National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-13

on lnhl uaN. any OJncf Ofuer, MT, Call
said, would lead to loss by the government.
lie had been Informed by the treasurer that
in one case the government had been held
responsible for a discrepancy Of 1000,
growing out OF the fact that receipts had
been given for money "to be counted"
Mr.. Plumb said he had been told that
Treasurer Jordan, being asked why he
didn't pay for silver bullion in silver dollars,
replied that II he did so the holders would
return the dollars and demand certificates,
and he (Jordan) was not willing to encOur-
age that sort Of thing. lie thought this
threw much light upon the performances OF
last summer, when there was an apparent
effort to circulate the silver dollars, but
there was at the same time an intrigue with
New York people to bring the law into
contempt.
ing to the issue Of silver certificates. II
was, he said a part OF an act which was
vetoed by the President, and was passed
over his veto and thus became law. 1t was
an absolute right of every citizen who had
ten dollars In silver to deposit them and re-
cCive therefor a certificate. The question
was whether the treasurer had technically
complied with the law, but had in reality
violated Il. lie had no taiTy for those who
violate the law. He cared not whether. they
were Republicans or Democrats. For one
he proposed to bring any officer who Is
guilty OF violating the law to the bar of
public justice and public opinion. Banks
in Galveston were attempting to establish a
discount on silver, because they could not
get certificates from the subtreasury at New
Orleans.
Mr.. Coke contended that the treasury
officials were ostCntatiously taking credit
for supporting the public credit and exc
cutting the law, while doing everything in
their power to accomplish a directly con-
trary result.
Al o'clock, Mr. Coke being still on the
floor, the chair laid before the Senate the
education bill.
After some discussion that bill was made
the unfinished business for tomorrow ut
the same hour, and Mr.. Coke resumed his
remarks on the Eustis resolution.
Mr.. Teller said that much had been heard,
from time to time, of the subseryiency OF
public men to executive influence. But
there had never been seen so exalted au
example of the independence of public
men MS had been exhibited by the Demo-
cratic members of the House of Repre-
sentatives In the spring Of 1885, In resisting
the effort Of the incoming Democratic
President to discrcdt silver. Not only
then, hut since, those servants of the
people had sCorned to be IN accord with
the EXCcutive-preferring to be right.
Mr.. George believed the action OF the
assistant treasurer at New Orleans entirely
In accord with law. He (Nr. George diff
fered materially with the Secretary lof 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 were that a country bank shipped
5000 by express to the subtreasury at
New Orleans "fOr account of another
bank in New Orleans. The express agent
had no authority to receive silver certifi-
Gates for that silver, and what he demanded
Of the assistant treasurer was not silver
certificates, but 'feceiptn
Mr.. Coke asked If it had not been the
custom under all former administrations
for the assistant treasurer to give receipts
until the money was counted.
Mr.. Eustis said he had telegraphed to
Mr. Roach at New Orleans to ascertain the
purpose Of the bank shipments of silver.
His reply, to-day received, was us follows !:
shippers sought to get rid of excessive silver
by shipping TO subtreasury aud asking that
silver certificates therefor ShOnld be turned
over TO their New Orleans correspondents. The
subtrcasurcr declined TO receive from express
company because, first, doubted the proprlety
OF treasury becoming intermediary between
country and city banks; secondly, for lack OF
clerical force. / feel assured that provision
for sufficient clerks would remedy everything.
T.. Il. ROACH
Mr.. Coke said that Mr.. Georges legal
argument might be correct, so far as the
technical point involved was concerned,
| but there could he no doubt that the spirit
OF the law OF 1873, requiring the issue of
| silver Cftilicates in certain cases. had been
defeated by the assistant treasurer at New
| Orleans.
The debate then closed and the matter
went over
Mr.. Dolph submitted an amendment to
Mr. Sherman's silver bill, which was or
dcrCd printed. In the original bill IL is pro-
VidCd that the amount OF coin certificates
at any time outstanding should not exceed
the cost of the bullion purchased by such
certificates. Mr. Dolph's amendment is to
| strike out the words "the cost Of .he bull
| lion purchased by such certificates and
| make the provision read as follows:
TIE amount of such certificates at any time
| outstanding shall not exceed the market value
| Of the bullion IN the treasury purchased under
! the provisions of this act and retained us Sc.
| curlty Tor such certificates, and whenever, at
| the end OF any fiscal year, such outstanding
| certificates shall he In excess, in amount, OF
| the market value OF such bullion, the Secretary
| OF the Treasury shall retire ami withhold from
| CIRCULATION an amount of such certificates re-
| CCitcd hy the United States for customs, taxes
| ana public dues equal to such excess until such
| Time MS the same can be put In circulation
without increasing the amount of such certiH
| Gates beyond the market value of such bullion
At 4;l5 p. M, on motion Of Mr. Edmunds
| the Senate went into executive session, and
when, at $50, the doors We're reOpened, the
Senate adjourned.
The speaker laid before the House the
| response of the Secretary Of the Treasury
| TO the House resolution calling for infOrma
tion upon questions arising under the tariff
act of lsS3. Referred.
Mr.. Blanchard, of Louisiana, offered the
following series Of resolutions:
| RCsOirCd, That this House has learned will
profound sorrow OF the great and irreparablC
loss which the country has sustained in the
death OF that great and good man, Mai Gen
| Winfield s. Hancock.
HSoirCd, That this House, in common will
| all his Countr.men, mourn the death of hin
| who was the stainless soldier for the Union IN
| war and the undaunted defender OF the con.
stitution and of civil liberty In peace, aud at al
times the stainless man and the incOrruptiolC
| patriot.
Rosolrcd, That as mark Of respect and ailec
ton for the exalted virtues Of this hero anC
| patriot, this House do now adjourn.
HSOlud, That the speaker of the House bI
directed to transmit to the widow of the hon
orGd dead II copy of these resolutions and AZ
assurance of the heartfelt sympathy Of tn,
House In the sOrrowiul bereavement which |
alike hers and the country's,
The resolutions were adopted and accord
ingly ut 1910 the House adjourned.
In the Senate yesterday, after the dis
pOsal Of routine morning business, Mr.. Ed
munds said that as one important commit
tee of the Senate had to 90 to New York
and other important committees had con
siderable work to do, he believed the pub
lie business would be best subserved by al
adjournment of the Senate till Monday
He therefore moved that when the Senate
adjourn to-day 1t be till Monday. Agreed
to,
Proceeding to the calendar, the Senat
took up bills in their order. Some bills FOL
private relief having been disposed of, tn
bill to regulate the promotion Of IVES
Point gradutcs was reached, On this som,
discussion arose.
Mr. Reed,Ipf Maine, offered resolution
modifying the order making the Fit2-Johi
Porter bill continuing special order from
yesterday until next Thursday, so us Il
provide that the bill shall not he cOnsdere,
until after the second morning hour OF
each day.
Mr. Randall, of Pennsylvania, endeavore,
to have the order further amended, so tina
.alg lao.