The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-17

Senator Davis being made Chairman.
Mr.. Thurman said that this subject va
not new 10 him, though his recollection
Of the report submitted in 1876. BY hi
colleague at that time (Sherman), and tn
Senator from New York, was not vivid
but he was quite sure that II did not full,
explain these alleged diScrepanciei
although his colleague sherman
having been Chairman oi the fnanc
Committee for nearly eighteen years
was fully acquainted with all tn
financial transactions Of the Gov
ernment. When this question wa
before the Senate a year ago Senator
Boutwell, endeavored 10 explain the dis
crepanCies, "A well aS the Chairman o
the Finance Committee (Mr. sherman)
but there was u marked difference il
their explanations. This matter did
need explanation, "a II never had beer
clearly explained, and he hoped the in,
vestigation now asked for would be
ordered. He moved 10 amend the reso.
luton Of Mr.. Davis so as to provide that
the committee authorized by Il should
not expire with the end Of the present
session. Agreed to.
Mr.. Dawes (Msss.) denied that there
had been any alteration Of the books oil
the Treasury Department and argued
that the whole sub iect had been fully ex.
planned heretofore.
Mr.. Morrill, said that, a. partisan, be
did not take the slightest interest IN this
question, but be did feel that the honor
OF the country was somewhat involved
on account Of the system Of book keep
ing. He had not the slightest apprehen.
sion that an investigation would develop
any fraud by either Republicans or Dem.
ocrats, whoever presided over the Treas
ury Department.
Mr.. Hereford quoted al length from the
finance reports 10 show that discrepancies
did exist, and said it would not do to say
that they were brought about by defective
ook-keepiRg. Such au answer might be
satisfactory to some persons, but il was
not satisfactory to large number Of
Senators nor 10 the American people.
After further discussion, MIR. Morril
said that he would not oppose the reso.
luton OF Senator Davis providing he
would strike out the preamble charging
positively thst alterations had been
msde, &C., and would limit the force to
be employed by the committee to one
stenographer and one clerk.
Mr.. Davis intimated that lie would SO
amend the resolution.
Pending the discussion, the Senate Ad.
journed.
HOUSE.
Mr. swann reported bill relative to
the Paris Exposition. II accepts the in
vitAtion from France to take part in the
Exposition, and appropriateS Sl5O.0OO
for that purpose.
Mr.. Cox, Of New York, offered a sub.
stitute sppropriating $4,000. All re-
ferred.
COMMITTEES were then called for re.
r1rts Of private nature.
Mr.. Waddell reported bill directing
the Secretary Of the Treasury to pay 10
full to the mail contractors in the South.
srn States the amounts due under their
respective contracts for lS59-6O-6l, out
Of the appropriation OF S375 900 made
by Congress on March Sd, 1877, Refer.
red.
Mr.. Mills offered resolution directing
the Military Committee TO inquire into
the strength OF the cavalry and infantry
regiments OF the army, how many regi-
ments are employed upon the Texas
frontier, the character Of the troops em.
ployed, the military arrangements Of the
frontier, and what additional force is
necessary TO protect the people Of Texas
from Mexican raiders.
Mr.. Banning offered substitute for
the resolution directing the Military
Committee TO inquire into the strength
oi the army on the frat OF July, the first
OF September, and the first Of November,
1877, aud into the expediency Of reduc.
ing and consolidating the army, and
giving the committee power 10 send for
persons and papers.
The Speaker ruled out the substitute,
and Mr.. Wells resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Singleton reported the deficiency
bill, which he will call up tomorrow.
The bill appropriates the following items:
For payment Of judgments in the Court
of Claims, S649, 800; Library OF Congress,
SIS, 500; Treasury Department, various
items, Sl25,00U; Executive Office contin.
geucies, s, 100; House of Representatives,
various items, Sll, 1865; Supreme Court
printing $4,000; expenses Of payments Of
counting money, etc, $4,000; Postoftice
Department, salaries, 1851 ,6Sl; other
items, Sl25O0. ToIal appropriation,
81 ,56O,62S. The Postotice item is re.
appropriation.
The consideration of the bill relating
to resumption being RESUMED, the House
was addressed by Mr.. Hart, who opposed
its passage.
Mr.. Garfield spoke OF the debate US one
that had lasted in the Anglo Saxon world
for more than two centuries. Hardly any
phase OF it was new; hardly had there
been a proposition made on the other
aide that had not been made seyenty.fve
years ago in England and almost one
hundred years ago in the United States.
So sipgularly did history repeat itself on
questions OF this sort. lie appealed from
the ebb and flow Of the public opinion Of
to-day TO the general Judgment OF man.
kind on the question Of currency. He
referred 10 1860 a. the year OF universal
general prosperity 10 the United States,
and said that il anything was then set.
tied in public opinion il was that the
only sale, trust worthy standard OF
value was coin OF ascertained weight
and tineness or paper currency convert.
ible into coin at the will oi the holder.
That was then and had been for long
time the unanimous opinion Of the Amer.
lean people. Here and there there had
been dreamers who looked upon paper
money as the fetch Of their idoIatry, but
these dreaners were then 40 few in num-
ber that they made no ripple on the cur.
rent Of public thought and formed no
part OF public opinion. That opinion
was then the aggregate result OF opinions
of the foremost Americans, who ever
thought and wrote on that subject. No
man had ever sat in the Presidential
chair and left on record any word on
the subject which spoke Of safety in
finance, except in coin or PAPER con-
Vertable into coin. No man had ever sat
in the chair Of the Secretary OF the
Treasury and had spoken at all on the
subject who had not left on record an
opinion equally strong, from Hamilton
down 10 the father OF his distinguished
colleague Ewing and down to the pres
ent day. Itseeined TO him that the gem
aeaI sNI1p,ant ~ Ill y,kn ln.n...l a. L.