Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-11
CERTIFICATESFORSILVER
ANOTHER DEBATE ON THE EUS-
It's RESOLUTION.

BpArit OF the LEW DotoAbeOs NhAAc
Not Technically ViOlsted--A Further
Explanation OF the Facts Connected
with the Refusal of the New Orleans
Sub-Treakurer.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.--0n motion OF
Mr. Call, the Senate to-day took up Mr..
Eustis' recent resolution calling on the
Secretary of the Treasury for information
as to the refusal of the Assistant Treasur-
er at New Orleans to receive shipments of
silver and to issue silver certificates
therefor. Mr.. Call, while not objecting to
the resolution, defended the action of the
Treasury officials in the matter referred
to; also defended the order issued by the
Treasurer to the Assistant Treasurer at
New Orleans to the effect that that officer
should not receive or receipt for more
silver money in one day than the clerical
force could count on that day. Any other
order, Mr.. Call said, would lead TO loss
by the government. He had been in
formed by the Treasurer that in one case
the government had been held responsible
for discrepancy of $4,000 growing out
of the fact that receipts had been given
for money "to be counted"
RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.
Mr.. Coke read a section Of the law re-
lating to the issue of silver certificates. 1t
was an absolute right, he said, of every
citizen who had $40 in silver 10 deposit
them and receive therefor certificate.
the question was whether the Treasure
had technically complied with the law,
but had in reality violated it. He had no
tafy for those who violated the law. He
cared not whether they were Republicans
or Democrats. For one be proposed to
bring aIy officer who is guilty Of violating
the law to the bar of public justice and
public opinion. The banks in Galveston
were attempting to establish discount
on silver because they could not get GER
tfcates from the Sub-Treasury at New
Orleans.
TAKING FALSE CREDIT.
Mr.. Coke cOntended that the Treasury
officials were ostentatiOusly taking credit
for supporting the public credit and exc
cutting the law, while doing everything in
their power to accomplish directly con-
trary result. He read correspondence to
show, as he cOntended. the practical re-
fusal OF the Assistant Treasurer at New
Orleans to execute the law Of 1878, and an
approval by the Treasurer at w ashington
OF such refusal. There were 240 newspa-
pers in Texas, and Mr.. Coke knew but
of them that supported the Executive De-
silver.
Mr.. Beck interposed to say that the is
sue was narrowed down to this. If silver
coin was presented and certificates de-
manded then he MIR. Beck believed that
the officers were in default III not issuing
them; but if coin was to be deposited and
"a receipt to be given for IT." and not GER
titicates 10 be used as money, then the or
ticeTs were not in default.
TELLER ON INDEPENDENCE.
Mr.. Teller said that much had been
heard from time to time Of the subseTv-
ieucv of public men to Executive in
fiuence, but there had never been seen so
exalted an example of the independence
of public men as had been exhibited by
the Democratic members OF the House Of
Representatives in the spring OF 1880 in
resisting tne effort of the incoming Demo-
cratic President to discredit silver. Not
only then but since those servants of the
people had scOTned to be in accord with
the Executive, preferring TO be right.
Mr.. George believed that the action of
the Assistant Treasurer at New Orleans
was entirely in accord with the law. He
(Mr George differed materially with the
Secretary of the Treasury in regard TO the
silver question, but that officer was at
least entitled TO have his action reviewed
in the light OF the law.
THE FACTS IN THE CASE.
The facts were that a country bank
shipped coo by express to the sub
Treasury at New Orleans, 'i0r the ac-
count Of'' another bank in New Orleans.
The express agent had no authority 10 re-
ceive silver certificates for that silver,
and what he demanded OF the Assistant
Treasurer was not silver certificates, but
a ''receIpt."
Mr.. Coke asked If it had not been the
custom under all former administrations
for the Assistant Treasurer to give re-
ceipts until the money was counted.
MIR. George declared that such Gus
tom was illegal if 1t ever existed.
Mr.. Coke inquired If there was any law
against it.
MIR. George replied that for estates
rightsv DemOcrat--a ''strict construc-
tiOnist''-like his friend from Texas Mr..
Coke) to make such an inquiry was
rather singular.
DECLARED UNAUTHORIZED.
1t was sufficient thatdhere was no law
to authorize IL. Mr.. George proceeded to
show that there was no law authorizing
such custom. and contended that II the
Assistant Treasurer had taken silver dol
lars and issued n receipt for them the
government would make itself guaran-
| teer for the safe keeping OF money against
| thieves, fire, etc. In other words the
government would become "bailee' for
| other peoples goods. Mr.. George entered
at some length into the legal aspects or
| the question and insisted that the action
| of the Treasury officials in the case under
consideration was in every respect sound
| and In compliance with the law.
PURPOSE OF THE SHIPMENTS.
Mr.. Eustis said he had telegraphed Mr..
Roach at New Orleans, TO ascertain the
purpose OF the bank shipments of silver
His reply, to-day received, was as fol-
| lows:
The shippers sought TO get rid OF excessive
/ silver by shipping 10 the sub-Treasury, and
! asking that the silver certificates therefor
| should be turned over 20 their New Orleans
/ correspondents. The Sub-Treasurer declined
/ 20 receive the money from the express company
/ because first, he doubted the prOpriety OF the
/ the Treasury becoming on Intermediary be
! tween country and city banks; and. second,
| for lack OF a sufficient clerical force. feel as
sured that q provision for sufficient clerks
would remedy everything. T. X. ROACH.
THE LAW DEFEATED.
Mr.. Coke said that Mr.. Georges legal
argument might be correct 80 far as the
technical point involved was concerned,
| but there could be no doubt that the spirit
OF the law OF 1878, requiring the issue Of
! silver certificates in certain cases had
been defeated by the Assistant Treasurer
at New Orleans.
Mr.. Edmunds inquired why the admin
/ fefratfou did not turu ont thfg RoDubltcnu