Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-06
FORTY-SIITH CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, January 6.

SENATE.-Nery few Senators were present
when prayer was offered at noon to-day The
reading OF the journal was deferred for several
minutes until apparently quorum was
present.
The Vice President submitted the response OF
the Postmaster General 10 Senate resolution
calling for Information concerning changes or
laws affecting the Post Office department
Mr.. Eaton. from the committee on appropria-
ff0n. reported with amendments the consular
and diplomatic appropriation bill. Placed Oh
the calendar.
Mr.. Vest. by request. introduced a bill au
thorizing the construction OF bridge Owe tn
Missouri river at Howells Ferry, Missouri. Ii -
ferred.
Mr.. Davis QlL) introduced bill 10 amen.
section !, ,S5l k. s.. and also TO amend sect -
OF the acr amending the statutes In relation
the immediate transportation OF dutlable COOS.
Referred.
The Senate proceeded to consider the cal, q
dar, the 11rst bill being one to punish tramp. iu
the District OF Columbia.
Pending debate the morning hour expired
The army appropriation bill was read twice
and referred 10 the committee on appIop prla
tions.
The Senate resumed consideration OF the bill
for the relief OF Ben Holiday.
Mr.. Garland spoke In favor OF the bill.
HOUSE.-On motion OF Mr.. Tucker the morn
ing hour was dispensed with, and at 1920 the
House went into committee OF the whole (Mr.
Covert In the chair ION the funding bill. The
only arrangement In regard TO the limitation OF
the debate was that which was made before the
holidays, which limited the general discussion
TO one day.
Mir. Kelley took the floor In opposition to the
bill. Ii had been stated that the only question
presented was whether Congress would have
the sagacity and honesty TO borrow at three
per cent the money required to pay bonds
which We're carry ing six and five per cent in
teTest. There had never been a more mislead-
ing statement made to Congress and the coun-
try. The question which would come up was
whether the government could pay this debt
without borrowing moLey. S60.000,0o0 year
the government had paid an average of within
three millions OF that sixty millions. and within
tie year just closed 1t had paid nearly S74 600,
COO Was the government In a position In
which Ii was necessary to borrow money, in d
position in which the land and labor OF the
United States must be nortgaged either for fir
teen, twenty or forty years In order 10 get
money to pay Sos. COG. 600 In the next ten or
eleven years? That was the question. ana NOT
the one stated by the gentleman from New
| York (Mr. Chittenden) as to whether the gov
| ernmeht had the sagacity or honesty to borrow
| money at a lower rate. He was not opposed TO
| rounding IL the government would retain its
| option. Hence he would III due time ask for a
| vote on his bill, which authorized temporary
| loans QoaDS redeemable Ia one or two years. 10
| supply any deficiency, should any be FUND in
| the current revenues, a thing OF which he had
no apprehension. The gentleman from New
| York (Mr. Chittenden) would cay ''Wil you pay
| six per cent when you can borrow at three pei
| cent?" Three per cent for forty years, as the
committees bill proposed, was one hundred
and twenty per cent. OF the S637, 100000 to be
provided for the 100000, 600 OF skies would b.
| paid In little over three years. The interes,
on that SOC. .0O0 600 would be but nine per cent
| not one hundred and twenty per cent In The
| name OF the one nation which stood as an eX
emplar to the oppressed people Of the world hs
| appealed to Congress TO do no wanton aci
| which would lead them to believe that fu con
sidered na,tonaf0ebt to be a national bless
ing, and was willing to pay for the privilege o.
| perpeluating it. The cost or the payment o
should remain unabated by preceding pay
| mentS until July 1sD would be $S23, ,OO6. 900
That was allowing for annual payments or In
| Jerest at the end OF the year, and allowing TO
| the lmpossibil1ty OF the Secretary OF the Treas
uly boarding the surplus revenue Throughout
the year instead Of making weekly or MONTH,
| payments. The real cost would not be mucl
| over $500 00O, COO.