Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-03
HOTSE.

HOUSE
WASHINGTON, April 2.-Mr. Conger,
from the Committee on Commerce, report
ed bill authorizing the appointment of
competent persons to obtain and report to
the authorities information regarding the
seal fisheries and fur trade of Alaska, the
condition of the natives, ETC., with salary
of s. day and actual travelling expenses.
After long debate the House refused to
order the main question-yeas 102, nays
Ill, and the bill went over.
The Currency.
The House then resumed consideration
of the currency bill.
Mr.. Niles argued against the bill as hav-
ing a tendency to disregard the pledges of
the Government.
Mr.. Harris of Virginia made speech
upon finances and predicted that Congress
would no nothing equal TO the emergency,
but would talk and resolve, and resolve and
talk until the end of the session, without
passing any law that would give substan-
tial, bona fide relief.
Mr.. Beck was heartily in favor of some
features of the bill, but he didn't think it
would afford TO the southwest what was ex-
pected, and would not increase the amount
of loanable money in the West. He was
in favor of
Removing the Monopoly
from the banking system of the country.
He was also in favor of a reduction of the
reserve of banks from 25 to per cent. He
had never regarded that provision as a ST.
curity.
Mr.. Wilson, of Indiana, gave notice Of a
substitute which he proposed to offer for
the pending bill. In part it was substan-
| tally the same, but in some respects was
| different. A feature common to both was
free banking, which he thought would rem
edy a leading defect in the banking system,
the limitation of currency by law. He laid
/ it down as an unansweaable proposition
that the amount of currency should be gov
erned, not by law, but by the demands Of
business. He
| Warned New England
that the South and West could control the
government if they choose, but if they did
| il would be on the principles of justice TO
all and equal rights and privileges to all.
| He feared, however, that that was not the
| spirit of the East.
Mr.. Dawes did not understand on what
ground Mr.. WilsOnaTTaigned New England
for any vote of her representatives against
free banking. 1t did not occur to him they
had given a single vote against free bank
ing. So far as he understood the tone Of
public feeling in New England, it was as
much in favor of free banking as was the
public sentiment of the West or South.
All that New England wanted was that free
banking should be hedged in with safe
guards so that the country should not have
a repetition of wildcat currency.
Mr.. Maynard suggested that the votes OF
New England's members had been, with
only one exception, against making the cur
rency bill special bill.
Mr.. Dawes ventured to say that if Mr.
Maynard brought up bill for free bank.
ing, properly guarded, he would find no OBJ
lection TO it on the part of New England.
Asperities of Aspirants.
G. F. Hoar said there had never been &
period since the organization of the Gov
ernment when the people of New England
did not hold to the policies TO which the
people of the rest of the country did moi
adhere, and he was sorry to hear that hi:
colleague (Dawes) apologized for or flincheC
from any attitude which New England tool
on this floor. (Noise and confusiOn.)
Mr.. Dawes with some manifestation O
feeling) do not know what occasion my
colleague has to say that / was apologizin!
for the attitude of New England. | va.
giving my idea of the sentiment of tn,
people of New England on the question o
free banking. If l have done it in a man
ner that looks like apologizing do not un
derstand the nature of fair and candle
! statement before the House of what l be
lieve to be the tone of public sentiment il
New England. l am not here watchin!
any of my colleagues to see whether car
find occasion to set myself above them a
standing up for the rights of New Englan,
better than they. Laughter and encour
aging remarksl.
) Mr.. Wilson-It is very evident these gen
1 tlemen cannot harmoniously settle the at
titude of New England for themselves anC
l certainly do not propose to settle it fo
. them.
= Mr.. Hawley, of Connecticut. (ami,
= great noise and cOnfusion)-As represent
ing one little section of New England,
; can tell you what my position is. do no
care how much money there is in tn
: country. The more the better, if it i
: good money. | do not care how much cap
ital there is in the country. The more tn
better. 1t is capital that they want il
Indiana more than money, and it is be
cause we have been in Connecticut tw
!, hundred years and have saved every dollar
!. we have earned and have put it in saving
= = banks, that we happen to have money
: Let the gentleman report bill that wi
withdraw the legal tender notes and estal
!, lish free banking, and L will vote for il
Only, for heavens sake, do not disgust tn
! people any more with wild bank currency
= If You cannot find relief in any other way
provide for more free banking. | spea
for Connecticut.
ButIer's BIOw-Out.
Mr.. Butler, of Mass.-s'I think | shoul
|; be allowed to say word" (Laughter.)
have the advantage OF neither having t
apologize for New England, or for any vOt
l have ever given while representing her o
o this floor. have given votes for the cour
e try, thank God, and l thought was doin
i my duty to New England when l never al
!, rayed her on her interests against the il
Il terests of the whole country. / am nc
: willing to flood the county with this irTt
e deemable paper money issued by corpora
I; tions, in order that they may make none
n out OF 1t, and withdraw the money OF tn
: people, the greenback currency, which
q the only basis on which all the bank pape
r Is sustained. The gentleman from Cor
: necticut, (Hawley) is quite willing to hav
:. free banking ifhe can have more bank pape
in New England than elsewhere, out {
J which bankers can make profits, and hav,
/ all the chances of grinding the poor man
He is willing to have that sort of irredeem
able paper which these bankers can issue
o without price and without tax, in orde
n that they may supply it to other people an,
| fa fnll z al ic Z
: kind of irredeemable money that he is for
: Ihat Kind | am AGAINST ct lis take III