The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-04
SETTLING DOWN TO WORK.
rvO APPROPRIA TIoN BILLS PASSED BH
Tur UOUsE ON THE SECOND DAY.

Questions Tor bOhn Shermhh-hthu-
,.v Matthews on Hsnd-A swarm OF Bills.
WILMINGTON. Dec. 9.-The passage OF two
.onroprla,ion bills to-day gives good prom
~ that the House will dispose OF six ap-
nronristion bills in time for the usual holi-
Az recess. The serious danger OF every
.hor, session. and the large number OF mem
hsra who have failed OF an election makes the |
danger more serious than usual. is the passage
a, legislative Jobs and therc Is no better remedy
a., ,bis than the continuous application Of the |
House TO public business-a fact OF which |
anssker Randall and Chairman Atkins soem |
lii aware. At present there Is every prospect |
:, an adjournment from Thursday over till
Monday whom the House will resume the con-
alteration Of appropriation bills
I, ia not probable that Mr. Hewitt will en-
ds,yor To report the Army bill until some time
.ner next week. His original intention
"a. 10 prepare the bill without waiting
"a, the report OF the Military Commis-
slon which employed the service OF tho
too artillerymen in the Fifth Avenue
Hotel so long; but. as Senator Burnside says
that the report Of the Commission will be ready
IN ak days Mr.. Hewitt will postpone the prep
.ration Of tho army bill till the scheme upon
which tho army reorganization Is proposed has
been made public. This Commission upon the
reorganization OF the army has spent nearly
5000 in paying travelling expenses and hotel
bills. These expenses, added TO the rowing in
,esugn,ion Of tho Indian question and sundry
payments on the Senate side to idle committee
clerks. who did nothing through the recess
amount to some 10000 more than the OK
pensos Of the special committee charged by the
House with investigating the frauds connected
with tho last Presidential election.
The silver question came before Congress to-
dsy in variety Of ways. A swarm OF bills were
Introduced in the House proposing 10 give tho
trade dollar an unlimited legal tender quality.
which 1t never had. even when the silver In II
was worth more than gold dollar. resolu-
ton ins,ructing the Finance Committee to make
On inquiry looking TO the addition OF one more
dollar in the three tgold. standard silver. and
paper now legal tender was introduced in the
Senate to-day but went over under an obIec-
ton. There would be n very pretty profit
ior spectators in any such Legislation. There
are nearly thirty millions Of these dollars In
China They can be- bought for ninety-two
cents. Insurance. freight and interest In the
carriage to San Francisco would be two and a
half cents more. and under law making the
trade dollar legal tender. they would there be
worth one hundred cents. The silver question
also came UP in tho House Committee on Bank
Ing and Currency. where Buckner pressed
strongly for free coinage and an increase OF tho
minimum monthly coinage Of tho standard sill
yer dollar from two millions. which II now is. 10
sight millions There was little said about re-
SUMPTION at this meeting Of the Committee.
Even Ewing is OF the opinion that Congress
should not meddle with the question.
Both tho Democratic and Republican Senators
held a caucus this morning. and both had the
bafora
proposing an inquiry into the Southern cleo
hons. The debate in both caucuses showed
that the Republicans are anxious to precipitate
o sectional debate. which moderate and con-
Seryative Democrats are anxious 20 avoid. A
few mon like Ben Hill. who were prompt to see
tho unconstitutional character Of the inquiry
proposed by Blaine. 1t may be, were not
unanxious to reopen an old debate. But the
majority of the caucus was OF different opinion
and II was decided that an amendment should
be proposed widening the scope OF tho inquiry
so as TO include unwarrAntable interference
with the freedom Of elections in some Northern
States. but that there should be no debate on
The part OF the Democratic Senator's Thurman
VIII Introduce the amendment and IN moving
II will take occasion TO say that he and his party
court investigation. but propose 70 limit It by no
sectional lines as is the case with the inquiry
proposed by the Senator from Maine. The
Republl ,an caucus decided that the Repub-
ucans should not open tho debate but should
take all possible advantage OF any speech ga
made by the Democrats. Further conference
led to proposition which was adopted, that
Instead Of instructing the Judiciary Committee
" make the inquiry, the resolution should be
amended 50 as TO give the work 10 special
In the fear that Democrats will avoid debate
on Blaine's resolution. the Republicans In their
caucus determined 10 force other Issues upon
them. and press them through the winter max
king an active party fight, The first step will
De taken by drawing resolutions defining the
privileges conferred by the Fourteenth and Fiji
Am9nHm0uta
In their support. committee was appointed.
With Blaine atit head 70 draw these resolutions.
and II Will also be the duty OF this committee. by
amendments 10 the Appropriation bills provid-
Ing money for the use OF the Executive in en-
ioIclng these amendments. 10 keep this issue
steadily uppermost, The House Republican eau
Gus VIII be asked 10 appoint committee 10 pur-
sue N, the same policy IN that chamber and II Is
Mp1cted p that this plan OF campaign will be pur-
The Committee on Ways and Means had an
informal meeting, this morning. in which a
eood deal was said in regard 10 the proposed
change 10 assessing the duties on sugar now
collected under the Dutch standard All busi-
ness was postponed till Friday next and 1t is
probable. from the tone Of remark. that II will
He early disposed OF. and bill reported look
Ing - change.
IN THE SENATE.
Mr. Morrill, Rep, VT introduced a bill TO
authorize the Secretary OF the Treasury to issue.
In exchange for United States notes or coin
SSsrunaates OF deposit Of the denomination Of
ti99b qr any multiple thereof. not exceeding
cent. per annum, and convertible any time
Wlhln one year into the per cent bonds de-
sotlOed IN the Refunding act; money so received
~ T1 ~ applied 10 the payment Of the $40 bonds
tkholed Tor future reference.
A. nr. Paddock Rep, Nebl submitted resolu-
Hoh lhhuuting the Committee on Finance 10
tnlglrs INTO tho eXpeliency Of making the
uAqe dollar legal tender for all debts public
~ private; also, providing for the suspension
" oWo coinage Oi the standard silver dollar OF
itilh grains, tho recOinage OF tho same into the
HHsde dollar Of 42O grains. and for such ad-
Stt.aOhM coinage OF the trade dollar as the needs
"tlo country may demand. Laid over,
nj DOCK Dom, Ky submitted the following
Ah,si That the Secretary " the Treasury be and Is
eoy directed 70 inform the Senate what amount and
.lltiuA Of silver coin has been received in pay
49, Customs duts since the beginning Of the current
''f hhl whether or not he has applied the silver
10 t,t.'eI i whole ur BOO part a. the payment Of
Ruas been 81 applied g. state the reason why. II IL
~ pstN Appued % that purpose Ia part only TO state
6i t' |' has been ussd. and on what character OF
h. also NAT be be directed 90 Inform the senate
he Ty't o interest he has PAID on bonds and notss Of
G mn aat~s since the current hscal year began aud
respectively ''S'''' "' ""' paw '' s''u anu ''''e'
bsmi' Edmunds Rep. VII should like to
SpHNo nv NM amended 30 as 10 have the Secretary
snoW what kind Of silver coin has been used
paid. -N" - 'Hoio ""S HuDotu'aiS 00in
~ az amended and agreed TO-
pano pno standing and other committees OF tho
tshJale were continued and the business on the
We appropriately referred.
hWi ohuhders Rep, Neb) called up his reso-
ssshVu Tor DTlntiuU la - nj "a bv ha