Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-20
FORTY-S.XTH CONGRESS.
House of Representatives.
THE PETITION BOX,

WASHINGTON, April 19.-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-
PLANTATION was made by the Speaker to the
reasons why he had directed this to be done,
the principal being that under existing
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 chair
and mem bers presenting petitions as to their
proper references. 1t was 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
mittee on rules.
SUBSIDIARY SILVER COIN.
The subsidiary silver coin bill then came up
as 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.. Garfeld's amendment to increase the
amount at which coins can be presented for re-
rejected. Mr.. Garheld's amendment to substi-
tute 'lawful money Of the United States" for
illegal tender money" was agreed to. Mr.
Springer's amendment making subsidiary silver
coin a legal tender to the AMOUNT of twenty
dollars instead of ten dollars, as in the BILL was
agreed to by standing vote of lob 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
ed printed, and the bill went over until the
morning hour Tuesday.
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 are of the same value. There the
trade dollar 42O, standard of 4l215 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 silver dol
lar of 4l25 grains, half dollars of 2O614 grains,
quarters of 1885 grains, dimes of 1923 grains,
and that all of them shall be legal tender for
any sum whatever. The second section makes
silver coins exchangable in sums of 80 and its
multiples for United States legal tender mouey.
The third section provides for like ex-
change Of trade dollars and Mexican
dollars containing than .37 grains pure
silver. The fourth section authorizes the
holder of silver bullion or silver foreign coin
to receive for it legal tender money at the rate
of one dollar for every Biz 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 al
legal tender silver coins in the treasury, OF
that may come into it, first, to the payment OF
interest on United States bonds; second, tc
the payment of the principal of such bonds a:
they fall due; and third the purchase of bonds
that are not due. The seventh section directs
the secretary of the treasury, in exchanging
legal tender notes for silver, to pay out tel
and two dollar notes till he shall have paid out
$5,00O,0 900.
GARFIELD 8 PROPOSITIONS.
Mr.. Garfield expressed himself as favorabl
to the general scope of the bill, but desired t.
offer some amendments to it in its details
The first amendment was to increase tn
amount at which subsidiary silver coins ma,
be presented for exchange, from $40, as in tn
bill. to $50.
Mr.. Garfield also suggested that the word
legal tender money should be changed int
lawful money of the United States, which
the term used in law. His only serious objec
ton to the bill was to the third section, an
he would strike that out
POINT OF ORDER.
Mr.. Hawley made a point of order on NJ
Mills substitute. Decision reserved.)
Mr.. Springer submitted an amendment max
ing the trad dollars legal tender to the ex
tent of $40.
Mr.. Morton hoped the bill was to pass.
was in the interest of the people, of every mai
woman and child possessed of single piece c
fractional coin. The government issued thos
coins at par and should redeem them at par.
Mr.. Garheid's amendment providing for tn
redemption of subsidiary coin when presente
in sums of $50, was defeated-yeas So, nay
not counted.
MIR. Gar6eld's amendment substituting tt
words lawful money OF the United States fl
legal tender money! was acceded to.
Mr.. Springers amendment increasing tt
legal tender quality of subsidiary silver coin
800 was agreed to-yeas 1913, nays 103.
Mr.. Stephens offered motion to reconside
Mr.. Warmers amendment that subsidiary col
shall be legal tender for all debts public an
private in all sums not exceeding $2
agreed to.
The House having reached Mr. Syringe,
amendment, making the trade dollar leg
tender in sums not exceeding 800, Mr.. Ret
raised the point of order that the question W
not germane, and Mr.. Springer withdrew tt
amendment saying he understood bill wou
be reported from the coinage commit
making trade dallars legal tender.
The morning hour having expired, vario
amendments making trade dollars legal tende
and for issuing fractional money, were offere
and then the bill. with the pending amen
ments, including Mills substitute, went ov
without action.
PUSSY FRYE.
Tho &ho, 80. e
whole, Mr. Blackburn in the chair, on the lie
islative appropriation BILL and Mr.. Price, wi
was entitled to the floor, yielded to Mr., Fry
who said that in connection with the misunde
standing which had taken pl zee Yesterday b
tween the gentlemen from Kentucky and Obi
Blackburn and Mckinley, in regard to t.
proper construction of Blackburn's speech,
desired to read to the House the constructi
put on that s, eect in Mississippi by the M
famous paper, the OkolOna States, which he
ceived through the mail. He thereupon re
with great emphasis the following extra
from that paper of the 10th of April, prefaci
it with the sta ement that the article was CO
plimentary to the gentleman from Kentucl
and therefore that gentleman would take
effense at it: What 1t that brave j
Blackburn said in the House. Messrs. So
thils? Oh yes, we remember now. He
marked that party would strike the Il
vestige of measures from
statute books. The States never said more, a
never said less than that. You repudiate I
States. Will you repudiate Blackburn? Y
are silent. Will you repudiate Blackbur
You are still silent Well gentlemen, we "
give you just more chance; answer or
ever after hold your peace as far as the Sta