The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-31
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
The Senate Further Amends and Finally
Passes the Surplus" Resolution.
The President Given Power to Suspend Bond
Calls and Trade Dollars Made Redeemable
Passage of Reagans Interstate Bill.

CONSIDERATION or the House joint resolution Ill
recting the payment of the suplus in the Treas
ury on the public debt. and was addressed by
DIR. Teller, in continuation of the speech begun
by him yesterday, in favor of the original resou-
ton and against the amendment reported by the
Senate committee on finance. He had never IN
sisted that the government should pay silver
for its bonds, although he had insisted that it
had a right to do so, and that the bondholders
would have no right to complain. But If the
government saw. fit and was able to pay gold for
its bonds, he had no objection He demanded
nothing for silver which he had not demanded
for gold. He wanted to keep the two metals on
an equality, because, in his judgment. it would
be as disastrous to destroy gold to destroy sill
yer. But he said that the government could pay
this $I36, 600 900 for bonds at the rate of $40,
000, 900 month without paying one dollar in
silver-that is, il it chooses to Go so.
Mr.. Vance spoke in support Of the resolution
as it came from the House. 1t was plain and
simple; and the plain people Of the country. not
learned in the technicalities Of finance so re.
garded it The question simply was whether
the government should pay its debts from the
money In hand That course was the plainest
dictation OF common sense and oldfashioned
honesty. He did not trouble himself to inquire
whether the joint resolution would or would not
be q vote of want of confidence in the admins
sration. That was an argument unworthy to be
addressed to Senator of the United States and
it was unworthy of the dignity OF his position
for him to listen to such an argument To sup
pose that Senator would abandon his honest
convictions. or suffer himself to be influenced by
any considerations other than those affect.
ing the public gooo, was insulting
To suppose that the President desired
the Senators TO be actuated by any other aim
In their legislative conduct was not compliment
tary to him or to the Senate For himself, he
had only inquired as to whether the resolution
would promote the general welfare of
The people. He was constantly told that
khis was his administrations that he had
the only Democratic administration which the
country had had for quarter of century. it
was entitled TO and should receive his cordial
support. That was all very true. The admins
tration was entitled TO and should have his best
support Ill all things, but not at the expense of
his honest convictions of duty. In other words,
he desired to be an honest man as well as a
Democrat. Quiet laughter the Republican
side. He believed that the action Of the House
of Representatives in passing the joint resolu.
tion.-207 to 65-refiected the wishes of the peo-
ple and he proposed to be obedient to the popu
lar behest He was, therefore, in favor of the
resolution as it came from the House, pure and
simple, and he was opposed to the amendment
because it increased, instead of diminishing, the
Treasury reserve, and because 1T left the whole
matter to the Secretary of the Treasury, just as
now; and that the Secretary had declared, again
and again, that the public debt must be paid in
gold
Mr. German addressed the Senate in favor of
she resolution as amended
The debate was interrupted to permit the
Chair to announce the appointment OF Messrs
Dolph, Teller and Cockrell as referees on the
bin to forfeit the lands of the Northern Pacific
railroad. The debate was resumed and con-
sinued by Mr. Mcpherson in favor of the amend
ment proposed by the committee on finance, and
by Mr. Whitthorne, in favor generally of
the House resolution. and particularly in adj
vocacy of the bill to restore the proceeds of cot
ron in the Treasury, and By Mr.. Call Ton the
silver question generally but especially against
the resolution and the amendment, and In favor
of leaving the whole matter in the hands of the
Secretary of the treasury
Mr. Edmunds moved to amend the amendment
to the surplus" resolution by substituting the
President for the Secretary of the Treasury; SO
that it will read: when, in the opinion of the
President, the public interests shall require it.
he may direct the Secretary of the Treasury to
suspend the further call. ETC. Agreed to.
Mr. Cook moved to add the following proviso:
Provided that such suspension and the reasons
therefor, shall be reported to Congress within
ten days after its next meeting or Immediately,
if Congress shall be in session" Agreed to.
Mr. Maxey spoke in favor of the House resolu-
s'face the music" The resolution sent by the
House required the bonds to be paid out of the
surplus money in the Treasury, whether that
money was in gold or silver, while the finance
committee of the Senate was opposed to that
policy and was determined that the silver coin
should not be paid out Let it be disguised as it
might be, that was the whole OF IT.
After a speech by Mr. Chace in favor of tho
committees amendment, Mr.. Plumb moved to
strike out the clause giving the President the
IN NJ f0 cueD he
The motion was rejeeted-yeas 20, nays "a, as
follows:
Yeas-Beck, Berry, Blackburn Cameron, Cockrell.
Coke, 0onger, Cullom. Eustis. Harris, Hearst, In
son, Maxey Mitchell lore.., Palmer, Plumb Riddle.
berger, Spooner, Teller Vance, Van Wyck Vest,
Voorhees,, Whitthcrne, Wilson ia. )-29.
Camden, Chace, Dawes, Dolph, Edmunds, Evarts,
Frye, Gibson, German, Gray, Hale. Hampton Har-
aa Hwsy R Po R Rs9R ss
Stanford, Walthall, Wilson Md.)-34.
Mr.. Eustis moved to insert the words "includ-
ing the payment of bonds, aud interest thereon,
Under existing laws. payable in gold or silver
coin at the option of the government Re
jected-yeas &c, nays 81, as follows.
Yeas-Beck Berry, Blackburn, Brown, Camden,
Gockrell Coke Eusts, Gibson, Harris, Hearst Jones
tArk.), Jones (Nev.), Kenna Malone Maxey Mitch
FL tore), Plum b, Pugh Riddleberger. Teller Vance,
Van Wyck Vest, Voorhees,, Whitthorne.-26.
Nays-Aldrich, Allison. Blair Butler, Call Cam
eron Chace, Conger, Cullom, Dawes Dolph, Ed
munds, Evarts Frye, German, Gray, Hale, Hampton,
son, Henderson Miller, Palmer Payne. Plat Sabin,
Sewell Sherman, Spooner, Stanford, Wathall, VIII
ION (Ia.), Wilson CMd)-37
The committee amendment, as amended, was
then agreed to-yeas 81. nays 27-as follows:
Yeas--AldricA Allison, Blair, Brown, Butler Call
Camden Cameron, Chaee, Dawes, Dolph, Edmunds,
Evarts, Frye, Gibson. German, Gray. Hale Hampton,
Harrison. Hawley, Hoar, Kenna, Mcmillan, McPher.
son, Miller, Payne Platt, Pugh Sabin, Sawyer.
soE Mdl-37.
Nays-Beck, Berry, Blackburn. Cockrell, Coke,
Jones tArk.i, Jones (Nev.), Malone, Henderson.
Maxey, Mitchell tOre.). Palmer Plum, Riddleberger
Teller, Vance Van Wyck, Vest, Voorhees, Whitthorne
Wilson Ia l-27
Mr. Sewell moved as an amendment the bill
FOR the receipt of trade dollars at their par value
Mr.. Edmunds moved to lay it on the table.
1aieeted-3l to 81