New-York tribune., 1874-12-23
W. ASHINGTON.
TIE SENATE PASSES TIE NONDEsCRlPI
FINANCE BILL.

,us-uSsuccEssFUI EFFORTS TO FIND OUT
WHAT TIE BILL MEANs-THE REPUBLICANS DE-
CLINE DEBATE on THE QUESTIONS INVOLVED
iBY TELEaRAPH TO THR rRIDuNEI
WASHINGTON De3. 22.-The caucus compromise
nil, for tho resumption of specie payments was
raled nm nj An early hour to-day by Senator Sher-
man and in site of numerous protestations from tne
Democrats against its passage before the recess ana
hefore il had received that consideration which sucn
q measure deserved, the determination was
declared of pressing it to an immeoia'o
vote Mr. Sherman's Introductory speecn eA-
plsined the different features OF the Dlu' ou'
omitted to state perhaps the most Important pon''
viz. what it's practical working would De- whether
for contraction or initiation. With play1ulness
and humor BETTING the father OF such wen
behaved offspring, be offered 1T to members rs
"Christmas present" to carry, when passed. to their
constituents. bon bon. so to speak, TO TOLL
und,r the tongue the sweetness of which consisted
In its being something looking in the direction
of specie payments. which something is supposed 10
he what the people of the country are wanting. ne
wished il distinctly understood. however, that the
bill was not such as he would have preferred. NOE
was it adopted without concessions from every man.
With these preliminary remarks the bill was lett IN
the hands of the enemy according to previous ar
ran2ement.
The first section received little attention, except
from Mr. Schurz. who questioned whether the silver
coined to replace fractional currency would remain
in the couatry, or whether it would not be melted
down for bullion. The important discussion was
upon the third section providing for the retirement
of greenbacks, and upon the very important point
whether these retired greenDacks were 10 De
,aestroyed or be reserved and redistributed.
This was the vulnerable point in tho bill,
aud it was attacked here by Senator Schurz, who
yanly endt to extract any information IN re-
gard to 1t from Senator Sherman, who shiluuiiy
.yadeL the point at issue as long it was possible
to do 10, and when finally brought to bay declined
TO give any opni>a in regard to it. Senator Thur
man charac terized the measure as containing more
faults of omission than of commission, aud rldi-
Culed the idea of increased banking facilities
calling for any great increase in the amount OF cur
rency III circulation. lie stated that during the
past year. banking having been free in twenty
States there had been an increase in the currency
of less than S50OO00 and he pTophesed that du1ing
the next four years. with free banking in every Sec
ton there would be moro than OF green
backs retired and that there would he no extra bank
lug until business revived, which would not occur IN
less than four years. lie of the opinion that if
greenbacks were reissued unmitiGated imitation
would follow, and referred to Senator Shermans
characterization of the bill as "promse of specie
payments" as small superstructure to build upon
lie was afraid that merchants would not rest salts
fled that specie payments would be resumed In 1917
because this ILL SAID He offered an amendment to
the bill to the effect that latter June 80.
1875. one-twentieth part of oil customs
duties shall be paid in greenbacks /; after
June CO. 1876 tenth part and after June 80 1871
0ne-fifth part; ;" to which Senator Bogy added al'
amendment that on and after July 1. 1875, duties
shall lie paid in paper coin, at the option OF the
importer" Both these amendments were voted
down, Senator Bayard wished the fractional cur
reucy redeemed and destroyed, but Senator Sher
man refused to allow the insertion of word to that
effect; Senator Bayard therefore reserved to himself
the right of abstaining from voting for measure
concerning the construction of which its patron
refused to say a word.
Senator Schurz stated that he would vote for the
BILL because it contained pledge to resume specie
payments in 1879, anu if the Republican, party gains
any credit it will be from this resumption, and if
there is no resumption they would get no credit.
Financial minds he said will soon agree that this is
q very inadequate measure. Less paper and more
gold are necessary in order to resume, and unless
bill contains some measure of contraction it
will fail Of causing resumption. lie would
vote for the bill simply account of its pledge to
resume but he believed it would leave the currency
in the same condition virtually that it is in to-day
Senator Schurz then offered an amendment that no
less than S2O90000 legal-tcnder notes shall be re-
deemed monthly and destroyed. which amendment
was negatived. and the bill as it came from the
caucus was passed by vote of SO to IA.
Several important points, before remarked upon,
were made manifest in the debate, bat the excellent
caucus management of the Republicans was shown
BY the fact that No Republican except Senator Sher
man. and in one instance Senator Edmunds, had
any remarks to make concerning the bll aud by
the singular unwilngness of Senator Sherman to
answer any questions in regard to what should be
done with the greenbacks when redeemed. The
question, unanswered, was lett in such doubt that
those who were infatonists would be SO still, and
those vino were contractOniss would remain so
and each claim the bill expression of their own
views. The vOte was nearly party one, Senators
scburz and Fenton voting in the affirmative and
Senator Spraguc in the negative.
PARTISAN POLITICS IN THE NAvY-YARDS
SEVERE ATTACKS ON THE NAVY DEpARMENT-rR0-
TESTS FROM MAINE AND NEw-YORK - MR.
CmlTTENDEN AND MIR. CREAMER TELL SOME
THING ABOUT THE BROOKLYN NAvYYARD-MR
HALE TO THE RESCUE OF SECRETARY ROBESON.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.i
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-One of those annually
recurring debates on the management of the Navy
Department and especially upon the disgraceful
practice of running the Navy-Yards in the interest
of the Administration candidates for Congress in
the districts in which they lie served to enliven the
proceedings of the House to-day. Mr.. Burleigh of
Maine related. in an impressively plaintive tone,
how certain official in the YavyYard of his district
was kept in the Government service, in spite of his
remonstrances and in violation of the law itself.
and the worst of 1T was that this surreptitous
barnacle was hostile to Mr.. Burleigh's political
aspirations. His youthful colleague, Mr. Hale who,
as q member Of the Appropriation Committee, had