The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-02-03
CONGRESSIONAL
Lively Little spat Between Sem
ators Vest and Window.
Vest Declines to Give Honor and
Praise to One Who Window
And Window Attempts to Pull Down
That Serviceable Vest.
SENATE.


washington, Feb. 2.-Ferry from
the postal committee reported ad-
versely the joint resolution granting
congressman the Thanking privilege.
Indefinitely postponed.
The three per cent bill was con-
sidered.
Plumb's amendment to apply the sur
Mus of over S1O0, 600 600 to
the public debt was debated.
After some debate Plumb's amend
ment was lost by "a to IS.
The debate upon the ratification Of
the Window funding operations was
reopened on the amendment by Teller
declaring the new bonds legal and with
valid obligations.
Vest opposed the ratification Of Win
dom's acts. He wanted the country to
pass on the validity of the bonds, and
the republican party to take the respon-
sibility.
He woke up Window, who asked
what was the particular act, the uncon-
stitutionality Of which he objected to.
Vest replied, that which he de-
uounced was the act by which the
secretary of the treasury, without an
act authorizing him to do 1t, called on
creditors holding FIVE and six per cent.
bonds, and said TO them: 81 will treat
with you in regard to the terms on
which these bonds shall be continued"
Window: The secretary of the treas
ury did no such thing.
Vest: The whole country knows the
position of that matter, and there can
DO no complaint about it.
Window: But the senator himself
does not know it.
Vest: I will not let the senator
Judge that for me. 1 believe that he
has violated the constitution, and 1 am
willing to leave that matter to the peo-
pie. Congress had pointed out a way
to meet any emergency of bonds falling
due.
Window (interrupting): Right at
that point / wish to say that the bonds
did not become due; they were payable
at the pleasure of the government, and
they 30 stand to-day.
Vest: So much the better for my
argument. The sovereign power of the
country had spoken in regard to that.
1t had said that the bonds were to be
funded in three per cent. The secre-
tary then had no alternative, either to
let the bonds remain as they were or to
fund them at three per cent; but he
violated the constitution in undertake
ing to legislate in regard to the obliga-
tions Of the government.
Window: AT last, after my urgent
call for three days for some one to point
out the law violated, Senator Vest has
specifically indicated the law. 1t was
the law which the president vetoed, AMI
which never did become a law.
Ingalls, took up the argument, sup
porting Vests views, and claiming that
although a republican president had
vetoed the three per cent. bill, congress
had nevertheless approved the measure,
and it was in reality an expression Of
opinion by the people. He said Win
dom's argument was fallacious, and his
argument hat the plan saved money
was unworthy, inasmuch as 1t was lille.
gal.
Window got the best Of the argument
at one point, by asking what Ingalls,
was gong to do about this bond trans
action.
Ingalls, replied that he proposed to
make it valid.
y Window: You cannot say that, If
you think the constitution violated.
Ingalls,: Well 1 can violate 1t just
as well as you can.
Window: Is 1t not the duty of a sem
ator 10 take some steps to refund the
money unconstitutionally withheld from
these people.
ingalls,: 1 don't think it is; 1 would
rather pay it out of my own pocket.
Laughter.
Window: Does the senator intend
70 pay any part of it out of his own
pocketP
Ingalls,: 1 shall, IL my bill passes tc
that effect; 1 shall pay my share of thu
taxes.
Windom said as ingalls, had shown
what force there was in his own argu
ment, he would only add, that between
tprty-hve and fifty millions of Hves ant
SKIES were continued In Europe, ant
'he managers Of the arrangement EN-
pioyed upon 1t the best legal talen'
abroad. The question wa thorough
examined, and not one lawyer in Europ
nad raised a question or suggested
uouot as to the power of this govern.
ment TO do as 1t did. 1t had been re
served for the senator from Kansas
snd one or two Others more astute tina
any lawyers Of those great bankin
houses to raise this question,
hawley said he would vote for tb
a"endment. but would prefer to vot
,Ur a resolution declaring that wiliar
WINDOW late secretary of the treasur,
W saving many millions of Interest
nSo Violated no law, had conducted til
aesot'ations with wisdom and abilit,
.aa prominently identified himself wit
sne most brilliant transaction in moo
n nnance, and deserves we'll Of h
%sountry.