The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-03
XLVth C0ngress-ReguIar Session.
WASHINGTON, MAY 2,

effect.
At the expiration of the morning hour the Senate
took up the bill to repeal the sumption act and
Mr. Ferry, IN charge OF the bill, read lengthy argu
ment in its favor.
Commerce fav0rably on the House bill extending the
privileges of sections 1890 to 1897 of the Revised
Statutes to the port OF Bath, Me. Placed on the
calendar.
Also from the same committee, adversely on the
House bill to provide tor vessels of the United States
mailing from places where they are owned or built,
and IL was indefinitely postponed.
Also from the same committee, favoraby on the
House bill establishing the salaries be paid to the
collectors OF Gust oms OF Plymouth aud Nantucket,
Mass. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Beck introduced bill to amend certain Sec
lions of the Revised Statutes establishing the rank
naval officers. Referred to the Committee on Naval
Affairs
Messrs. Ferry. Paddock and Salisbury were ap-
pointed conference committee on the bill to regu-
late the advertising of mail letters.
Mr.. Plnmb, from the Committee on Public Lands,
reported with amendments the Senate bill to provide
additional regulations for homestead and presumption
entries Oh the public lands. Placed on the calen-
dar.
Also from the same committee substitute for the
Senate bill for the protection of homestead settlers
on the puDlic lands Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Morrill,, from the Committee on Public BULL
ings aid Grounds, reported bill TO provide fire.
proof building for the use Of the bureau of engineer
ing and printing and mechanical branches of the
Treasury and other departments. Placed ON the
calendar.
Mr.. Ferry of Michigan called up the House bill to
repeal the specie resumption act and read lengthy
argument explaining the amendments reported by
the Committee on Finance.
After explaining the amendments reported by the
Committee on Finance, he said that if tue bill
should De agreed to as amended it would give the
country volume Of currency of $4,000 GOO. He
argued that the bill wonld restore commercial conf
dence. 1t would result in our own people holding
the national debt instead of foreigners The recent
sale OF $5O,O00000 worth Of bonds by the Secretary
OF the Treasury was assurance of this and an ad-
vancement of the public credit. The government
should now turn its attention to the uphodng OF its
credit with it's own people He next referred to the
coin required by the government and said no fears
need be apprehended that the government will have
to go abroad to meet its requirements. The reason
for denying u S. notes their rightful place in the
circulation of the country had departed.
Mr.. Voorhees, read lengthy argument in favor Of
repeating the specie resumption act. He argued that
its repeal has been prominent element in the Amer
lean mind since the passage OF the bill in 1875 The
amount OF human misery, wretchedness and vice the
law had caused could not be estimated. 1t had over
thrown property values simply beyond the power of
language to describe Ten billion dollars worth of
property have been absolutely confiscated He re-
ferred to the passage by the House of Representa-
beenas prompt action the part of the Senate then
much loss in bankruptcy and rum would have been
repeal OF the law and argued that the American
pie had been educated on the subject of finances dur
ing the past five years under such circumstances as
to breed revolution unless they were met BY meas
of relief The greenback dollar, on account of
the confidence which the people had in it, had forced
itself upon equality with gold. He referred to the
gold room of New York as mob of gamble rs and
argued that the government could not redeem $780,
900 900 with gold within weeks notice from today
The notes of the government had advanced to an
equality with gold because the people had forced the
government to treat its own notes with respect.
There never was the slightest reason why the paper
money of this country should become DEPRECATED.
He favored the adoption Of an amendment compell-
ing the Secretary of the Treasury to receive u s..
notes for duties on IMPORTS not after the first of Oc
tOber but Immediately. That would at once equalize
our currency. Contraction had prevailed in every
quarter of the country and sent forth its deadly in
duence in every direetea He referred to the inter
Committee on Banks and Currency a few days ago
and said the Secretary admitted that to maintain
specie payments it would be necessary to maintain
contraction To resume specie payments on the first
of January next made certain dark, perilous and
unhappy future. Farmers had mortgaged their
property, and specie payments were resumed these
mortgages must be paid in coin 1t was the dnty of
the American Congress to legisate to secure
the farmer his bone and to the industrious mechanic
living wages. The toilIng millions who arose in the
morning before light and worked until after dark,
constantly lectured On economy by jewellers in
high places, by masters of hired attendants The
poor were to give the luxures which they had not
in order that the rich might have more. Far be it
from him to incte the people, but he would at all
times vindicate them against the aspersons of those
who first oppressed them and then denounced them
he referred to communism and said it was the adj
vocates OF extreme measures those who favored re-
sumption OF specie payments Tho fostered the spirit
of communism. In conclusion he argued that the
repeal OF the specie resumption law would bring
light and hope to many darkened homes. 1t would
prosperity would revive. Nothing since the peace
declared at Appomatox thirteen years ago would be
hailed with such shouts of gladness Popular relief
would insure popular tranquility and the turbu-
lence in the labor regions would cease.
Mr.. Gordon took the floor with the understanding
that he would speak Monday next and further con-
sideraton OF the bill was postponed till that time
Mr.. Johnston introduced bill amendatory of the
act to incorporate the Texas Pacific railroad. Re-
ferred to the committee on railroads.
Mr.. Rollins by request introduced bill proposing
new form of government for the District Of Column
bia. Referred to the District committee.
Mr. Maxey, from the committee on postoffices and
post roads, reported an amendment to be proposed
to the postOfice Appropriation bill, authorizing
semi monthly mail steamship service between the
tee on appropriations. The amendment is CODY of
the bill agreed upon by the postal committee last
Saturday and published at that time with one
Orleans line shall not be later than the first of JAN
uary next.
Mr.. saunders moved to reconsider the vote nv
which the joint resolution to provide for the appoint
ment of Is additional commissioners to the Paris
Exposition was indefinitely postponed several days
ago:
The motion led to lengthy debate.
The motion to reconsider was rejeeted-yeas IA,
nays "a.
Mr.. Dawes from the committee ON public buld-
ings and grounds, reported with amendment the
House joint resolution to enable the joint committee
to carry into effect the act of Congress providing for
tne &c. completion ofthe washington monument. Placed
The Sena,e ati4 o'clock went into executive session
and when the doors were reopened adjourned until
Monday.
HOUSE.
bill fixing the salaries of naval officers at Balti-
more and New Orleans at the rate as those re-
ceived by similar officers in Boston and San Francis
co and Philadelphia, was passed.
bill recognizing the life saving service re-
ferred to the committee of the whole and made
special order for May 8.
bill permitting Canadian vessels to render aid to
other Canadian vessels wrecked in waters of the
United States, was passed.
tinU tha Of oh,
lie lands to the Barataria Canal Company to con-
struet canal from New Orleans to the Gull of Next
co, was passed.
A bill 10 regulate Interstate commerce and pro-
hoit unjust limitation by common carriers, was
passed.
Mr.. Reagan explained that the object of the bill
was to prevent discrimination in charges for freight
by railroads so greater rates should be charged to
one shipper than another. The corporations were
purpose OF discriminating against persons or places
Inc only other material provision was that they
should not charge more for shorter distances than for
longer distances on the same line of carriage
The morning hour having expired the bill went
over without action.
Mr.. Butler introduced bill to establish marine
danger signal. Referred.
The House at 1920 went into committee of the
whole on the legislative appropriation bill.
INF vance offered an amendment prohibiting the
commissioner OF pensions dropping pensioners from
the rolls on exparte statements taken by special
agents.
Mr. Vance also moved to restore the salary of the
provided by law.
Mr.. Wait of Connecticut hoped that the amend
ment would be adopted. 1t was to the public inter-
est that the salaries be such command the
vices OF intelligent, educated and skilled men. HIS
state was largely interested in patents and it desr-
ed men ofability to be placed in these positions.
The amendment, which involves about $4,000, was
adopted IA to 70. ~
MIR. Lothrop moved to increase from $4,000 to
$4,000 the appropriation for contingent expenses of
the patent office.
Mr.. Atkins opposed the amendment and appealed
to his friends on the Democratic side of the House
who claimed to be party Of economy defeat these
amendments which would swell the appropriations
to an immense proportion. Every man would have
to stand his own record, but he was sorry to see
the gentleman on the Democratic side voting for
every increase of expenditure.
Mr.. Conger said he had heard the gentleman from
Tennessee (Atkins) state many times that he had
to conclusion in regard to the business of the