The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-15


to retain as part OF their resources all the gold
received by them as interest on their bonds,
held by the United States as security for their
circulation, until the amount of gold so retired
shall equal one third of their circulation, which
gold shall be security for their circulation and
deposits. 1t also requires the Secretary of the
Treasury to retain from the gold received from
customs duties 100000 annually until the
amount SO retained shall be equal to one-thrd
the amount of legal tender notes at such time
unredeemed, which gold so retained shall be
taken from the sinking fund whenever the
amount of gold retained in the treasury shall
be equal to One.third Of the amount of unre-
deemed legal tenders. Then the Secretary of
the Treasury is to redeem legal tenders to
the amount OF S12,000,0OO annually, using
for that purpose gold received for customs du-
ties, which gold is to be taken from the amount
ordered to be set apart for sinking fund.- Re-
ferred to the Committee on Banking.
Mr.. Scales of North Carolina offered a reso-
luton calling on the Secretary of the Interior
for information as to the disposition of $4,000
appropriated for captive Indians; also whether
the law which requires the presence eff a mill
rary officer at the delivery of indian moneys or
goods has been complied with. Adopted
Mr.. Willis of New York, offered resolution
calling on the Secretary of War, for informa-
ton as to the leasing by Acting Quartermaster
General Rutus lDgalls of building at the cor
ner or pennsylvania avenue and Fifteenth
street, by what authority it was leased, the
rent, &c. Adopted.
Mr. Robbins of Penn, offered a resolution
instructiDg the Committee on Ways and Means
to enquire into the expedency of reporting a
bill directing the Secretary of the Treasury to
defer for limited period making any further
reductions in the bonded Indebtedness of the
United States by purchasing government bonds
before they came due; also directing him to
discontinue any further reductions in the
amount OF legal tender notes now in use; also
directing him to discontinue selling gold coin
or bullion, but to accumulate it in the treasury
until 1t reaches - millions. Adopted.
Mr.. Jencks of Pa, offered resolution in
structlng the Committee on invalid Pensions to
institute inquiry into the management of the
bureau of pensions Adopted.
Mr.. Riddle of Tenn, offered resolution in
Structlng the Secretary of War to report the
| aggregate amount of claims allowed aud re-
| jected in the bureaus of Quartermaster Gen
eral and Commssary General of Subsistence
| for the States of Indiana, Ohio and Per nsyl-
vania; also the aggregate amount of like claims
allowed and rejected in the Southern States, to
which the law of July 4tb, 1864, applies.
| Adopted.
Mr.. Plat of New York, offered a resolution
| instructng the Committee on Printing to in
| Quire whether there had been such mate
rial alteration OF the official debates of Con-
| gress as to require action by the House, and
| whether remarks bad been altered or suppressed
| by others than the members making them.
| Adopted,
Mr.. Leavenworth of New York, offered a
| resolution calling on the heads of departments
for full statement of all buildings and grounds
| in Washington rented for the use of the re-
| spective departments, their rents. sc. Adopt
| Mr.. Morrison of ILL.,, offered a resolution
| calling on the Secretary of the Treasury for
| information as to fraudulent importatons of
| wool. Adopted.
Mr.. Hale of Maine, moved to suspend the
rules and adopt the following resolution:
| Whereas The currency now in use among
| the people of the United States consists of ma
tional bank notes and greenbacks, the latter be-
| uted among the people. and the former being
| redeemable in greenbacks and subject to like
fluctuations with it, and
I Whereas, The United States Treasury has
thes far failed to meet its obligations and to re-
I deem its notes, thereby deprecating the value
/ of the peoples money and keeping it at large
discount, which depreciation varies from day
to day causing risk and uncertainty in business
affairs to the prejudice of all legitimate indus
I try and enterprise, and
Whereas, As Congress by its enactments and
both political parties by resolutions adopted in
their several conventions, stand committed to
an early resumption of specie payments, there
| fore;
RESOLVED, That prompt measures should be taken
by such legislation as is needed to render effective
the policy of resumption of specie payment by plac
ing in the hands of the Secretary of the Treasury all
necessary powers to carry out said object to the end
That sound and stable currency may be provided for
| the people.
Mr.. Morrison suggested that resolution be re-
| ferred to the Committee on Banking and Cur
rency.
Mr.. Hale-I think it better to have an ex-
preston of the opinion of the House now.
want to zee whether caucusing has done Cur
TRENDS on the other side of the House any
| good.
Motion to suspend the rules and adopt the
resolution was lost, yeas Sc; nays 1877. The
| vote was pretty near party one, although
there were some deviations from that rule.
Among the Democrats voting aye were Messrs.
Tarbox of Massachusetts. and Willis of New
York. Among the Republicans voting no
were MessIs. Baker of Indiana and Fort of
Illinois.
On motion of Mr.. Kelley of Pennsylvania it
was ordered that Saturday next be set apart
exclusively for debate, the understanding be-
ing that Kelley is to make speech in reply to
Mr. Blaine, and that Chittenden of New York
is to precede him in his speech on finance.
Mr., Randall of Pennsylvania made per
sonal explanation in regard to an intimation
in to-day's New York Herald as to his making
charge against the United States Consul at
Ningpo for allowing the American flag to be
improperly used. He had made the statement
on the authority of Mr.. Kerr, but not as to Mr..
Lord, Consul at Ningpo. He had used the
word Consul instead of General Consul
The House at 800 adjourned.