Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-03-28
Currency Expansion.
WAsuNGToN, d. C., March %.

According to the notice given, last
Friday, Mr.. Dawes called up the bill
reported from the Committee of Ways
and Means, fixing the volume of le-
gal tender currency at $500, 100000,
to-day, and moved a suspension of
the rules for the purpose of taking it
out of the Committee of the whole.
Contrary to the expectations ofmany,
he secured two thirds vote for his
motion, and, the bill being before the
House, according TO an understand
ing had in Committee of Ways and
Means, Mr. Robert, of New York, a
member of the committee, offered his
amendment, fixing the amount at
1882 100000 which is supposed to
be the amount now outstanding.
Mr.. Dawes offered an amendment
limiting it to $4,000, 900, the orig
inal sum authorized by law before the
Secretary of the Treasury undertook
to draw upon the $44, 100000 legal
tender reserve. There was consider
able interest manifested in the House.
not only on the amendment, but on
the bill itself, The fact that all de-
bate was cut off by the motion to sus.
pend the rules made those who were
DESTROYS of delivering speeches ex-
tremely reserved, but it became cyl
dent that nothing could be done ex-
eept to vote squarely upon the bill
and amendments and the House adj
dressed itselfto the task. The first
vote was on proposition of Mr.. Dawes
to limit the legal tender circulation to
S356,000,0O0, and it was lost by a
vote Of more than two to one, the
yeas being 70 and the nays 172 Mr..
Roberts amendment was defeated by
a vote of "a to 172. On the final
passage of the bill the vote was 168
to II. At every stage, the yeas and
nays were persistantly called, and
even the reading of the engrossed bill
was demanded. Those opposed to
imitation fought the measure at every
step; but, as no speecl-making was
allowed, nothing could be done by
the opponents of imitation but to can
vass the House for votes. The New
England delegation, with the excep-
tion Of General Butler, voted steadily
against the bill and amendments,
with the exception Of that of Mr..
Dawes limiting the amount of legal
tenders to $3j6,000,000. On the
passage of the bill, General Butler
first voted against it, but, before the
announcement of the result changed
his vote in favor of it. His object
was to be in the majority, SO as to be
able to move reconsideration, and
in the event of the success of the mo,
ton, to address the House on the gen
eral question. After the announce.
ment of the vote, he said: 81 voted
for this bill, in part because repre-.
senting the interests of New England
l did not think it right to peril those
interests by flying in the face of thu
whole country" General Butler wa
the only member from New England
that voted with the Southern anC
Western men in favor Of the bill
After all, the imitation is not so large
rs might be supposed. The amour
OF legal tenders outstanding is $780,
100000, leaving only $18,000,000 t,
be put out. 70 show that the meas
ure is not at all satisfactory to the OK
treme in6ationists, it may be state,
that such men as Judge Kelley vote,
steadily against it. All attempts t.
get in amendments failed, the Hous
being determined to como to direc
understanding on the question. 1t i
believed that this bill will be take
by the Senate as compromise for til
measures now before it and the in
preston, tonight is that it will be
come a law.