Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-17
House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, April 16.-Under call of
committees, Mr.. Stephens, chairman of the
committee on coinage, weights and measures,
reported bill for the interchange of sub
sidiary coin for legal tender money in sums
of ten dollars and multiples thereof and
making such coin legal tender money in all
sums not exceeding TWEEN ty dollars. The re-
port of the committee states that the bill is
based upon petitions referred to the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Conger raised the point of order that
no bill on the subject had been referred to the
committee and therefore the committee had
no right to make report.
The speaker said the point at issue was
whether the committee had the right on
petitions appropriately referred, to propose
legislation. He was of opinion that any
committee had that right, and therefore
overruled the point of order.
The House then went into committee of
the whole, Mr.. Blackburn in the chair, on
the legislative appropriation bill, the pending
question being on Springer's amendment,
to insert what is known as the Potter bill,
which authorizes any person having claim
against the United States, not barred by any
statute of limitations, to file a bill in the
court of claims, to which Mr.. Young (Tenn),
had offered an amendment to strike out
words not barred by any statute of limita-
tions.
Mr.. Atkins offered substitute for Mr..
Springer's amendment. The substitute re-
peals the acts establishing the Southern
claims commission, the repeal to take effect
on the 10th of March, 1880; and it directs
the transfer of all cases then pending to the
court of claims. It then enacts the Potter
bill. A point of order was made on Mr..
Atkins substitute, which was argued and
overruled. The question was first taken on
Mr.. Young's amendment, and was rejected.
MIR. Springer then accepted Mr.. Atkins
substitute, and proceeded to argue in support
of it. He said in the last Presidential cam
paign an effort was made to alarm the public
mind on the subject of war claims, and make
the North believe the success of the Demo-
cratic party would bankrupt the treasury.
He believed that it was the desire of some
people, and perhaps gentlemen on the Re-
publican side, to keep that question still be-
fore the country as live one, on which to
again go to the country at the next Presiden-
tial election, and endeavor to excite people
on the subject of war claims. He did not
recollect single bill for the payment of war
claims that was passed in the last
Congress-, and there was not member on the
Democratic side who had favored the pay
ment of dollar to claimant who had not
been loyal during the late war, and no oppo-
sition of the kind was now made. He hoped
the amendment would be adopted, so that no
claim could hereafter pass that had not I'M
dergone the scrutiny of a court, every mem
Der of which was Republican, and then the
iIp ind i~, h. LII: Al
these claims were barred by judicial action.
Mr. Keifer opposed the amendment, mas
much as it would allow disloyal as we'll as
loyal claimants to present their cases and to
be paid.
Mr. Springer-Does the gentleman distrust
the court of claims?
Mr.. Keifer-We propose to stand ourselves
by loyal claimants of tho country, but now
| the proposition is to let in the claims of all
persons, whether loyal or disloyal.
| After some further discussion Mr.. Atkins
amendment was rejected, and the committee
| proceeded with the succeeding clauses of the
| bill. At 2:30 the committee had disposed of
all the bill except the portions especially re-
served for general discussion, being the pro-
visions in respect to the mode of selecting
grand and petit jurors, repeating the Jurors
test oath and also in respect to supervisors
of election and deputy marshals.
MIR. White raised the point of order
against the provision which repeats the test
oath and prescribes the manner of drawing
jurors. This provision is included in the
paragraph which appropriates money to the
supreme court of the United States district
and circuit courts, and reduces the per diem
of jurors. but it was held by Mr.. White that
it was competent for him to raise the
point of order which he had, in
asmuch as the proposition against
which it had been raised was separate
proposition, although in separate para.
graph. After debate the chair overruled the
point of order. An effort was made to
limit speeches to thirty minutes, but failed
Mr.. Bland said there were ninety-six names
on the list of those desiring to speak.
Mr.. Lewis opened the debate with lega
argument against the election laws. H,
denied that the South was solid for an,
illegal or unconstitutional purpose or out Of
antagonism to the North. Southern peopl,
needed help and sympathy too much TO
that.
Mr.. Sanford was the next speaker, and
when he concluded, Mr.. Kelly obtained tn
floor, but yielded to motion, which wa
adopted, that the committee rise.
Mr.. Gibson offered resolution for an in
crease of membership on Mississippi levee
from eleven to thirteen. Referred. Ad
journed.
FOUR PER CENTS.
:. 4 <,rrSf1r1 ADJ