Daily globe., 1879-04-21
House of Representatives.

WASHINGTON, April l9.-The journal this
morning embodied for the first time the pc
titions deposited in the box. A question was
raised by Mr.. Garfield. who expressed the hope
that it would not pass into precedent. Ex-
planation was made by the Speaker as to the
reasons why he had directed this to be done,
the princi pal one being that under existing
circumstances while petitions and memorials
are being presented, accompanied by bills, the
question as to which committees they should
be referred to has become Important and al
ready difference has arisen between the char
and members presenting petitions as to their
proper references. 1t therefore proper
that the House itself should have the oppor-
tunity of passing on the question In course
OF the discussion it was suggested by Mr.. Frye
that it might be found there would be no OBJ
lection whatever to the introduction of bills
next Monday, however absurd they should be.
The matter was finally referred to the COM
lnlttee on rules.
SUBSIDIARY SILVER COIN.
The subsidiary silver coin bill then came up
the unfinished business of the morning hour,
Mr.. Warner moved to amend the third section
which makes the silver coins legal tender to
the amount of ten dollars, by adding the words
for all debts public and private" After dis
cussion voting was begun on the amendments
and Mr.. Garhelds amendment to increase the
amount at which coins can be presented for re-
demption from ten dollars to fifty dollars was
rejected. Mr.. GarGed's amendment to substi-
tute lawful money of the United States for
legal tender money was agreed to. Mr..
Springers amendment making su bsidiary silver
coin legal tender to the amount of twenty
dollars instead of ten dollars as in the BILL was
agleed to by standing vote of l03 to sc. The
yeas and nays were then called, and the vote
resulted, yeas 1913, nays 103. Mr.. Stephens
moved to reconsider. Before final disposition
of the bill the morning hour expired. Various
other amendments were then offered and order
cd printed, and the bill went over until the
morning hour Tuesday.
A STRANGE SPECTACLE.
Mr.. Stephens. in brief speech, said the
country to-day presented the strange spectacle
of having three distinct silver coins, no two Of
which of the same value. There was the
trade dollar 42D, standard of 4!2l5 grains, and
the half dollars, two of which contained only
3S5 $40 grains. This was all wrong, and the
evil fell heavily on labor. He did not, however
propose to discuss that question now, but
wanted the pending bill passed as the first step
in reform. After that other matters could be
taken up.
MILLS AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Mills offered substitute for the bill, the
first section of which provides for a silver dol
lar of 412I5 grains, half dollars of 2O6A grains
OIL lU0tS gr2lnS dimes OF IU2S grains,
and that all of them shall be legal tender for
any sum whatever. The second section makes
silver coins exchangable in sums of $40 and its
multiples for United States legal tender mouey.
The third section provides for a like ex-
change of trade dollars and Mexican
dollars containing more than .s77 grains pure
silver. The fourth section authorizes the
holder of silver bullion silver foreign coin
to receive for it legal tender money at the rate
of one dollar for every 37114 grains of fine
silver. The fifth section directs the recoinage
of all silver foreign coins in the treasury. The
sixth section directs the application Of all
legal tender silver coins in the treasury, or
that may come into it, first, to the payment of
interest United States bonds; second, to
the payment of the principal of such bonds as
they fall due; and third, the purchase of bonds
that are not due. The seventh section directs
the secretary of the treasury, in exchangi ing
legal tender notes for silver, to pay out ten
and two dollar notes till be shall have paid out
IS, 900, OUO.
GARFIELD's S PROPOSITIONS.
Mr.. Garfield expressed himself as favorable
to the general scope of the bill but desired to
offer some amendments to it in its details.
amount at which subsidiary silver coins may
be presented for exchange, from 80, as in the
bill to $50.
Mr.. Garfield also suggested that the words
legal tender money should be changed into
lawful money of the United States, which is
the term used in law. His only serious obec-
tion to the bill was to the third section, and
he would strike that out
POINT OF ORDER.
Mr.. Hawley made a point OF order on Mr..
Mills substitute. Decision reserved.)
Mr.. Springer submitted an amendment max
ing the trad, dollars legal tender to the ex-
tent of 2l0.
Mr.. Morton hoped the bill was to pass II
was in the interest of the people, of every man,
woman and child possessed of a single piece of
fractional coin. The government issued those
coins at par and should redeem them at par.
Mr.. Garield's amendment providing for the
REDEEM ption of subsidiary coin when presented
in sums of $50, defeated-yeas So, nays
not counted.
MIR. Garfeld's amendment substituting the
words lawful money of the United States fol
legal tender money" was acceded to.
Mr.. Springer's amendment increasing tho
legal tender quality of subsidiary silver coin tc
800 was agreed to-yeas 1913, nays l03.
Mr. Stephens offered motion to reconsider
Mr.. Warmers amendment that subsidiary coi1
shall be legal tender for all debts public anC
private in all sums not exceeding $40
agreed to.
The House having reached Mr.. Springers
amendment, making the trade dollar lega
tender in sums not exceeding $40, Mr.. ReeC
raised the point of order that the question was
not germane, and MIR. Springer withdrew the
amendment, saying he understood bill woulC
be reported from the coinage committet
making trade dallars legal tender.
The morning hour having expired, various
amendments making trade dollars legal tender
and for issuing fractional money, were offered
and then the bill. with the pending amend
ments, including Mills substitute, went oye
without action.
FUsSY FRYE.
The House then vent into committee of th
whole, Mr.. Blackburn in the chair on the leg
islative appropriation bill, and Mr.. Price, VIII
was entitled to the floor, yielded to Mr. Frye
who said that in connection with the misunder
standing which had taken place yesterday be
tween the gentlemen from Kentucky and Ohio
Blackburn and Mckinley, in regard to th
proper construction Of Blackburn's s speech, h
desired to read to the House the construction
put on that ST eech in Mississippi by the no,
famous paper, the Okolona States, which he re
ccived through the mail He thereupon rea,
with great emphasis the following extrac
from that paper OF the 18th of April, prefacin
it with the statement that the article was com
plmentary to the gentleman from Kentucky
aud therefore that gentleman would take n
offense at it.: What was it that brave Jo
Blackburn said in the House, Messrs. Soft
thills? Oh yes, we remember now. He re
marked that our party would strike the las
vestige of war measures from th
statute books. The States never said more, AM
never said less than that. You repudiate th
States. Will you repudiate Blackburn? Ye
silent. Will you repudiate Blackburn
You are still silent. Well, gentlemen, we vii
give you just one moro chance; answer OF fol
ever after hold your peace as far as the State
is concerned. Will you repudiate Blackburn
Down with the devil born amendments. Dow
with centralism and its hints Of the crown an