown.
The bill to bring this about was introduced
this afternoon.
NOVEL POINT OF ORDER.
An entirely novel point of order was raised
in the Senate yesterday by Senator Frye. The
bill providing for a commission on the subject
of the alcoholic liquor traffic was being consid-
cred. and when the time came to vote on its
passage Senator Frye was the only one who
said AYE" Senator Vest seemed to be the
only one who voted no" Senator Turpie was
in the chair and he declared that by the
sound" the ''noes have it, To this decision
Senator Frye objected on the ground that he
had voted more loudly than did the Senator
from Missouri. The good-humored protest
raised a little laugh in the galleries. The ques-
ton was temporarily settled by the laying aside
OF the bill.
ARIzoSAs WORLDS FAIR LoAE.
Delegate Smith of Arizona has reported
bill from the House territories committee to
ratify an act of the Arizona legislature author
izing the issue of bonds to the amount of $780,
900 to enable the territory to be properly
represented at the worlds fair. The re-
port accompanying the bill says congressional
authority is necessary because Of the law for
bidding territories to incur any Indebtedness
exceeding per cent Of the assessed valuation
Of the property within the territory
The report says Arizona's assessed valuation
is only $50 coo OO0 but that its taxable value is
really $4,000 900.
DRAWBACK ON TIN PLATE, ETC.
A statement has been laid before the House
from the commissioner Of customs showing
that 81, III, 061 drawback was allowed by the
government on tin cans, &c, manufactured
from imported tin plate and exported from
October 1. 1880, to December 81. 1891 Another
to December 81. 1891, aggregated S92, 20l. In.
Guided in third statement was n table giving