Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-06-17

after January l, 1873. Gold would not
remain in the country where the price of
everything would be so high as to drive it
out and the revulsion then would be ten
times greater than if the country should
return to specie payments today. Initiate
the currency and it furnishes money which
can neither be boarded nor exported. lie
thought the bill travelled in a circle, and
expressed the opinion that the only way to
restore the country to prosperity was to
return to the true standard of value. In
stead of by an arbitrary measure raising
the price of greenbacks, it would be far
easier to reduce the volume thereof, so
that it would approximate the price of gold.
| He believed it easy to return to specie pay
ments within two years, without any dan
ger to the interests of the country. He
protested against the passage of this report.
| He believed its friends did not know what
its effects would be. Evil, and only evil,
would spring out of its passage. He was
opposed to any propositions which attempt
ed to override what God himself had
made as money. He thought when the
country entered upon gold basis it would
enter upon an era of prosperity which
would be unbroken for century.
House. The work was mainly upon
appropriation bills. Civil service reform
was brought up by a motion appropriating
$4,000 to enable the president to carry
out the civil service rules. Butler opposed
the appropriation. He said when the civil
service reform was undertaken because
congress was bothered, and because men,
bers were afraid to 90 home and say they
had voted against civil-service reform.
which had found its origin in China and
its best exemplification in Great Britain,
it was the mere trick of IA politician who
had apostatized from the party knowing
he was dead on account of his vote on the
impeachment of Andrew johnson, and
who wished to get once more into public
life; but it did not galvanize him.
Mr.. Cox spoke the democratic sentiment
and pronounced the reform Il humbug. He
said the true civil service reform was hon
esty and capacity both.
Mr.. Hawley said it was quite evident
that civil service reform of some deScrip-
ton was necessary, but it was equally ev-
ident the representatives of both political
parties wanted to return to the spoils sys-
tenn in all its deformity and infamy.
Mr.. Beck agreed with Mr.. Butler that
civil service reform had proved a humbug,
as it was utterly unable to reach anything
except the very lowest orders of clerk.
Mr. Willard of Vt. inquired of the
members of the republican party whether
there was one single principle in the plat
form on which it had gone before the
country when Gen. Grant was elected on
which it proposed still to stand.
Mr. Butler of Mass.-Yes, we stand still
by the soldiers.
Mr.. Willard.-Verv we'll, stand by the
soldiers; but the convention which nOmi-
mated Gen. Grant and which represented
every district in the United States. adopted
this resolution as part of its platform -
That any system Of eiyI service under which the
cred rewards for mere party zeal evidently de
moralizng and that therefore reform Of the
ronage and make honesty, eff isncy and fidelity the
essential qualifications for public positions, without
| practically creating life tenure of office
Similar resolutions were adopted by the
national democratic convention, and by
the national labor convention; in fact, ev-
cry political party that assembled. that
year, as national OF organization adopted
the declaration that there was absolutely
needed reform of the civil service. And
the republican party proposes to play fast
and loose with the people. to keep the
word of promise to our ear, and break ii
to our hope" to fling out its party banner
with the cry of reform, and then, when it
comes into power, spit upon that platform
and trample that banner under foot. How
LONG has such 3arty to remain in power:
F FRIDAY. Stnpte. The conference com
mittee's finance report was considered, and
the report was agreed to by - to %, most
of the " hard money" men voting against
it.
Tho L. hut 20, .,,-H
form was closed and IA vote being taken
on the amendment of Mr. Kellogg appro
priating SO, 900 to enable the president Il
carry out the provisions of the civil ser
vice rules, it was rejected. is to l4S.
\ bill was passed appropriating $500.
, 600, to be used under the direction of the
secretary of war, till September l, for th'
relief OF the sufferers by the overflow o
the lower Mississippi. the Tombigbee
t Warrior Alabama and Tennessee rivers.
MONDAY. Studic Mr.. Morton o
Ind. reported from the elections commit
tee their unanimous opinion that The
charges against Senator Mitchell of Oregon
We're unfounded. and the committee wer,
discharged from the consideration of tn,
subject
The resolution of the House disagreeine
TO the report of the conference committe,
on the finance bill, and asking for new
conference, was taken up, and Mr. Wrigh
of Ia. moved that the Senate insist upon
It's amendments and grant Il conference.
Mr.. Edmunds of Vt. moved that the
Senate adhere 10 its amendments, but If
terward withdrew that motion and movet
that it be referred to the finance commit
tee. He did not think ANYTHING could be
h, l.. Il,
He wished to test the sense of the Senat,
to see if this namby-pambying with the
House should be continued SO long a.
Congress kept this thing going. like
cross-cut saw, there would be di>satisfac
ton. He thought the views of the two
sides were so widely opposed. and Ian
guage was so inadequate to express wha
either side wanted. that the sooner Il cleal
cut be made the better it would be for all
, The financial question would be left Jus
where it is, and the country would come t
specie payment at the earliest practicabl,
: time. There had been complaints from
the West that his section had more thar
its share of circulation. The people o
f the East, through their representative,
here had said to them, Take your share
, and why should there be any more de
: mands? Everybody said this financia
: measure was a tree which yielded NJ
fruit, and what was the use of shaking it:
: branches any more? He would say to the
: people of the West, take the circulation
you want from New England, but let Con
gress hold fast to that pledge of both plat
form and statute for a return to specie
? payment, aud the day would come wher
we would have such payment. The Sen.
. ate was under no obligation to confer witt
l the House further on this subject. He
thought the finance committee could per
feet some proposition TO be submitted tc
the House us well as the Senate, and i
, would be agreed tC rs soon rs any confer
; ence report.
? After further discussion a vote was Ia
, ken on the motion of Mr. Edmunds to re
fer the subject to the finance committee
! 1 IL i -