The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-21
Discussion of the Legal Tender Bill
in the Senate.
MRS. FITCH'S DIAMONDS.
The Proposed Change in the
Indian Policy.
Mr.. MOrrison's Bill TO Regulate the Collection
OF Revenue.
THE w II L S K EY TAX.
MRS. FITCH'S DIAMONDS.
THE WHISK EY TAX.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, April 20, IS

WASHINGTON. April 20, 1876.
Mr.. ANTHONY, rep Of r. l., from the Committee
Printing reported favorably on resolution print
200 copies of the annual report of the Smithsonian
Institution. Passed
He also reported favorably from the committee
The resolution TO print 1900 copies Of the annual
port of Hayden's Geological and Geographical Survey
OF the Territories.
Mr. Burnside trep) OF r. l., said there was much
injustice in this compulsory pilotage in the OF
pilotage through He'll Gate. New York harbor there
determination made in favor OF citizens Of New
York There many coasting vessels which did
not need any pilot in passing through those waters and
he hoped the subject would receive the considera
tion of Congress.
Mr. DoRsEy, OF Arkansas submitted a resolution d.
rectng the Committee the District OF Columbia to
inquire the necessity OF adopting proper measures
to repair and maintain the concrete pavemcnts in the
District ascertain the to be paid by the United
States and the District of Columbia respectively and
report by bill or otherwise Agreed TO.
Mr. PADDOCK, OF Nebraska, called up the Senate bill
FOR the relief OF Albert Towe Postmaster at Beatrice
Neb. Passed
FIrcH's DIAMONDS.
Mr. MORRILL,, (rep.) of Vt, introduced bill author
izing the Secretary OF tho Treasury allow Mrs. Min
Sherman Fitch to receive, free from duty, we'd
ding present from the Khedive OF Egypt Mr. Morrill,
cepton this present by Lieutenant Fitch. but IL did
provide that it should be admitted free OF duty
He ir. MorrilD had drawn that resolution and mad
vertcny omitted the words ITO admit the present Tree
duty He had the permission OF the Finance Com
mitce to introduce this bill, and he hoped 1t would
be passed unanimously. The duties this present
would amount to much more than all the property Of
Mr. Fitch.
Mr.. EDMuSDs, (rep.) Of Vt, said he must insist that
this bill 10 the Committee Finance in the regular
way, and he hoped there would be a written report OF
H. so that whatever Congress could do 1t should do
Properly and have the bin made precedent for
something hereafter.
Mr. CoSKLISG rcp.) of y. y. SAID the suggestion
made by the Senator from Vermont upon the pre-
sumption the subject had been canvassed by the
Committee Finance The matter had been acted
upon by the whole committee save only the chairman
who, being kinsman of those concerned,
the conference and the Joint resolution OF 1878
passed in pursuance of that conference He mr.
Conking) could not see how tins bill could be made
precedent OF dangerous character IL was the pur-
pose OF Congress, by the joint resolution now ON the
statute books do the very thing proposed by this
DILL The draughsman Of that resolution inadvertently
Dmte words allowing tho present in free OF duty. He
could not believe any correct principle would DO vio
lated by what would be niggardy proceeding the
part al Congress IN refusing pass the bill. He
thought the earliest time that the bin could be passed
was the best time TO pass IT, He hoped the Senator
from Vermont (Eainundsl would withdraw hts objection
aud lot the bill pass unanimously.
Mr. EDMrNps sand he had objected to the bill
He only wanted It to take the usual course OF all bills
He had no doubt that he would vote for Il cheer ully
when reported to the Senate by the committee; but
rich and poor, high and low should all be treated alike
in the transaction Of the business OF the senate.
Mr. MORRILL,, OF Vermont, said he would have
ported this bill long ago, but he could not obtain the
consent OF the chairman OF the Committee Finance
(Mr. Sherman; every other member OF the Finance
Committee had consented The necessity Tor pass
Ing the bill from the fact that the present had
been IN the Custom House nearly two years and the
laws required that all articles remaining the Custom
House Two years should be sold at auction.
Mr. EDNrSDs withdrew his objection and the bill
Mr. boutwell,. lrepl OF Mass. called up the House
bill 10 authorize the Committee Of Internal Revenue
designate and Xix the points at which the collectors and
SUPERVISORS OF the internal revenue shall hold their
offices. He submitted an amendment to strike out
supervisors so that the DILL should apply 10 col
iec,ors of internal revenue only. Agreed TO. He then
submitted additional section aboishng the Office OF
Supervisor of the Internal Revenue IRON and after the
LIST day July next providing that the powers and
duties OF supervisors except the power 10 suspend
collectors and other officers, shall be conferred upon
revenue agents, but the pay OF such agents shall not
be increased
Mr. sARerSr, (rep) of Cal, said this WINS an i'm
porant matter and he must object 70 its consideration
Tue bin was laid over
Mr. SARGENT, OF California submitted tho followng:-
he cause negotiations to entered upon with the
Chinese government TO effect such change In the existing
permit the application OF restrictions the Influx
OF Chinese subjects 10 this country.
Ordered to be printed and lie on the table
He gave notice that he would ask the indulgence OF
the senate 10 submit remarks the resolution
carly day.
Mr.. GoLpTnwArE ldem) OF Ala introduced a bin to
authorize survey for ascerainlng tho feasibility OF
cutting deep channel IRON tho lower bay OF Mobile TO
the city OF Mobile Referred to the COMMITTEES Com
mercc.
LEoAL TENDER or COIN
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the
unfinished business being the bill to the laws
relating to legal tender OF silver CON-
Mr.. Bocy, OF Missouri, moved to amend 80 as TO
make the silver dollar authorized by the bill be
coined legal tender Tor any amount and also
BILE customs duties and providing that the relative
value between gold and silver OF lawful standard be
fixed at fifteen and halt u5,s) TO one. He SAID he
proposed that silver should be a legal tender
Tor all amounts and for all contracts, both public
and private, and also receivable In payment
OF dut,es at the Custom House. He was aware
OF the feeling in one section Of the country against
this plan and no knew he would subject hmsefto very
unknd remarks IN some parts Of the land on account
Of his views. He argued that silver legal tender
In accordance with the constitution and that its intro
ducton into the money system Of this country would
be beneficial The question Of what should be legal
tender was OF more Importance IN this than In any
country IN the world All the country there
shrinkage OF values The scarcity Of money felt
by every class except Labor unemployed,
and any proposition To- nuse life into the present
dition OF affairs might TO considered OF importance.
The rapid coinage VI silver and making u legal tender
he believed would have the of niusing new
Lie and activity into the business OF the entire country
and unless u was done the business OF the country
would 20 from bad worse Silver had been q
measure Of value IRON the earliest history OF
civilization. He argued length that silver
one Of tho precious metals. and that
Congress had no power under the constitution to
prevent It's being legal tender. The public debt
was legally payable In gold and silver and all obga-
tons contracted PRIOR 10 1873 legally payable in
gold and silver Al acts prior 20 that year provided
for paying our obligations IN coin. and up that year
coin composed Of the two well known metals gold
and silver. All legislation OF Congress deprsing
SILVER Of s legal tender right was Unconstitutional as
Congress had no right under the constitution 20 say
that gold alone shall be legal tender He referred
length to the financial history Of England, Germany,
France and other countries and quoted from
financial works In support Of his views He argued that
the great nations OF Europe had fixed tho
relative value between gold and silver at fifteen and
half one, and the United States must do the
This might made the great silver nation OF the world
because there were new hcd where gold could be
obtained but fields OF silver being constantly
discovered In this country
Pending discussion, Mr. MORRILL,, OF Vermont gave
notice that Monday next he would ask tho Senate to
take up the bill 10 establish an educational fund and
apply portion Of the proceeds Of the public lands to
public education and TO provide for the moro complete
endowment and support Of the national colleges Tor tho
advancement VI scientific and Industrial education
Mr. MANY tdem.) OF Texas submitted an amend