Year: 1874

PETITIONS.


WASHINGTON, January 2O.-In the
Senate, petitions were presented from
the national board of trade for the reTi-
sion ofthe internal revenue laws; endo.s-
ing the petition of the New York cham
Der of commerce for prevention of colli-
siOns at sea; protesting against any in
creased volume of the currency; asking
that the national banking act be
amended, and that the volume of
the fractional currency be reduced.


CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.


Senator Oglesby presented a petition
Of the national board of trade in regard
to cheap transportation, and made a
speech in favor Of the immediate attell-
ton Of congress to the subject, stating
that in his opinion the question was Of
more Importance than that of finance.


Senator Bogy spoke in favor of nation
al legislation to open the natural water
routes from the west to the sea.


The petition was referred to the COM
mittee on transportation routes to the
seaboard.


PINCHBACK.


Senator Morton asked that the resoluI-
ton for the admission of Pinchbaek SIS
senator from Louisiana be taken up, as
he desired to have the subject recon-
mitted to the committee, to investigate
as to the personal conduct of Pinehbaclz
ingconnection with the election.


Senator McCreery said he desired to
speak on the subject Monday, he being
entitled to the floor.


Senator Morton gave notice that he
would make motion after the speech
Of the gentleman.


SPECIE PAYMENT.
. The consideration of the finance reso-
luton was resumed, and the remarks of
Senator Brownlow were read by the
clerk. He (Brownlow) thought that an
immediate return to specie payment
would be destructive to the business of
the country. Our present financial sys-
tenn was very good, but capable of some
amendments, one of the principal de.
fections being the unequal distribution
of currency. The south and west want.
ed more, and measures should be taken
to relieve these sections.


Senator Gordon opposed a speedy re-.
turn to specie payments, but did not de.
sire to be understood as opposing it.
when consistent with the interests OF
the producing class of the country. Il
congress would announce that it intend"
ed to give more money to the people,
and give it flexibility, that very houi.
would bring relief to the country and
bring out millions of greenbacks now
boarded up. He spoke of the wants Of
his section, and said that he believed
there was more property there when il
took sixty dollars in Confederate monNy
to buy one in gold. In the days Of
war cheap money was what we
wanted, and he hoped that the debt
burdened south and west would heed
the cry. The south is poorer to-day
than she was the day Lee surrendered.
He hoped the day would come when
we would issue money not founded on
gold, but on the faith of the govern
ment, and receivable for all dues alike.


Senator Chandler agreed with the
other gentlemen that there should be
more money, but he wanted better
money. He thought the only plan was
for government to resume specie pay
ment in January, 1875, to authorize the
secretary of the treasury to borrow one
hundred millions of dollars, good at
that time, and to stop the sale of gold
now. By the first of January we would
have two hundred millions in gold to
begin the redemption Of our legal-ten-
ders. He opposed any increase in the
volume of currency, even the issue of
forty-four millions reserve.


POSTAL ROUTES.


The resolution was laid aside inform
ally, and the post-route bill taken up.


Senator Pratt offered an amendment
declaring all bridges heretofore or here
after to be erected across navigable
rivers, and all public railroads, to be post
routes.


Senator Morrill, Me- offered an
amendment that hereafter no service
shall be ordered on post-routes until ex-
animation as to the necessity therefor
be made by a special agent and approved
by the postmasteT-gene


Senator Pratt explained that the OBJ
ject of his amendment was to leave the
matter in the hands of the department
to establish these routes, and do away
with the necessity of a postal-route bill
every year.


Senator Ramsey opposed the amend
ment, as it would legalize every bridge
over the Missouri and other rivers, and
prevent congress ordering their removal
if it be found that they Distracted navi-
cation.


Pending discussion, the bill was laid
aside, and the finance resolutions being
again taken up, upon which Senator
Merriman was entitled to the floor, but
upon commencing, he gave way to
motion for adjournment, and the senate