Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-01-15
PUBLIC SERVANT
TvohK ~ CONGRESS YESTERDAY

An Avalanche of Petitions. Ise,nonstran-
eos and Resolutions in the Senate
proposed Amendment to the Preamble
OF Matthew's Silver Resolution--Dis-
cussicn on the Question Opened--Bill
Day in the House--Anotller Dodge oi
the Woman ts--Miscel.aneouy.
Senate,
WAsaINGToN, Jan. l4.-The memorial of the
New York chamber Of commerce for law to
equitably adjust errors in the assessment and
collection of duties on imports and petitions OF
bankers, merchants and others of New York
favoring repeal of the bankrupt law were pre-.
hented and referred.
Senator Barley presented petition of citi
Gems Of Tennessee asking Congress to reduce
fhs tax on manufactured tobacco. Referred.
Senator Harris presented the proceedings OF
The meeting Of distillers rectifers and whole
saAc liquor dealers of Tennessee, in favor of a
reduction OF O. tax on spirits. Referred. VS.
Senatcr Mitchell submitted @ resolution in
Etructlng the committee on Indian affairs to
inquire into the propriety Of setting apart fou,
Large Eeeervations for all the Indians of the
country, and that the lands now occupied by
them be open to settlement. Referred
Senator Davis, of Illinois presented u petit
t;cn Of four thousand bankers and business
.aen Of Chicago in faver of retaining gold ee
the single standard of value, and against the
CT the high standing of the signers Of the
pet@on, but said in his opinion their views
were entertained only by very small per cent
CT the population of that city. He also pre-
ssntod the proceedings of n meeting held at
bloomington, ILL.,, hrs place of residence, in
~ <,E c;1v 7
lar. In presenting them he said he had no
agency in getting up this meeting, but believed
the proceedings expressed the opinion of the
PEOPLE Of the whole county, which was the
fourth IN population in that State. Referred.
Senator Christiancy presented remonstrance
Ct the Seminole and Creek Indians against the
passage Of the Senate bill to enable the Indians
to become citizens Of the United States. Laid
en- the table,
Senator Kirkwood presented the petition Of
citizens Of Davenport, Iowa, against the pas
sage OF the Bland silver bill. Laid on the
table
The bill having been reported to the Senate,
senator Hall presented the resolution of the
savannah cotton exchange denying that the
South is unanimously in favor of the gold
standard Of value alone and a speedy return to
Decie payments. Referred.
senator Mitchell presented petition signed
ny citizens Of Oregon, favoring the passage of
1he blli recently introduced by him to extend
the time for the completion of the Northern
,'aclhc railway. He repudiated the charge that
re mlsreprcsented the people of his section by
introducing the bill.
Senator Rarnum introduced q resolution to
repeal the charter Of the National CAPITAL In
hlrance Co. Referred
senator Edmunds submitted q concurrent
resolution proposing joint rules for the two
Houses OF Congress during the present session;
GiEo lie proposed rule for the Senate providing
ttlaa no motion shall be deemed an order to
2ulnLt any person whatever within the doors of
tie SENATE chambers to present petition,
memorial, Or address, except in cases of par
lies, or counsel in cases Of contempt or i'm
neacement. Referred.
senet4r Thurman submitted g resolution in
structInS tue committee on military affairs to
inquire whether any, and if any, what legisla-
non ls necessary or expedient to increase the
2nnua! appropriation for arming and equip
rlng the militia Of the States and Territories.
TO correspond with the increase in the popula-
lion since the passage of the act of 1808 such
increase to take immediate effect; and also to
enable the proper accounting officer to settle
the Goth installment of Ohio war claims, and
to authorlze the proper officer to credit Ohio
with the difference between what arms drawn
hythe Governor were charged and what they
were sold for, bills for the settlement Of items
10 be so drawn, us to allow the State to draw
ordnance and stores. camp and garrison equip
page, cooking utensils, overooats, blankets.
&C., in liquidation by balance due the State
Ordered printed.
Senator Elmunds submitted the following
amendment to the preamble to the resolution
Introduced by Senator Mathews before the re-
cess, as follows
Be IT ENACTED, That all bonds of the United
States issued, or authorized to be issued, under
vhe acts OF Congress ere payable principal and
interest in gold coin or its equivalent and that
any other payment without consent of the
creditor, would be in violation of the public
faith and IN derogation of his rights;
WHEREAS, 1t appears from the record of
snints that the total coinage of the silver dollar
has been 0,0a5939.
AND WHEREAS, The silver dollar of the United
States has been long absolutely obsolete as any
substantial part of the money OF the country.
and that which had been SO coined almost en-
rIely converted into other forms of metal, and
It'd not exist at the time of making anv Of the
existing loans of the United States, or those
from which the existing loans have been re-
fHnded
AND WHEREAS, By the provisions Of the coin
age act OF 1873, passed on the 18th of February
OF that year, and OF the revised statutes enact
ed on the first day of that year, all provisions
Of law authorizing the coinage Of such silver
dollar were repealed;
AND WHEREAS, since the passage of said last
mentioned acts, gold coin, which by reason of
the premises has been the only existing lawful
coin tender and standard of value for all
payments above the sum of SIS, as it has been
The only one in fact for many Years before the
United States had borrowed in gold coin from
the people OF this and other countries the sum
1T not less than $500, 990700, at II rate of in.
8~rerest lower than thnt of any loan ever before
made b. the government, and payable in coin
AND WHEREAS, The holders OF all government
sccurities have right to expect that however
much the United States may change It's laws sc
as IN fact to effect their interests fnyorably
1t Willanever cvade OF repeal favorite legisla,
ton either for the purpose or with the effect
TO make money at the expense of its creditors
AND WHEREAS. Differing from transaction Of
affairs between private persons, the publ,
creditors have no means OF enforcing paymen
of their loans, 1T is q duty Of the highest obi
cation on the part OF tho United States to pa,
Its debts IN such a manner as to meet the Jus
expectations Of its creditors, and to refrai1
from taking advantage Of the cheapness Of
silver by revivlng other obsolete coins, or oh
solete or repealed coinage laws, in order to pro
vide for payments in silser
AND WHEREAS, The substantial present value
of silver in dollar Of 4l215 grains being onJ,
81 Per centum Of the value Of dollar Of gold
II would also be unjust for the law-makine
power by new legislation to compel all private
creditors to receive from their debtors such 5
silver dollar at par in payment Of pre-existins
debts, and equally unjust, and even more crue
to compel the great number of citizens Of tht
United States who subsist Oh the wages Of {
daily lahcrer to receive payment for their work
IL money either deprecated or debased.
Laid on the table and ordered nrinted
the resolution to which it is proposed as an
amendment, now being before the Senate.
The Senate then resumed consideration al
the resolution of Senator Matthews declaring The
right OF government to pay its bonds in silver
and Senator Bailey read long argument as t
the constitutional powers of CONGRESS- in reon
liting coinage, etc. z. 20
Senator Bailey argued that it was the inten
ton Of Congress to pay the bonds in coin, ani
the acts were most carefully worded that tn
coin might be either gold or ST yer. He favored
the passage of the resolution of Matthews ant