National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-20
THE SENATE GOES IT ALONE
The House Having Taken Day OF 10 Re-
cuperate,
Having Remained in Session Over
Twenty Hours.
The Senators Continue 10 Enlighten the Public on
Finance
But Find Time 60 Pass n Few Unlm-
portant Bills.
THE SENATE.

ment is best adapted for the establishment OF a
government foundry.
Also, communication from the postmaster
general transmitting. In response TO senate reso-
luton, the opinion of the attorney general relat-
ing to postmasers salaries affected by the act of
March 3, 1888
The following bills were reported favoraby from
committees and placed on the calendar:
By Mr.. Cockrell, from the committed on military
affairs: To provide for the disposal Of abandoned
and useless military reservations.
BY Mr.. Dawes, from the committee on Indian
affairs Amending the provisions of the revised
statutes relating to timber depredatons.
Also, TO amend the provisions relating to tres
passers on Indian lands.
BY Mr. Logan: To define the title and duties of
certain officers Of the medical department oil the
Nj Morrill, from the committee on finance. re-
ported adversely the bill authorizing the pay
ment of customs duties In legal tender notes, bnt
asked that, in Difference to the wish oil another
senator, II be placed on the calendar. IL was SO
placed.
tirement of small legal tender notes.
Also. adversely, the bill authorizing the secre-
tary OF the treasury TO make final adjustment OF
claims of foreign steamship companies arising
from the illegal exacton of tonnage dues.
The two lust mentioned bills were indefinitely
Nj. Mcmillan, from the committee on the
judiciary, reported favorably an act TO fix the
times for holding the terms OF the circuit and dis
trct courts OF the United States In the northern
district OF Iowa.
l&The following bills were introduced and appro-
priately referred:
By Mr.. ingalls,: To amend the homestead laws
and classify the public lands. ,.
Also for the renef Of the SURVIVING members oil
company q, LIST United States artillery.
By Mr. Biair TO increase the pension Of SOL
diers and sailors for certain specific disabilities,
and for dis biities equivalent thereto.
The senate then proceeded TO the consideration
OF the unoDjected cases upon It's calendar under
the live minute rule.
versity Of Alabama from the public lands in said
state was read three times and passed. 1T gives
TO the university 46OSO acres in addition TO those
formerly given, to be applied TO tue erection OF
buildings and the restoration Of the library and
scientific apparatus
bill reported by Mr.. Van Wyck. from the
committee on pensions, granting pension to
Sally Mallory, widow OF a soldier of the revolu-
tonary war and OF the war OF 1872, was taken up.
IS to $50 II month"; The bill was read three times
and passed.
In the course Of debate OIL n bill to compensate
DR.. T. =. Valum, surgeon United States army, in
the sum of 500 for loss of personal effects by
wreck in 1856 OF vessel OIL which he had shipped
as passenger under detail from the secretary oil
war. Mr.. Plumb, in obecting, made the stale.
ment that the United States army Of on.y 25,OOO
men costs within half million OF dollars as
mucn us the German army OF 100000 men. so that
what the United States army lacks in numbers 1t
makes up in pay. Ours, he said, was the best
Mr.. Ingalls, strongly objected to the practice of
compensating men Tor loss of personal effects
owing 60 aGcidents while in the performance OF
duty The United States government was not all
insurance company, and soldiers were not paid
for loss of baggage in military service.
Mr.. Harrison aud Mr.. Cockrell said 1t was case
commencing itself 10 the grace OF congress and
had the preCedents Of many years to sustain it,,
Mr.. Harrison adding that no compensation was
made In such cases, EXCEPT for actual necessary
outfit. o,,,, 49,, ~,
practice were wrong.
The bill, however, was passed.
After the passage OF some further bills for pri-
yate relief the chair at o'clock. laid before me
the bill to provide for the issue OF circulation to
national banks.
Mr. Hale asked and received unanimous con-
sent to make the bill providing steel cruisers for
the navy the special order for Monday next at 2
MIR Bayard then addressed the senate in opposi-
ton to Mr.. flumbs amendment OH the currency
bill. That amendment, he said was test ques-
ton on the subject before the senate. 1t was II
proposition to .Alend to this government the ap-
pcatton of the principle Of governmental bank
ing. We hau heard much OF the national banks,
and there had been good deal of iiery and Hurled
rhetoric INDUCED in by the senator from Missouri
MIR. Nestl and the senator from Kansas Mt.
Plumb, and the supposed power of this monied
institution which is even alleged to have cast its
shadow over this chamber, and TO nave destroyed
the personal Independence of members OF the
senate that they were bound thand aud foot,
and compelled to obey the dictates, Whatever they
may be, of these supposed corporate giants. The
any five men in the country who could command
$4,000 could become partners in II. But gentle.
men Bwere strangely blind to the dangers of
the institution which they would set up in the
place of that which they would pull down. Of all
the propositions which nave been set up in favor
OF Capitalization none, Mr.. Bayard said. was COM
parable 10 the suggestion of tuning the treasury
OF the United States into u bank Of issue, and
controlling the volume OF the currency, not by
the commercial necessities of the people, but by
the accidental will OF All accidental majority in
either OF the TWO houses OF congress. He could
lot understand what gentlemen meant when they
protested dread of the aggregated power of CAPT.
lu. and at the same time were willing TO commit
this great question to the political department Of
the goyernment-that the eXigency OF party
should take the place OF commercial necessities,
and that power wholly commercial in its nature
Is tob controlled In It's operation by political party
action. Mr.. Bayard thought the measure reported
from the committee had been misundeI stood
by many persons in the senate chamber aud out
side IL had not been intended TO create a new
banking system, but to continue the principle OF
the present currency and banking system, intend
ing merely to give out a more liberal ratio OF cur
rency notes on the bonds held for security. HaY-
ing no personal interest in any bank, Mr.. Bayard
could not say whether the profits of the business
would induce the substitution Of a per cent. bonds
for per cents, as they called in and paid off
under The present law, but he believed that they
would be 50 used, and the law controlling their
use would be the commercial necessity for an ill.,
creased volume OF currency, and If that should be
assisted by taking the tax OFF circulation he was
the gentleman from Missouri MIR Vesti, he iMr.
Bayardl would find himself voting for it, He did not
tank, however, that the anticipated contraction
would occur, and II II did occur the present law
offered remedy for II. lie believed the PROPOSE
tiUn contained in the amendment OF the senators
from Kansas mfr. Plumb aud Missouri Mr..
Nesl WAS the suggestion oil u step toward central
i2atiOn of the most extreme characteristic crea-
ton Of power which, for his part, he SHOULD
never see created Willingly and he hoped the
senate would emphalicaly refuse its assent TO
those amendments What may be done or needed
when the debt of the United states should have
been paid we could better tell when that period
should arrive Twenty-three years lay between
us and that period He wOuld be false 10 his sense
OF duty and to all his convictions II he did not
raise his voice against the proposition to lodge
this power of banking in the government OF the
United Sntes
Mr.. Plumb said we were confronted with con-
ditiun Of things which seemed to demand some
remedy. The national bank system, which had
been so much lauded, and which had % adjust
Itself from time TO time, had contessedly failed to
perform that function. That was the substantial
reason way the finance committee rep rted tile
bill under consideration. II the system adjusted
senator from Delaware Mr.. Bayardl here adyo-
calling by the fiat OF legislation the addition OF
s35,0O0000 bodily to the circulation? 1t seems to
Mr. Plumb that this talk about the sell adj usIing
qualities OF the present banking system ought u
stup, Tor out OF the mouths of all It's promoters 1t
was in that respect condemned. He had no OBJ
lection TO the national banks continuing until, by
the extinction OF the national debt and the ces
satun of their charters they should disappear in
natural way. Bu we were met by threatened
contraction, and whatever else might be said
about his proposition, IL would certainly be ad-
nitted that II would make contraction impossible.
After some debate between Mr.. Mitchell and
Mr.. Plumb, the latter Withdrew his mod ,iicatiOn
of yesterday to the amendment formerly proposed,
aud meaning OF the section was that the volume
of paDer money outstanding. exclusive of gold