The Portland daily press., 1886-01-07
XLIXth CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENAT E.

WASHINGTON, JAN d.
Mr.. Gray called up Mr.. Beck's recent reso-
luton of inquiry regarding the payment OF
customs duties in coin and application OF
that coin to purposes of the sinking fund,
etc. The resolution having been read Mr.
GRAY said he would vote for 1t. but Tor rea-
sons very different from those which actuated
Mr. Beck and those who thought with hlm.
Reviewing the history of the coin Legislation
the act of 1878, Mr.. Gray said was tentative.
1t was based on the idea that silver would
shortly reach an international ratio with
gold. 1t was the hope OF attainment OF tnls
thoughtful men in voting for that bill. His
hope had been disappointed, the object OF
the bill had been defeated and a dollar worth
92 cents in 1878, was now worth less tnan oo
cents. Passionate inyectlve on the part OF
the silver men wonld not enhance the value
of the silver dollar. The actions and recon-
mendations of the President and secretary
of the treasury ON the silver question We're
right The true issue in question was Wheth-
er the true relation of gold and silver could
be reached by continuance of the present
plan of silver coinage. He asserted that this
could not be done. Bimetallism could not
be reached by any one country alone. france
had long ago stopped her silver coinage, and
should we by continuing our present course
drive out of the country our several hundred
millions of gold coin. Ii we do so we
should have contraction indeed. The act OF
1878 having failed to raise the value OF Sill
yer persistence in any present plan OF silver
coinage would bring us to silver standard
we Would be descending to a basis of an 80
cent dollar, and thus the government OF the
limited States would in fact be sealing Its
own debt. This would be a public mls1or-
tune as evidencing condition OF pubic dls-
honesty which to say. the Least was equally
reprehensble with individual dishonesty.
Silver it is said should be in circulation con-
currently with gold, but the failure of the
best efforts to get it in that condition was
sufficient proof that our continued coinage
would be Of no avail III that direction.
Mr.. Gray was listened to with unusual IN
terest. His voice was clear, resonant and
we'll sustained, and at the close OF his re.
marks he received the congratulations OF
several of hissSenatorial friends
Mr.. Mcpherson followed ON the same SUB
iect He said if the coinage were now sus-
pended silver might be got into proper re-
iation with gold and in the opinion OF the
best authorities in the world we had now
rot TO point in the silver coinage beyond
which it was dangerous for us to go. Inc
need of currency was need created not by
law but by business, and with currency
of tiucuating value as ours was tending TO
become speculation was encouraged and
monetary ruin fastened.
On motion of Mr.. Edmunds the Senate
then took up the Utah bill, the pending
question being on Mr.. Hoars motion, to
strike cut the section that would disffanchlSe
the women of Utah. A vote having been
reached on the amendment it was rejected,
yeas II, nays 81.
till tomorrow, Mr.. Edmunds saying he
would ask the Senate to set it out and bring
the bill to a vote.
Mr.. Voorhees, gave notice that on WedneS-
day, 20 January, he would call up his reso-
LUTON expressing the sense of the Senate on
The death of the late Vice President Hen
Mr.. Blair from the committee on education
and labor, reported faNorably bill to aid IN
the establishment of common schools, the
same as the bill that passed the Senate last
Congress.
At $50 p m. the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
In the House today bills were introduced
as follows:
By Mr.. Seney of Ohio, to repeal the civil
service act. also to make shareholders in
national banks individually liable for the
debts of the bank; also to retire the trade
dollars. -
Rnfns ingalls, on the retired list; also liking
the salary of United States district. judges
at s5s s000 per annum; also for the retirement
of Gen. Alfred Pleasanton
BY Mr.. Bingham of pennsylvania, extend.
ing the letter carrier service to cities Of
10000 inhabitants; also prohibiting the mail
ing of any newspaper or publication contain
ing lottery advertisements.
By Mr. STAN of Pennsylvania, Tor the re-
tirement of the trade dollar.
BY Mr. Negley of Pennsylvania, for the
relief of the merchant marine OF the qnlted
States engaged in foreign trade. W pro
vides there shall be paid out of the Treasury
50 any vessel, whether steam or sal SAL, buil'
and owned wholly in the United States, en-
gagged in the foreign trade the sum OF 81
cents per registered ton for each LOCO miles
ssailed.)
BY Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania, proyid-
ing for filling vacancies in the office OF
President and Vice President.
Before the conclusion of the call the House
at 4.40 o'clock adjourned.
There were SS2 bills introduced today.
During the greater part of the day Speaker
Carlisle was absent from the chamber, the
chair being occupied by Mr.. Springer, and
the impression was that the Speaker was
engaged in the final revision Of his COM
mittee list So far as can be learned, nc
clFanges have been made in the formation Of
the Committees since yesterday morning, bu
there MAY be before the announcement, how
ever. II |, the Speakers intention to com
piete the call o. States before naming thu
committees.