The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-06
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.

Routine Business-Mr. Bayard Strongly OPP
poses Continued Coinage of Silver.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-Mr. Sherman introduced
bill toprovide for striking medals to commemor
ate the completion of the Washington monu-
medal shall be given each senator, representa-
tive and Governor of the States and Territories,
and ten thousand medals shall be struck off for
sale to the general public at cost.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered the following resolu-
ton, which was agreed to-
Resolved That the Secretary of the Interior be
quested to inform the Senate what amounts due
the United States on Dec 81 1882, from the Union
Pacific railroad; also, what amounts have become due
from that date until Dec 81, 1884 according to the
rule laid down the decision lately made between the
United States and said railroad in the Court of Claims;
also whether the annual settlement made Feb. l.
1888 as provided in the Thurman act
Mr. Sherman offered the following resolution,
which was agreed to:
Resolved That the committee on the judiciary be
directed to inquire and report to the Senate to
whether legislation is required, and, if So what in
gard to the appointment of courts-martial and the
regulation of proceedings and practice in trials before
such courts in time of peace and whether under ex
listing law, officer may be tried before courtmar-
tial appointed by the President in where the
commander of the accused officer to be tried is not the
accuser.
Another resolution, offered by Mr.. Sherman,
was agreed to, calling upon the Postmaster
general for information as to the number of
clerks occupied on the matter of the adjustment
of postmasters salaries, and the progress made
with the work.
A bill was passed authorizing construction of
a bridge across the Mississippi at Memphis.
The Senate then took up the bill to quiet the
title of settlers on the Des Moines river lands,
but at o'clock this was displaced by the bill for
re0emDtlOn dollar DSiO
of coinage of the standard dollar, and upon this
Mr.. Bowen took the floor. He argued that the
true policy OF the United States was to develop
the resources of their own country, and leave
other nations to look out for themselves. Above
all, it was important to maintain the balance OF
trade in favor even if for this purpose it
should become necessary to increase tariff duties
and to shut out all foreign luxuries.
abroad and in time there would be sufficient
to retire every legal-tender note and leave us
with currency composed exclusively of gold
and silver. 1t should be clearly announced
that silver production was one of the indus
tries of the United States and that the Nation
would be planted on that platform and would
not get off it. Mr.. Bowen opposed the Senate
committees amendment to the House BILL and
hoped the House bill, providing merely for the
redemption of the trade dollar would be passed
by the-Senate, and that the Senate provision to
suspend coinage Of the standard dollars would
not be adopted.
Mr.. Bayard strongly opposed redemption of
the trade dollar at its face value Indeed he
objected to the word redemption" in connection
with It, Trade dollars were in the same cate
CORY with silver bars. 1t was to Mr.
Bayard paradox how men could ask
in the name of justice to receive
less for more; yet we are told the honor Of the
country was at stake. This so-called 'redemp-
ton would be departure from the landmarks
of the government-paSsing from the real and
tested to the unreal and imaginary If Ameri-
can people could learn at the expense of Sc, 000.
| 600, 49, 100000 or So coo, 900, the simple truth
that lay at the bottom of this question, great
lesson would be learned even economically for
the great question was. Can Congress create
values!' (Which of you, by taking thought can
add cubit to his statureT' Which of the ma
jority of you, by passing laws from now till
doomsday, can create value2 Could we create
values by congressional fiat? Could Congress
say Let value be. and value would be? Con-
gress had already tried it. With 1000 900
of men in the field Congress had issued notes
having their value stamped upon them, yet it
had been unable to keep those notes at half their
face value. This was not question, Mr.. Bay
ard continued, in which party should be arrayed
against party. Truth was truth. There was no
obligation, equitable or legal upon the United
States to redeem" AS it was called, the trade
dollar. Mr. Bayard advocated suspension of
the silver coinage act He would favor more
prompt suspension than that provided by the
Senate committee amendment under considera-
ton, but. If the present measure was the best
that could be had, he would support it. Mr.
Bayard added that, in dealing with the subject
| OF money, no experiment. should be tried
the just and admitted laws of business
should be recognized. Those who would suffer
most by silver monometasm were the iaborers
those who could not bide their time. An ap-
prehension existed in the business community
Mr.. Bayard sad-excited whether rightly or
wrongly-of the evils stated by Secretary Nc
Culloch as likely to follow any approach to mon
ometallsm on behalf of silver. There were
laws of commerce that could not be set aside
TO be sure, the Supreme Court had said that
Congress could destroy every pecuniary obliga-
ton expressed in the lawful money of the United
States. Mr.. Bayard did not wish to comment
| further upon that remarkable and startling de-
cision but there was one thing Congress and the
Supreme Court, and all the armies that could be
raised could not do, and that was to create or
maintain a value against the belief of the per-
son to whom 1t was rendered. Mr.. Bayard be-
heved that all the currency necessary for the
United States at the present time was here
Adjourned