The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-02-27

by experienced senators, WhiIe thai
Dill nad been on the calendar the bill
stood, as he supposed, as the order of
business that would be next taken mn
IN regular course, except appro-
priation bills ard the silver
oiii, but IT was unlikely 1t could he con-
sldered this session. The subject de-
served serious attention, aud might iu-
volVe considerable discussion. He
thought 1t useless, therefore, to refer to
the judiciary committee the bill now in
troduced for the information of the puh.
lie. lie expressed tho hope that before
the next session the matter would ro-
ceiVe the careful attention of the busl
ness men OF the country, so that con-
gress might have the benefit of their
| suggestions as to the justice or injustice
OF the measure. He moved the bill be
printed and lie on the table. Agreed 10.
MIR. INGALLS, said short executive
session was desirable, and moved tha,
the senate proceed to the consideration
| OF executive business.
The Democrats opposed tho motion,
ana called for the yeas and nays. The
eau resulted-yeas, 81; nays, %, and the
senate went into executive session.
w nen the doors re-opaned the senate
passed mouse bill to provide for fro
proof building to contain the records of
the medical museum of tho army.
Consideration of the legislative bin
then resumed
| three hours to be devoted to debate on
the iirst named item, and one hour on
the latter, and that the bill shall be sub
Ject only TO amendments to strike cut
or amend clauses, after which the pre-
Vious question shall DO considered and
ordered.
Mr.. BLAND demanded second to
the motion and IL was seconded. The
half hours debate, under the rules, was
not asked for, and the house proceeded
immediately TO yo.e on the motion.
All amendments OF yesterday pro-
posed by senators to increase the mum
ber OF annual clerks TO senate commit.
tees, were voted down. The bill was
then read third time and passed sub
stahtially as reported from the senate
committee on appropriations.
The silver bill was then taken up.
Mr.. SHERMAN said ho was willing
to vote for the bill as IL came from the
senate committee. Two questions were
involved in il: First, should the
Trade dollar be redeemed at
par of gold, and second, whether
the coinage of silver dollars should be
discontinued in August, 1886. lie main
tanned there WAS no obligation, whether
OF senatorial Cr public policy, to give
tho trade dollar any preference over
silver bullion purchased in open market.
lie then took strong ground for bime-
talic currency. H0 said his own idea
was boldly to proclaim the purpose OF
the United States to maintain a bime
talic currency, even ii we stood alone
among the nations of the earth. We
were better able TO establish such iis.
cal policy than any other
nation, but policy indicated
was perhaps In advance of tho senti-
ment of the country, and Mr.. sherman
would not press aud would be content
to deal with the proposition that gave
us some safeguard against what he re-
garded as great threatened evil--the
great decentralization and handling OF
gold. MIR. Sherman approved the id0a
OF endeaV0ring 10 secure an international
| agreement as to the ratio of value be-.
tween silver aud gold, but had not
much faith that an agreement could be
| reached.
MIR. BECK, froE IN report of ex-Sec.
retary Folgor, read TO contrOvert the
position assumed by Mr.. Sherman on
the trade dollar. As to tho suspension
OF coinage, Mr.. Beck said.
We should not, in the last hours OF
thls congress, attempt TO strike down
SILVER, Neither should We give any
| president tho power, in his discretion,
TO strike down the coin OF the country,
lie would as liel give the president
the right to declare war. lie
was glad TO DO able to
say there was no danger that
any president would get such power,
for elsewhere in q body that had the
| power, AN attempt had been made this
very day to give president such
power, and II had miserably failed.
I MIR. Hill maintained that the time
whom gold would bo In demand tor OK.
| port was Indefinitely remote. silver
was to-day the exclusive money OF a
largo majority OF the people of the
world. Mr.. Hill criticized the position
OF Mr.. sherman; also the attitude as.
sumed by the finance committee of the
senate.
Mr.. COKE said tho suspension of sill
vor coinage would itself be contraction
of S5OWO,0OO per year In our currency.
| Mr. Coke believed as much as any
man in the good sense aud
wisdom ol the president-elect, and IL
was not disparegomont TO that
| gentleman for Mr.. Coke to say
that congress should abdicate its
just powers and turn thom over to
| tho discretion of president.
Besides, It would loo unjust for congress
TO burden tho executive with duties and
| responsibilities belonging 10 congress.
! This closed the silver debate lor tho
day ana without action IL went over.
| Considerable confusion then occurred,
! ana several senators sought recogni-
! ton.
Mr., ALDRlCH, however, succeeded
and called up bill relating to titles of
real estate In the District OF
! Columbia, IL had hardly
been placed before the senate when
motions to adjourn and TO go into exec.
utlVe session and TO call up other bills
were made In confusing rapidity.
Mr. iOAR enquired Of the chair what
would bo tho pending question In the
morning.
The CHAIR replied: "Tho chair will
answer that question In the morning."
| Laughter
Mr.. IOAR expressed astonlshment at
the very extraordinary answer made by
the chair to the proper parliamentary
| question ~ To what was tho pending
| question in the morning.
! Tho CHAIR stated that Il did not fed
called ON to reply; that IL had
already stated what question was
thon pending, and the order that
may he pending tomorrow morning
would depend on circumstances. II he
! (Edmunds) had been Ia the chair all the
afternoon TO day, and so had been able
TO keep the run of business, he would
be able TO answer the question.
Mr., hoAk: | am happy to believe
that no occupant of the chair, since the
organization OF the senate, had over de-
cllned TO answer that question before.
The CHAIR: "This, then, will be tho
first precedent"
Mr.. lloAR; "Aud the last, ] have
no doubt.n
Mr.. VANWYCK lofIered an amend.
mont to the Pacific railroad funding hill,
this morning submitted 10y Mr.. uoar,
Tho amendment provides:
First-lhat no dividends shall he de.
clared until the interest on bonds shall
have been paid.