Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-18
II SILVER BILL.
Friday MKht,s Action In the Senate Pre-.
lilntnary to It's Passage.

Friday Axht,s Action In the senate Pre-
limtnary to It's Passage.
The question being on striking out the
coinage clause and inserting a clause adj
vising The secretary of the treasury out of
money in the treasury not otherwise appro-
priated to purchase silver bullion, not less
than 100000 monthly nor more than
81 ,OO0, and have the same coined, etc,
the vice president said Mr.. Morgan of Ala
bama proposed an amendment which was
read.
II provides that any holder of silver bull
lion may deposit it at any mint IN quanti-
ties in value not less than 500 in q single
deposit and not to exceed in value Of $500,
900 during any calendar month, to be coin
ed into dollars. 1t further provides for a
further issue Of certificates for bullion, 80
deposited, each certificate to be paid in le-
gal tender.
Mr.. Morgan said he favored the house
bill, but submitted this as a compromise;
but as it seemed fruitless, withdrew it.
Mr.. Beck's amendment came up direc-
ting the secretary of the treasury TO pur-
chase and have coined into dollars not less
than So. 100000 of bullion monthly, and
providing that when bullion is only pur-
chaseable at par the secretary may notify
the public and owners may have their bull
lion coined for their own benefit.
Mr.. Thurman explained the difference
between the house and senate committees
bill, and said the latter was designed to
make the former more mandatory on the
secretary of the treasury, who might be hos
tile.
Mr.. Blaine said he received many letters
asking whether the demonstration bill was
read in the senate in February, 1873. He
referred to the Globe, to newspaper reports
and to the Record to show that it was read.
Messrs. Blaine and VOORHEES, became in
volved in a discussion in which each con-
fessed that he knew nothing about the char
acter of the bill when it passed.
Messrs. Beck, Thurman, Terry Edmunds
and Allison joined in the discussion.
Mr.. Beck explained his amendment.
Mr.. Merrimon cautioned congress against
fixing the amount of silver to be coined at
80 large a figure that the minis could not
also coin gold.
Mr.. Allison thought both might be coined
successfully.
Mr.. Thurman moved a recess until eight
o'clock. Rejected.
Mr.. Beck modified his amendment slight
ly, and it was rejected.
The finance committees amendment was
amended by inserting. WORTH" making it
read "$2,00O,000 to $4,000, 900 worth Of
bullion per month" 1t was also amended
by inserting the words, monthly as fast as
so purchased"
Mr.. Mcdonald moved to strike out the
words, nor more than S4,0O0,OQO." Re
jected, 80 to Is.
Motions for a recess were voted down.
AZ Nr---s11 -.I.sAAI - -ao-I~o@- n.
follows:
Provided, further, that for the first year
after the passage of the act no more than
more than so per cent. of any payment for
duties shall be receivable in the coinage
hereby authorize. Rejected, yeas 81, nays
Mr.. Wallace offered an amendment pro.
| viding that one hundred million ofsuch dol.
lars shall be coined during the three years
from date, and if the average monthly gold
price, paid for silver bullion during the
last twelve months thereof shall be less than
97.100 of a dollar the secretary of the treas
ury may suspend coinage until further action
BY congress. The amendment was lost, &C
to Is.
The finance committees amendment tc
strike out free coinage was agreed to, 40 to
%. The nays were Messrs. Armstrong
Bailey, Beck, Cockrell, Coke, Conover
Davis, of Illinois, Dennis, Eustis: Garland
Grover, Hereford, Jones of Florida, Jones
of Nevada, McCreery, Maxey, Morgan
Saunders, Spencer, Thurman, voorhees, ant
| Withers-22.
Mr.. Edmunds submitted the following
amendment
But nothing in this section contained
shall be construed to interfere with thu
coinage of gold and subsidiary silver coin n
now authorized by law.
This led to lengthy discussion, and it was
rejected, 46 to %.
Mr.. Window voted for the amendment.
The question being on the I'd section o
the finance commissioners bill providing
for an international commission to adopt
ratio between gold and silver. Mr.. Eaton
moved TO include Great Britain with the
Latin union. Lost.
Mr.. Bayard favored the second section a:
being the only good feature in the bill.
MI. Morrill, favored and Mr.. Salisbury
opposed it.
MI. Allison modified the amendment
by striking out the words, "of legal TENDER
60 that the conference should not consider
legal tenders. Agreed to, 40 to 80.
Mr.. Mcdonald moved an amendment
making the silver dollar legal tender for
all debts public and private, except where
otherwise provided BY contract. He said
he merely desired to affirm and strengthen
the debt paying power of the silver dollar
! MI. Window moved. to adjourn until noon
Monday. Rejected, and Mr.. McDonald's
amendment was agreed to, yeas 81, nays IS.
Mr.. Morrill, submitted the following
amendment:
And for all incompleted contracts requir-
ing money payments such payments shall be
made on the basis of value represented
by United States notes at the date of such
contracts. Rejected, yeas 20, nays A.
Mr.. Cameron submitted an amendment
IL -. ALL. I'LL aa. ~ 1on