National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-04

The silver question broke loose in the
House yesterday with great force and from
several directions. In the first instance,
while the committee were being called for
reports in the morning hour, Mr.. Bland, of
Missouri, from the committee on coinage,
weights, and measures desired to report
back the resolution oiferefby him on Mon
day last, calling on the Secretary OF the
Treasury for certain information relative to
silver circulation.
Mr.. Morrison made the point that II was
not accompanied by report rs required by
the rules.
Mr.. Bland withdrew the resolution until
he had prepared Il short report, whercupon
he again submitted his preamble and reso-
luton, which, as amended by the commit
tee, read as follows:
Whereas at the convention Of the American
Bankers Association, held at Chicago, H., in
the month of September, 1885, Mr.. George s.
Coe, n member of the executive council of said
association and the president of the American
Exchange National Bank of New York city,
made, in an address delivered before said con
vention, the following statements, viz: "Under
these peculiar circumstances referring to as.
sumed dangers resulting from the continued
coinage of silver the new government came
into power II was at once confronted by the
peculiar difficulties surrounding the Treasury
Department Like his predecessor, the Presi.
dent clearly appreciated the, magnitude and
as efficient steps as are practicable under the
| existing law to save the nation
deem ab Ssps of pFGG aaRneS dotaroao
His temporary eXpedient is both simple and
safe. Tho law requires the treasurer 70 ,pur-
chase not less than 5000, 900 worth OF silver
But he is required to pay them out only when
necessary, To avoid this necessity the treas.
| urer now confines his disbursements to strictly
| legal demands, and refrains from monthly
| payments as hitherto of the funded debt. The
| surplus revenue supplies requisite means not
| only to purchase the monthly sums of SILVER
bullion required by law, but also to withdraw
| sufficient amount of silver certificates issued
| upon previous purchases, TO overcome the OK.
ceSsive accumulatons which so perpleXed
| prior administrations. This will safely hold
| the situation until Congress shall convene
| The temporary danger which existed until
| income thus overlook expenditures was salts.
house committee in New York, whose earnest
| efforts at that critical moment to preserve the
gold standard were enlisted in behalf of the
| commercial community which 1t Is their tlne.
| ton TO specially represent;
And whereas near the close of the second
session OF the forty. eighth Congress, to wit, on
| the 26th day of February, 1885, this House re-
fused by decided vote to consider a then
| pending proposition looking to suspension OF
the coinage of silver dollars; therefore be 1t
| RCSOitCd by this House. That the Secretary of
the Treasury be- and he is hereby requested to
inform this House whether or not any such
| agreement or arrangement was effected by the
|
the clearing house committee In New York,
or with any other association or person, as Is
alleged in the said address of Mr.. Coe, and, IL
So BY what authority Of lazy such arrango-
to inform this House what amount ofsilyer
dollars was in the treasury on tho 18th day
Of March last unrepresented by out
OF silver certificates was in calculations;
what amount of such dollars are now in the
treasury unrepresented by outstanding certiti-
Mt nd M n
now in circulation; also, what amount OF silver
dollars were IN the treasury on the ith day OF
March last that could have been applied In the
payment of the interest. bearing debt and other
dues of the government, and what amount OF
such dollars are now held in the treasury that
could be so applied; also, what amount of sill.
could be reissued; also, what amount of inter
| est.bearing debt Is now subject to call, and vii
the same policy be pursued in the payment o
silver thereon, and on other public dues, II
the future as in the past.
Mr.. Morrison would not object to the
resolution, but thought that IL went too fa
in asking what was TO be the policy Of thI
Treasury Department.
Mr.. Bland replied that the past policy o
the administration was known, aud that 4
was proper that Congress should know
whether II was to be pursued or not.
Mr.. Randall, Of Pennsylvania, inquired
whether there was any way OF getting in
motion to strike put the clause In regard Il
the future policy of the administration
The policy of the administration could b.
judged by its acts.
The speaker replied that he would ex
anime the resolution to see whether it
clauses were divisible.
Mr.. Hewitt, Of New York. WIN 1t not b.
in order to move to recommt with instruc
tions9
The Speaker. That is In order.
Mr.. Hewitt. Then l move to recomml
the resolution with instructions to the com
mittee to strike out that portion which ask
the Secretary of the Treasury to define tn
policy Of the administration.
The motion to recOmmt with instruction
was lost--yeas SO, nays l6S-and the resolu
, tion was adopted,
, After disposing of this matter humble
of reports were submitted, In the secon
morning hour the House (in committee o
} the whole, with Mr.. Crisp in the chair) con
sidored the Dingley bill to abolish certai
fees for official services to American vessels
IL was stated by Mr.. Dingley that the tota
, Of the fees proposed to be abolished amount
to about $350,000 per annum A numbe
of amendments were proposed to the bill
but pending action the committee rosC
! and at $3.50 the House again resolved itsel
into committee Mr., Hammond, of Georgll