Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-24
FORTT-FOURTH CONGRESS.
MONDAY, April "a.

the Interior, including report OF Professor
Janney on the exploration Of the Black
hills. Referred To The Committee on Priut-
ing.
Mr.. Ipgalls presented a petition OF citi-
Zeus OF AtcbisOu. Texas, asking that Out
Llne DC put on The free list. Committee on
Mr. Kelley INTRODUCED bnI 10 provide for
the occupancy OF missionary stations On
Affairs.
Mr.. Crsgin introduced bill 20 regulate the
accountability for stores and other property
IN ne 'snaTtsTmaster's Office OF tue Marine
corps. Naval Committee.
Mr. Antony introduced Dill 70 provide for
the sale Of public documents. Committee on
Printing.
Mr.. Hsmlip, from the Committeeon R,lrS.
reported resolution that the galleries sci
apart for the use OF the families OF senators
and Members shall, during the Improvement
trial, toe used exclusively Dy the families Of
seniors and Representatives. Adopted.
Mr. Sargent called mp the bill authorizing
the COMMISSIONS OF Internal Revenue 10 ok
and designate the places At which collectors
and supervisors ~ internal revenue shall eX-
ercise The duties OF their office Tue question
being on the amendment of the Senate FL
nance Committee 10 abolish the Office Of
supervisor OF internal revenue, aud devolve
the duties of the same In certain instances TO
special agents.
Mr.. Sargent Indicated that in his opinion
this would not be a proper provision. He
did lot think, from what he had read I'm the
newspapers OF late, that the special agents
were the proper persons 10 entrust with
these duties. lie then referred TO the late
sensational accounts sent east by special
agents OF alleged internal revenue frauds in
California. He pronounce these statements
10 be entirely without foundation. He read
gu exhibit OF the internal revenue collections
IN California, and comparing them with the
total amount collected in the United States
he said the total amount collected for the
last fiscal year in the United States was
Sl03 $50 ass OF which 81, as ,595 was collected
in California. Thus California, with only
one-sixty-ttth OF the population, paid one
thiriy-sixth of the internal revenue collec-
ton. Sedgwick he said had been the partic-
ulsr mark of assault by these fugitive spe.
cial agents, who had announced from time
10 time that they were going TO discover
great nauds, and that Sedgwick was
show that under Collector Sedgwick there
had been in two years an increase Of forty
per cent. of collections over the two years
before he entered into Office. Mr.. 3. then
showed that the tax on spirits collected in
California was between 1 . and "a of the
whole amount collected in the United States
On these points he produced a number OF
ngures. In conclusion, he intimated that
sinister motives were al the bottom of the
attacks on the internal revenue officials in
California.
Mr. Sherman said the office OF supervisor
of internal revenue was created In 1851 or
1858, when the business OF the Internal reve,
nue. was much greater than now. or late
these offices had become Quasi-polltIcaI
ones, and the reason why they should be dis
pens6d with was very well set forth ia the
rue. In regard TO the special agents, he said
they were no more and no less than detec- /
uVes, and they had no business TO furnish
information TO the press IN advance OF far
niShing IL 10 their orticial superiors; and all
those who did so ought to be discharged at
once. The letter OF Commissioner Pratt
states his opinion that there is no further
necessity for continuing the Office of super
visor, and he refers To the recent whisky
trials In Chicago, st. Louis and Milwaukee
10 show that the supervisors were in collu-
= w N ffgf a nj
nue.. He also speaks OF the expense % over
Sl57 COO entailed by the office.
Mr.. sargent moved 10 amend the amend
ment by reducing the number OF special
agents from . 10 20, which latter number ne
said he considered ample.
Mr.. Boutwell, said il the present number
was more than sufficient the department
would have acquainted the committee with
the fact.
Mr. Sargent said the departments were
never willing 10 reduce the number OF their
employees. He referred TO his associates TO
coDtirm the statement that every reduction
OF force had been made in the face OF the pro-
jestation, the remOnStrances, and almost at
times the tears of Tublic officers. In regard
u these special agents, he thought they
could well be reduced, as the principal occa-
patton OF some OF them seemed 10 be 10 FUR
nish matter Tor pay 10 the sensational news
papers.
Pending discussion, the morning hour ex-
pired. and the bill went over.
Mr. Howe, from the Committee on the Lii
brary, reported adversely on the House JOINT
resolution concerning the Centennial auto
graphic registers of J. b. Tayloi and +. W.
Bixby, and II was indefinitely postponed.
The unfinished business, being the bill TO
amend the laws relating 10 silver coin, was
taken up, on which Mr.. Jones, Of Nevada,
was entitled TO the floor.
Mr.. Jones reviewed the history OF gold aud
silver and the relative value of the same.
Silver he described as American Gun rency
and gold as British currency. He argued
against the demohetiZing of silver. He
maintained that IL, equally with gold, was
the constitutional currency OF the United
States. He maintained the advantages Of
silver over gold as a circulating medium.
The experience OF thirty centuries hal de
monstrated the superiority OF the piecious
metals over any other form of currency,
Iron, copper, bronze, &C., had all been tried
He discussed at length the functions
of money, and various mediums of eX-
change, OF which the precious metals
should be equally a legal tender. He exhibit
ted a table showing that a Thousand years
before Christ the different commodities used
at one time or another as money, such as
the skins OF wild animals OF cattle, cotton. |
grain. glass, iron, copper, &c, &c, but gold |
and silver were the only universal mOrey |
used. He referred TO the pTodigious ex pendi- |
lures and largesses OF the Roman Emperors,
their lavish gifts OF the previous metals. He |
also referred 10 the period OF the dark ages |
when living men and women were passed |
from hand 10 hand as money, and whea the |
price Of hawk was equal 20 the price OF a |
man.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Under the regular Monday morning call
number OF bills were introduced and referred
TO appropriate committees, among them
were the following:
BY Mr.. Blair (N.'H.)-For the relief OF NJ.
q. Emery, of Washington.
By Mr.. Hendee tNt)-For the relief OF
VIM Gunton.
BY Mr. Grape (Mass.)-Fo the relief or the
Inland Steamboat Company.
By Mr.. Cox IN. Y.)-To increase the reve-
nue. and prevent smuggling.
By Mr.. Hopkins patio provide for
commission of skilled mechanics TO attend
the Centennial exhibition.
By Mr. Vance IN. C.)-To authorize the
Committee of Indian Affairs TO recei We land
in settlement OF Judgment liens against the |
Cherokee band OF Indians.
By Mr.. HARRISON ALA -Granting the pro-
ceeds ef sales OF the public lands OF the
United States TO educational purposes. 4
By Mr.. House Tenn ITO exempt from
taxation as circulating notes orders for |
merchandise drawn by manufacturing
BY MT. Raymond CnI.)-To amend the Re-
vised Statutes so as TO allow national oauks
TO issue notes equal TO the par value OF bonds |
deposited.
BY Mr.. Port (IlI)-To organize q better /
government for the Indian country and