Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
YESTERDAYS DoINGS IN THE SENATE
Speech Of PendletOn in Advocacy Of His
Bill Giving Seats in the Senate and
House to Heads Of Depart
ments - Coinage Bill.
WASHINGTON, April %.
SENATE.

clal Appropriation Bill was received
from the House, and referred to the
Committee on Appropriations.
The House joint resolution to repeal
certain clauses in the Sundry Civil Ap-
preparation Act of March 3rd, 1879, was
passed. 1t makes appropriations for
the extension of the military telegraph
lines in Montana and Texas, and re-
peals the authority heretofore given the
Secretary OF War to lease water power
at Moline, to the Moline Water Power
Company.
Mr. Williams introduced a bill to
regulate the legal value of metal money
and to provide for the free and un-
limited coinage of gold and silver bull
lion and to restore coin to circulation.
Referred.
1t proposes in its first section to make
all gold and silver coins, including trade
dollars, equally legal tender for all
debts, public and private, to any amount
and at their nominal value. The bill
next provides that a silver dollar
of 4l24 troy grains of silver
9-l0 fine, shall hereafter be q
standard unit of value; that all
subsidiary coin shall be exactly proper
tiOnate to its weight and ineness that
the gold eagle shall consist OF 25S troy
grains OF gold, nine-tenths fine, and
all other gold coins including, fifty dol
lar pieces OF proportionate value; that
gold and silver bullion be pur-
chased by the United States mints at
market price and without restriction as
to the amount, and be for either in law
ful money or in coin certificates CT
denOsit, which shall also be
legal tender, and the resulting coins be
paid out for all demands on the treasury,
including interest on the public debt, as
fast as they can be coined.
The bill also provides that after $780,
100000 in silver coin has been issued
the Treasury Department shall provide
for the casting of silver bullion into bars,
ingOts and disks of standard fineness,
which shall be full legal tender for all
debts, public and private, at the rate OF
4l24 troy grains TO the dollar,
Mr.. Vest introduced bill granting to
the State of Missouri the lands hereto
fore granted TO the st. Louis and Iron
Mountain Railway Company, and re-
pealing so much of the act as places
limitation on the grant.
Mr.. Pendleton introduced bill to in
crease the educational facilities and es-
tablish normal training schools for the
benefit of the Indian tribes who have
educational claims on the United States.
Referred.
The bill giving seats on the floor OF
the Senate and House to the heads OF
the de ,artments was taken up, and Mr..
Pendleton made a speech in its advo-
cacy.
Mr.. Pendleton said that this measure
appealed TO no partisan interest. 1t
on no partisan susceptibility.
1t awakened no party spirit. 1t touched
the relation OF the two great powers in
the Senate, and sought TO improve their
methods of communication with each
other.
After explaining the bill Mr.. Pendle-
ton made strong constitutional argu-
ment, defining the relations OF the cab
met To the executive and legislative
branches, and showing that the pres
ence of the cabinet in Congress,
and oral statements by them, were
contemplated by the founders of the
government and are perfectly within
the powers of Congress to Ordain. The
and benefits of the pro-
posed change were considered at some
length. The bill. he said, proposed a
change of methods only, not of powers.
If the secretary should refuse to obey
this law the power of impeachment
would suffice to punish him even II 1t
could not coerce obedience, as in all
other cases of official delinquency.
CLAY secuted the idea that the depart
ments were part OF the control OF the
executive. He declared they were the
creatures of Congressional enactments
and therefore were absolutely bound TO
obey its provisions. Prof. Lieber
declared that while members of Congress
cannot be made heads of departments,
yet that heads of departments can be
admitted 10 the floor with right OF de-
bate. Judge Story, with that fulness OF
learning and cOpious elOquence which
marks all his works, has maintained the
and expediency OF a
law such as propose. "Aping British
ways," | see il Sometimes written. No,
il is not British way. 1t is way OF
Of every civilized nation in
the world which has legislature and
executive, except our own. IL is the
reasonable, intelligent and progress
sive way. The way of im-
proved legislation. No nation
has ever abandoned it for the old way,
more than a farmer has given up the
mower and reaper for the scythe and
cvcle. At the conclusion of his remarks
be was greeted with great applause.
Mr.. Morrill, said the Departments
were not creatures Of Congress 10 be eN-
panded 81 will. but were created by the
The trainers OF the con-
stitution were particular in providing
against mingling the executive and
legislative functions, and those
who passed the law organizing
the Treasury Department were
Jealous in guarding against such
A result Mr.. Morrill, argued that 1t
would De meNpeulenl W pass llls uhii
saving amongst Other things that
American legistors were not so dull and
that thev could not iml-
tate and pass measures without cali
ing on and asking aid Of the heads Of the
II was no argument in
favor of the bill that foreign govern
ments admitted their cabinet officers to
their deliberations. We should adhere
TO the methods known TO free
and not adopt those
observed by monarchies. One OF
the most serious dangers tn
be apprehended from such legislation as
was now proposed was the low and
facile method Of changing the principle
OF our government BY a change OF rule.
Mr.. Pendleton moved that his bill be
laid on the table, TO be called up here
after. Agreed 10.
The Senate then took up and passed
the bill providing for the publication OF
a supplement to the Revised Statutes.
The bill to prevent the introduction
of contagious or infectious diseases into
the United States was then taken up,
pending which the Senate went into
executive session, and, when the doors
were reopened, adjourned