River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-03-02
CONGRESSIONAL.
SATURDAY. FEB. is.

Seaate-Not in session.
House-A bill to promote the efficiency of the
life-saying service was reported and the house
went into committee of the whole on the imme-
date deficiency bill, which approprates Sl,s22,-
9S3.
Quite an interesting discussion arose on the
silver question.
Mr.. Hewitt made vigorous attacks on the
standard silver dollar, characterlziDg il a cheat
and fraud, and fiat money in its worst and
Objectionable sense, and asserting it rendered
all commercial transactions cheating transac-
lions.
Messrs. Stephens and Marsh defended the
silver dollar, declaring it to be strue unit
of value. They characterized the act of
1873 as an act passed for the purpose of degrad-
ing silver, and Marsh declared that the cry that
the standard dollar was fraudulent was false in
fact and untrue in principle.
Mr.. Buckner also defended the standard dollar,
and after further discussion upon various items
the house. Passed, yeas l55, nays 26. Ad-
journed.
MONDAY, FEB. 20.
Sendte-Sen. Hale, from the census committee
reported favorably the house apportionment bill
and asked unanimous consent Tor its immediate
consideration
Sen. Vest objected, but the bill was taken up
and the amendments of the committee thereto
adopted without objection.
The discussion of the bill to retire Gen. Grant
interrupted disea ssion and when the doors opened
the senate adjourned.
House-Mr. Hewitt, rising TO question of
privilege referred to the recently published letter
of Jacob r. Shipherd TO Minister Hurburt, of
Peru and to the use of his (Hewitt'sl name as
being one of the gentlemen with whom ShipheId
claimed TO be in confidential negotiations. 1t was
proper TO say he didn't know Shipherd, had never
known him, and the use of his name by Shepherd
was entirely without his knowledge or consent.
He found on his desk one day circular
which may have related to his bust
ness, and which he threw into the waste basket.
He was authorized in behalf of August Belmont
to make the same disclaimer.
On motion of Mr.. Valentine, of Nebraska, the
bill was passed authorizing the secretary of war
to send TO Nebraska tents etc.. to be used at tho
soldiers reunion to be held at Grand Island, Ne
braska.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Cobb, of Indiana.
then considered providing that all silver coin
defaced or worn by ordinary use shall be received
by the government and paid for in perfect coin at
its original price.
TUESDAY,, Fen. 81.
iSenate.-Mr. Dawes, in presenting petition in
behalf of the Indians. said 100 900 persons had
signed similar petitions to that view before con-
gress, and he urged that so univeral demand of
wealthy, intelligent citizens should accomplish
its purpose and the nation should keep its plight
ed faith and treat the Indians justly.
Mr. Plumb denied that the position and
wealth of the petitioner should make them better
judges of what was wise and just in the treat
ment of Indians than we're the people who lived
among them. He pictured the lenency with
which crime-stained Indians had been treated
House-The comrrittee on territories this fore
noon agreed to the bill to divide Dakota and
make territory of north Dakota.
The ways and means committee this forenoon
directed Mr.. Kasson to report the tariff commits
sion bill to the house next Tuesday.
Ex- Attorney General MacVeagh as atterney
for the Pennsylvania railroad, to-day made an
argument before the house commerce committee
against Interstate commerce.
The house then went into committee of the
whole and passed the appropriation bill.
THURSDAY, Feb. 90.
Senate-The senate bill relating TO Indian
traders passed. 1t prohibits any person other
than an Indian from trading on any Indian res
ervation without license, but especially excerpts
traders with the five civilized tribes of the Indian
Territory. Senator Voorhees, resolution in
structing the committee on postoffices to inquire
into the propriety of amending the postal laws so
as to make the postal rates on all printed matter
issued by state boards of agriculture state statis
teal and geological reports and all printed
proceedings of state fairs same as the
present rate of newspapers, was adopted
The Grant retirement bill was taken
up and Senator Bayard moved to amend by sub
stituting therefor provision to pay every presi-
dent of the U. S. who shall have served or may
hereafter serve in said Office and who shall have
retired from the same. sum annually during
his life equal to one-fourth part of the presI-
Dental salary; but this will not be paid in case
of a second presidential term.
Sen. Bayard's amendment was rejected ayes
5, noes So.
The amendment by MIR. Sherman prevailed
without discussion, making the proposed re-
tirement additional to the number authorized
by law.
The bill then passed-ayes 35, noes II. Messrs.
Brown (Cal.), Davis Ql.), Jones (Fla.), and
Ransom voted aye with the republicans: other
wise the vote was party one.
House-Mr. Chalmers stated that, in conse-
quence of the overflow of the Mississippi river,
1000 colored persons starving, and he intro
duced a bill for government aid to the sufferers.
Referred.
Mr.. Page reported back resolution directing
the secretary of the treasury to give all the in
formation in his Office concerning unseaworthy
steamers. Adopted.
The house went into committee Of the whole on
the post Office appropriation bill.