The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-17
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
After Spirited Debate the House Votes to
Establish Sub-Treasury at Louisville.

WASHINGTON, May 16-On motion of Mr.
Perkins, of Kansas, bill was passed authoriz-
ing the Kansas & Arkansas Valley Railroad
Company to construct railway through the In
dian Territory.
Mr.. Willis, of Kentucky, called up the special
order, being the bill to establish a sub-treasury
at Louisville.
Mr. Morrison. in opposing the bill. sent to the
Clerks desk and had read letter from the
United States Treasurer stating that there was
no necessity for an additional sub-treasury, and
that, in fact. five of those now existing-at st.
Louis Baltimore, Cincinnati, New Orleans and
Chicago-mght be dispensed with and their func-
tions performed by national banks with greater
economy and very much less risk than under the
present system
Mr. Holman. OF Indiana, thought the addition
al sub treasury was not demanded by any public
consideration.
lishment as matter of public convenience to
the large number Of people having business rela-
tions with the city of Louisville.
Mr. Bland, of Missouri, thought that the es-
Enlistment of the subtreasury was a matter OF
importance in that it would aid in securing the
who desired it. Treasurer Jordan had not shown
any strong desire to put silver into circulation,
but he Mr. Bland did not think that tie repre-
sentatives of the people should aid the Treasurer
in his hostility in this resi- ect.
Mr. Cannon, OF Illinois, thought that no posi-
BILE proposition could come before the House
that the gentleman from Missouri Mr. Band
did not see silver lining to the cloud But
there nothing to the gentleman's argument,
because. under the existing law, anybody who
demanded it could have the silver dollar laid
down at his door free of charge. The sole pur-
pose of the bill, so far as he could see, was to
give places to hungry Democrats
Mr. Hewitt, of New York, said that the sub
treasures were established for the convenience
of the United States Treasury a place of de-
post, and every function they performed beyond
that was abuse. In reply to a question by
Mr.. Bland, as to whether the national banks did
not prevent the circulation of the silver dollar
Mr.. Hewitt replied that if anybody wanted sill
yer dollars ne had only to ask for them.
Mr.. Weaver, of Iowa-The trouble is that
there are men who do not want the silver dollar
who ought to be compelled to take it.
Mr.. Hewitt was compelled this morning to
take four of them. Here they are Holding them
up amid CALCULATIONS of ''Ill take them,' Hand
them over"] This readiness which is exhibited by
my impecunious colleagues to relieve me OF
this burden is significant of the condition of this
country, where they would take silver dollar il
offered, but would not go and deposit it in
bank, preferring to spend 1t for something they
would like to have. / know of no good reason
why should be compelled to carry these four
notes. Every effort of this sort, he said.
which imposed a charge on the Treasury, i'm
posed new charge on the taxpayers. There
was nothing to be gained by the establishment
of these Offices, but there was to be paid at least
$160, 900 of additional taxes. These measures
came in like the drops of rain from heaven; day
after day propositions to spend the public money
came in, and he wished to warn the gentlemen
that this thing could not go on without making
the burden OF taxation intolerable. The estab-
Eshmapt of this sinh ha attended
with risks to the Treasury The sub treasury at
New York to-day was only safe from mob, if
mob should arise by the presence of the armed
forces of the United States. Wherever there
was a sub treasury, there must be q guard of
military in the vicinity.
Mr.. Willis (sotto vocel-Louisville has guard
that can whip New York out laughter
Mr.. Hewitt-My friend says he has guard
that can whip New York out l have no doubt
that on this bill he can whip New York out. but
he cannot whip out the warning that he and his
Democratic associates who vote for this bill may
also be whipped out at the next election.
Mr. Willis was astounded at the arguments
against the bill. and especially that presented by
the gentleman from New York [Mr<Hewittl;
that gentleman had said that the functions of
of sub-treasuries were confined merely to the de-
post of silver
Mr. Hewitt made no such statement 1
said that sub treasures were established for the
care of funds in the custody of the United
States
Mr. Willis-I have before me the law, which
states it differently. and the last report of the
Treasury Department which puts it differently.
Mr. Willis then quoted from the law, to the
effect that the sub-treasuries were established
for the safe-keeping, transfer and disbursement
of public funds. From the report of the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury it was found that every
sub treasury in the United States was filed to
OVERLOOKING with gold and silver, and there was
before of the committees of the House a let
ter from the acting Secretary of the Treasury
asking for 500 900 to enlarge the vaults in
Washington and New York. Why could not
vaults be built in the public building at Louis
ville2 1t was not safe to aggregate all the money
at New York and Washington.
Mr.. Hiscock. of New York, did not expect by
his remarks to change any votes upon this bill:
but he wished to congratulate the eminent gen.
tlemen on the other side on the tight hand they
held on their party. How we'll they held their
party in hand when a bill was pending to create
little more patronage. Where were the reso
lutions the Democratic party had formulated at
the last national convention, pleding reduction
of public expenditures and an abolition
of unnecessary offcesY What did it pro-
pose to do with these pledges
which it had made to the people, the dear peo-
ple whose money under no circumstances it
would waste Was its action on this bill to be
an earnest of it's intentionsq The Secretary of
the Treasury had said that this expenditure was
unnecessary He had told Congress that $37
000, 900 was locked up and kept from circulation
by this system OF sub-treasuries. This was a
measure intended to satisfy some dissatisfaction
in the Democratic party. He knew that very
few men of national reputation as reformers
would mouth briefly against this bill Conld it
be possible that the premier the king maker.
the very Warwick of Democracy Mr.. Morrsonl
was so shaken of influence, so powerless that
he could not stem this tide of extravaganza
Could it be possible that his friend from Penn
sylvana Mr. Randall was powerless to stand
against these encroachments and raids on the
public Treasury2 How MANY man from Indiana
would follow Mr.. Holmanq He wanted to see
the following the gentleman from Illinois (Mr
Morrison would have in his opposition to this
bill. The gentleman was very strong in national
conventions, and he wanted to see in what esti-
nation his opinion was held by his colleagues.
when tame phrases he advised economy
Mr.. Taulbee. of Kentucky-The gentleman
from New York Mr.. Hscock] seems to put the
merits of this bill on the question of patronage.
and he has labored to establish the fact that the