The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-14
WASHINGTON.
A Field Day in the House Of
Representatives.
THE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION REVIVED.
Messrs. Hewitt ana Foster on the
Alleged Bargain.
WAS MADISON WELLS IN THE MARRET!
WAS MADISON WELLS IN THE MARRET!
Efforts to Stir Up Strife Over the Ike.
tuning Board Trials.
POSITION OF THE SILVER BILL IN THE SENATE.
FROM OUR SPECIAL coRResFoN DENT.

PENDING.
Friday will b very interesting day In the Senate
The Silver bill comes to vote, and there is much
curiosity as to the result, many persons believing
that the bill Will be modibed the last as
10 deprive II Of It's worst features, with view Of
yssting the largest possible for IT, ami with the
hope on The part OF the silver men that, SO modified
II may escape the Presidents veto.
There arc . number OF amendments and substitutes
already offered, and others will make their appearance
on Friday The original BILL which Is very BRIEF
creates dollar f412H grains, makes legal tender
for all debts, public and private, and authorizes the
owners OF silver bullion to have coined at the Mint
intovuch dollars. The Senate Finance Committee
amendment directs tho purchase by the Treasury OF
not less than 81 600 900 s. 0O0 900 Of
silver bullion per month at the market price. TO be
coined into dollars and secures tho profits 10 the
Treasury instead OF to tbs owners OF bullion.
Mr. Allisons amendment directs tho President 10
invite an international conference to ''adopt
ratio Of legal tender as between gold and silver. and
70 appoint three commissioners to act with those OF
any three or more governments who may agree to
confer on the subiect.''
Mr. Burnside's amendment makes silver a general
legal tender for all sums amounting to $500, and
was intended to project aboring people.
: Mr.. Cameron's (of W,sconsin) amendment makes
the dollar Of 40 grains.
Mr. Tcller's amendment authorizes tho issue Of
bullion certificates for bullion deposited with tue
United states Treasury aside from and above the
bullion directed to be bought and coined makes these
certificates redeemable in bullion or dollars as tho
Secretary OF the Treasury may choose and provides
that they shall not BIO legal tender At all.
Mr. Beck's amendment directs the purchase Of three
millions OF bullion per month. and as much moro as
the mints can CON- and that whenever tho four hun.
cred and twelve and half grain dollar is par with
yresnbacks, coinage shall be free to all owners Of
bullion.
Mr. Booths amendment authorizes coin certificates
10 bullion owners In sums Of less than $40, aud
provides that such certificates redeemed in coin
shall DO receivable for customs, taxes. and all public
dues. and TO be rcissued whom received 1t provides
IN fact, for new imitation OF the currency.
Mr.. Morgan's amendment authorizes the deposit of
silver bullion to DO coined at the mint the Treasury
TO pay the owner of bullion for II at ms market
valoe when deposited either in greenbacks or silver
dollars as he may choose, and after twelve mo nths
there is 10 be froo coinage OF silver.
Mr. Christiancy's amendment directs the coinage
OF 434 grain dollar. to be full legal tender and to DO
coined not less than ST. 00O, 900 nor moro than
s. 900 per month, the remain In force only
one year.
Mr.. Christiancy also proposes a substitute directing
the coinage OF 412h grain dollar and this and the
der according the market value for all debts tho
market value to DO declared once a month by tho
Treasury. 1t also authorizes the redemption of
greenbacEs In silver dollars but at their nominal
value, and the cancellation OF tn notes redeemed.
1t Is probable that an amendment will be introduced
eonipgths dollar Of AJAX grams and redeeming with
on presentation greenback notes under $40 or per-
haps $40, and making the silver legal tender to the
amount OF $26
The bill, amended in tho Senate OF course, goes
back TO the House, whore tho silver have been
persuaded to allow debate and It is possible that it
may not reach the President until alter conference
committee Of the two Houses has IT, In fact It
is just impossible iorotell IN what shape the
bill viii eventually DO adopted by tho two Housss.
The opponents Of the Bland bill have determined in
general not 10 pair with the silver The votes
this week, and especially any alter the veto
They say, very justly that where two-thirds vote is
Important o1e vote OF The minority counts for two
votes Of the majority, and it is understood to-day
that Senator Butler, of South Carolina will declare
his proposed pair with Mr. Patterson SO far as tho
Silver bill is concerned.
AGITATION OVER THE RETURNING BOARD
TRIALS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. REPUBLICANS
MOVING TO EMBARRAss THE PRESIDENT
WHY WELLS AND ANDERSON WERE INDICTED.
The bssty uttcranccs OF Secretary Sherman, Sen
stor Matthews anc Representative White and Of
General Garfield in the House to-day have had the
effect OF stirring ny the antadm instration repub.
licsns. who think they sea a new opportunity TO
make trouble Tor tho President IL is probable that
resolutions intended to annoy and cmbarrass him
will be introduced both houses, some TO direct an
official inquiry to what the federal government can
do TO protect the Returning Board federal officers
from prosecution for offences committed while they
we're acting federal election officers others demand
Ing from the President all correspondence between
The Executive Department ana the louisiana Commits
on or any OF them, and yet others Ing that the
Returning Board be protected against harm by the
federal power, and threatening now interference
the local affairs Of Louisiana 1t is asserted to-day
but probably falsely, that Secretary Sherman and
others OF tho visiting statesmen 60 lar as to hold
That Anderson and Wells, being Custom House OH.
ccrs wero By that assured immunity against arrest
and trial in tho State courts 1t is probable
that they have held that tho Returning
Board having tho duty OF declaring the
electoral vote thereby became sense federal OFF,
GERS and could be disturbed by State courts Tor
what they did. But ;he reply to this point by
Ihc Louisaniars is that Wells anu Anderson are not
pverhauod tor anything they did regarding tho cleo
,oral vote, but for the Justification OF tho Vernon
PARISH returns, lar as these affected local AFFAIRS
The truth about these Vernon parish returns Is
laid TO be that they altered IN order the
election oi republican parish judge who per-
sonal friend Of Wells aud that the original intention
was thai they should secure also tho return OF a re-
publican member oil tho Legislature, but that this
was frustrated by tho opposition OF tho democrats,
who discovered the plan In time. THIS is he story
which told hero privately by the. republicans who
were in position to Know what was gong on down
'here OF course, II this story is true. tue action OF
The Returning Board this hid no federal bear
tng or relation
considerable pressure is brought upon Governor
NICHOLS and his friends from Washington TO do all in
bis power to stop the Returning Boarc prosecutions.
ana 10 any event To psraon Anderson. Urgent repre-
seniations arc made TO him that the trias are ex-
Tsncly injadicous and tina; they even lmperil the