The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-01-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
Yesterdays Doings in the Ma
tional Legislature.


Washington, Jan. 24.-Hamlin sub.
mitted a resolution directing the COM
mittee on Appropriations to examine
into the affairs and management of the
Freedman's hospital, in the District of
Columbia. Agreed to.
Burnside submitted resolution di-
recting the Judiciary committee to no.
tify Col. B. p. Runkle when his case is
taken up, and providing that he may
appear personally or by counsel before
the committee and be heard in regard
to his case. Edmunds stated that the
practice of the Judiciary committee
had always been to allow parties to file
written briefs stating their case. After
some debate it was decided that the
Judiciary committee would not hear
oral statements from parties or counsel
in either the Runkel or Draper cases.
Cameron introduced bill to author
ize the killing of fur seal and other fur
bearing animals within the limits of
Alaska Territory. Referred.
At the expiration of the morning
hour the Senate resumed consideration
of the resolution of Matthews to pay
the interest and principal of bonds in
silver, and Lamar spoke in regard
thereto.
At the conclusion of Lamar's speech
the question being on the amendment
of Conkling to make the resolution
joint instead of concurrent one, Conk-
ling said that as the Constitution of
the United States deposited with the
President one-sixth of the whole law
making power of the Government, he
thought it should have the sanction of
the executive as well as of the two
houses of Congress.
Thurman opposed the amendment
and said it was not his purpose to speak
upon the silver question until the bill
itself should come before the Senate,
but there was one thing to which he
desired 10 refer. Senator after Senator
had declared that the act of 1873 de-
monetized the silver dollar. 1t does no
such thing. The silver dollar was de-
monetized by the Revised Statutes, but
they were not intended to change any
existing law. They were simply a
compilation of laws as they existed at
the date of adoption of the Statutes.
The silver dollar of 412! grains was
full legal tender for all purposes, and
had not been legally demonetized. The
argument had been made that silver
dollars were not in existence at that
time, and therefore bondholders did not
expect to be paid in silver. AS well
might such argument be made against
gold, because there was but little Of
that coin in use. The coinage act of
1873 was Il step in the direction of de-
monetizing silver, but it was not actu-
ally demonetiZed until the adoption of
the Revised Statutes in 1874. 1t had
been argued that injustice would be
done to those who purchased bonds
since 1873, if the Government should
pay its bonds in silver, but he Thur
man) would endeavor to show when the
bill itself should come up for consider
alton, that the payment of bonds in
silver would not do injustice to any
one.
Herman said that it had been argued
that our bonds were held by those who
were wealthy. He made no distinction
on account of wealth. Every man in
this country should have equal protec-
tion before the law, be he poor or rich.
He (Kernan) denied, however, that the
bonds were held by the rich, and he ad-
duced figures and reports to sustain his
denial.
Thurman SAID he had never INDUCED
in any remarks as to who held Govern
ment bonds. No matter who held
them, they had the right to be paid.
He argued that the reconciliation of
silver would place it side by side with
gold in less than twenty-four hours,
and no injustice would be done to any
one.
The debate was continued in colo
quial manner by Edmunds. Thurman
and Herman.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Washington, Jan. 24.-The House
proceeded to the consideration of the
bill amending the laws concerning