The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-03-05
National Bal Circulation.
SPEECH OF HON. ROSCOE cCNKLING.

The Senate, as in committee of the whole, having
under consideration in the bill to amend the act en-
tilted can act to provide for the redemption Of the
per cent temporary loan certificates, and for an IN
crease of national bank notes.
Mr.. Conklng said:
Mr.. President: Did we need illustration of
the loose and aimless futility of the mode in
which we are proceeding, submit we have it
now. We are dealing with great and many
sided subject hap-hazard and by guess. With
out any appropriate measure before us we are
plying each other with vagne generalities and
incomplete suggestions, upon which we are to
vote as they are read one after another; and
this is the way we are asked to solve one of the
gravest and most intricate problems which
can possibly confront us. By our own action
we cast away the aid upon which we rely even
in trivial and simple cases. The invention, of
the moment is substituted, when dealing with
snnreme ard complex affairs, for that careful
nrpcess of legislation which has been found
Safest and best for eight hundred years in
England, for century of our own, and from
the beguning oflegislative bodies everywhere.
Is this wise or parSOnable? Is it safe in such
matter to dispense altogether with action by
a committee in its committee room, where not
only general principles, but details and mi
mite particulars, can be exactly adjusted and
nerfected. and printed that we may study and
Understand them? Shall we legislate on the
wing. without waiting to hear from the ap-
propriate committee?
The finance committee has brought for
| ward no plan. The Senate has been pleased
by discussing the general subject, to postpone
/ tbe action OF the committee. so that we have
/ not even the excuse for proceeding we might
| have, had the committee been derelict or lag
! gard 1t is true the committee has reported
several minor special blls-bill snot professins
/ to enter at all upon the subject at large, pu'
4 for exceptional and collateral purposes. Ome ,e
Il was bill to assist banks in rdolns 'A rare
a selves of their circulation IN ce.1" a.l'ar hills
\ eases and there have been three oIneI D
\ ons ~ which is now before u.s. all imiteu an9
| E,armentary. touching the skl,'S n.l. "nJ aJ
.Lss. 81 matters financial IN character, ana
~, a;,stainipg purposely from tne general s!lo-
;on+ Rut we have had, ana as we aIe soins
Jec. 20 ore to have from the committee no
on We no nroiect, no system, no solution, as a
piani Of finance, nor even of currency OF
MarIinS. What is the product thus far o.
.,';s unusual, if not blind and hazardous, pro-
cesdiug? What end have we reached? What
have we at this moment? We have adopted
and are instantly asked to reconsider, "a Delphit
proposition which it needs no ex-Secre
tary of the Treasury, no expert in finance, to
inform us means either one thing or the oop
posite, depending on an arrangement OF de-
tails not implied or hinted at in the PROPOSE
ton itself Without even division, t9g oen,
ate has lust declared for free banking, Cnltee
States notes to be convertinle lnto
ner cent. bonds. Who does not set
! that this is bnt juggs OF words