Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-01-19
WASHINGTON NEWS
TIE PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.

Discussion of the Silver Bill In the senate
Report of Attorney General In Reference
to the Union Pacifc--The President No
4 Power to Enforce It's Contract With the
Recommendations Principally Occu-
1 pied With Eulogies of the Late O. r
Msrton--The President Settles the New
Orleans COllectOrship.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18.-Bills were intro
duced and referred as follows:
BY Senator Whyte, to repeal section 2.917
of the revised statutes fixing the standard for
vinegar. Referred to the committee on
finance.
/ By Senator Voorhees,, by request, reviving
and continuing the court of commissioners
of Alabama claims, and for distribution of
the unappropriated moneys Of the Geneva
award.
Senator Conkhng. presented several petit
tons of citizens of Albany, N. Y. remonstra-
ting against the passage of the Bland silver
bill. Laid on the table, the bill having been
reported to the Senate. In presenting the
memorials he said they were signed by men
representing not only money and property
but enterprise also, and they expressed the
opinion that the passage of the bill would be
prejudicial to the honor and credit of the
government, He also presented the memorial
of the Albany board of trade against the
passage of that bill. Laid on the table.
The Vice President laid before the Senate
a communication from the Secretary of War
enclosing the report of Maj. G. Wetzel,
corps of engineers relative to the manage
ment of the Louisville & POLAND canal. Re-
ferred.
Petitions we're presented from Ohio, Penn
sylvenia and Delaware, against any reduction
OF duties on imports, and demonstrating
against the restoration of the duty on tea,and
coffee Referred.
Senator Wallace presented the petition of
officers of the national banks of Muncy, Pa,
in favor of reconciliation of silver. Re-
| ferred.
The Vice President laid berore the Senate
communication from the Attorney General,
giving the number of civil prosecutions in
U. S. courts in South Carolina, for offenses
against civil rights. Referred.
Senator Ferry presented memorial of the
Michigan State Grange, in favor of the con-
struchon of ship canal across the lower
peninsula of that State. Referred.
Senator Cameron presented resolution of
the Wisconsin legislature, in favor of the i'm
provement of the St. Croix river. Referred,
Senator Christiancy, from the committee
on Judiciary reported adversely on Senate
bill to enlarge the jurisdiction of the Court
of Claims, and it was indefinitely post
poned.
| At expiration of the morning hour the
Senate resumed consideration of the unfin-
ished business, being the resolution of Sena-
ator Matthews declaring the right Of the
government to pay interest and principal of
| the bonds in silver, and Senator Merriam
spoke in favor thereof.
| Senator Merriman said the subject was
worthy most serious consideration and trusts
a free and frank expression of views would
lead the Senate to a wise and wholesome
conclusion. He would never consent that
the honor and good faith of the government
should be impaired in the slightest degree.
The naked question before the Senate was
whether the government could lawfully pay
it's creditors in silver of the standard of value
of July 14th, 1870.
He reviewed the financial legislation since
1862. and quoted from the various acts to
show all the bonds issued were payable in
legal tender coin of the United States.
When these acts were passed there were but
two species of coin established by law, gold
and silver, and as the contract stood between
the government and its creditors, the gov
eminent could pay its debts in both or
either. The law at the time provided for
coinage of silver dollars as we'll as gold dol
lars, and had it been intended to exclude
the silver dollar when the bonds were issued
why was not the provision inserted for the
purpose. That the government had the
right to pay its bonds i'll silver was clear and
he could not see how any such action could
be looked upon as reputation.
He spoke of the business prostration and
suffering throughout the country. and argued
that it was the effect of unwise legislation.
Financial legislation since the war had been
calculated to enhance the bonds of the gov
eminent in the hands of it's creditors. The
volume of paper currency in circulation had
been regulated by the government, and not
by the requirements of business. Since the
panic of 1873 nothing had fourished save
government bonds.
Senator Maxey reviewed the arguments
against the RECOMMENDATION of silver, and said
the Constitution itself recognized the double
standard. He quoted from the speeches of
Secretary Sherman in the Senate, to the
the silver dollar whenever it might think
proper, and in his (Maxey's) opinion the time
had now come when it should be restored to
4 the coinage of the country. He would vote
for the pending resolution cheerfully, be-
cause he thought the interests of the country
imperatively demanded it.
Pending discussion, the Vice President
laid before the Senate message from the
President to inform the Senate what legal
impediments, if any, exist; which prevent
him from executing the laws in accordance
with the obligations accepted and agreements
made by the Union Pacific Railroad Co. and
it's branches with the United States. The At
torney General states he has heard argu-
ment by the parties interested, and that the
subject has been discussed in an amicable
suit in the United States Circuit Court for
Nebraska, and is now awaiting decision.
He says: 81 do not find any specific authority
vested in the President which enables him, in
his executive capacity, to oblige the Union
Pacific Railroad to desist from the unlawful
use of its road. Nor is he empowered to as
certain whether the law is, being violated.
/ The railroad acts contemplate that these ques-
tons are for the courts to determine.
| Whether constitutional legislation should be
had SO that remedies, other than Judi
cial, can be applied in such cases
is question for Congress to determine
Should legal proceedings on behalf of the
public seem necessary in order to determine
the question involved, it seems desirable that
legislation be had which would preclude all
questions as to the power of the Attorney
General to proceed in the premises. Mean
while the civil suit referred to will be decided