Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-01-31
WASHINGTON.
4 1sATHER DulSDAK IN CONGRESS-.
Stirring up the Pension Ofice---senator
Christiancy's Currency Nostrum--Hono-
rary Commissioners to Paris--A Con-
tested Election.
Senate.

Senate
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3O.-A bill was intro
duced and referred; by Senator Hamlin, by
request, to authorize the Postmaster Gen
eral to contract for ocean mail service.
Senator Voorhees, submitted a resolution
requesting the President, if not incompat-
ible with public interests, to transmit to the
Senate statement as to how many acres of
land in the Indian Territory have been sur
veyed into sections and quarter sections, for
what purpose the survey has been made, and
how much land remains in said Territory
not surveyed; also what amount Of lands
were owned by the several tribes of Indians
previous to the treaties of 1866, and whether
the Indian title to any such land has been
extinguished since said treaties were made,
and if SO, to what extent and for what con-
sideration. Agreed to.
favorable report was made on the Sem
ate bill appropriating $275,o0o to purchase
the Freedmen's Bank building Of this city.
During the morning hour Senator Hoar
read communication from the Commits
sioner of Pensions, in regard to an applica-
been acted upon on account of insufficient
clerical force in the office of the Surgeon
General, where the hospital records of the
army are kept.
Senators Hoar, Edmunds andlIngalls COM
mented on the delay in acting upon pension
cases and argued it was caused by the DEM
ocratic party reducing the appropriations
Senator Davis, of West Virginia, read
from report of the Jenckes committee,
made in the House of Representatives, to
the effect that three persons had been de-
tailed from the pension Office to act as clerks
of the Republican Congressional committee
in this city.
Senator Window, chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations, stated that the
clerical force Of Surgeon Generals office in
1876 was 169, and it was then cut down in
the general reduction of that year to 1876.
Last year, however, the force was increased
by detailing twenty enlisted men for duty in
that Office.
Pending the discussion the morning
hour expired and consideration was re-
sumed of the unfinished business, the silver
bill.
Senator Christiancy submitted an amend
ment in the nature of substitute, providing
for the coinage of silver dollars of 434
which shall be legal tender for all
debts except when otherwise provided by
law or contract. 1t also authorizes the
Secretary of the Treasury to purchase not
less than two million nor more than four
million dollars worth of silver bullion to be
coined Any gain arising from such pur-
chase and coinage shall be accounted for and
paid into the treasury as provided under ex-
listing laws relative to subsidiary coinage,
provided that the amount of money at any
one time invested in such silver, exclusive
of such resulting coin, shall not exceed five
million dollars. It further provides that the
act shall remain in force but one year. Or
dered printed.
Senator Christiancy read lengthy argu-
ment in support of his substitute, and said
he was not opposed to the introduction of
silver coin into our currency, neither was he
opposed to making it legal tender, so as to
be just to both creditor or debtor, but he
did not want to have recoinage of silver, SO
that it would repel other coin from the coun-
Try. He could not approve of remonetiza-
ton of silver in homeopathic doses of 434
grains. The question was as to what amount
of silver should be put into dollar to make
it equal in value to the gold dollar. To fix
the standard of a silver dollar at 41215 grains
worth but 81 cents; would be grossly unjust.
The passage of the bill now before the Senate
was in plain English debasing our coin, and
all such experiences had by the verdict Of
history, debased the debaser more than the
coin.
Senator Allison gave notice he would insist
upon the disposition of this bill tomorrow
or next day.
Senator Salisbury said The bill was one of
o,,1 ho
with it's general features. There were sew
cuss it and he was not willing that it should
be passed to vote without the fullest discus
sion.
The Senate then went into executive ses-
sion, and when the doors reopened, adj
journed.
House of Representatives..
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-Mr. Hayes intro
duced bill prohibiting any further distrib-
ution of legal tepder notes, and making
such notes legal tender for custom duties.
Referred.
Mr.. Davis North Carolina) introduced a
bill repeating section four thousand seven
hundred and sixteen of the revised statutes,
forbidding the payment of pensions to any
person, or the widow, children or heirs OF
any deceased person who in any manner vol
UNFAIRLY engaged in or aided or abetted the
late rebellion.
The House went into committee of the
whole to consider the bill extending the time
for withdrawal of distilled spirits now il
bond until January LIST, 1873.
Mr.. Buffers amendment, providing tha
when spirits are withdrawn from bond the
tax shall be collected at the rate required BY
law at the time of its entry into bond, was
adopted, 1OS against 81.
Mr.. Fosters substitute for the origina
proposition, declaring reduction of the ia,
on whisky inexpedient, was adopted by
vote of 1874 to IS.
After discussion, the House sustained tn
action of the committee in adopting the sub
stitute, by vote of yeas 14S; nays 112; ant
the title was changed accordingly.
Adjourned.
Miscellaneous.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-The President has ar
pointed the following honorary commissioner
to the Paris Industrial Exposition: Alexande
Mcleod, Delaware; Joseph G. Thorpe and Rot
ert H.. Baker, Wisconsin; and John W. Macke
and w. S. Keys, Nevada.
The House committee on railways and canal
heard argument in advocacy of several bill
now pending before the committee providin
for the construction of double track line raj
way from New York to Council Bluffs, low;
After some consideration it was agreed to ref,
the matter to subcommittee, consisting
Messrs. Schleicher, Mckenzie and Mitchell.
Isabella Beecher Hooker was before the Hou