The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-21
IN BOTH YOUR HOUSES
THE ORGAN WITH SILVER PIPES
GRlNDS TuNEFuLLY.
A Little Game That Was Played on Mat
son in the House-Haie Inquisitive
About Convict Labor Badly Conscience
Stricken-Acton's Successor Nominated.

WASHINGTON CITY, Jan 2l.-Hale offered
in the senate Wednesday, a resolution Of
inquiry upon the secretary in relation TO
the employment of convict labor by the
contractor on the public building at Peoria,
Ills /; also, for copies of protests of labor
organizations against the employment of
convict labor upon public works, and of
other contractors against giving contracts
to employees of convict labor on government
works, as the contractor employing free
labor could not compete for the work Hale
said he was not prepared to believe, without
further information, that the secretary
If the treasury would give contracts to be
performed by convict labor, but his infor-
nation was of such character that he
deemed it advisable ia ascertain the facts in
the case He was opposed to convict labor
Oh public works, and did not think free
labor should be compelled to compete with
convict labor.
The resolution was agreed to, and after
further routine business of minor impor-
lance, Morrill, delivered set speech on the
silver question
Morrill, began with the remark that the
elaborate speech Of the senator from Ken
lucky Beck seemed to throw the burden o,
the re oinder on the friends of the admins
tration. Il do not mean" he continued, II
encroach upon the privileges which SO man,
Democratic senators appear eager to enso'i
Of coming to the rescue of the president
and the secretary OF the treasury
against the rather cruel attack made
upon q cardinal measure of the admin
istration, as | know the fate OF those
who venture to interfere with family quar-
rels; but this measure through which silver
might be maintained on Il par with gold, so
worthy of all acceptation, | fear will not
have after the hot demonstration of the
recognized leader of his party in the senate
against it, that unanimous support to which
it may fairly be entitled. In the first
place, let me say there are no parties, SO far
as | know, in the senate or out of it,
that propose, or have any wish to
damonetize silver To charge otherwise
IS a baseless assumption and unworthy Of
the arena of fair debate Every body is
willing, nay anxious, to keep as much of sill
yer in circulation as can be done, and keep
it at the same time at par with our gold
coinage. The only hostility to silver arises
from from what seems to be fixed and
passionate purpose on the part OF some of its
advocates to promote such an excess of sill
yer coinage as will drive gold out OF the
country, and leave Our trade and
commerce based upon silver only
In reaching this position of
silver monometallism, it is impossible to
be blind to the disastrous contraction Of the
circulating medium of the country that
would at once occur, for when the moment
arrives that gold commands premium it
| will be held as commodity for sale, not
for circulation, small, OF ) per cent.
| premium being as productive Of universal
| boarding as 25 per cent, and no possible
advantage to our people could be expected
| from following the lame and feeble example
Of India or Mexico in utilizing a silver cur.
rency only"
Upon conclusion of Morrill's speech, d
| running, heated debate took place, in which
| Beck, Mcpherson, Teller and others took
part
The first business OF interest in the house
Wednesday was presented by Matson of In
diana who called up the Till increasing pen
sions of widows and dependent relatives
| from s. to sl2 per month. Matson said that
a careful estimate showed that the annual
increase by reason of the passage Of this
OIL would amount 10 ABOUT S9,hh,pl Inc
committee on invalid pensions was not in
favor of every wild proposition at pension
legislation that might be presented to it,
but he did not think there would be any op-
| position to the fair measure which was now
reported A long debate ensued
Before action WAS reached the morning
hour expired, and the house went into com
mittee Of the whole, the purpose being to
continue the discussion
After going in committee of the whole. it
was discovered that the first bill on the cal
endar was the senate bill authorizing the
purchase of the old produce exchange in
New York city. Symes of Colorado receiv-
| ing recognition Of the chair, said that was
| the precise bill he wished to talk about, and
Immediately proceeded to deliver a speech
in opposition to suspension Of silver coinage