The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-03
LATEST 1'ELEGRAMS.
FoRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.
REGULAR SESSION.
SENATE.

Washington, 2.-Ferry, from the
postal committee, reported adversely
the joint resolution granting to con-
gressmen the franking privilege.
Indefinitely postponed.
The per cent. bill was considered.
Plumb's amendment to apply the
surplus revenues above 100000, 900
to reduction of the public debt was
debated.
After some debate Plumb's
amendment was lost, p to rs.
The debate upon the ratification
of the Window funding operations
was reopened on an amendment by
Teller declaring the new bonds
legal and valid obligations.
Vest opposed the ratification of
WINDOWS act. He wanted the
country to pass on the validity of
the bonds and the Republican party
to take the responsibility. He woke
up Window, who asked what was
the particular act the unconstitu-
tionality Of which he objected to.
Vest replied that the act which he
denounced was the act by which the
secretary Of the treasury, without
an act of Congress authorizing him
to do it, called on creditors holding
5 and per cent bonds, and said to
them, Will treat with you in regard
to the terms on which these bonds
shall be continued.
Windom-The secretary of the
treasury did no such thing.
Vest-The whole country knows
the position of that matter, and
there can be no mistakes about it.
Windom-But the senator himself
does not know it.
VestI will not let the senator
judge that for me. believe he has
violated the constitution and am
willing to leave that matter to the
people. Congress had pointed out
the way to meet The emergency of
the bonds falling due.
Windom-(In terrupting) right at
this point, l say the bonds did MT be-
come due. They were payable at
the pleasure of the government.
Vest-So much the better for my
argument. The sovereign power Of
the country had spoken In regard to
that. It had said the bonds were
to be funded in three per cents. The
secretary then had the alternative
either to let the bonds remain as
they were or fund at three per cent,
but he violated the constitutional
legislature in regard to the Obliga-
tons of government.
Window said at last, after his
urgent call for three days, for some
one to point out the law violated,
Senator Vest had specifically in
Dictated the law. 1t was a law which
the President vetoed, and which
never did become law.
Vest-If the gentleman is salts
fed with that statement l am. Let
it go to the country in that way.
Ingalls, took up the argument,
Vests view and cIai M
ing that though an alleged republi-
can president vetoed the per cent.
bill Congress had, nevertheless. ap-
proved the measure and it was in
realty an expression of opinion by
the people. WINDOWS argument
was fallaciOus, and his declaration
that the plan saved money was I'M
worthy of him, inasmuch as it was
illegal.
Window got the best of the argu-
ment on this point by asking what
ingalls, was going to do about this
bond transaction.
ingalls, replied that he proposed
to make it valid.
WindOm-You cannot say that if
you think the Constitution was
violated.
Ingalls-Well, l can violate it just
as well as you can.
Windom-Is it not the duty of
the Senate TO take some step to re-
fund the money uncOnstitutiOnally
withheld from these people?
Ingalls, don't think it is. l
would rather pay it out Of my own
pockets. (Laughter.)
WindOm-DOes the senator intend
to pay any part Of it out Of his own
pocket?
Ingalls, shall if my bill passes
to that effect. l shall pay my share
Of the taxes.
Window said, as ingalls, had
shown what force there was in his
own argument, he would only add
that 100000 to 100000 IS and
6s were continued in Europe, and
the houses that managed the ar
rangement had employed their best
legal talent. The question was
thoroughly examined and not one
lawyer in Europe had raised a ques-
ton or suggested a doubt as to til
power of this government to 90 as