National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-09

Fireworks scintillated through the Senate
yesterday, the dignihed representatives of
the states seeming TO be animated by "a com
mon desire to make the fur fly from the adj
ministration, and otherwise In a warllke
mood. Mr. ingalls, submitted resolutions
designed to overhaul the treasury policy of
disseminating the issue Of small notes. Mr..
Eustis attacked the silver policy Of the adj
ministration in connection with an inquiry
rs to an alleged violation Of law by the
New Orleans subtreasury, and to cap the
climax Senator Sherman descended from
the chair, and in suave but pointed tones
gave It as his opinion that the Eustis reso-
luton was correct IN spirit and that the
Senate had perfect right TO call on the ex-
ecutive files either relating to this subject
or to executive appointments, suspensions,
or removals. This precipitated one Of the
most interesting debates of the session.
A feature of this morning hour was when
Mr.. Ingalls, offered a resolution, which was
agreed to- directing the committee on
finance to inquire into the proprlety Of
making such an amendment to section
necessary TO require the Issue of United
States notes Of the denomination Of one and
two dollars.
Mr.. Ingalls, understood that the smaller
notes had been withdrawn and practically
retired from circulation for the purpose Of
forcing silver into circulation, and thereby
rendering silver unpopular with the peo-
pie. He supposed that II all notes under
$50 were withdrawn the result would be
that gold would be forced into circulation.
No effort of that kind however, appeared
TO have been made. Mr.. Ingalls, impression
was that the people of this country wanted
gold and silver as a basis Of circulation,
but did not desire to carry either metal in
their pockets. The people did, however,
desire the restoration of the small United
States notes, and inasmuch rs they pay all
the money in the treasury from their own
resources, and are the owners of whatever
currency there may, be in the country, he
(Mr. Ingalls) did not see why the peoples
wish should not be gratlfed.
Mr.. Eustis offered resolution directing
the finance committee to inquire whether 1t
had been the custom for the assistant treas
urer at New Orleans to receive deposits of
standard silver dollars from shippers Of said
coin, and to issue to their correspondents at
New Orleans receipts for the silver, subject
to count, and to issue silver certificates
after the count of said dollars so deposited
had been made; and whether said custom,
II IL had prevailed, had been changed by
instruction of the treasurer Of the United
States, and the reasons therefor; also,
whether such custom was row in force at
any other subtreasury; also, whether there
was adequate clerical force at the New Or
leans subtreasury, and, II not, what increase
was necessary there to enable the subtreas-
urer to carry out the law.
Mr.. Eustis stated that the cashier of q
national bank at New Orleans had written
him stating that shipments Of silver dollars
had been made by banks In the interior to
their correspondents in New Orleans, but
that the subtreasurer at New Orleans had
refused to receive the silver dollars on de-
post, and that that refusal had been APP
proved by the treasurer Of the United
States. The only subtreasury south of Bal
timore being at New Orleans, the business
of the states Of Tennessee, Arkansas, Mis-
sissippi, Texas, Alabama, and others with
the treasurer OF the United States had to be
done through the New Orleans subtreasury.
II therefore became most important ques-
ton whether that subtreasury was con-
dGcted in compliance with law and with
recognized and approved custom.
1t seemed that the law In favor Of the
circulation, transmission, and deposit OF
silver dollars had been practically sus
pended by the officials of the United States
What was the consequence strong
prejudice would soon be created against the
silver dollar. Mr. Eustis had received In
formation from another cashier OF bank
giving the startling information that coun
try merchants were refusing to receive sill
yer dollars except at o discount. The New
Orleans subtreasury, Mr.. Eustis said had
refused to receive a shipment of $25,00(
from the Memphis (Tenn.l Bank Of Com
merce and the Waco State Bank OF Waco
Texas. II that statement should be sub
stantiated, Mr.. Eustis continued, and II 4
should be proved that that custom had pre-
vailed and it was not violative of law, anC
that it now prevailed in New York and
other places-then, Mr.. Eustls said, thu
official who had approved Of the change o.
custom In the city OF New Orleans exposed
himself to very grave suspicious, to say thu
least of 1t, with reference to secret war
fare against the silver dollar. Mr.. Eust
would make no charge In the absence o
proof but he wanted to get at the facts.
Mr.. ingalls, thought IL no concern OF thu
subtreasurer to inquire for what purpose
the silver dollars were to be deposited. /
the statement Of the senator from Louisan
was true, the action of the subtreasure
should be characterized, not as departure
from custom, but direct positive violation
of law.
After debate by Messrs. Teller and Cor
man, in which the former severely criticise'
and the latter defended the Treasury De
partment Mr.. Sherman said that II the trans
action under consideration involved re
quest from bank that the assistant treas
urer should open an account with tina
bank for silver dollars deposited with til,
subtreasury, then the government oillcia
was right In refusing to open such account
There was no authority Of law for such
thing. All that the assistant treasurer coult
do was to pay out silver certificates for thu
silver deposited. II did not seem to MI
sherman that any great clerical force woul
be necessary for the performance OF tina
duty. One man could do 1t.
As to the exchanging of silver certificate
for silver dollars, Mr.. Sherman thought
proper that the exchange should be freel
made by the treasury, as banks did not oil
dinarily have the accommodations for keeI
ing large masses Of silver dollars. II tn
banks were compelled thus to hoard silve
dollars 1t would bring discredit on thos
coins. II should be the right Of a grocery
man or any citizen to go to the subtreasur
silver certificate instead. 1t was not tn
right of the government to refuse to Civ
him that accommodation.
Mr.. Morrill,. Can he ask for their "rei
sons" II they refuseY [Laughter.l
Mr.. Sherman. That question of ''reasons
does not arise here. We can call for Oh
reason OF any official act. The real que
ton in that matter is that we cannot ca
ON the President for the reason why he RI
moved person. | believe that the senate
from Alabama (Mr Pugh)--that no senG
tor-denies that the Senate, as q leglslatiy
body, can call for the reason for any act {
the executive department. When tn
question was raised during the HAYES ad
Ininistration, President Hayes did whl
President Cleveland has done. He sal
that as q coordinate branch of the govern
ment he was not to give his reasons for a
official act. think that is right, but that "
have right to seek information of an
department of the government whether u
information be on paper or by parol, d
not think there is any doubt of 1t whateye
But for that we could not legislate-v
could not even by executive session.
have just rs much right to go to any depar
ment and ask for any papers affecting tn
department-aifecting legislative bushes