The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-12-15
NIGHT DISPATCHES.
A Violent and Destructive
Storm in England.
Proceedings Of the Republi-
can National Committee.
Interesting Debate in the q.
S. Senate.
MISCELLANEOUS. ETC. ETC.
MISCELLANEOUS. ETC. ETC.
Congressional.
SENATE.

Congressional.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IL, Val
Wick introduced q resolution callin,
upon the Secretary of the Treasury fo
copi-s of all various items of expens,
for special or assistant attorneys an(
detectives with names of parties sine,
March 4th. 1881, except such period a.
has oeen covered by information al
ready furnished the Senate.
The Senate took up the resolution
offered yesterday by Beck directing
the Secretary of the Treasury tC
furnish Information concerning the
sinking fund, and Beck addressed
the Senate, he said: ut is perfectly
apparent In the request of the Secre
tary of the treasury made in recent
report to keep up taxation beyond
the wants of the Government 80 at
least $4,000 600 he applied to the
sinking fund ought not to be com.
piled with and his own report
seems to furnish the basis for
the state ent. When the infor-
nation asked for is presented he
would show We have paid 500, ,OlN, 600
of the public debt. beyond what any
creditor can say in good faith is
required for the maintenance of the
sinking fund under any law or obli-
cation We had created. We ought
now to say what every creditor of the
United States Wants Us TO say, that
there Is no necessity in keeping up
taxation to the extent Of keeping up
$4,000 900 a year, which the secre.
tary recommends, but we ought to
allow outstanding bonds 10 remain a>
security for the circulation of Ma
tional Banks and such other pur-
poses as they are needed for. and We
ought to reduce taxation. He would
not say how. but in some proper
way we ought to give the penpie
relief from OnerOns taxat'"n. The
sinking und has been fully and
fairly provided for, he said, for
twenty years to come. The purpose
of the fund was to give assurance or
security that the debt woul be paid.
This it amply does aud would do
without the necessity of following
the recommendation of the Secretary
of the Treasury.
Sherman said he had no objection
to that or even t. y resolution "all-
ing tor information; but published
statements relating to the sinking
fund contain all material necessary
from which t. derive particulars the
gentleman from Kentucky (Beck)
desires. At the present rate the sunk.
ing fund will pay off the national
debt in about fourteen year. He be-
lieved the policy a good one which
preserves the sinking fuud intact.
There should be no interruption to
that policy except under extraOr1i-
nary pressure, which should be only
emporary and resumed at the earliest
moment and perseyered in until the
public debt is paid off to the uttel-
most farthing.
Bayard moved an amendment to
the resolution so that the call may
also he for a report showing under
precisely what provisions of law the
reduction of the public debt has been
effec ed.
Plumb thought the sinking fund at
the present time was more u matter
of bookkeeping.
The amendment of Bayard was
agreed to andthe resolution..as as amend
ed agreed to.
wilson called up his joint resolu-
ton proposing an amendment TO the
Constitution relating to the civil
rights ofcitizens and moved their ref
erence to the committee on judiciary.
The amendment proposed the follow
ing article: The amendment will be
numbered article l6. Congress shall
have the power by appropriate legis-
lation to protect citizens OF the U. >.
in the exercise aud enjoyment of
their rights, privileges and immuni-
ties and assures them equal protec-
ton of the laws.'
Wilson addressed the Senate in
support of the resolution he re-
viewed the civil rights legislation
which he said rendered necessary the
fact that the Constitution was not in
force itself out the supreme court OF
the United States had recently de-
cIared this legislation OF Congress
unconstitutional aud void and had
held it MS q state action that is
nrohibited by the Constitution, Is
not an undivided invasion Of indi-
vid,al rights. He quoted at lenglh
from cases decided by the court ana
combatted the doctrine when leo 10
Its conclusion that according TO tnis
theory all the state has TO DO was 10
remain inert, and refuse protectlon
to = citizen and the nation cannot
help him and this is called equal pr '.
teotlon of law and the enforcement OF
a Constitutional amendment. Inc
most tina, the Constitution ana laws
c.n do is to assure each cilizen an
eouaI chance with all others. L"
reach those ends the government was
orvanjzed, but no citizen mas al
euya! chance who has not equal pro-
t.cLivn 1t is his right to possess
both. 1t is due the government 10
assure both for justice is found III
the action of the government. j.
OAKLAND said the inc nsistency OF
the r, cent decision of the Supreme
Cnnrt was not to be found in The
oninion of majority OF that court,
hnt in that OF the minority, namely !:
Justice Harlan. II any peuple OF
This country had not equal pro,
ta,tion. laws should be framed
~;v;ny them. But how far
S,oneress could go IN throttllng
STATE. he is not now prepared 10 say
but hoped to be prepared when the
nronosi,ion comes up for debate.
The resolution was referred 10 the
judiciary Colnlnittee. Tho Con-
After an executive session the Sen
ate adjourned. ,, h.s III.
The Postmaster General mas oi.
rected postmastsrs 0 exchante i"r
the nubIlc. as applications are mace,
three aud six cent postage stamps
and stamped enveIores for Others Sa,, ,,s,',sd SI
different denominations Staihpeu
envelopes will oe exchanged at at full full
printed cards and special requests qnS
will be exchanged; also stamped
envelopes bearing printed addresses; lriss ~
stamns a nd envelopes issued prior 10
L. n~nh q God.