The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-01-31
CONGRESSIONAL
SESATE.

The Committee Of Naval Affairs wa.
discharged iron further consideration Of the
question OF the reinstatement Of Surgeon ii
Draper IN he Navy, and the Committee Oi
Judiciary was directed To make the inquiry
in tie Runkle case.
Mr. SAlsGENr called up the Senate bill
TO provide for the removal Of the naval OBJ
servatory, and it was discussed until the
expiration ii the morning hour and laid
over.
The Senate then resumed the consiiera-
ton OF unfinished business. calling up the
resolution of Mr.. Matthews to pay the in.
terest and principal OF our bonds in silver,
and Mr. COckrell continued his remarks in
favor OF tn resolution
Mr.. BLAINE introduced bill to coin
silver dollars OF So many grains as the d.
reciors OF the mint shall from time TO time
prescribe. TO be legal tender in sum OF -
Ordered printed and 10 lie on the table for
the present Mr. BlaiBe's bill makes a
silver dollar legal tender in common with
gold coin up to and including -, and for
all sums exceeding % the debtor shall have
the right TO tender and the creditor 10 de-
mand on--half of the amount in gold coin
and one half in silver coin
Mr. COCKRELL argued that silver was
still the legal tender coin of tie L. : GUS
tom regulations Of 1874, provided that sill
yer dollars though no longer coined or Is
su. d, were receivable for duties on imports
in unlimited sums, and subsidiary silver
coin was receivable TO the extent Of -. Mr.
Conant, late assistant Secretary Of the Treas
ury, in letter directed, in 1879,
to the surveyor OF customs, at II. Louis,
stated that silver dollars were receivable
for duties on imports to an unlimited ex-
tent lie argued that the bondholde.s
know that the dollar in his bond meant the
silver coin of il2s grains, or the gold coin
OF Is 5 10 grains. Silver dollars had been
PRACTICAL As much in circulation a. mon
ey since IS6l, as gold. Neither metal has
been actually used and circulated a money
in the business of;he country since that time.
Ae argued that the boudhuider had no
right 10 question the power of Congress in
regard To coming money and regulating its
value. Trey had no right TO complain, be-
cause no matter what happened they would
still be paid in coin OF the standard value
of July I4th, 1870. He then referred to
the assurances of government officers that
the bonds would be paid in gold, and he
argued that these officials had no right to
modify the plain words OF the law.
They could not change the terms Of con-
tracts. Officers OF government were
administrators of the law and not the law
makers, and no one knew this better than
the present Secretary OF the Treasury. He
then quoted from the recent report Of that
officer, urgently recommending Congress TO
give sanction 10 his assurance that the
bonds would be paid in gold. The score
tary had dared 10 give unauthorized assur-
ances to the bondhOlders, but he had not
dared to issue bond contrary to law. To
claim now that the United States must pay
Its bonds in gold on account of the assur-
ance of the Secretary of the Treasury was
scarcely less than crime. The cry of re-
pudiation, violating the national bonds,
impugning the faith of the government, and
SO on, had been heard far and wide from
the eastern press and from the bondhold-
ers, their allies and friends of the west
ern men in favor of the recommendations Of
silver had been stigmatized a. lunatics.
He. (Cockrell,) was as firmly devoted 10
the maintenance of the national honor as
any of those pharisees, and hurled back
with scorn and contempt their imputations.
He stood on the floor of this Senate as one OF
the Senator'S OF the great state Of Missouri.
and demanded Tor the people the
of the contract lie
bodily asserted that to paw
the bonds in gold and silver or in silver
alone was in perfect compliance with the
word of the law and with all the recog-
nized principles of honesty and national
honor. lie heartily approved OF the reso-
luton OF the Senator from Ohio. and it was
he imperative duty Of Congress to-day not
,nly 10 pass this resolution hut
ilso TO restore the free coinage of silver dol
airs by passing the silver bill
Mr.. RANDOLPH spoke in opposition. to |
he resolution and in favor OF gold a. sin
lie standard Of value.
At the conclusion of Mr. RANDOLPfrS
emarks, Mr.. Lamar took the floor, but
'ielded TO Mr.. Ransom for motion for an |
xecutive session.
Mr.. CONKLING said that the Senate
hould have an understanding as to some
lme when vote upon the resolution of
he Senator from Ohio could be taken. The
ramer Of the resolution desired to have a
ote as soon as possible, and he therefore
nggested that some time tomorrow be
xed for the vote.
Mr.. BLAINE suggested that the Senator
ON Ohio, postpone his resolution until
fter the silver bill should be acted upon
his resolution stood right across the path
practical legislation. Mr.. Matthews de-
linei TO postpone his resolution, and he
as anxious TO have vote upon it, and
as willing to undergo as much personal
II 1
lerefOre gave notice that ii the majority of
'e Senate would stand by him he proposed !
have the session continued on Friday, |
nil the resolution and the pending amend
ents could disposed of.
The Senate then went into executive ses-
IN and when the doors were opened it al
urned.
WASHINGTON, d. c., January 24.-Mr.
CRNSlDE, submitted a resolution in
-ucting the Judiciary committee to notify
j. 7. Il. Runkle when his case is taken up.
ID .prOviding that he may appear person {
w or by counsel before the committee.
Mr.. EDMU NDS stated that the practice
the Judiciary committee had ALWAYS
en- to allow parties to file written briefs
ting their case.
After some debate il was decided that
= Judiciary committee would not hear II
Il statements from parties or counsel in It
her the Runkle or Draper cases. Il
At the expiration of the morning hour ~
Senate resumed the consideration
the Matthews bill to pay the interest al
l principal Of our bonds in silver, and X
. Lamar spoke il favor thereof. tn
1t the conclusion of Mr.. LAMAR'S Oh
L IL L