The Portland daily press., 1882-02-20
XLVII tn Congress LIST Session.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IS.

WASHINGTON, Feb. IS.
The Speaker laid before the House a resolu-
tion of the legislative assembly of Utah reci-
ting that there are now pending in the Senate
and House of Representatives of the United
States bills having in view the disfranchise-
ment of certain citizens of Utah and the ap-
pointment of commission irresponsible to
the people, but empowered to control the
affairs of the territory, asking Congress in the
name of the declaration OF right which cost so
much precious blood, the grand provisions of
the constitution and the stars and stripes
which have been so often baptised in fire to
reflect and investigate before responding
to the wild, unreasoning pressure OF public
opinion wrought up by misguided and mis-
informed religious influences, the promoters OF
which desire to rivet on the limbs OF citizens OF
Utah territory the chains slavery, and praying
Congress not to resort to extreme measures
hurtful in their application but to appoint
commission of honorable gentlemen to go to
Utah to investigate the affairs of that territory
with power to send for persons and papers.
Referred to the committee on Judiciary.
Mr.. Shallenberger of Pennsylvania present.
ed the petition of the American Baptist Home
Mission representing 1,Cc0,000 persons asking
Congress to take early measures to prohibit
polygamy throughout the United States Re-
ferred to the judiciary committee.
MIR. Townsend of Ohio, from the committee
ON commerce, reported bill to promote the
efficiency of the life saving service and saving
of life from ship wreck. Referred to the COM
mittee of the whole.
Oh motion of Mr.. Martin of Delaware the
Senate bill was passed making an approprla-
ton of $4,000 for the base and pedestal of q
monument to the late Rear Admiral Samuel
Francis Dupont, U. S. Navy.
The morning hour was dispensed with and
the House at 1885 went into committee OF the
whole (Mr. Bayne of Pennsylvania in the
chair) on the immediate deficiency bill which
makes an APPROPRIATION OF y1, 81, 9S3.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Holman MIR.
Hiscock, chairman of the appropriation COM
mittee, stated that the deficiency of $4G0,C00
for public printing arose through no fault of
orders made upon it by Congress The estimate
of the deficiency was $S00,000.
Mr.. Cox agreed with Mr.. Hiscock that the
fault lay more with Congress than with the
public printer and contended the same held
good in regard to every department OF the
government
Mr.. Springer argued that some law should
be enacted to reform certain abuses which
existed in printing establishments such as con-
tinuance of branches of office in various de-
partments.
Mr.. Dunnell of Minnesota suggested as a
gentleman from Illinois was now member OF
the committee on printing he should in
augurate reform in any abuses existing
Mr, Atkins said it was essential to have the
printing office at the Treasury Department be-
cause it was necessary that confidential papers
should be printed there. The cause of the
great cost of the public printing was in
great measure the extravaganza of the COM
mittee on printing of the last Congress. Over
the clause in the immediate deficiency bill APP
pFopriating $4,000 for the construction of
vanlts in the treasury and sub-treasury quite an
interesting discussion arose upon the silver
question.
Mr.. Hewitt of New York made q vigorous
attack upon the standard silver dollar, charac-
terizing it as cheat aud fraud and fiat money
in its worst and most repulsive and objection
able sense and asserting it rendered all COM
mercial transactions cheating transaction.
Messrs. Stephens and Marsh earnestly de-
Tended the silver dollar, declaring that it was
the true limit of value They characterized
the act of 1873 as an act passed for the purpose
of degrading silver, and Mr.. Marsh declaring
that the cry that the standard dollar was
fraudulent was false in fact and untrue in
principle.
Mr.. Springer offered an amendment for the
issue of certificates on silver bulletin, but it
was ruled out on point of order
The clause paying $500 extra salary to the
deputy commissioner and $4,000 to the chief
clerk was ruled out.
Amendment was adopted authorizing the
renting of building in Washington for a
postal money order department
A discussion followed on an amendment to
rebuild the Jefferson school recently burned,
which was adopted.
The committee rose and reported the bill to
the House and it passed.
At $50 the House adjourned.