The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-14
APPRECIATES THE HONOR,
BUT FOR REASONS SUFFICIENT AND
OF PRIVATE NATURE
BeSs Leave to Decline, Says Chairman
Curtin-The Echo OF Slight Unoleas-
antncss-Insalls' Silver Idea.

WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. l4.--As soon as
Curtin Of Pennsylvania, could secure the
recognition of the speaker of tbs house
Wednesday, hs said;
1T was your pleasure, sir, TO do me the
honor to plsce NE first on the list OF the
committee on banking and currency. | did
Intend 10 state to this house my reasons for
declining that honor, but on the advice Of
many friends and the sentiment OF the
public journals of the country. have con-
cluied to offer no reasons Of my own As
to declining the position it was your pleas
ure to give me- did not need the advice of
any man, for my decision in this respect
was made up from the beginning. For
reasons of my own. VIII III seem to be under
stood by my friends and colleagues on this
floor, Go ask this house TO excuse me from
the important duty of chairman of the COM
mittee TO which you have assigned me-
The Speaker-If there be no objection the
gentleman from Pennsylvania will be ex-
cused from duty as chairman of the com
nlittee on banking and currency
Bland OF Missouri moved that the house
do not excuse the gentlman from Pennsyl-
vania, but this motion received no support,
and Curtin was excused. This devolves the
craftsmanship on Miller of Texas There
have been rumors flying around ever since
the appointment of the committee that Cur
tin would resign the Craftsmanship awarded
to him, as it deprived him of the chair Of
the foreign relations committee, which was
given to Belmont This was resented by
Curtin and his friends; hence, it is said, the
declnation as recorded above.
Senator Hawley presided over the senate
Wednesday in the absence Of Senator Sher-
man. Ingalls, offered the following resolu-
ton, which, at his request, was laid over
for the present:
Resolved, That in the opinion of the
senate, the compulsory coinage Of silver
dollars directed by the law OF February d,
1878, should not be suspended until the ag-
gregate reaches the sum OF $500, OO0, 900. "
voorhees, stated that the better to suit the
convenience of other senators. he would not
call up his resolutions expressive of tie
sense of the senate on the death of the late
Vice President Hendricks until Tuesday,
the 26th, instead OF next Wednesday, as
originally proposed.
Reagan of Texas, rising to a question of
privilege, said that he found in The Record
that previous to his making his speech Tues
day, Morrison Of Illinois had protested
against tie debate on the silver question be-
ing opened at that time, and remarked that
nothing justified this departure from tina
rules of the house When he Reagan, with
the consent of the house, occupied his place
in defense of the rights of the people, he did
not think be merited the rebuke of the gem
tleman from Illinois
Morrison denied that be had any intention
to rebuke the gentleman. He had meant to
say be could see no reason why the debate
should begin Tuesday.
Reagan said that he had referred to this
matter, because be did not wish by his
silence TO seem to acquiesence in the re-
buke.
The presidents message was discussed in
committee of the whole Tuesday and Rea-
gan advocated the double standard of value,
opposed the suspension of compulsory silver
coinage, and proposed to charter no more
national banks
There was very little other business
transacted, and the house at p. m adj
iourned