The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-02-07
Washington Letter.

Washington Letter.
N WASHINGTON. d. G.. Feb. 2. 1878.
IN THE HOUSE.
Among numekous bills introduced.
Ne note principally the following one
by Mr.. Bnckper, to retire National
Bank notes from circulation, and in
their place issue u. 8. Treasury notes
with which to pay all debts, both Ma.
tional and private, excepting custom
dues; another by Mr.. Banning, for
the reorganization of the Army, and q
great reduction in the cost of its sup.
port, and to regulate the pay thereof
as well as a consolidation of its staff
department. After which Mr.. Ewing
moved to suspend the rules, and put
upon its passage the Senate Concur.
rent Resolution, better known as the
Matthews Silver Resolution under
which motion the resolution glided
gently through by majority of yeas
1877, nays ~. Ben Butler upon pre-.
senting petition OF citizens OF Lowell
Mass, (his own districD protesting
against the passage Of the Silver Bill,
and in doing 50, said he differed from
them in opinion, and would follow
his own convictions, as much as he re-
GREETED that difference. He also pre-
seDted petition of the Norfolk Con-
ference, at Walpolo, Mass, which set
forth that I" honesty qoas The pital part
ofreligion,' whereupon old Ben asked
the Speaker to send him the Bible
from his (the Speaker's) desk, which
created much laughter, but Ben was
not to be outdone by the opponents of
the bill, and searched for the passage
he wanted. midst great merriment.
after few moments delay he sent to
the clerks desk, and had read, the I'd
chapter Of st. John, that passage which
delineates Christ, driving the money
changers nom the temple. saying unto
them, snake not ma fathers house a
house Of merchandise" which reproof
caused the House to go into such a
continuous roar of laughter that it was
a long time before order could be re-
etored. It was a terrific set back given
the anti.silver men that they will not
recover from this side of Jordan. Mr..
Leonard then obtained the floor, and
complained that whilst nominally he
had seat in the outer row, practically
he had no seat at all, for it wac either
occupied by an outsider, or the one
next to him was taken by a:.book agent
who bored him with desultory CONVEX
cation, and no later than the day pre-
vious, one of those illustrated news
paper fellows wanted to insert his pic
ture for S25, and added that every
gentleman on the floor had
gone into the arrangement. and that
he was the only greenhorn who did
not understand how the thing was
done, (much laughter). whereupon the
Speaker, by vote of the House was
directed to discontinue the issuing of
passes and revoke all heretofore issued.
The whisky bill received two amend
ments, the first enacts that spirits ta-
ken out of bond must pay the same
tax which existed at the time it was
placed in bond; the second declares it
with the public interest
that the tax on whisky be reduced.
During the discussion on the Militia.
ry Academy appropriation bill, Mr..
Reagan, in criiicising come of its pro
favored reduction in the
of West Point Cadets from
the present three hundred to one hun
dred and fifty. cOntending that the
latter number was quite sufficient TO
fill the vacancies in the army. The
on Elections reported
against Pacheo, the sitting member
from California, which will give his
seat to Wigginton, the contestant.
2 .af IN THE SENATE.
quite a number of petitions were pre-
sented By different Senators from all
parts of the country, principally op-
posing the reduction of certain tariff
luties. and the restoration of the tax
on tea and coffee, all of which were
referred. The Senate then
took up for action the Bland Silver
Bill, which passed the House before
he Christmas holidays. This bill au-
horizes the free coinage of the stand.
.rd silver dollar of 4l211a grains and
'estores it's former legal tender char
Icter. The opposition Immediately
opened their fire upon the Bill, by a
ong harrangue by Mr.. Morrill,. who
vas followed by Mr.. Wallace, OF Pa,
n it's favor. The friends Of the Bill |
Intended making no arguments but to
'roceed to vote as soon as the oppo
ltion got through shooting Off their
ent up wrath. Owing to the fact that
good many Senators were not pre-
ared to speak on the Silver Bill, it
vas postponed until Monday to which
ime the Senate stands adjourned.
f.li 'fis THE SILVER MEN
re so elated over their recent triumph
mt vote in the Senate on the Mat.
hews Silver resolution whereby they
ecure 81 votes to the opposition "a at
he very best, that they now openly
eclare they can pass any kind of Sill
er Bill over Mr.. Hayes. veto in either
louise that they please, and that their
ext move will be to break UP the Ma