The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-12
XLlXth CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.

In the Senate today a number of petitions
were presented praying for the suspension
of the silver coinage.
Mr.. Harrison reported favorably from the
committee on Territories on original Dill to
admit Dakota and provide for the organlza-
tion of the Territory of Lincoln.
Mr.. Butler reserved the right to submit
minority report if, after perusal and con-
sideration of the majority report, he should
conclude to do so.
Mr.. Harrison, from the same committee
reported adversely ON the resolutions here
tofore offered by Messrs. Butler and Vest
calling for inquiries as to the organization OF
the State government in Dakota. The reso-
luton was placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Morgan offered q resolution relating to
the trustees provided for by the Utah bill to
manage the property and affairs of the Nor
mon church organization
The resolution was laid over.
Mr.. Henderson called up his bill to in
crease the efficiency of the infantry branch
of the army, and addressed the Senate at
length in explanation thereof.
Mr.. Blair addressed the Senate on the bill
heretofore introduced by him to provide for
the erection of a monument at Washington
to Lincoln and another to Grant. Lincoln
and Grant, he said, were associated in the
minds of the people with Washington as the
sayiors of their country, and appropriate
monuments should be erected to their mem
ory in the capital of the nation. Individual
effort would never undertake to erect monu-
ments becoming the greatest OF men and
principles to be commemorated IN these in
stances, and the government should there
fore undertake the task as 1t had completed
a monument to Washington.
Mr.. Pugh called up Mr.. Beck's silver reso-
luton and and addressed the Senate on it.
The real point involved, Mr. Pugh believed
to be, not suspension, but the total st0ppage
of silver coinage, and if silver coinage were
suspended now it would be a blow that
xpould diraptlyr and Snpp1llV lead tn the
summation of an organized conspiracy OF
capitalists to secure absolute control of all
our currency and the regulation of its volume
and consequent purchasing power. Mr.
Pugh criticised the arguments of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury and of the President
He inquired whether we were to take the
mere direction of the President in this mat
ter, and insisted that the executive officers
were under obligation to enforce the laws OF
Congress. Why had those laws been hourly
violated? Had Congress abdicated its powers
to the executive department OF the govern
ment? National banks, which were the fls-
cal agents of the government, should not
Mr. Pugh thought, have been allowed to be-
come members of the clearing house that
discredited the silver certificates of the goy-
ernment. The reason the national banks
did not like silver was because silver was the
only medium Of our currency which they
could not control Stop the coinage of sill
yer, said Mr. Pugh, and those banks VIII be-
survey The opinion of James Il. Blaine,
he continued, would have an influence with
the Senate lie read from remarks made by
Mr. Blaine while i'll Congress, to the effect
that the establishment of a non-metallic gold
standard woulh be injurious to our indus
tries and commerce, and that the United
States could not wisely treat silver as
European countries did. Both metals, Mr.
Pugh insisted, were necessary in order to
counteract the constant tendency of money
to contract under the vast increase OF the
values of the world.
Before Mr.. Pugh concluded his remarks,
the Senate went into executive session, and
later adjourned.
HOUSE.
In the House today the Speaker laid before
the House.a communication from the clerk,
transmitting papers in various contested
election cases, and the papers were referred
to the committee on elections.
Bills introduced:
BY Mr. Oates, Of Alabama, bill to pro-
hibit aliens from acquiring title to or own
ing lands within the United States also
bill to forfeit the New Orleans, Baton Rouge
and VicksbuTg land grants; also bill to
amend the rules of the House so as to limit
speeches to three minutes.
By Mr.. McKenna of California, for the APP
pOintment of board of two army and two
navy officers and one civilian authorized to
construct two gun foundries, one in Cali
lDlIld dJ Jllt MdiS lSldIll navy ydlu VI db
the Benicia arsenal, and one at such other
place as the board may determine, at cost
not to exceed $1,000,0 600 for each foundry.
BY Mr. Townshend of Illinois, providing
for the issue by the treasury of silver certi-
ficates in denominations of $1 50 and $5
each.
BY Mr. Boutelle of Maine a resolution cal
ling on the Secretary of the Navy for lnfor-
nation concerning the truth or falsity of GER
tain statements which have appeared In the
public press, as follows:
First That the commandant of the United
States navy yard at Norfolk, Va, has caused an
honorable inscription heretofore borne on can
n9R 70 y Se d9 'a
Second. That he caused to be removed from
the dry dock tablet placed there at the time it
was reconstructed and bearing this inscription;
destroyed by rebels in 1862; rebuilt by the u 5.
government i'll 1862
Third. That because of his protest against the
removal of those inscriptions the superintendent
in charge of the work of rebuilding had been re-
moved from his position, and person VINO en-
ment appointed in his place.
Fourth. That in disregard Of the grateful re-
cogntion of the services, sacrifices and suferings
of persons hOnorably discharged from the mill
tary and naval service of the country, number
of such persons have been dismissed from EN-
ployment in the Norfolk navy yard and their
places filled by men who fought against the gov
ernment during the rebellion.
If these allegations are found true the Sec
retary Of the Navy is directed to inform the
House upon whose order and on what au-
thority and in pursuance of what public
policy, if any, such Inscriptions were oblit-
Grated and such persons dismissed from the
service.
By Mr. Dingley of Maine, to abolish COM
pulsory pilotage of sailing vessels in the
coastwise trade; also to encourage American
shipbuilding for the foreign trade. This bill
enlarges the list Of articles admitted free of
duty for the construction of vessels for the
foreign trade. and applies the benefits of the
act of 1872 to fishing vessels and vessels in
recting the select committee on shipbuilding
and shipowning interests to inquire what, if
any, legislation will promote the interests Of
the American marine engaged in the fish
cries, and to report by bill or otherwise
SnNeral nthpr hills were intr0duced. after