Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-13
CONGRESSIONAL,
SENATE.

Tered a resolution calling on the Secrs-
tary OF the treasury for copies of all
the varioas items of expense for special
or assistant attorneys and detect ives
with the names of tue parties, since
March 4, ISL, except such period as mas
been covered by Information already
furnished the Senate.
The Senate took up the resolution of
fered yesterday by Beck, directing the
Secretary of the Treasury TO furnish in
formation concerning tue condition of
the sinking fund, ETC., AID Beck ad-
dressed the Senate. He said 1t ,s
perfectly apparent that the request of
the Secretary of the Treasury, made in
his report, to keep up taxation beyond
the wants of government, so that a,
least S:O,OOO,UOO can be applied to the
sinking fund, ought not to lie complied
with, and his Own report seems to fur
nlsh the basis for the statement that
when the information asked for is pre-
sented 1t Will show that we have paid
SIUUO,UD0 of the public debt heyond
what any creditor can say good
faith required for the maintenance of
the sinking fund under any law or
obligatioA We had created. We might
now say what every creditor of the
nited States wants us to say, that
there Is no necessity of keeping up tax
alton to the extent of providing for the
nifty million per year which the Secre-
tary recommends, but that We ought TO
allow the outstanding bonds to remain
as security for the circulation of the
national banks, and for such other pur-
poses as they are needed for. and We
ought to reduce taxation. He would
not say how, but III some proper way.
We ought to give the people
relief from the onus of taxation. The
sinking fund has been fully and fairly
provided for for twenty years to come.
The purpose of the fluid is to give assar-
ance or security that the debt will be
paid. This it amply does, and would do
without the necessity of following the
re commentator of the Secretary of
the Treasury"
Sherman said he had no objection
whatever to the resolution calling for |
information, but the published state
ments relating to the sinking funds |
contain all the material necessary from
which to derive the particulars. 1.-The |
gentleman from Kentucky Beck des- |
sires at the present rate that the sink
ing fund shall pay off the national debt
In about fourteen years" he believed |
the policy good one which preserved |
the sinking fund interest. There
should be no interruption to that policy |
except under extraordinary pressure,
which should be only temporary. and it |
moment and persevered in until
the public debt is paid off to the utter
most farthIng.
,nnyal an amendment <n tha
resolution SO that it may call also for q
report showing under precisely what
provisions the laws for the reduction of
the public debt have been effected.
Plumb thought the sinking fund at
the present time "A mere matter of book |
keeping.
The amendment of Bayard was
agreed to, aud the resolution rs amend
ed agreed to.
Wilson called up his joint resolution
OH the proposing an amendment to
the Constitution relating to the civil
rights of citizens, and moved its refer
ence 10 the Committee on Judiciary. Ehe
resolution proposes the following article
"a an amendment. 1t is numbered ar
ticle Ii: Congress shall have power by
appropriate legislation to protect citi-
,ns OF the United States ia the increase
and enjoyment of rights, privileges and
immunitles, and to assure them the
equal protection of the laws"
Wilson addressed the Senate in sup
port OF the resolution. He reviewed the
civil rights legislation, which, he said,
was rendered necessary by the fact that
the constitution was not IN force itself
but the Supreme Court of the United
States had recently declared this legis-
on by Congress unconstitutional and
void, and held that it is State action,
and that this IL prohibited by the con-
stitution. He quoted at length from
cases decided in that court and combat
ted the doctrine which led to its conces-
sion according to the theory that all a
State has to do Is To remain inert and to
refuse protection to citizens, and the
nation cannot help them. This is called
equal protection of the law and the en-
forcement of the constitutional amend
Inents. The most that the constitution
and the laws can do is to assure each
citizen of an equal chance with all 9th
ers to roach those ends which govern
ments are organized to promote.
but no citizen has an equal
chance who has not All equal
protection. 1t is his right to possess
beth Ii is due the government to as
sure both, for justice is the foundation
of government.
Garland said the Inconsistency Of the
recent decision of the Supreme Court
was not to be found in the opinion of
the majority of that court, but in that
of the minority. Justice Harlan. If
any people of this country had not
equal protection under the laws, he
favored giving them such: but how far
Congress should go in throttling the
State he was not now prepared to say.
bu; hoped to be prepared when the
proposition shall come up for deb.te.
The resolution was referred to the
judiciary committee. and after an exec
utive session the Senate adjourned.
NAsSNCHlsETTs TEMPE4ANl T.