New-York tribune., 1874-04-09
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE CURRENCY DEBATE IN THE HOUSE

THE CURRENCY DEBATE IN ILiE lOOoE.
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, April 8, 1874
Senators Morton and Logan came over to the
House to-day, in the belief apparently. that vote
would be had on the imitation bill and that their fol-
lowers might stand in need of their advice at some
critical uncture in the parliamentary struggle ap-
pretended between the Senate and House bills. Mr.
Morton remained long time to listen to the speech
of his protege Mr.. Coburn, who argued that 1t was
currency and not capital which the West needed,
and that it was the duty of Congress to expand the
currency until the people could get out OF debt.
Mr.. Townsend of Pennsylvania, who followed Mr
Coburn, introduced a new feature into the debate
by exhibiting large chart, upon which were marked
lines showing the variations in the volume OF the
currency since 1926 and also in the amount OF bank
discounts, foreign imports and the quantity of spe-
Gle in the country In order that the members might
it the better he got two pages to stand on the
desk of the official reporters and hold 1T up, while he
stood before it and with cane pointed out the
course of the lines and explained their significance
There was some laughter at first at this schoomas-
ter style Of illustrating argument, but tho men,
bers soon became interested in it and paid very close
attention. The lesson Of the chart was, that with
an expanding currency the bank loans apd
discounts increased, tho quantity OF specie de-
creased, and the balance Of trade grew more and
more heavy against us. until crash came IKE thOSe
down to minimum, amid general distress and Dusi-
ness prostratiOn. Mr.. Beck spoke next in favor OF
the abolition of the National banking system and OF
o uniform greenback currency receivable Tor Gus
toms dues and payable for interest on the pnDnc
debt. An evening session for 15-mlnute speeches
was held to give members an opportunity to dehne
their POSITIONS and it was agreed that the previous
question should be moved at O'Clock tomorrow.
A COMMITTEE ON MANNERS NEEDED. >
A Committee on Manners, to instruct members in
the rudmentary principles Of good behavior, is
much needed in Congress. A number of honorable
gentlemen could profit greatly by studying code
Of simple rules to be drawn uD by such committee
and neatly printed in pocket volume at the Con-
gressional Printing Office certain gentlemen"
from Tennessee who is member of the House. for
example, might thus discover that the practice OF
combing his hair and beard and cleaning his teeth
with his handkerchief under the eyes of the CALLER
les and in the presence of the House. is not exactly
in good taste; and " gentleman" Representative
from Illinois would perhaps learn that it Is not ex-
! emplary conduct to swear at a dOorkeeper and
threaten to throw him down stairs for politely car
ryng out instructions in reference TO the disposition
of the seats in tho members gallery. The habit of
sitting with the feet upon the desks would doubtless
be regarded by the Committee as part OF the birth
right of every free American which ought not TO De
given up in Difference to the hnlcal hotlons OIL tne
Old World; and they could scarcely be expected 10
prohibit the eating of apples and peanuts during the
sessions. They might. however, object to the habit
of Massachusetts member of sucking an unllgnted
cigar or at least insist that he should put the right
end in his mouth Splitting tobacco juice on me car
pets chewing tOOthpicks, cleaning hnSer-nallS, and
tearing sheets of paper into small pieces would PROB
ably be held to be proper diversions III both Houses
THE PROBABILITIES AS TO THE CLOSE OF THE
SESSION.
There is some talk of effort to fix an early day
for the close of the session. Leading members be-
lieve that it will be possible to adjourn as soon as
the middle of May, in the currency question is
definitely settled before the end of next week.
Nearly month of solid work remains TO be done
upon the Appropriation bills, but all the other neces
sary business of the session could be transacted in
the morning hours and in special evening sessions
Experience has shown, however that the long ses-
sion of Congress rarely terminates before the intense
heats of Summer make Washington so uucomfort-
able that the members are glad to get away Efforts
are always made by the old members to adjourn in
May but the new ones, who have just got taste of
the pleasures of life at the capital insist upon stay
ing longer. When the sultry weather comes, ana
they find that they have to sit day and night in the
breathess halls with the sun pouring through the
glass roof by day and the gas-lights making fur
mace heat at night, they wish that they mad taken
the advice of their experienced associates and
worked harder during the Winter and Spring. In
all probability June will be well advanced before
an adjournment can be reached, and unless more
industrious disposition is speedily shown IL Will be
much later.
AN IMPORTANT CIVIL SERVICE REFORM BILL
Mr.. Woodford got his important Civil Service Re-
form bill before the House to-day, SO that 1t comes
no for debate tomorrow 1t provides thSt officer
shall receive any pay emoluments for his services
beyond his regular legal salary, or compensation
and prohibits the of public property for private
purposes, thus striking at the whole system OF
moieties and perquisites to Customs and other Off
cials and at the landauet business and other
kindred abuses Mr.. Geo. f. Hoar wanted to make
it even more thorough, and offered an amend
ment which Mr.. WOodford expressed a willingness
to accept, prohibiting public officers FROM making
any private of the labor services of any person
employed by the United States. This, if adopted
will put stop to the practice of paying the coach
men of Secretaries and Bureau officers as messen-
gers and of detailing enlisted men OF the army 10 do
menial duty at the White House and at .he houses use;
of army officers. No bill has been introduced this
session by member of the dominant party that
deals 80 direct blow at recognized evils and abuses
in the Civil Service.
THE EIGHTHOUR LAW.
According to the report made by the Committee
on Public Buildings to the House the Eighthour
law has not been violated as charged in the of
workmep employed by the Government upon the
New-York Post-Onice and other public build
inos Where the wOrkmen are hired by
contractors tho Government has no power
TO enforce the law, and it appears to have
been cases of this kind which have gwen
rise to the complaints that the law wis t
The decision of the Attorney General In the case OF
men .mployed by contractor in dressing granite
for the Richmond PostOiIice settled the question
some time since, adversely TO the right OF the Gov
ernment to interfere between the contractor anu ls
empIoyGs to regulate their hours Of labor and this
decision has governed the subsequent action OF the
Treasury Department.
n.MAGiNG STATEMENTS AGAINST TREASURY
OFFICIALS
The Chronicle of to-day has the following:
startling statements rejecting upon Judge Richard
Secretary OF the Treasury and Assistant Secretary
SAWYER are promised to be made public in few days,