The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-12-11

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lies and vile slanders. He now asked for
an investigation by a committee Of the
House. The matter wis referred to the
Committee on Naval Affairs, with power
to send for persons andpapers and report
at any time.
The House then went into Committee
ofth Whole, Mr.. Tyncr in the chair, and
resumed the consideration of the bill to
authorize the issue of 3-65 convertible
bonds.
The Legal Tender Question.
MIR. Willard, of Vermont, offered al
amendment, providing that greenbacS'
shall not be legal tender in the pay
ment of debts contracted after the lst of
July, 1875.
MIR. Dawes spoke at length in opposi-
tion to the bill. He declared that, with
the gentlemen from Ohio, Mr.. Garfield,
he rcjoccd that the hands of Congress
were being stayed up in the effort if it
had the courage to make it, to bring tn"
country back 10 the laws Of trade, and
argued that the direct and inevitable
consequence Of the substitution Of the
pending bill for the existing state Of affairs
instead Of bringing relief by
apprcciating greenbacks to gold,
would sink it ten aud fifteen per cent
and thereby take from tn" labOrer ten
fifteen per cent of the purchasing power
Of his wages. and cut down his now scan
tv loaf of bread. The grccnback would
b.. worth rs much rs gold to-day, ifthe
government would pay it when present
ed. and it never would be worth as much
II, gold until tho government did that.
Let il do that and all the rest will follow.
In conclusion he said that those who
are responsible for the public affairs have
no time To lore. One can put on
our duty in promises no longer. The Re
publican party has just three months to
save or To destroy its existence. No
other power than itself can accomplish
its ruin 1t will pass ont Of mind and
memory in the politics Of this country, if
at all, by its own hands. 1t has the
power AS well as the privilege of accom-
plishing either Of these results. W hat
ever in the near future awaits that party,
let il not die for want of courage.
Mr.. Phelps argued against the pending
measure, and said, this is what | ask the
Government to do. ask the Govern
ment to pay promises that 1t made Il
wears ago. to pay these greenbacks on
demand dollar for dollar; and ask the
Government TO do so by borrowing on
it, bonds, payable fifty years after date,
money with which to pay It's present IN
dcbtedness. In my opinion there is but
one way to make currency equal to
money. and that is to follow that
straight, narrow path, which Is the
path Of honesty. The Government
must paw its debts when they are due.
Then alone, can We expect 10 be again
a prosperou. and happy, and honored
nation.
Mr.Smith, of New York, spoke in favor
of return to specie payment as soon as
practicable, without disaster. There
were several features in the pendIug
measure which impressed him favorably,
but there were very grave sb-
icctions to it. There were IL
hmi,abc expansion in it because
these bonds of small denomination would
circulate as currency. In order to guard
against that he would move to amend the
bill bv making the lowest denomination
Of bond $1,000. At the close Of Mr..
Smith. remark: the committee rose with
out sction on the bill.
On motion OF Mr.. Tyner the Senate
amendment to the bill sppropristing
10000 for the scales required in carry
inc out the law for the prepayment Of
newspapers. was conCurred in and the
bill passed.
Mr.. Garfield made sn effort 70 have
adjournment until Mondsy next, bat
several votes showed majority Of the
House against il.
Mr.. Butler remarked that Mr.. Gar.
fields object WAS - prevent the action OF
the House on other subjects than the ap-
preparation bill.
An effort 70 have Tomorrow session
set apart for debate only was successfully
resisted
The Speaker, announced the following
appointments 10 I'll vacancies on Com
mittees:
On Arkansas Affairs, Scudder, Of New
York; Judiciary, Finck, Of Ohio Civil
Service Reform. Chittendsn, Of New
York; Invalid Pensions, StraWbridge, u
Pennsylyania; Education and Labor
Carpenter. Of South Carolina.
The Speaker announced that By opera
( ton Of the rules M Horne succeeded q
the chairmanship Of the Committee OF
District Of Columbia, instead Of Mr.. Hale
Of New York, resigned.
Adjourned