The Portland daily press., 1885-02-05
XLVIIIth COngress--2d Session
SENATE.

and recommending Congress to pass bill to enable
the President to place Gen. Grant on the retired
list.
After some routine business the Senate resumed
consideration OF the interstate bill and
rejected an amendment proposed By Mr.. George.
Mr. Van Wyck moved to modify the section that
provides for payment of necessary expenses of the
commission so as to cover only the necessary travel
ling expenses. When the question had been put the
presiding officer Mr. Frye after the usualpause re-
marked: "Ihe chair has not heard any Senator
vote aye or no, and is therefore in doubt" This
broushs full vote, which was unanimous for MIR.
Van Wyck's motion.
Mr.. salisbury submitted an amendment provid-
ing thai no right OF action at present allowed by
law should bs denied aftsr passage OF bill under
consideration; but MIR. WilsOn proposing amend
ment of a similar tenor and somewhat more compre-
hensive Nr. salisbury withdrew his amendment and
Dir: wilson's amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. salisbury, in some remarks on ths bill, said
he had never seen any good come OF commissions,
What had civil service commission ever aecomp-
lished?
Mr.. Plumb remarked that what it had attempted
would TO Democratic apprehension be much more
apparent in about 30 days than it had ever before
The bill having been perfected IL swas reported to
the Senate for the committee OF the whole, read the
third time and passed. Yeas AZ; nays 12.
The Senate then took up the bill tor retirement
and recoinage OF traue dollars.
Mr.. ingalls, moved to strike out the fifth section
which provides Tor suspendIng coinage of the stand
ard dollar.
Mr.. Morrill, addressed the Senate on the BILL He
accepted the Senate committed samendments to the
House bill. He said that ON the idea something
should Immediately be done by Congress upon the
subjeet though he thought more heroic legislation
would be more salut9ry. MIR. Morrill, did not feel
that the government OF the UHited States is under
the slightest legal OF moral obligation to redeem
the silver coin known as the trade dollar. 1t origi
mated solely from Supposed demand for export
The government" he SAIL being paid for barely
the cost OF coinage. never had any interest profit
in trade dollars, never received them at the treas
ury, nor paid them out and furnished them only 10
parties who ostensiby wanted them in this form to
take silver bullion out of the country and as spec
4 There "a
TO be from to ten millions Of these trade dol
lars now held by our own people. have with some
reluctance consented to the measure in order to
eye the country from at least OF the embarras-
sing incidents which surround the silver question"
Sucn.an amendment Mr.. Morrill,, said contemplated
renewed efforts 10 by concert of action with
countries in the Latin Union larger use of silver
on fixed aod common ratioa with gold. Mr.. Nor
rill defended the treasury department from the
charge OF not having given the silver dollar fair
chance to circulate and cited statistics to support
his condention The trouble with the silver dollar,
he said is that like the "bad penny il would not
slay IN circulation. In conclusion Mr. Morrill, said,
II do not wish TO demoralizs silver Or reduce the
amount ia circulation, but would make it safe
and practicable TO increase the amount held in our
financial institutions as well in the hands of the
people. Tue present bill and amendments are in
tended TO provide against any untoward combina-
tion or event that shall leave US with only Of
the precious metals to support our standard Of mon
ey. We greatly need them both. 1t may be far of;
it may never happen, but if we should be at any
time driven TO tRe single standard of sill
yer it would be great disaster affecting
The blow, Shouldn't ever happen woold strike with
greatest severity upon tine workiagmen Of the
country, who would suddenly ind their wages
largely reduced by cheaper mode Of legal tender
payment. l believe the measure before US will be
some contrioution-not so great perhaps L could
wish toward the preservation Of both gold and sill
yer as tho common standard of the money of the
American people, and leave the subject only COM
meEding it TO the deliberate Judgment Of the
senate.
Mr.. Mcpherson said the United States could not
expect alone to keep up silver. There would BE-
IT, flq van h.y
August, 1856, and he favored immediate suspen-
sion as recommended by the Senate committee. Mr..
Mcpherson contended that instead of their being
no moral or legal duty resting on the United States
to redeem the trade dollars every legal and moral
duty required that they should be redeemed and at
their face value.
The debate then closed for the day.
MIR. Blair made two unsuccessful attempts
through the aay to secure consideration Of the anti
foreign contract labor bill.
The Senate at 4.45 p IN. went into executive seg-
sion and whom the doors were reopsned adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Holman Of Indiana offered resolution
amending the newly adopted rule BY providing that
call for objections shall not be made until after
ten minutes debate. Referred.
Mr.. Oates also offered resolution fixing the daily
hour Of meeting of the House at IL a, M
Referred.
Mr.. Dingley of Maine, from the committee on
shipping, reported bill to amend sections 4153,
4177 and 4371 Of the Revised Statutes as regards
documenting vessels and designating their numbers
and tonnage. Placed on the House calendar. (The
bill repeals the provisions of the law forfeitng q
vessel or imposing an alien tonnage tax on the
vessel which is without documents or which onitse
to carve her tonnage in her main beam, and substi
tutes slight penalty.
Mr.. Love of Delaware, from the same committee
reported bill to allow shipping commissioners to
ship seamen for vessels in the coastwise trade when
requested by the masters of such vessels.
Dit. Mtchlsr of Pennsylvania from the commit
tee on civil service REFORM reported adversely the
d Pill prohibiting the removal OF Union soldiers In
the civil service except for cause. House calendar
Dir. Miliard obtained permission to file minority
report hereafter.
MIR. Morey, from the committee on pogt-sfiees
reported bill TO reduce the postage On mailab.c
matter Of tbs second class House calendar.
A session was ordered for tonight, and at 2.1O
the House went into committee Of the whole on the
river and harbor bill.
Mr.. White of Kentucky thought the pending bill
trout streams than did the bill of 1882 which was
vetoed and which ha1 had much to do with
bringing the Democratic party into power.
Mr.. McAdCo OF New Jersey opposed the Calves
ton project. 1t was giving Capt. Eads a hsrbor to
do what he liked with and the United States treas
ury 10 pay him for doing it. Asother scheme in ths
bill the building of a hsrbor of refuge at
Sandy Bsy hfass.,-the establishing OF an oceanic
Yellowstone Park. In the shadow of these big
schemes there were numerous small schemes. He
iustanced the appropriation for the improvement of
Wateree river, which nothing but a lumber
sdlu- AhS CnSALoeK SAiu III was u uoCWOfk OF logs,
and thought it would be more advisable to make al
approprialen for an engine to be kept in readiness
for fire.
In speaking to the verbal amendment Mr.. j. s.
Wise Of Virginia opposed the proposition to sat
ASIDE tho Mississippi river commissio and place
the who Q work in the hands of Capt Eads whose
plans were. at the best, problematcal. 1t not only
ignored, but insulted the Engineer department OF
the government. The proposition to make a for
tune for one man by incorporating his name In
great national measure, to the exclusion OF a de-
partment OF the government, in its boldMess and
audscity surpassed anything he had ever witnessed
in the House.
The committee then rose and took a recess until
8p.m.
Evening Session.
AT O'Clock the House went into committee of
the whole TO continue the consideration OF the river
and harbor bill Less than eighty members were in
attendance at the beginning Of the session.
MIR. " hite OF Kentucky Immediately gave notice
that at the first opportunity he would raise the
point of mo Quorum" and would not permit husi-
Dir. Willis Of Kentucky appealed 10 his colleague
to permit the consideration Of tho bill in order that
public business might be facilitated
MIR. White offered an amendment to increase the
proposed appropriation for tho harbOr at BurnR.
ton, VT, ard insisted upon quorum to vote upon
it.
individual appeals were made to him to Withdraw
bis demand, bnt be refused and asked for call OF
the roll.
Only 1876 members answered and no quorum
being present, the committee under the rules arose
and its condition vas reported to the House.
MIR. Willis of Kentucky said it was not right to
tax the patience Of the House by demanding x call
and moved adjournment, which was taken at 910
p m.