Year: 1874

bEN q


WASHINGTON, February 13.-On mo-
/ ton of Senator Stockton, the bill TO restore
! William hilburn, of San Francisco, 10 the
navy OF the United States as ensign, was
passed.


by sixteen thousand six hundred citizens of
California, asking the senate to pay some at
tention to the condition of the treaty between
/ the United States and China with a view to
having some modification made therein TO
! prevent the evil OF Chinese influx to this
country. The memorial was referred to the
/ committee on foreign relations.
The chair laid before the senate the reso-
! lutons OF the Wisconsin legislature in
structtng the delegation in congress from
/ that State to vote for the passage of a law re-
l ducipg the pay OF all civil and military en-
! ployes of the government to a scale commen-
surate with the duties performed. Referred
Senator Morton presented petition of ex-
/ soldiers from Indiana, asking for an equal
| ization Of bOunties. Referred.
Senator Goldthwaite presented memorial
from the Mobile board Of trade for the inn
provement of Mobile bay. Referred.
Senator Sumner introduced a resolution in
structing the committee on public buildings
and grounds to inquire into the expediency Of
protecting the statue OF Thomas Jefferson.
I now in the open grounds at the executive
mansion. Senator Sumner said the statue
should be protected as a work of art. Agreed
TO.


A resolution Offered a few days ago by
Senator Bayard, calling upon the President 10
inform the senate as TO the conduct of Major
Lewis Merritt, an officer Of the army on duty
in South Carolina, was taken up and discussed
by Senators Bayard and Scott. Pending the
discussion on the resolution the morning
hour expired, and Senator Sherman insisted
upon the regular order, the bill to equaliZe
the distribution of currency.


Senator Merriman said that his substitute of
yesterday having been prepared hastily, he
deemed il expedient TO make change in its
phTaseOlogy, and with the permission of the
senate he withdrew that and offered new
substitute, which provides for the issue of
forty-six millions of national bank currency,
In addition to that now IN circulation, to be
issued to banks now organized, or hereafter
TO be organized, and distri buted to the several
states in accordance with section one Of the
act of July u, $50.


Senator salisbury opposed any increase in
the volume Of currency.


Senator stewart moved that when the sem
ate adjourn to-day it be to meet on Monday
next.


The question being on Senator wright's
amendment OF yesterday, to strike out TWEEN.
ty-fve millions as the amount of currency TO
be Withdrawn from those states having an
excess, and insert fifty millions, Senator Sher-
man appealed to the Senators TO support the
bill as II came from the committee. If the
south wan ted more currency this would pro-
vide temporary relief, but he would rather see
the amendment OF the gentleman from Iowa
Wright adopted than to have the proposition
OF the gentleman from North Carolina Mer-
TimonI engratted on the Dill. Should that
substitute be put on the bill there would be
no prospect of a vote for a long time, and it
viii destroy the bill of the committee, which
he believed to be wise measure, and one
which would give relief to the sections want
ing 1t. There seemed 10 be an impression





end the financial question as to whether or
not there was TO be an increase. He assured
the gentlemen that so soon as the naval
appropriation bill, which comes up next,
should be disposed of, he would call up the
resolution from the finance committee, de-
claring il TO be the duty OF congress at the
present session to adopt definite measures to
redeem the pledge made in the act of March,
1868, for the earliest practicable redemption Of
United States notes in coin, and would press
q vote on it. II the substitute of the gentle
man from North Carolina should be agreed TO
by the senate, il would be disagreed to by the
house he thought the result would be like
the dog crossing the stream, which, after hay-
ing secured q chunk Of beef, and seeing its
shadow on the water, dropped his beef and
grabbed for the shadow, thus losing his beef.


Senator Gordon asked the gentleman from
Iowa Wright TO withdraw his amendment
10 the bill, in order that he GOrdonl might
offer a substitute to the bill, which
substitute provided for the issuance of the
same amount as that of the gentleman from
North Carolina [Merrimanl, but authorized
al additional amount TO be issued only to
those states which have less than their quota.


Senator Merriman said that he had modi-
fed his substitute so that the currency should
be issued in accordance with section "I'' OF
the act of July u, 1870 which provided that
money should be issued to those States hav-
ing less than their proportion.


Senator Gordon withdrew his proposition to
offer a substitute.


Senator Cameron said he desired to offer an
amendment to the bill, but was not prepared
to do so now, and therefore wished the senate
would adjourn as he did not want a vote to
be taken to-day. He could not vote for the
bill of the committee as it gave no relief, or
such as it would give would be of a very tenn
porRry character. 1t was intended TO relieve
the pain OF the patient but would result in
death. His proposition to extend the ma
tional banking system and take away the
prejudice now existing against ii, which COM
pelled it to be called monopoly, and not hav-
ing his amendment ready now, he moved
that the senate adjourn.


Senator COnover moved that the senate pro-
ceed to the consideration OF executive busi-
ness, and senator Cameron accepted that
amendment.


The chair announced Senator Dorsey as a
member of the committee on appropriations,
in place of Senator Ames, resigned; Senator
Harvey as q member Of the committee on
mines and mining, in place Of Senator Gro
Eier; Senator PeaSe as member OF the com
mtttee OF railroad bill, in place Of Senator
Ames, and senator Harvey az a member of
the committee Of Mississippi levees, in place
OF Senator Crozier.


Senator Logan inquired Of Senator Cameron
If his proposition would be as a substitute for
the bill OF the cOmmittee2


senator Cameron replied in the Affirmative.


The senate went into executive session, and
soon after adjourned till Monday,