Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-10
FORTHWITH CONGRESS.
Senate.

SSnU10s
Warrington, Jan. "a large number of Pc
titions were presented, and many bills, grant,
ing arrears of pensions. In answer to ques-
ton of Senator Howe, Senator Ingalls, stated he
proposed to call these bills up as soon as the
bill to amend the patent laws is disposed Of.
RECESS.
Senator Bayard moved that when the Senate
adjourned to-day, it be to meet Monday next.
Rejected by rising vote, yeas II, nays "a.
HARTR1DdE's FUNERAL.
A message was received from the House an
nouncing that the funeral of the late Repre-
sentative Hartridge. of Ga, would take place
at the hall of the House at o'clock, and invit-
ing the Senate to be present. A resolution
accepting the invitation was agreed TO.
AMOUNT OF SILVER COIN.
Senator Beck called up his resolution of the
9TH referring to the committe of finance the
answer of the secretary of the treasury to the
resolution of Dec Sd. relative to the amount of
silver coin received in payment of custom
dues and it's disposition. He criticised the
answer of Dec. Sd, and said specie resumption
had been reached by the ruin of hundreds of
thousands Of the best men of the country.
All he Deck was seeking to do was to require
the secretary to use silver coin as he does gold
coin in payment of interest," and forbid him
increasing the bonded debt of the count y.
The secretary has not answered the resolution
as public officer should. He we'll knew he
of the public debt. Senator Beck spoke of
Secretary Sherman as the autoorat of the
treasury department, ard said if it was true,
as said by Bismarck that he who holds the
money bags controls the politics of the country,
Congress ought to see to it that the laws are
oSo tod S~So -
He quoted from the answer Of the secretary
a. d spoke of some Of it as nonsense. He
showed there was scant respect for the Senate
and none for the law. The secretary was trus-
tee and agent for the people and not of the
creditors IF the government. He had no right
to allow the bondholders to say IN what coin
they would take their interest.
Senator Beck then argued tho secretary had
increased the Understanding debt of the
United States $l05, 600, GOO. This was not
very hatte1ing EXHIBIT when business of all
kinds vas 30 depressed. Unless the secretary
could show some law authorizing him to divert
silver coin from the purpose for which it was
intended, he was guilty Of Official misconduct.
In short time the finance committee would
be controlled by new men, and then it would
be seen whether the secretary of the treasury
could violate law as he pleased. Officers should
be made to obey the law. Half the deficiency
bills annually before Congress arose from dis
contraction of the currency, that the last re-
port OF the treasurer showed legal tender notes
of denominations from 81 to $50 in circulation
on the SOth of June last were $l0,914,00O be-
low the amount outstanding upon
that that date ain in M 1877, and the
culation in 1877. Now it was the purpose of
the secretary to issue large notes and further
contract the currency Gy substituting them for
small ones. He, Beck. thought it doubtful
that one half of the outstanding legal tender
notes were now in circulation. If the secretary
should be allowed to convert smaller notes into
larger ones and not issue silver coin, the peo-
pie would soon have no currency except that
which the national banks supplied. He Beck,
had fought as hard as anyone to make legal
tenders receivable for customs duties. He had
bill now before the finance committee for
that purpose. 1t should be reported without
delay and passed. As much as he favored that
measure he would not allow the secretary to
receive those notes in violation of law, as was
now being done. The notes should be received
in accordance of law and not plain violation of
it. He wanted such measures adopted as
would compel the secretary of the treasury to
carry out existing laws and let him know that
he was the agent of Congress to carry out the
laws whether he liked them or not. Senator
Beck quoted at some length from the speeches
of Secretary Sherman when q member of the
Senate to show how he advocated the punish
ment of public officers failing to execute the
laws.
Senator Window reported back with amend
ments the Indian appropriation bill and gave
notice he would call it up tomorrow for con-
sideration.
The resolution referring the answer to the
finance committee then passed, and the bill to
amend the patent laws was taken up and Sena-
tor Wadleigh spoke in favor thereof.
At the conclusion of his remarks the Senate
went into executive session and when the doors
reopened took recess until O. clock.
Upon reassembling the Senate, headed by
Vice Presldent Wheeler and Secretary Gorham,
proceeded to the House to attend the funeral of
the late Representative Hartridge, of Georgia
Upon returning to the chamber Senator Thur
man renewed the motion of this morning to
adjourn over until Monday. The Senate then
adjourned until tomorrow.