National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-23
CONGRESS YESTERD Az.

Immediately after the completion of the
Journal yesterday the House was hurried
into an animated contest on the jurisdic-
ton of committees, which was intermingled
with debate on the financial remedies now
requisite. Mr.. Dawes reported adversely
the several bills asking the repeal of the
stamp tax on matches, and asked that they
be made a special order for Wednesday
next. The various interests in conflict with
the decision of the committee instantly pre-
cipitatcd remonstrancc from members rep
rescnting districts in which this business is
followed, but the present need for in
creased taxation, not the slightest reduc-
ton, was a sufficient replication to this out
cry. Mr.. Dawes, it is true, admitted that
the present system of taxation might be re-
modelled and made more satisfactory, and
that was the main purpose of discussion on
a rejected measure. but to reduce in advan-
tageous quarters without any addition where
it can be best made would be a puerile
policy in the present extremity. But the
completion of this order only ushercd in a
far more important question. The bill
providing that the maximum figure for the
legal-tender circulation shall be four hun
dred millions, already noticed in THE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,, was submitted,
and the same disposition as the preceding
measure asked for it. Here the strife COM
menced. There has always existed pecu-
liar character of jealousy between the three
committees under whose supervision the
entire financial management falls. The
Appropriation Committee frowns down
any attempt to secure the money
for the annual expenditures from
any other than their hands. The
Ways and Means, trusted with all
measures for raising revenue, complacently
finds wide latitude in this comprehensive
duty, and in this procedure the Banking
and Currency Committee secures an oppor-
tunity to complain of Entertainments on
their legitimate domain. Alter satisfactory
explanations, in which it was demonstrated
that this was one of the means to infuse
power into the Governmental engine, the
actual question became prominent, and the
diffusion Of economic thoughts for the in
slant became prevalent. The bill itself
fixes the greatest limit Of lcgal-tendcr cir
cuk ton, and can only be considered an un-
equivocal Endorsement of the position con-
SANITY maintained by the Secretary of the
Treasury. 1t was admitted that doubtful
language rendered it an impossibility to
distinguish which of the two amounts in
contest was the actual. standard for the out
standing greenback circulation, and, which
was not asserted, the permanent practice of
the Treasury Department under its several
heads can alone furnish guide for the con-
troll of a pubic policy when statutory edicts
are clothed in doubtful language. Indeed,
Mr. Beck declared that the fuctuation in
the limit rested with the Secretary alone,
and, as it might unsettle business he de-
sired it finally ascertained by words une-
quivocal in their effects. An inquiry arose
whether this bill would keep the sum Of
four hundred million dollars permanently
in circulation. But this was not the inten-
ton of the bill. and cannot be regulated by
Congressional enactment. The law decla-
ration that the sum named cannot
be exceeded must be fully carried
out, but an idle reserve in prosperous times
must always remain in the Treasury vaults,
subject alone to administrative judgment
rs TO its entrance to the business world.
This bill, unanimously submitted by the
committee, is an ample vindication Of the
Administration policy. and sustains the
practice of the Treasury Department Be-
fore its final disposition Mr.. Cox obtained
the floor, and commenced speech in .oT'-
Position, but before he had made muck pro-
gress he was ruled ssout ofOrder. The re-
mark made by him that eve are rlapsing
into barbarism" created considerable laugh
ter. and wasdeemcd an explanation ofhiA Of
late, withdrawal from civilized discussion.
Alter the completion Of, dis business. the
West Virginia contested ielscsiea eass came
up. It's different phascs are now so well