The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-30
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
The Senate Devotes the Day to Discuss
ing Morrison's Surplus Resolution,
Arguments For and Against the Bill-Mr.
Reagan Makes a Vain Effort to Call Up
the Interstate Commerce Dill.
Discussion of the Morrison Surplus Resolas
tion-A Vote Not Reached.


tion-A Vote Not Reached.
WASHINGTON, July 29-The Chair presented
the proclamation of the Governor of Utah rela-
sive to the violation of the marriage laws IN
that Territory. Referred to the committee on
Territorities
Dir. Hoar asked leave to report, from the COM
mittee on the library, preamble and resolution
for the appointment of committee Of i've SEN
ators-the presiding officer to be one-to con-
slider, formulate and report at the next session
of Congress plan for properly celebrating at
the capital of the Republic. the centennial ami
yersary, in 1889, of the adoption of the Consti-
tuition and the fourhundredth anniversary, in
1892 of the discovery of America by Christie
pher Colum bus--two historic events fraught
With great patriotic interests.
Mr.. Hale objected, and the resolution went
over till to morrow.
The Senate proceeded to consideration Of
the House joint resolution to apply the surplus
in the Treasury to the payment of the public
aebt-Mr. Blair giving notice that, at the first
opportunity, he would call up the vetoed pension
bills according to their order on the calandar
Mr.. Allison opened the debate. He asserted
his belief that by the statutes of 1879 and 1882
there had been devotion or dedication of $780,
600, 600 to be held in the Treasury for the pur
pose of maintaining at par In coin all the paper
money issued by the government The House
joint resolution, known as the Morrison resolu
EioM, proposed in absolute terms to set apart and
devote 800 900, 900 for the purpose of redeeming
United States notes. and for no other purpose
whatever. If that joint resolution should pass
without the dotting OF an or the crossing Of a
{, it would stand in the pathway of
the Secretary of the Treasury in man.
aging the current business If the Secretary
should undertake to use any portion of
that 500 000 600 for current obligations, he
would violate a distinct and clear provision of
law. Therefore it was that the committee on
finance thought it wise TO reserve further work
ing fund of $40 000,0 600. If the joint resolution
had been in force few years ago. when the ar
rears of pension act was passed, that act could
not have been executed by the Secretary of the
Treasury. Congress might again. and he be-
heved that justice and fairness required it to do
So provide additional legislation respecting pen
sions. The Senate had, at the present session,
passed q bill which would confesseGly increase
the annual pension expenditure by $l2, 900, 900
or $15000000. That bill was now pending in
the House, and would, he hoped become law
before the close of the session. If it did, and if
the House resolution were in full play, the pen
sion law could not be carried out. Therefore,
it was that the committee on finance believed it
wise to have this $40. 600, 900 q piable. fexi-
bic fund that could be drawn upon at times
Proceeding to discuss the clause IN the amend
ment TO ian extraordinary emergency" he
was asked by Mr. Culiom whether that amend
ment would not leave the question entirely in
the hands of the administration, and whether
the administration would understand that the
emergency always existed Before he could an
Swer that question he was asked another by Mr..
Plumb as to whether he knew OF any occurrence
since the present administration came into power
indicating that the country was on the verge of
panic.
To the latter question he replied in the mega
tive. and Mr.. Plumb recalled the fact of the Sec
ietary of the Treasury sending, in July, 1885,
$40, goo 600 to the associated banks in New York.
TO meet some imaginary demand and to avert
some impending disaster In response to that
latter explaining that the deposit was in frac
tional silver currency-not regarded as money!,
he said, Also that the Senator from Kansas did
not take account of the fact that the Secretary
of the Treasury was then new in his place, and
was not familiar with the affairs of the Treas
ury and OF the government as he now was.
Having referred to a speech delivered by
Senator Beck, last December. which exposed,
he said. the shame of Democratic policy, he was
asked by Mr.. Mcpherson to state what he mean
by that remark, and he explained his meaning
TO be this That the Democratic ad
criticising adversely the financial policy
of its predecessor, and saying that more
moEey was held in the Treasury than was neces-
sary to carry on the operations of the govern
ment and to maintain the paper money at par;
that from the 4th of March till the Goth of De-
cember the Democratic administration had re-.
versed the policy of the Republican administra-
ton, and instead of paying the surplus on the
public debt, had accumulated more than $780,,
600 in the Treasury over and above the proper
reserve. and that it was Only the speech of the
Senator from Kentucky that put stoD to that
policy and caused the first call for ten millions
to, be Issued. The House resolution, he said, ut
terly and absolutely condemned the financial
Iii r~nf~ afe<;1 %~a<s
mittee on finance had modified and sugar-coated,
in respects, this condemnation; still it also
proposed to condemn that policy. and 1t would
stand condemned before the country, whether
the resolution should be amended or not.
The consideration of the resolution was tenn
porarily suspended TO allow Mr.. Conger to re-
port back from the committee on commerce the
House bill, with amendments, to authorize the
Chicago, st. Louis & New Orleans Railroad
Company and the Illinois Central to construct
bridge across the Ohio river at Cairo. Placed
On the calendar.
Consideration of the surplus resolution was
resumed and Mr. Beck proceeded to address the
Senate The Senators on either SIDE he said,
and the administration, might as we'll dismiss
all apprehension relative 60 the motives and pur-
poses of the House of Representatives in the
passage of the joint resolution, and might as
we'll assume that the House of Representatives,
constituted, as it was, in friendly accord with
the executive branch of the government, had
aot undertaken by the resolution either to cen
sure. condemn or embarrass the executive
branch of the government. 1t was fair to say
that the House believed that it was conducting
TO the public welfare and not bringing any
embarrassment on the administration. He did
aot see any purpose in the Senate amendments,
which did not make any practical change in the
resolution, except the purpose to say to the coun
try that the Democratic House of Representa-
hves was not to be trusted and the Republicans
in the Senate had to amend and change it in or
der to take away what was vicious in the resolu
lion Not believing that there was any vice in
I, but believing that, under existing circum-
stances, the resolution was fair and Just to the
administration he should vote for it, just as it
came from the House. He admitted that the
Secretary of the Treasury had had money in the
Treasury beyond what was needed but he at.
tributed that to combination of men in New
York and elsewhere who did not desire to have
che bonds called in, and endeavored to make the