The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
TIE FORTY-EIGmTR CONGRESS-
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-Mr. Van
Wyck offered resolutions calling on
the secretary of the treasury for copies
of all vouchers and items of expense
of special or assistant attorneys and
detectives, with NAMES of the parties,
since March 4, 1881, except such period
as has been covered by information
furnished the senate.
Senate took up the resolution Of
fered yesterday by Senator Beck, di-
recting the secretary of the treasury
to furnish information concerning the
sinking fund, etc. Senator Beck, in
addressing the Senate, said: 1T is per-
fectly apparent that the request Of the
secretary of the treasury, mace in his
recent report, to keep up taxation be-
yond the wants of the government. so
at least 100000 can be applied to
the sinking fund, ought now to be
complied with. His own report
seems to furnish the basis stated.
when the information asked
for is presented. He shows
that we have paid S700,OO0,0O0 on the
public debt beyond what any creditor
could say, and good faith was required
for the maintenance of the sinking
fund under any law or obligation we
had created. We ought row to say,
what every creditor in the United
States wants us to say, that there is
no necessity OF keeping up Il taxation
to such an extent and then provide
$50,000,OO0 year, which the secretary
recommends, but ought to allow the
outstanding bonds to remain as secu-
rity for the circulation of national
banks and such other purposes as
they may be needed for. We ought
to reduce the taxation. He would not
say how, but in some proper way we
ought to give the people relief from
the present enormous taxation. and
that the sinking fund ought to be full
ly and fairly provided for, he said,
for twenty years to come. The pur-
pose of the fund was to give assur-
ance or security that the debt would
be paid, and this it amply does, and
would do, without the necessity of
following the recommendation OF the
secretary.
Sherman said he had no objection
to the resolution calling for Informa-
ton, but the published statements re-
lating to the sinking fund contain all
the material necessary from which to
derive particulars. The gentleman
from Kentucky (Beck) desires, at the
the present rate of the sinking fund,
to pay off the national debt in about
fourteen years. He believed the pol
icy good one, which preserved the
sinking fund intact, and there should
be no interruption of that policy
except under extraordinary pressure
which should be only temporary and
resumed at the earliest moment and
preserved in until the public debt was
paid off to the utmost farthing.
Senator Bayard moved an amend
ment to the resolution so that it may
call also for report showing under
precisely what provisions of the law
the reduction of the public debt has
been effected.
Senator Plumb thought thu sinking
fund at present was matter vi L-.=l
keeping. The people were anxious
the debt be paid off as rapidly as pos
s1ble. They do not keep up the debt
for the purpose of maintaining the
national banking system.
The amendment Of Senator Bayard
was agreed to, and the resolution as
amended was agreed to.
Senator Wilson called up his joint
resolution proposing an amendment to
the constitution relating to the civil
rights Of citizens, and removed refer
ence to the committee on judiciary.
The resolution proposes the following
article to the amendment, to be num-
bered article Is: Congress shall have
power by appropriate legislation to
protect citizens of the United States
in the enjoyment of rights, privileges
equal protection of laws" Mr.. Wilson
resolution. He reviewed civil rights
legislation which he said was rem
dered necessary by the fact that the
constitution did not enforce itself,
but the supreme court of the United
States recently declared this legisla-
ton of Congress unconstitutional and
void, and held that it is state action
that Is prohibited by the constitution
not Individual invasion of indi-
vidual rights. lie quoted at length
from cases decided in that court, and
combatted the doctrine that led to its
conclusion. According to his theory
all state has to do is to remain inert,
to refuse protection to a citizen, and
the nation cannot help him, and this
lS Cdl1cu GU udl PIOtcCIlOA ny law anu
the enforcement of the constitutional
amendments. The most that
the constitution and laws can
do is to assure each citizen
an equal chance with others,
but no citizen has an equal chance
who has not equal protection. 1t is
his right to possess both, and it is the
duty of the government to assure him
both, for justice is the foundation
of the government.
Mr.. Garland said the inconsistency
in the recent decision of the supreme
court was not to be found in the
opinion of the majority of that court,
but in the minority-namely, Justice
Harlan. If any people in the country
had not equal protection he was in
favor of giving it to them; but how
Congress could throttle any state he
was not now prepared to say, but
hoped to be prepared when the ques-
ton comes up for debate.
The resolution was referred to the
judiciary committee.
After executive session the Senate
adjourned.