The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-13
Forty Fourth COngress-First Session.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Mar. II


Mr.. Atkins of Tennessee, from the commit
tee on appropriations, reported a bill appropri-
ating 81, 900, 900 to supply the deficiency in the
appropriation for certain Sioux Indians Pass
ed.
Mr.. Cook of Georgia, from the committee on
military affairs, reported bill to equalize the
bounties of soldiers of the late war, Referred
to the Committee of the Whole and was mad Q
a special order for Thursday next.
This bill is the one originally introduced by
Mr. ThOrnburg of Tennessee.
The House at 1890 went into the Committee
of the Whole on the judicial and legislative ap-
preparation bill. Mr.. Willis, who had not con-
cluded his speech of yesterday, resumed the
floor aud proceeded with his remarks in favor
of honest currency as the only safety for honest
men.
Mr.. Seelye of Massachusetts made speech
on the same side of the question. He attribut-
ed the instability of the currency to the fact
that the act of Congress on the subject is un.
certain, and that the instability would continue
as long as currency was established on the
present basis. He argued that paper currency
rested on no solid ground of industry, and that
when labor was paid for in it labor was cheat
ed aud therefore it was that industry was para
lyzed. He declared that any further initiation
of the currency would be followed by disaster
and national humiliation, because reputation
would then become as inevitable as to
plunge over cataract after the rapids were
passed. The resumption of specie payment
was the only conrse left, and it would be advo-
Gated by every wise man. But how to reach it.
Hicltab0r, hoe opus est. Here he was free to
admit the gravest financial difficulty. 1t was
much easier to say that further initiation of
currency would lead to reputation, and that
continuance of the present system meant ine-
vitabIe ruin than it was to see a safe and speedy
road to financial solvency. But wise and pat
rotic people were not or ought not to be dis
couraged. There were only three possible
ways in which specie payment could be reach
Cd t1raf NY fhn 10 ion f natr
the Treasury sufficient to permit the successful
reinauguration of specie payment, but any
sufficient accumulation Of gold would be fol-
lowed by such financial disasters all over the
globe as would compel a remuneration of the
plan. The second method was to reti re from
circulation portion of the greenback currency
out of the surplus revenue of the government,
but there was no such surplus as would warrant
any hope from that method. The third and
only honest way that was left was to author
ize change of currency into interest bearing
bonds of the government, payable principal
and interest in gold. There was no other way
practicable for returning to specie payment.
Several members followed with speeches on
various subjects.
Mr.. Durand of Michigan made speech on
the same side of the subject
Mr.. Townsend of Pennsylvania spoke on the
subject of the legislative appropriation bill. He
had noticed that it appropriated six million
dollars less than for the same purpose last year
Inmates. He had examined the bill carefully
in order to ascertain on what principle the re-
auctions were made and had reached the con-
clusion that the only principle was that of the
belligerent lrishman at the DOnnybrook fair,
when he saw head to hit it. The committee
had gone through the different departments,
War, Navy, Treasury. Interior, &C., &C., and
whenever they saw the head of poor clerk, an
auditor and comptroller, or an assistant secre-
tary, they hit him and in some cases they hit
L H. r
of the best officers of the government had be en-
cut down. He criticised the various proposed
reductions of official salaries, including the
compensation of Senators and MEMBERS and
quoted from Mr.. Randalfs speech a couIle of
years ago in favor of paying members of Con
was got up for buncombe and for electioueering
purposes but he was bound to say there was
no principle in the bill that was worthy of con.
sideration.
Mr.. Randall of PENNSYLVANIA replied that be
knew his Old speech on the salary question was
sure to be brought up on this bill and therefore
he was not unprepared for it, every word
which had been uttered. He believed he had
gone home after that speech and after that
vote, and while some of his constituents con-
demned, they had given him credit for sinceri-
ty and honesty. and had returned him to this
house. in consequence of which he now occu-
pied the exalted post to which the Speaker had
assigned him. Still he was not unmindful of
the fact that the American people condemn
ed that act, and he was fair and manly
enough to say SO. In accordance with that
judgment of the American people he stood here
seeking to remedy what the people had con-
demned. The Democratic majority in the
House meant to have economy and retrench-
ment.
Mr.. White of Kentucky-Do 1 understood
the gentleman to say that he realized the fact
that the country condemned his vote on the
back salary question?
Mr.. Randall-It is none Of your business
what realize. (Laughter.) 1 have made my
statement in that connection.
Mr.. White-Does not the gentleman believe
that the country would be better pleased if
that back salary were refunded?
Mr.. Randall-That is none of your business
either. Iaughter.) When 1 do aught here
that does not become repres entative the PEG
pie will take care to consgn me back to private
life. 1 took the salary. The law gave it to me.
My people have approved of me since, and it
does not lie in the power of any miserable man
here (aughter) to talk about my conscience.
MI. Wilson of Iowa and Mr.. Hun fer of Indi-
ana also made speeches, after which the House
adjourned