Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-03-06
THE FORTY CONGRESS.
senate.

WA~HlNGTON. Feb. IG-Ihc regular |
naval appropriation bill and II Pacific |
finding bill were placed on the calendar |
and ordered printed.
The House bill to provide for the cree
ton of a building to contain the records
of the medical museum OF the army was
passed.
The silver bill was then taken up. Sen
ator Sherman said that he was willing to
vote for the bill as it came from the Senate
committee. Two questions were involved
in it. First-ShOull the trade dollar
be redeemed ut par of gold, and, second
whether the coinage of the silver dollar
he discontinued in August, 1856. He
maintained that there was no obligation
whether of honor, of law or of public pol
lev to give the trade dollar any preference
over silver bullion purchased in open
market. Vet if Congress chose to pay So
UOU,UIu to redeem those coins he would
not object. 1t would make good some
bad bargains of bullion dealers. All com
nercil transactions in the United States,
Senator sherman continued, were based
and mad since 1887 been based on the gold
dollar of - $40 grains of solid gold. The
market value of silver bullion had been
steadily declining since the passage of the
act authorizing the coinage of the stand
ard silver dollar If this should lead to
large expectation and hUardingof gold the
sole standard of value would in time be
based ON the market value of the stand
ard silver dollar The effect would be
Il contraction of the currency so sharp rs
TO send Il shock to every village in the
country. The volume of paper money be
ing insufficient for the demands of bust
ness would be used for labor, but its pllr-
chasing power would gradually decline
until it reaches the level of the market
value measured by gold. This depreciat-
4
the boarded gold and the laborer would
receive his pay in deprecated money,
while the capitalist would stipulate for
gold Then we should hear a cry for the
redemption of the standard dollar in gold
and rightly hear it because we had pro
aud paid in all respects like gold
coin. senator Sherman's idea of the
remedy for the threatened evil would
be either, first, by an international
agree .ncnt to maintain the free coinage of
silver and fix its ratio, or, second by SuS-
pending the coinage of silver till demand
ed by the wants OF business, or third, by
the adoption of I'm American bi-metallic
policy of the free coinage of silver and
gold according to market value
Senator Beck thought this Congress
should not attempt to strike down silver.
senator Hill maintained that silver money
was the exclusive money of IL large ma
iOrlty of people. Without action the mat
ter went over Senator lIOar inquired Of
the chair what would he the pending
question in the morning. Ihe chair lNeni,
tor kNmundSl replied "'Thc chair will
answer that question in the morning. 80
Laughter. Senator ilOar-l am happy
t believe THAI 10 occupant of the CHAIR
since the organization OF the Senate had
ever declined to answer that question be
fore The chalr-This then will be the
first precedent. The Senate went into cN-
eCutiVe session and then adjourned.
House.
\ resolution was agreed to rendering
the thanks Of Congress to Col. Thomas l..
Casey and his assistants for the admira-
bic manner in which they have performed
their respective duties in the completion
of the monument to George Washington.
The postoiice appropriation bill with Sen
ate amendments was taken from the
Speakers table and referred to the com
mttee ON appropriations. The committee
on appropriations reported the fortlica-
ton appropriation bill. Referred to the
committee of the whole
Nr Randall moved II consideration OF
the clause in the civil appropriation bill
which relates to the suspension Of silver
coinage and the Worlds Industrial Cot
ton exposition. The motion was lost, Mr.
Randall modified his motion so as tt
suspend the rules and pass the sundry
civil bill tWlth the silver clause stricken
OUT The motion was agreed to.
Mr.. ElWood Of Illinois gave notice thai
ne would offer IN amendment that tn,
speaker appoint aCOmmttcr of three to in
YtSti|ate the management OF the eXpOSl
ton and report to the House before The
!uth Of December. Debate having close'
the bill went over until tomorrow and tn,
House nd iOIlrupI