Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-02-16

Exists in the public mind that
prices are to continue to fall as
with gold.
Lamar said he had n painful but |
necessary duty to perform, and had
read the resolutions of the Mississ-
ippi Legislature instructing their
Senators to vote for the Silver bill. |
There was q great gulf between the |
resolutions and his convictions. He
spoke warmly of his love to Miss
issippi and of his share Ia the edu-
cation of her youth. He endeavor-
ed to impress ON them the belief
that truth was better than false
hood, courage better than coward
ice. To-day my lessons confront
me. To-day l must be true or
false, honest or cunning, faithful or
unfaithful to my people. Even in
this hour of their legislative dis
pleasure and disapprobation, L cam
not vote as these resolutions direct.
1 cannot and will not shrink from
or shirk the responsibility which
my position imposes, my duty as l
see it. will vote against this bill,
and when that is done my respon-
sibility is ended. My reasons for
my vote shall be given to my peo-
pie, and it will be for them to de-
termine if adherlng to my convic-
tions has disqualified me from rep
resenting them whether this
difference is to override that COM
plete union of thought, sympathy
and hope which on all other and,
as 1 believe, even more important
subjects bind us together.
HoUsE.-Stephens, Chairman of
the Committee OF Coinage, Weights
and Measures, reported a joint reso-
luton, authorizing the President
to invite an international commits
sion to consider and recommend
uniform rates or relative valuation
in the coinage and legal tender
power of gold and silver. Referred.
After the morning hour the House
went into Committee of the Whole,
Hooker in the chair, on the private
calendar, the first being the bill
which applies to the appropriation of
1875, 900 made by act of Congress to
pay Southern mail contractors and
which was not reported unani-
mously by the COMMITTEES on Post
offices.
Cannon said he had always OPP
posed the payment of claims of that
character.
In debate it appeared that no
report had been made on the bill.
Waddell said it did not appropri-
ate money, but provided for the ex-
penditure of what wasappropriated
last year. Considerable opposition
was developed by Bragg, Thompson
and others.
Thompson said in restoring the
claimants property this Govern
ment had been generous, but a line
should be drawn somewhere to in
dictate to coming generations that
a crime is a crime.
Hanna favored the claims as
being just and honest.
Conger made speech showing
that the bill passed when not ten
Republicans had approved it, but
it was in gush of Cancellation at
the end of the 44th Congress, when
many conciliatory things were
done that are regretted now. Rea-
gan having interrupted, Conger
turned and said: The gentleman
from Texas, Postmaster General OF
the Confederacy, had got the mails,
mail bags, stamps, etc., which the
contractors had on hand and had set.
tied with the thieves with money
stolen from the United States. A
bill had been worked through Con-
gress against the wishes of q large
majority of the American people
to pay the men vino had
run off with the Government
horses, stamps, etc, and turned
them over to the bold Confederate
Postmaster General who was bold
enough to receive the stolen prop.
erty. He meant no reflection on
the man he was talking about. The
law of the last Congress was
passed in a gush of Cancellation and
now the Secretary of the Treasury
said to these contractors that, as
soon as all their claims were filed,
he would make final and conclu.
sive settlement with them, as in
the case of the Geneva award. But
the pending bill was one to pay of
every claim as soon as proved and
to pay off all of them. He opposed
it because it opened still wider O
door which he thought it unfortu-
nate was ever opened. He did moi
like that law, but he was opposed
to having it modified as now pro-
posedss The contractors might take
the $4,000 under the rulings OF
the Secretary of the Treasury and
distribute it pro rata, but he was
opposed to giving them any more.
Reagan repudiated the imputa-
tion made by Conger against
Southern Postmasters for cheating
the United States Government al
the opening of the war, by with.
holding the moneys and postage
stamps in their offices. When he
(Reagan) took charge Of the Con.
federate Postoffice department he
required all Postmasters to settle
with the United States Govern.
ment.
Without action the Committee
rose.
The bill to pay George H. Glib.
bons, Of Texas $2,967, due him as
mail contractor between Santa Fe,
New Mexico, and San Antonio,
Texas, some years before the war,
was reported favorably. Pending
action, adjourned.
Auother Body successfully Gre
mated.
WASHINGTON, Penn, Feb. 49,
The cremation of the remains oil
Mrs. Benz. Pittman was success
fully accomplished this afternoon.
The operation lasted two hours.
All strangers and newspaper re-
porters were rigidly excluded. The
arrangements were similar to those
used in the cremation of Baron DE
Pealon. The body was reduced in