Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-02-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
Bland Shows His Teeth on
Silver Coinage.
THE TREASURY MUST DEFINE
The Policy of the Administration
on the Silver Question-A Sat
isfactory Test Vote.

lsDecial 10 the Herald bvthe Associated Press /
wAsHINeroS, February 3.-The Chair
placed before the Senate the resolu tion
submitted yesterday by Riddleberger
and the substitute for it submitted by
Pugl, relating to the relations between
the President and the Senate in regard
to information and papers affecting gov
ernment officers suspended or appointed.
After considerable debate, Edmunds'
motion to lay on the table was agreed
to, only one voice being heard in the
negative.
At two o'clock the Dakota bill was
placed before the Senate and Mr.. Logan
took the floor. He differed materially,
he said, with the Senator from South
Carolina (ButlerD, and the Senator from
Missouri lVest), in regard to the ques-
ton under consideration. Fourteen
States had been admitted under ena-
bling acts and eleven States without en-
ab]ing acts, Congress therefore was free
10 adopt either course. according to the
circumstances which In each case might
seem best adapted 10 the public good.
What was substantially an objection to
Dakota's admission? By reading par
agraph from Buffers speech we might
get glimpse, or at least shadow of
the real objection. The meaning of the
objection was that If Dakota were ad-
mirted it would add three electoral
votes to the Republican strength at the
next Presidential election. He inquired
of Mr.. Butler whether that was not
the point. Mr.. Butler denied it and
said he had already declared that even
If the political complexion of Dakota
were Democratic he would have felt
obliged to oppose its admission under
the present aspect OF its application.
Mr.. Logan said that when the Repub-
licans wanted anything the idea of the
Senator from South Carolina was that it
was wanted by ''clique." The attempt
to keep odt Dakota, Mr.. Logan charac.
terizsd as part of great scheme to keep
out States that seat Republicans to Con-
gress. He appealed to the justice and
magnanimity of the Senators TO give ear
to the voice of the energetic and enter
prising people who were applying for
admissioa to the Union Of States.
Mr.. Morgan opposed the admission Of
Dakota under the present conditions.
He thought the Senate was asked to ad-
nit new States merely for the purpose
Of admitting office holders that had been
sent here. The patriotism that had been
so much referred to had in it a strong
favor of self-interest.
Mr., Harrison then took the floor and
gave notice that he would ask the Senate
to bring the bill to vote tomorrow.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE.
Bland, from the Committee on Coih-
age, Weights and Measures, desired to
report back q resolution offered by him,
calling on the Secretary Of the Treas
ury for ce, tain information relative to
silver circulation. The resolution
quoted at length from an address made
by President Coe, Of the American
Bankers Association, which declared
that the Secretary OF the Treasury had
acted in concer. with the New York
Clearing House Association to maintain
the gold standard until Congress could
convene. The resolution reads as fol-
lows:
WHEREAS, Near the close Of the sec
ond session Of the Forty-eighth Con-
gress, to wit: on the 26th day Of Febru-
airy, 1885, this House refused by de-
cided vote to consider then pending
proposition looking to the suspension OF
the coinage OF silver dollars. There
fore be il
Resoiped, BY this House that the Sec
retary of the Treasury be and he is
hereby requested TO inform this Honse
whether or not any agreement or ar
rangemcnt was effected by the manage.
ment of the Treasury Department with
the Clearing House Committee in New
Y ork, or with any other association OF
person as alleged in an address Of Mr..
Coe, and il SO by what authority OF law
such arrangement was made and carr ed
out, and further, to inform the House
what amount Of silver dollars were in
the Treasury on the fourth day OF
March last unrepresented by outstand-
ing certificates aud what amount Of such
certificates are now in circulation, also,
what amount Of silver dollars were in
the Treasury on the fourth day Of
March last, that could have been ap-
piled in payment Of the interest-bearing
debts and other dues Of Government,
and " hat amount Of such dollars are
now being held in the Treasury could
be applied, and also what amount Of
silver certificates are held in the Treasury
tnat could be re-issued, also what
amount OF interest. bearing debts now
subject to call, and will the same policy
be pursued in the payment of silver coin
and on other public dues in the future as
in the past.
Morrison said he would not object to
the resolution, but thought it went too
far in asking what was to be the policy
OF the Treasury Department.
Bland replied that the past policy Of
the Administration was proper, and
that it was proper that Congress should
know whether it was to be pursued or
not.
Randall inquired whether there wac
any way Of getting in q motion to strike
out the clause in regard to the future
policy OF the Administration. The pol
icy of the Administration could be
judged by its acts.
Hewiti--"Will 1t not be in accord to
move to recommit with instructionsg"
The Speaker-'sThat is in order"
Hewitt-"Then move to recommit
the resolution with instructions to the
committee to strike out that portion
which asks the Secretary of the Treas
ury to define the policy of the Admins
tration."
The motion to recommit with instruc-
tions was lost; yeas. IS, nays, l6s, and
the resolution was adopted.