Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-16
FORTY-ElGHTH CONGRESS-.
Second Session.
sen ATE.
WASHINGTON, L

the claims of postmasters for losses sustained
through fires and other causes for which they
were not responsible.
Also letter from the acting secretary OF
the interior, transmitting a report from the
commissioner of Indian affairs, setting fortt
the embarrassment that grows out of the pro-
visions OF the law requiring that the appropri'
ations for the support of the Indian industrial
school at Lawrence. Kan, shall be distrib-
uted upon basis of an allowance not to
exceed Sl75 for the support and education OF
each scholar. The report states that the
first cost of fitting up the school is much
greater than will be necessary afterward, and
suggests that for the present the limitation
referred TO be removed.
The communication was referred.
Mr.. Sherman. from the committee on H.
brary, reported favorably with amendments
bill providing for the erection of statue to
Gen. Lafayette.
Mr., Logan presented a large number of
petitions from tobacco and cigar manufactur-
ers and labor organizations of Illinois, New
York and other States, protesting against the
ratification of the Spanish treaty; also petit
tions signed by over 1900 eX-solders of the
Union army, praying that Congress purchase
for the capitol at Washington a portrait of
Gen Geo. II. Thomas, and recommending
thar it be executed by Miss Ransom.
Mr. Logan said he had seen the picture and
considered it an excellent likeness. The
papers were referred.
Mr. Miller of New York reported favOrably
from the committee on foreign affairs, bill
to authorize the President to accept the invi-
tations from foreign governments interna-
tional expositions, and TO appoint commits.
sioners thereto, and appropriating S25, 900 to
be at the disdosition of the President to cover
all necessary disbursements in such cases
The bill was placed on the calender.
The chair laid before the Senate Mr.. Van
Wyck's resolution heretofore offered relating
to the Spanish treaty, and requiring the com
mittee on rules 20 report rule providing fol
the consideration of the commercial treaties
in open session.
MIR. Miller of California said this matter
was under the consideration of the committee
on foreign relations, and he moved the refer
ence of the resolution to that committee.
Mr.. Hoar raised point of order that the
matter should be considered with closed
doors.
The Senate then at 1880 went into secret
session.
In fifteen minutes the doors reopened and
further remonstrances were presented against
the ratification of the treaty with Spain.
Mr.. Sherman inquired of the chair whether
twas proper to present them in open session
The chair held it was proper.
The bill for the admission of Dakota was
taken up.
Mr.. Garland submitted substitute for the
bill reported from the committee on terrific
ries One of the provisions of the substitute
provides for submitting to popular vote the
question of dividing the Territory.
After remarks by Messrs. Garland, Harri-
son and Vest, the bill was informally laid
aside at the request OF Mr.. Hill, in order that
he might address the Senate on the silver
question, apropos of the resolution recently
submitted by him, declaring it to be the
sense of the Senate that there was no reason
for the suspension of the coinage of the sill
yer dollar or of the issue of silver certlh-
Gates.
Mr.. Hill said the recommendations of the
President and secretary of the treasury re-
Gently made to Congress in relation to silver
were inopportine to an alarming degree, at
a time when falling prices proved that money
was deficient rather than abundant Gold
mono-metalism would increase both the value
of credits and the burden OF debts. If the
United States were absolutely a stationary
country, the annual coinage of twenty-eight
million silver dollars would finally derive out
some other kinds OF money; but S2S ,OoO,OO0
was much less than the annual increase OF
our total money during the past five years
1t was clearly less than the increase neces-
sary to keep up our prices. The time was
most inopportune for stopping the coinage of
silver, when our bank-note currency was
undergoing contraction. The situation in
respect to our paper money was admitted on
all sides to be grave. A volume of green
backs was fixed absolutely by law, while the
volume of bank-notes rendered to diminish
from the cancellation OF the government
bonds on which they rest. Their contraction
had not been seriously felt because their
place had been supplied by silver.
Mr.. Hill expressed the hope that the coun-
try would conclude to let the silver law alone
so long as it worked well.
Mr.. Sherman said he was one of those who
believed bi-metallsm to be the natural logic
of things. Ii was Impossible to make gold
and silver OF the same market value, because
for 2OOO years their relative values had been
changing. The experiment had been fairly
tried by the United States and had failed.
The silver dollar coinage law had been In
operation since 1873. The total number of
those dollars coined was l51,OOO,0OO. Of
that number only 100000 were now in
circulation. The balance remained in the
United States treasury. That showed that
the law OF Congress had not been able to
restore silver to its relation with gold. When
that Law took effect silver in the silver dollar
was worth 81 cents IN gold. Nov it was
l. 1,-h hAR.r and nnrAa twnS