The Rock Island Argus., 1877-12-12
CONGRES SSIONAL.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.-In the execu-
tive session of the senate to-day. the NOM
nations of Roosevelt. to be collector, and
Prince. to be naval officer at the port of
New York, were reported from the COM
mittee on commerce unfavorably. and a
favorable report made on the nomination
of Merritt, to be surveyor of customs. No
action was taken.
Mr., Wallace made an argument showing
how gold drove out silver before demone-
tization. He said silver stood at 90 within
a year and all this thing about epudiaticn
was bugaboo. May it not be again at
par before single bond natures. The
real question is what is the contract? The
bond and law both speak the answer: 1t
is our option to pay in either metal.
Mr.. Allison said, on last Thursday the
senate, by very large vote, assigned to-
day for the consideration of the silver bill
known as the Bland BILL He hoped the
senator from Ohio (Matthews) would now
consent to allow his resolution to be laid
aside that the silver bill might be taken
up. This whole subject could be discussed
just as well on the silver bill. He there
fore moved to lay aside the resolution and
take up the silver BILL Rejected-yeas
Is, nays 43.
Mr.. Whyte said as this subject was of
ruuch importance and several senators de-
sired TO speak upon it yet, but could not
do so to day, he moved that the senate ad
journ
/ At the request of Mr.. Hamlin he with
drew the motion that an executive session
might be held, and MIR. Hamlin made a
motion for an executive session, which was
agreed to-yeas 81, nays g. Many
senators in favor of the resolution voted
for Mr., Hamlin's motion on account of the
lateness of the hour
After brief executive session the
senate, at 4:30 P. NJ, adjourned
WASHINGTON, Dec l2-In the morn
ing hour a great number of petitions and
many bllls we're presented and referred.
Edmunds submitted resolution author.
izing select committee to take into con
sidoration the state of the claw respecting
ascertaining and declaration of the result
of elections of president and vice president
OF the u. s.: to also consider and report
upon the best means of electing those
officers, and the duration of possible in
veStlgation if such course shall be found
desirable.
The president nominatedsJ. c. Bancroft
Davis, of New York, judge of the court o
claims, Vice, Loring retired William A
Brand, postmaster at Urbana. Ohio ant
, j. G. Gibbs, at Portsmouth, Ohio
their terms of Office having expired
Agreed to.
At The expiration of the morning hou
consideration was resumed of unfnishe
business.
To the resolution of Matthews declarin
, right of the government to pay bonds
silver, Chaffee submitted the folowin
as Substitute, that all bonds Of the I.
; issued or authorized TO be issued under sal
!, acts OF congress heretofore recIted are pay
able, principal and interest, at the optic
OF the government in coin, of gold or sllvt
of standard value when such bonds wei
issued, and to restore to its coinage sue
silver coin as legal tender co-equal wit
gold coin is not in violation of public fait
: nor in derogation of the rights of publ
{ credentials. Ordered printed.
: Morgan spoke 10 favor OF the resolutiC
Oh Matthews. and Christiancy in oppos
ton, when the senate, by vote of yeas 4
: nays 81, went into executive session.