The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-02-22
XLVth C0ngress-Reguiar Session,

AEV I'll usdI SoSSIUus
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 81.
Bills were introduced and referred providing for
military post for tue protection of citizens Of the
Black Hills region. Referred to the committee on
Military Affairs.
Authorizing the payment of the balance due to the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company. Referred to the
The President sent in answer to resolution repo IT'S
of the General of the Army, Quartermaster and Com
mssary General relative to the cost of the late war
with the Sioux and the number OF soldiers killed.
Reports show the estimated cost of the war 49,
81, 53l, and the number Of killed 16 officers and 261
! enlisted men, and officers and 123 enlisted men
wounded,
Bill authorizing the establishment of naval station
at Port Royal was introduced and referred and the
Senate went into executive session.
Mr.. Chaffee introduced an amendment to bill
heretofore reported by him, providing for the ap-
pointment of Pacific Railroad Commissioner whose
duty it shall be subject to the Secretary of the Inte-
ri9rs revision to supervise the operation OF the
eral routes ofthe Union Panihc Railroad. Ordered
printed
Doors were reopened at 80 and the Senate ad.
journed till Monday. .r-.r,
A resolution calling for copies of the correspond
ence between the United States and Spain in rela-
ton to the seizure of the Virgnius was adopted
Mr.. Sparks made short personal explanation, in
which he said in his opinion not only Wells and An
derson and the rest of the Returning Board were
set Of unmitgated seoundrels, but everything con-
and fraud.
Mr.. Knott of Kentucky chairman of the Judi
cary Committee, reported bill dividing the state of
Missouri into two judicial districts. Passed.
Mr., Butler, from the same committee, reported
bill authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury pay
to the state of Texas the balance remaining of the
fund appropriated for the payment of the creditors
of the late republic of Texas. Referred to the Com
mittee of the Whole.
Also resolution directing the court of claims to
take jurisdiction of the claims of Hon. William N.
Springer for services rendered the government be-
fore the Supreme Court. Referred to the Commit
tee of the Whole.
Also bill to relieve certain legal disabilities of
women. 1t provides that when a woman shall have
been member of the bar of the highest court in any
state or territory she shall, application, be admit
ted to practice before the United States Supreme
Court Passed-yeas 1863. nays 81.
Mr.. Lynde, from the same committee, reported a
bill to provide for appearance behalf Of the Unit
ed States in foreclosure suits. Passed. 5e4sts
Mr.. Lapham, from the same committee, reported a
bill exempting from seizure on executions attach
ments issued by any United States Court the same
property which shall be exempted from levy and sale
under the laws OF the state in which the the defend
ant shallresde. Passed.
The regular order being demanded the Speaker
proceeded to call committees for reports and at the
expiration of the morning hour Mr.. Bland moved to
proceed to the business on the Speakers table, and it
The Bland silver bill having been reached, the
Senate amendments thereto were read by the Clerk.
Mr. Garfield, OF Ohio, reserved all points Of order
on the bill.
Mr.. Springer, of III made the point of order that
the bill as it stood must first go 10 committee of the
whole.
Mr.. Fort. of ILL.,, hoped his colleague would with
draw his point of order.
Mr.. Springer refused to do So and sail if his mo-
ton succeeded in defeating a bill which did not
meet
The Speaker interrupted discussion of the
merits OF bill is not in order upon point of order.
Mt. Springer said he did not intend to make any
factous opposition to the bill but he desired to place
it where ne could explain the reason of his vote upon
the bill, which could not be done upon motion to
concur.
Mr.. sayler thought the point of order was not well
taken, because the bill had been passed under sus-
pension of the rules. Lie hack TO the HOusn q
bill passed independent of the ordinary rules of the
House. Besides he never knew of bill being
ferred to committee of the whole account of any
Senate amendment upon simple point of Older.
That must be done by majority VOTE
the gentleman from Ohio (Sayler), and he argued
that under the rule amendments should receive their
first consideration in committee of the whole.
The discussion was continued by Messrs, Sampson,
Blackburn, Cox of Ohio, McMahon and Stephens
against st the point of order, and by Messrs. Eames
ONeill and others also took part in the discus
The Speaker overrued the point of order.
Mr.. Cox OF N. Y, appealed from the decision, and
Mr.. Sampson moved to lay the appeal on the table.
Mr.. SIMPSONS motion was agreed to-222 to %.
Mr.. Stephens then moved that the House concur in
all the amendments of the Senate.
Mr.. Hewitt moved to lay the bill and amendments
The Speaker said the gentleman from Georgia
Stephens) had not yielded the floor for that Enotion
Mr.. Springer asked MIR. Stephens whether ne would
allow one or two amendments to be offered tCries
Mr.. stephens-rhe country as well as the House
mas nau tH1S Dill before quite long enough. (OOuO
We are ready to vote and if the House does nor sus-
tain my motion then il will be in order to move to
refer the bill or lay it on the table.
MIR. stephens having an hour to close the debate,
divided the time in small portions ranging from
half a minnie to eight minutes in which several
members expressed briefly their views ON the bill,
with the privilege OF enlargiDg upon them and hav-
ing their speeches printed in the Record. Among
them were Messrs Monroe of Ohio, and Phillips of
Kansas, who favored it as it came from the Senate
Mr. b alter thought the House should refuse to
concur IN the Senate amendments. 1t seemed to
him that it was not according to the dignity of the
House or according to the propriey OF legislation
concur in the amendments without debate. He him
self would endorse the veto of the President if he
sent back veto saying the House which originated
it had given him no tosdrect his Judgment or
inform his conscience. The members of the House
should act like men, not grab at what might be Civ
en- by the otter end of the capitol if it were a
Gods gift. This bill always in the power of the
majority which amounted to two-thirds in each
house. and the bill should be sent back to the Senate
without concurrence.
Mr.. Bland said the bill had come back from the
Senate in a constitutional manner. The ques.
was whether to take the bill as it was or nom
concur, which would probably defeat all legislation
on the subject and he therefore in favor of con-
currence but he gave notice that the war shou Id
never long as he had voice in Congress I'M
til the rights of the people be fully restored and the
silver dollar placed alongside of the gold dollar.
While he voted for the present bill he protested
against it, bu5 let Congress take what it had and
supplement it &C once by action the appropriation
bills, but if that could not be done he was in favor of
paper money to strike down the bondholders
Mr.. Ewing said that nine-tenths of the American
people demanded coinage OF the silver dollar of their
fathers making it legal tender. They wanted sill
yer remonetzed. 1t was the great product of this
country The people had right to expect their rep
resentatves to stand firmly in rightino the great
wrong that had been done by the rascay act of de-
monezation. This bill as it came from the Senate
said that only 900 should be coined or left it
in the discretion Of the Secretary the most inveter-
ate enemy of the silver dollar on the continent
whether the country should have more than $4,000
to commit an absurdity BY declaring that debts
shonld be paid in silver, and by the very same act
practically stripping the country Of twothirds of the
silver with which to pay those debts. That absurd
ty would be crowned by authorizing the President to
send commission of gold men to Europe to pipeay
with foreign creditors for the purpose of Wrestling
from the people the concession now granted
Mr. Hale of Maine said he would vote for Hewitt's
molten to lay the bill on the table, but he expected
the Senate amendments which tended to improve a /
very bad bill to which he was opposed
Mr. Butter thank the gentleman for his frank |
ness.
A minute, half-minute and quarter minnie /
speeches for and against the measure were made L
amid great uproar and confusion.
MI. Whtthorne said Creating the Senate amend
ments as 0ne) am opposed to 1t, first because it in
vltes capital to coerce into general use the single
standard or gold; second, because it discrimnates
In favor OF gold and against silver third because it
creates puoic interest bearing debt unnecessarily;
fourth, because it pledges seeks to pledge the faith
OF Cne government by an entangng and dangerous
alliance to foreigners the life blood of our do
mestic trade and commerce. fifth, because it is not
responsive to the demand of the people and their in
dustI ial interests.
Mr. Hewitt declared his conviction that the passage
Oh tne Oil would aggfayate the distress the country
and that recovery from the present distress would
be Impossible until the bill was swept from the |
statutes book, as it would be in one year by an |
indignant, deceived and outraged people. |
, MI Cutler OF New Jersey, remarked that he was l
the only member from his state who had voted for |
the silver bill; that he hsd done so against the |
of the State legislature; that while Id |
might recognize the right OF the legislature 10 |
instruct Senator, he did not recognize its right |
10 instruct q Representative. He should vote To |
concur In the Senate amendments, |
Mr. Chlttenden declared lin tone of great excte- |
nent and with violent gesticuation that he opposed
he bill with all his might, laughter with All his |
conscience and with all his Judgment as an inn |
noralty,and De predicted that every n an who voted
or 1t would be ashamed of his vote in twelve months
Loud laughter) Unless three pecks were busbeI |
ma ten ounces pound, ninety cents were not |
lollar The bill was an outrage against the credit of
he nation, and the men who had promoted it would |
,e calling On the rocks and mountains to fall upon
hem to hide them from the Indignation of the |
'eope before the year was passed, (Shouts of |
aughter and applause)
Mr. Garfield said every man who is opposed to the |
ountry disagree with. Every man who is on |
osed to both metals practically and in law disa-
rec with. Every man who is in favor of any bill
which will drive one metal out and give us onIy he |
Their with him disagree. 1t is matter of deep re-
ret with me that on the greatest financial measure
7hlch has come before Congress for many years. we
ave come down at last to the OF this single
our experience without debate. The amendments | !,
hat Rave from The 1vioa E,n-a l