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Show LATEST DISPATCHES. GENERAL. FORTY-FOURTH COXtittESS. SE.VATE. Washington, 6. The chair laid before the senate a communication from the secretary of war, enclosing the reports of liie heads of bureaus in the war department, showing inaccuracies inaccu-racies and omissions which upuu careful examination have been found to exist in the revised statutes of the United States. Stierman presented 590 petitions signed by 29,890 persons, praying for me abolition of the bank check stamp 1 tax. Morton, from the committee on privileges and elections, to which was referred the resolution of Edmunds in regard to the election ot president pro tan. of the senate, made a report which was ordered to be printed and lie upon the table. Toe cum millet agreed, by a vote of five against two. that it is within tne constitutional power of the senate to elect a new president pro tempore at the present lime if the majority of the senators so desire. Toe committee make no .recommendation, however, as to the advisability of exercising this power. The report is concurred in by Senators Morton, Wadleigh, Mitchell, Cameron Cam-eron of Wisconsin, and McMillen, all republicans. Cooper said that as a member of tho committee he was unwilling to let the report go out without placing on record his disent from certain portions. por-tions. Jlerrimon said ho also dissented from so much of the reportaa favored the power ot the senate to remove the president pro tempore of the senate at will. Boutwell said that after consultation consulta-tion with bis colleagues he desired to 1 qualify the notice given yesterday in regard to announcing the death of the late vice president, as one of bis colleagues in the other house was sick. 1 Lie could not now name the day when 1 the announcement would bo made. Ihe chair laid before the senate a communication from the secretary ol war, enclosing the report of General Howard, commanding the department depart-ment of the Columbia, of bis lour in Alaska in 1S75, and trie recommendation recommend-ation that Alaska be attached to Washington territory as a county. Morton presented several petitions for the appointment of a commission to enquire aa to the alcoholic liquor traffic. Wright introduced a bill fixing the salary of the president of tho United st.ites. Morton introduced a bill declaring tho elfect of permits to purchase pro ducts of the insurrectionary states in certain cases granted by the president nl the United States. Morton said he introduced the bill by request witiiout knowing anything tin to 1U merits. Mitchell presented the petition ol A. B, Meachatu, praying forcompen-sition forcompen-sition for injuries received in tne MMoc war, while acting aa chairman jot" the poce comiuittto iu a treaty with tne Modocs under a ilag oJ truce. Morrill called up the bill introduced by him yesterday to further provide for the redemption of legal tender United iewtea notes, in accordance with the existing law, and addressed the senate. In the course- of bia argument ho said he thought by January 1st. 1S78. tho dillr-'Ufe b-lwe-n paper and gold would be muc i Ilsb Uian il in now, and thai n a lorerunner of resunip-iiioD resunip-iiioD it would be well to provide that 1 Contract nfur Junuary, 167, thall be upon aopecie basis, un!irs utherwUe h pee i lit d. Tins wuuid accustom our-people, our-people, to the ivuntig change and I ring bpeeie in'o circulation. He i d'-uounctd ti.i: project lor redeeming! tr eiibaeks with an interconvertible j 05 per c-u.. interest bearing bend, J declaring that t:ie scheme Was uu-suscepiio.u uu-suscepiio.u ol any public or private advantage. Ho likened it to an oiler on tne part of government to lake and keep all horses thrown out of emtiloyinent at the commencement of Winter, promising to return them tdrek aiA fat in the epring. liu also bcouled. the proposition proposi-tion often broached that the duties on fon-igu goods may be hereafter paid in paper. It would virtually repeal the law of 1802, containing the pledge of the country that such duties should be paid in gold, and s -t apart to pay the public debt. This is regarded by ;a few who are willing to wound, but i not ready to strike the tariff, aa well its by those who have wholly cut locwe ircni coin, determined to sink orswun witu paper money alone, and also by -ir or seven houeit men who really feel, if wo show how much we despise gold and how little we care for it at Hie custom house, that everybody will adopt the same opinion and gold will ihendrop so low in value that all wao iinveit will be in haste to exchange il for paper. With much gravity they i;ven claim this as the swiftest mode of returning to specie payments. By our flattering declaration that black is white we are to make silly bulliou-itds bulliou-itds who fodow the example of ihe jrow in the tablo, dropping their gold, and like Esop's fox, we are to stand ready to snatch it up. If these honest hon-est men are not miatakeu, 'ere is to be found a real resumption boomerang, which, though sent oil' in an opposite lirection, is to whirl round and at last smite tho rock, from which will pour a tlocd of precious metals. 1 confess to an entire want of laith in noomerang movement. He ridiculed the idea that we must not only keep and maiutain the volume of currency, curren-cy, claiming that that very doctrine ent our bou'ls abroad. He also ridiculed ridi-culed the argument frequently set up ihat our only remedy tor a currency argely iullat! d and below par, is to wait and let the country grow up tc it. The bank or paper circulation, with a population of 31,500,000, wiu $257,So2,000. Assuming the standard ul 1800 and of years prior thereto a; r-qual to the fair requirements of tht financial health and stability with tht country no larger umesi maut arger by the ice of Alaska we havt-now havt-now such an excess of currency that f wo wait until the country grows up io it we must postpone specie resumption re-sumption until our population rises to 110,0-10,401, with a corresponding increase of tne wants of trade, li was a great delusion to suppose that contraction would benefit the rich tnd fall heavily upon the poor, while inflation would operate in the opposite lirection. It would be much nearer the truth to Buy the efTuct would be exactly the reverse. What we mosl needed alter specie resumption, to completely remedy our financial con liliou, was more real and absolute apital. AH the financial tinkering u the world would not supply it. Ah Lie cheap expedients for making money plenty without earning it, or .vilbout giving any in exchange for it would result in a disreputable lailure. L'he sooner we learn that money can't ie invented, but niusl be earned, iht uetter lor the country. Fublic and private expenditures are now too largely based upon inflation, and so ong as paymeuta are made in the cheapest substitute lor money, noth ing in return but cheap equivalent.-and equivalent.-and cheap service can be obtained. So permanent restoration of industry ur prosperity, no permanent employ men t of working men, no safety to working capital can be expected until government permits its own operations, opera-tions, iho labor Ol our people and the busiuess enterprise ol the country 10 be based upon solid foundations, represented by gold and p-iper, at par with gold re-preeuled re-preeuled by restored peace and mor aluy, in accordance with unbroken experience ol the wise among nations and in harmony with the instincts ol a, high-spirited people, ashamed o. exploded devices, of paying debts by the renewal ol broken promises, and ashamed of a vacillating standard ol mercantile honor, worthy only of a ; bankrupt people, half maniac and nalt knave. At the conclusion of bia remarks he moved that . the bill be referred to the committee on finance, do ordered. Sargent submitted ft resolution that the committee on judiciary be in-atructed in-atructed to inquire wbat legislation, ii any, is necessary to secure indemnity indem-nity to tne United titates tor advances paid and to be paid by governmeni , on account of subsidy "bonds issueu io the several Pacific railroad companies, com-panies, aud to secure indemnity against liability to pay the principal ol audi bonds by requiring tne creation crea-tion of sinking funds or otherwise; also whelber issues of the companies' mortgage bonds under Ihe act of 1801 were in excess of tne amount Leees sary lor the completion of said roads, and il so, whether such issues are a first lien upon ihe roads; also whether any bonds wl the United Stales issued in aid of said roads are a first lien on the same, and that the committee report by bill or otherwise. Agreed to. The chair laid before the senate a message from tuo president of the United Slates, enclosing tho report ol i the director oi tne ryiut, in answer to the senate resolution of last session in regard to a proper place for u brancu mint in the Mississippi valley. Uidered printed and to lie on the table. Clayton submitted a preamble and resolution instructing the judiciary commilteo to inquire into the expe-Jiency expe-Jiency of establishing one or more inferior courts in the Indian territory, lor the trial of minor otleuces where the lederal court now ha jurisdiction. Judiciary committee. Bogy moved to reconsider the vole ny wuieh Morrill's bill was referred. Ho said he desired to speak on the -ii bj eel, and if too vote by which the oill was referred was reconsidered, he would move to postpone further consideration con-sideration of tho bill until the first Monday in February. Bogy said he was in favor of fpeeie rewumption. Ho was not an inflationists, but would continue to oppose any attempt ai resumption which could in the remotest remot-est degree bring atoul the contraction of tho paper money we now have. He-was He-was not in love with paper money, but the business of the country would not sufler contraction. Ho looked upon the bill oi" Senalor Morrill as one ol contraction. He looked upon it as something terribly bad. Ho moved that the subject bo postponed until lh first Tuesday in February. Morrill Baid he hoped the senator wou.d not ask for a postponement to that luuo. He moved to amend the motion so thai further consideration of thti iubjeel bo postponed until next Monday. Ttmrrnan said the matter bad better go ov lid February. B gy said be bad no objection to the bill being referred now. Thurmau, resuming, said hedesired to call the atU'iition of the senator Irorn Vermont (Murnl!) to Ihe third rection ot hid b:il, wuieh required national na-tional banks to hold one-fourth ot their money reservo in coin, aud alter Juuary 1st, 1S77 ouc-haM, and after October 1S7S, three-fourths. He thought these bants ought to prepare; fur specie payment and it would be no ! more than just for congress to require . them to keep coin interest. j Kdmunds inquired how a national bank could re.-ume as long as gov-1 eminent did not. It could redeem its notes with a greenback which had been made legal tender. 1 Thurmau said when the lime come he wouid endeavor to show that both government and national banks could resu me. Morrill argued that by compelling national bauks to have a portion of their reserve in coin instead of legal lenders, would be no diversion of the ,-ecurity which depositors had.- At five o'clock the senate went into executive session, and at 5.15 the doors were again opened aud the senate adjourned. hoist. Randall from the committee on appropriations ap-propriations reported a resolution instructing in-structing the committee on military a Hairs to take into immediate consideration con-sideration the pay and allowance of all ollicers of the army, and to report whether in any aud if so in what cases such pay and allowance should 1)0 reduced in connection with it. He said while the committee on appropriations ap-propriations desired to make the reductions as fair as possible, but :yet with justice to Ihe army and all other branches of the government it was not its desire to interfere in any way with the business which other committees may have before them. He could say that wherever the committee on appropriations desired to reduce the umber of employes or chauge their pay it would do soonly after the fullest conlereuce with the committee which had special charge. Tho resolution was agreed to. Hopkins from the select committee on the Centennial, reported a bill appropriating ap-propriating $150,000 to complete the Centennial buildings and other preparations pre-parations for the celebration, one-third one-third the amount to be paid at once and the rest in four monthly payments, pay-ments, providing the government shall not be liable for any debt or obligation in connection with the 1 celebration (or any additional payment. pay-ment. Referred to the committee of i tne whole on the state of the Union, New offered a resolution that the fraternal feeling and good will now existing in all sections of the country, and the manifest disposition and purpose oi mo innu wuu oaiweu against each other in the late civil war to join hands as one people, is a most auspicious ushering in of the Centennial year, and that while the people are thus making an honest effort to live together iu peace and uphold the same flag of an undivdetl country, their representatives in congress con-gress should do no act that would unnecessarily disturb the patriotic feeling existing and increasing, nor tending to revive bitter memories of the past. He insisted on having a vote taken by yeas and nays, and it was so taken and resulted in the resolution being unanimously adopted yeas, 19S; nays, 0. Fort tried to offer a resolution declaring de-claring that io consideration of the especial harmony expressed in the resolution just adopted the wounded Union soldiers ought not lo bs removed re-moved from places in the house which they might be qualified to fill, but the speaker ruled mat he had not tne floor for that purpose. Bills were inlroduced and referred .is follows: BucUner, a resolution calling on he secretary of the treasury for Ihe titement of tho names and resi-lences resi-lences of all shareholders in national , nan king associatione, and the number num-ber of shares held by each one on the .irst Monday of July last. Adopted. A resolution was introduced by Debolt calling on the secretary of tho treasury for information as to the ports of entry where thr ro.-lpu Ju out exceed the expenditures. Phillips, Missouri, directing the committee on civil service reform to inquire into the lact of the presentation presenta-tion of a silver tea set to the late Commissioner of Patents Leggett, by contributions from his subordinates. Adopted. By Rea, a resolution declaring it to be the opinion of the house that the contraction of currency in the manner man-ner and to the extent that it has been done has been detrimental to the country, and that in the present financial condition ol the country no further contraction of currency ought to be had. Cox suggested that tho resolution should bu referred lo either of the two committees having charge of the subject, but Kea demanded ihe previous question, on the adoption adop-tion of the resolution. The house refused re-fused lo second the previous question, and on motion of Cox the resolution was referred to the committee on ways and means. By Clover, a resolution calling on the secretary ol war for information .is to officers of the United Slates being be-ing engaged in tho military service of ol foreign governments, aud by what authority. Adopted. By Wilshire, a resolution directing the committee on Indian affairs lo investigate tho effect and operation of the Indian treaties and conduct of Indian agents, contractors. Adopted; also a resolution calling on the president presi-dent as to the number ot agents, etc., in the Indian service and the cost ol the same. Adopted; also a bill to facilitate the settlement of claims for stores or supplies taken or furnished during the rebellion. By Durand, a resolution condemning condem-ning the praclice of making asuess-jnienfs asuess-jnienfs on government employes for political purposes. Adopted. By Reagan, appropriating $1,563,-110 $1,563,-110 on account of money paid by L'exas lor frontier defences in Sabine pa-;s; also to repeal the act of tho 2d of March, 1807, prohibiting the payment pay-ment lo persons not known to be opposed op-posed to the rebellion. By Hancock, tor the payment of i losses o! citizens of Texas from Indian depredation?. By Schleeker, a resolution for the appointment of a Belect committee to enquire- into the robberies and murders along the Mexican hoidera, in Texas. Tho resolution caused considerable discussion and was finally adopted. Bills were further introduced and referred as folio wo: McCrary, to regulate commerce by railroads among the several states, and to establish a bureau of commerce. com-merce. Oliver, amendment to the conflli-union conflli-union Id elect a president, vice president presi-dent and senator by direct vote of tno people. Goodman, i resolution directing tho committee on public lands to inquire in-quire into tho expediency of conferring confer-ring authority on registers and recorders re-corders ol laud offices to issue process pro-cess aud compel Iho attendance of witnesses in contested laud cases. Adopted. Woodburn, for a public building at Virginia city, Nev. Biaino asked Randall whether ho had Redded to briug tho houFe to a vote on bis amnesty bill on Monday next. Randall said be bad. Blaine said he had a substitute to offer which Wits rend oa follows: That nil persons now under disability imposed by the 1-tlh amendment lo the constituliou of the United States with the exception excep-tion of Jellcasou laviat late president of the eo-called confederate states, I shall be reliev?d of such disabilities upon their appearing before any judge of a United Suites court and taking and subscribing in open court t) the following oath,to beduly attested and recorded, viz: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I wilt support and delend tho constitution of the United Slates against all enemies, foreign aud domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that to the best of my knowledge and ability, I will faithfully discharge the duties of a citizen of the United States." Biils were introduced and referred ns follows: Kidder, a resolution instructing the committeo on Indian affairs to inquire in-quire into the expediency of opening the Black Hills to settlement by purchase pur-chase from the Indians. Adopted. Maginnis, to amend the coinage act; also for the improvement of tho upper Missouri and Yellowstone rivers; also for the sale of timber lands in the territories: also to promote education in tho territories. The bouse adjourned until Monday next. |