The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-05
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY. Fen 4. 1881


Mr.. BOYD asked the attention of the House to
make some suggestions relating to its business. -
The House some time since made the mint bill +,
and the bill providing for board to settle and ad-
just private claims special orders, to be consid-
| cred from day to day until disposed of. Alter
wards, four days were set apart making territorial
business special orders. This order conflicts with
the two first before named. To relieve tn House
| from this difficulty, he asked unanin Gus consent
for postponing the first named spec al orders to
Thursday, and for combining territorial Isiness to
two days instead of four. Objected to.
| Here a long conversation ensued between the
SPEAKER and several members, relative to the
precedence of the above named special orders.
On motion Of Mr.. VAN DYKE, the House
went into Committee of the Whole upon the hill
establishing branch minis at New York and San
Francisco, Mr.. CARTIER in the Chair.
BRANCH MNTs.
Mr.. BAYLY proposed substitute in amend
ment of the substitute proposed by Mr.. CHAMP
LER. MIR. BAYLYs proposition was subsequent
ly explained by him. 1t met, he conceived, the
emergency Of the case. 1t provides for bars and
ingots of gold which are adapted to purposes of
commerce. Their convenience TO banks will OPP
crate to bring coins from their vaults into general
circulation.
Mr.. SCHENCK proposed an amendment pro.
viding for the removal of the mint from Phade-
phia to New York, which was declared out of
order.
Mr.. BROOKS proposed pro forma amend
ment, and addressed the committee relating to the
prejudices attempted to be created against New
York. He maintained that the monies expended
there, were the benefit Of the whole country
Contractors for naval and other stores preferred
to receive their pay at that point, for the reason
that the rates of exchange were in its favor New
York WAS the great centre of trade and steamers
would always centre there, because furnishing
facilities for their support which enables them TO
transport merchandise for from fifty to one hun
dred per cent. less than Philadelphia
Mr.. CHANDLER, in reference TO the state.
ment concerning the cost of the machinery of the
mint, said, that all the machinery Of the old mint
was transferred to the present, and that hundreds
Of thousands of dollars had since been expended
IN perfecting IT..
Mr.. KING, of New Jersey, proposed pro
forma amendment, and made few remarks He
stated that the question whether the COM
MERGE of the country is to be taxed to support the
mint at Philadelphia
Mr.. MORSE proposed to amend the bill so as
to appropriate one million of dollars for his oh.
ject. He maintained that the place where bullion
s imported is the place for the mint Unless
Pennsylvania agreed to the establishment of a
branch mint at New York, the mint itself would
ultimately be removed to the latter place. Com
merce should not be taxed 10 support a mint at
Philadelphia exclusively
Mr.. McLANE. Of Maryland, thought $3.50, 900
was only sufficient to commence the mint at New
York He had no doubt the Philadelphia mint
cost one million dollars. He intended TO propose
an amendment establishing the mint at New
York. Baltimore merchants importing bullion
into New York are at an expense Of one and half
per cent. IN procuring it's coinage
Mr.. McCLERNAND said that this matter was
agitated years ago. and had received the recon-
mendation OF Mr.. Polk and Of several Secretaries
OF the Treasury. The result of his Investigations
n I'M IN favn Of k~.,,
York. 1t was not fair to urge the state Of the f.
nances as an objection. That should be urged
with reference TO matters of less pressing import
ance.
Mr.. SACKETT maintained that whatever ex-
pendIture was incurred in coinage added to the
value thereof, and PROFESSIONALLY diminished the
value Of other products Of labor The expense
arising from sending bullion one hundred miles to
be coined was tax upon a commerce, and con-
trary to the laws Of trade, He estimated the
whole expense arising from coming at PhiladeI-
phia at one half million annually.
Mr. SCHENCK proposed PRO forma amend
ment, and said that France and England had but
one mint each. We had three or four. Mr.. S.
expressed himself as hostie to multiplying minis
ON tho ground OF bene6tiing all portions Of the
country. Az well might three or four General
Post Offices be established. The mnts al Char
lotte and DahIanega should be abolished. The es-
adjustment Of mint mt New York would result
IN taking all business from that at Philadelphia.
Mr.. PHOENIX stated the Of Rowland
and AspinwaI, who had bsen at the expense Of
six hundred dollars IN obtaining the coinage Of a
remittance of SUI 900. lie stated, that Of the
Ave millions admitted to be in the mint ii phiIa-
delphia, only 1886 900 was an account Of the az
sistant treasurer 3sii s'f
Mr.. McLANE proposed 70 amend The bin 40
as TO provide that the mint should be at New
York, bat il was decided out Of order.
The question was then put upon the amend
ment, proposed by Mr.. MoRss, and it was mega
lived
Mr.. SCHENCKp proposed 10 amend the original
bill by striking out the 6rst section, which pro-