The Portland daily press., 1873-12-19

merce, reported back the bill amendatory of
the act relating to the enrolment and licensing
OF certain vessels, and it was passed.
Mr.. Howe's resolution instructing the COM
mlttee on Pensions to enquire into the expedi-
ency of placing ON the pension rolls the names
OF all honorably discharged soldiers of the war
Passed
Mr.. Gordon called up the resolution direct
ing the Secretary of the Treasury to inform the
senate as to the.quantity of cotton seized since
the war; the amount of the proceeds of sale,
and the disposition thereof ETC. Passed.
Mr.. Hitchcock introduced resolution that
after Monday next the Senate meet daily at 10
o'clock, and take recess from $50 to z o'clock
p. M
Mr.. Sumner objected.
OF senators. representatives and delegates was
taken up, read twice and referred to the Com
mlttee on civil service and retrenchment.
Mr.. Conkling presented a petition against the
repeal OF the bankrupt law and asking that it
be amended. Referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee
The morning hour expired, and the resolu>
ton reported by the Finance Committee was
taken up.
Mr.. Sherman of Ohio said he did not propose
to take part in the debote, but hoped that the
senotors would express their views, as it was
the desire OF the committee to ascertain as near
as possible, the wish of the Senate, and know
whether such desire was for enlargement or
contraction OF the currency, or return to spe-
Gle payment.
Mr. Boutwell, looked with apprehension
upon any plan to return to specie
payment by way of contraction. The shock
caused by contraction would be detrimental to
both the private and public interests of the
country He favored maintaining the volume
OF currency at the minimum point established
Dy law and was for the development of the re-
sources of the country
MIR. Boutwell, would resist the expansion of
the currency, because it would postpone specie
payments.
Mr. Howe of Wis, thought if a dollar was
ADDED to the currency it would be a public
Mr.. Ferry of Mich, argued that when we
mad larger volume of currency that coin was
lower than when it was smaller,
Mr.. Morton said the faith of the government
is pledged to redeem greenbacks in coin. This
was the time to return to specie payments. He
protested against Mr. Summers charge that the
country was dishonored.
Mr.. Sumner asked Morton if we had not paid
larger amount of the national debt than the
outstanding legal tenders.
Morton-Yes but never had enough gold at
one time to authorize US to redeem those notes
in coin.
Sumner-When we had gold we paid the
debt instead of daily obligations of the govern
ment
Morton-If it had paid the daily obligations
the treasure would have been bankrupt in 48
hours.
WI. OulHer dSkeu III IDe suspension OF specie
which Was war measure, should not have
been terminated at the end of the war;
Mr.. Morton agreed with him, but understood
that the notes would be paid when the country
was able to do SO; but we are not yet practical
bly, able. He favored return to specie pay
ments when the condition of the treasury per-
nit it and deemed that the panic facilitated a
return.
Mr.. Morrill, of VT, inquired if there has not
been an addition to the circulation by drawing
out 81, 100000 reserve.
Morton-Yes; and it was beneficial to the
country. The panic was not caused by any de-
fectin the currency, for while railroads and
other stocks went down, currency appreciation.
The true relief for panics was not the resurnp-
ton Of specie payments nor contraction. He
favored small! addition to the currency as the
true remedy and if the whole 44 600, 900 reserve
had been put out at the beginning of the panic,
it would have been Immediately stopped.
Mr.. Hamilton did not see that anything could
be accomplished by remaining here
Thurman-"No Mop
Hamiton.-The debating character of the
Senate would never let a bill pass without de-
bate. One from an eclipse Of sundpwn to the
closing up of a barber shop Sunday. Laughter.
He denied that bill could be passed in a day
with all these lawyers in the Senate. Again,
the President was not here. and a bill could not
become law, mol even if Congress should pass
it before the holidays. He thought the time
for Congress to meet should be changed to after
the holidays anyhow.
Mr.. Thurman thought the Senate was bound
to stay there and consider this matter de1ber-
ately.
Mr.. Scott moved to refer the resolution to
Committee on Civil Service and Retrenchment.
1t was lost; yeas 81 nays Is.
Mr.. Spencer moved to adjourn. Yeas; 21
nays "a.
Mr.. Logan said the scene reminded him of
years gone by, He didn't blame his Democra-
tic friends for pressing an adjournment. The
responsibility did not rest on them, but on the
majority here: He was glad the majority had
one recreant from the Democratic side.
Mr.. Thurman appealed to his friends on the
Republican side
The chairman of the Judiciary Committee
gave notice that his committee were ready to
report on measure VIII. ell should be repealed:
a measure which was being used as one of OPP
preston to grind down the debtor elass-not to
stand triding with the great interests of the
people. He did not wonder at the people COM
planning and denouncing Congress-; it was be-
which they ought
Mr.. West moved to adjourn. Agreed toll
yeas to Is nays. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr. Hale of New York, rising to a personal
explanation, referred to the amendment offered
yesterday by Mr.. Wilson of Indiana, directing
that any fee paid to member of Congress as
agent OF consul OF the United States While he
was member. should have the amount of such
fee deducted from his compensation as a men,
Der. He said it was intended to fix on the
records and debates of the House a stigma on
him tHale) deliberately planned insult and as
such he accepted it. He gave history of his
engagement as agent and consu, of the Uuited
States on the Mixed British and American
Claims, of his notifying the Secretary of State
after his election as q member that under the
Act of $685. he could not continue to act, etc.,
and Congress passing joint resolution author
izing him to continue as consul.
In response to a query of Mr.. Eldridge
whether he received more pay for professional
services than as Congressman.
Mr. Hale said inquiring was impertinent and
wouldn't answer it,
Mr.. Randall asked if he thought it morally
right to draw pay as Con gressman while recip-
lent of fees from the government
MI. Hale said he did so under authority Of
Congress lawfully and properly as others take
fees from clients. He said his assault was
caused by his remarks in reply to Mr.. Eldridge
day before yesterday and he was then warned
that castgation was in store for him. He said
Butler of Massachusetts, procured this assault
by having Eldridge obtain it to be done through
Mr.. Wilson of Indiana
Mr.. Butler-Not word of truth in it.
Mr. Wilson said Butler never said word to
him about it.
Mr.. Eldridge-Every word relating to me
relative to that matter is untrue.
Mr. Hale said if the gentlean who gave him
the information will consent he would name
him.
Butler said he would give all information.
Mr. Hale declined yielding the floor. He
said the amendment of Wilson was at the sug-
gestion of Eldridae, and was in pursuance of
warning which Butler had given him. Mr..
Wilson is Representative of the men
to whom the salary law of 1873 was due; one
class of these men, of whom Butler was leader
stood by it badly and squarely but the other
class of whom Wilson is a type, when forced to
a vote condemned the proposition and convey
ed the idea to their constituents that they were
opposed to the measure. He referred to sever
al votes of Wilson's in support of his statement
and was not surprised when Wilson was select
| ed to make the attack upon him. He (Hale)
| compared him to cur who forces himself
among descent people to rub the filth off from
| him and the cur that did it never was any
| thing hut dirty dog.
| MIR. Wilson said the House had just had
very fine specimen of dirty dog. He never
| shrank from his record on the salary bill The
| lodging of votes which Hale charged him with,
| he explained by saying when those votes were
| taken, he was in Boston by order of the House,
| investigating the Credit Mobiler He offered
an anne ndment in order. that Hale, who had
been prescribing clean linen for everybody else,
| might also have clean shirt. He said, Hale,
while drawing salary of $4,000 a year from
the government, was also drawing salary as
| Congressman. and the law authorizing it was
passed without word of explanation.
L ma IL