The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-01-16
CONGRESSIONAL.
FORTY,FIFTH CONGRESS,
SENATE.
MAshInRton, D. .C, Janu

Washington, D, @ January o.
Mr.. Bayard moved that when the Senate ad
journ to.day It be to meet on Monday next. Re-
jected by rising vole-yeas II, nays&,
message was received from the House an
nouncing the funeral of the late Representative
Haruidge Of Georgia, would take place in the
hall Of the House at three O'Clock and inviting
the Senate TO be present. resolution accepting
the inyiienonEas agreed to-
sEoRETARYsHERMAN's VIOLATION OF LAW,
Mr.. Beck made violent attack on Secretary
Sherman, claiming that he had, in violation Of
law and his known duty, contracted the currency
by retiring notes Of small denominations and re-
Issuing money In notes Of large denominations
He insisted that the identical notes should be re.
Issued unless too greatly mulllated and then, by
duplicates. Sherman's treatment OF silver aud
his relations with the syndicate also came IN for
denunCiatOn. He quoted from the answer OF the
Secretary aud spoke Of It's nonsense. He showed
6caut respect for the Senate and noue for the law
Tho Sc 'retary was the trustee and agent Of the
people and not Of the creditors Of the Government
He had no right 10 allow the bOndhOderS To say
In what coin they would take their interest.
INTEREST BEARING DEBT INCREASED.
Mr.. Beck then argued that the Secretary had
increased the interest bearing debt Of the United
States SlQ5 ,0OOOOO This was not very Aatterlng
exhibit when business of all kinds was so de-
pressed. Unless the Secretary could show some
law authorizing him to divert silver coin from the
purpose for which II was intended he was guilty
OF Official misconduct 10 short time, the III
nance Committee would be controlled by new
men, and then 1t would be seen whether the Sec
reary Of the Treasury could violate the law as he
Dpt IA ha Aa IN Oha
the law. Halfthe deficiency bills annually be-
fore Congress arose from disregard of law He
argued that there had been a contraction Of the
currency; that the last report Of the Treasurer
showed legal tender notes OF denominations from
one to fifty dollars in circulation on the 30th of
June last were s1O9l4 900 below the amount out
standing uDon that date in 1877, and the 500 notes
were So 07 900 less than were in circulation in 1917
Now /. was the purpose Of the secretary to issue
large notes ana further contract the currency by
substituting them for small ones He (Beckl tho't
II dOuJLful that one half the outstanding legal
tender notes were In circulation
II the Secretary should be allowed to convert
smaller notes into larger ones aud not Issue silver
COiu the people would soon have no currency ex
Cept that which the National Banks supplied,
He (BeCk) had fought as hard as any one to make
the 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 re.
ceive those notes IN violation OF law as he was
now doing. The notes should be received In aC- |
COrdanCe with law aud not in plain violation OF |
It, He wanted such measures adOpted as would |
mpe the secretary of the Treasury to carry out
existing law aud let him know that be was an |
agent Of Congress to carry out the laws whether |
he liked them or not Mr.. Beck quoted at sOme |
length from the speeches of Secretary sherman |
when Il memner OF the Senate TO show that he ad. |
vocated the punishment Of public officers failing
to execute the laws,
Mr. Wadlegh defended the Secretary
At the conclusion of his remarks the Senate |
went iuto Executive session, aud when the |
doors were reopened took recess until three |
o'clock.
Upon reaSSembling, the Senate headed by Vice |
President Wheeler and Secretary GOrham, pro.
Ceeded to the hall of the House to attend Tue fu |
neral of the late Representative Hartrdge Of |
Georgia. Upon returning tO the Chamber, Mr., |
Thurman renewed the motion of this morning to |
adjourn over uutil Monday Rejected.
The Senate then adjourned uuul to morrow.