Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-05

with the greatest severity upon the
workingmen Of the country, who would
suddenly find their wages largely re-
duccd by cheaper mode of legsl-ten-
der payment. The employees OF the
United States are better paid than in
any European country, and the
London Times, in speaking on this
subject September IL, 1888. says
with regard 20 the remuneration
Of labor, assuming the produce of labor
TO be 100 in Great Britain, Sc parts go
to the laborer, 81 to capital, and % to
the Government. In France Al parts
20 to labor, &c to capital, and 90 to the
Government. In the United States ~
parts go to labor, % to capital, and D
TO the Government
"This shows for any depreciation oil
the currency which may at any time
arise that the laboring men OF the coun-
try must bear the brunt Of the loss.
Capital will lose something, and the
Government will also lose something
by the loss occasioned through cheaper
currency. with which customs-duties
must be paid but labor will lose near
ly three times as much as both capital
and the Government. OF all the. mea-
sures which may affect the welfare oil
the laboring men there are none more
insidious or more disastrous than those
which tender remuneration for labor
in a deprecated currency or a currency
below that Of the standard OF value
throughout the civilized world. We
cannot too carefully guard against such
a far-reachiDg disaster. believe the
measure before us will be some
contribution, not so great perhaps as ]
could wish. toward the preservation OF
both gold and silver as common
standard Of the money of the American
people. and | leave the subject only
commenting it to the deliberate Judg-
ment Of the Senate"
Mr.. Beck said the bill as reported
was not by any means the unanimous
opinion of the Finance Committee.
The debate on the bill then closed for
the day. 1t will be the unfinished
business for tomorrow. Mr.. Bowen,
of Colorado, having the right to the
floor.
Mr.. Blair made two attempts through
the day to secure the consideration OF
the anti-foreign contract-labor bill,
stating that many State Legislatures
had memorialized Congress for its pas
sage, and that its passage at this SEES
sion was urgently demanded. The bill
was not taken up, however.
Executive session. Adjourned.
House OF Representatives.
Under the new rule adopted yester-
day, the Speaker pro tenn. (Mr. Black
burn) proceeded to recognize members
to call up special measures.
Several bills were called up, but were
objected to by more than ten members,
and were not considered.
Then Mr.. Lamb, Of Indiana. moved
TO adjourn, as Judge Holman seemed
to have decided that no business should
be done.
On division. the vote stood tie at
105. and the motion was lost.
The remainder of the morning hour
was used up without result.
Mr.. Dingley, from the Committee on
Shipping, reported bill to amend sec
tions 4l53, All, and 437 of the Re-
vised Statutes, as regards documenting
vessels, and designating their numbers
and tonnage. Placed on House calen-
dar. The bill repeats the provisions OF
the law forfeiting the vessel, or I'M
posing alien tonnage-tax on vessel
which is without documents, or which
omits to carve her tonnage on her main
beam, and substitutes a slight penalty.
Mr.. Love, from the same committee,
reported bill to allow shipping COM
missioners to ship seamen for vessels
in the coastwise trade when requested
by the masters Of such vessels. Placed
on House calendar.
MIR. Mutchler, from the Committee
on Civil-Ssrvice Reform, reported adj
yerseiy the bill prohibiting the removal
of Union soldiers in civil service ex-
cept for cause. Placed on House cal
endar.
Mr.. Willard obtained permission to
file a minority report hereafter.
Mr.. Money, from the Committee on
Post-0flices. reported bill to reduce
postage on mailable matter of the Sc
cond class. Placed on House calendar.
1t provides that postage on publica-
tons of the second class, when sent by
the publisher to Jono.fide subscribers.
shall be cent per pound or fraction
thereof.
A session was ordered for tonight,
and then. at 2:l0 o'clock the House
went into Committee Of the Whole (Mr.
Hammond in the chair on the river
and-harbor bill.
Mr.. Horr. of Michigan, while con-
ceding that the bill had been carefully
prepared, thought that Congress should
stop dumping money into Galveston
harbor until it knew what it was about.
Mr.. McAdoo, of New Jersey, op-
posed the Galveston project. IL was
giving Captain Eads the hsrbOr to do
what he liked with, and the United
States Treasury to pay him for doing it.
Another scheme in the bill was the
building of harbor of refuge at Sandy
bay, Mass, the establishing Of al
oceanic Yellowstone park. In the
shadow of these big schemes there were
numerous small schemes. He instanced
an appropriation for the improvement
Of the Wateree river. which was nothing
but n undergrad. The engineers said
that it would BE more advisable to make
an appropriation for an engine to he
kept in readiness for fire.
Mr.. Bedford. of Colorado. who made
his first appearance during the present
session in the House to-day, and who
was applauded as he took the floor, of
fered an amendment directing the APP
pointment Of commission to make sur
veyS for the construction Of reservoir
to be used in irIigating the public land
in Colorado. He said that the only oh
lection to the bill was that the slices o
pork were not sufficiently large. TIL,
amendment was ruled out on point o
order.