The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-20


$4,000 Tt was optional with him to demand
either gold. silver or paper; but if, under
instructions of the Secretary of the Treasury,
the disbursing officers were commanded, upon
the face of the check to pay him in silver,
would he not have a right to infer that the gov
eminent endeavoring to force upon him
coin which. intrinsieally, did not represent
slU 600 in true money, by arbitrarily compelling
him to take silver when. under existing laws,
gold. silver and United States notes were under
stood to be of equal value, aud so treated in
payments by the Treasurya Would not such an
action on the part of the Secretary of the Treas
ury tend TO discredit silver. and would he not be
dereict in his duty. which required him to do all
that was in his power to 50 main,
parity7 The Treasury Department had not
Disseminated against silver, as it would have
done had such policy been pursued but on the
contrary the Secretary had endeavored TO up
hold it by refusing arbitrarily to compel those
who did not want it to take 1t, and for which
there was no law. In 1878 Congress had passed
law which practical experience had since
shown to be in violation of economic principles,
and now, because these gentlemen, charged I'M
der the law with the duty of carrying out this
utopian financial idea, realized that it impos
sible for them to accomplish all that was intend
ed, although having faithfully executed the pro-
visions of the law, they were held responsible
by the authors of the act of 1878 for the want of
circulation of this coin. He declared that If
there be in circulation a good dollar
and poor dollar, the rich man will
always get the good dollar and the poor man the
poor dollar. If public policy required that all
dollars should be poor. in order to rob the cred
itor class of our people in favor of the debtor,
he appealed to this House to in some way pro-
tect tine man who earned his bread and support
ed his family by his daily labor, and when he
asked for bread not to give him stone. How
this could be done in any better way than by
giving. the rich and poor alike good dollar, he
did not know but protect. In Gods name. the
poor man. The rich man could take care OF
himself He needed no sympathy, nor was he
entitled to any. Mr.. Scott said that he was in
favor Of bimetallism at the present time,
although he was believer in the superiority OF
gold as standard of value.
Mr. Scott spoke at great length, and finally
Mr.. Geddes, of Ohio, protested against the pri-
vate bill day being consumed in discussion OF
the silver question. He was then proceeding to
make speech in favor of silver coinage, when ne
was interrupted by Mr.. Reed, of Maine, who
suggested that Mr.. Geddes was guilty of the
same inconsistency with which he charged the
gentleman from Pennsylvania. Why take up
any more time with financial speechesg The
majority of the House was entirely dissatiied
with the time taken up already.
Mr. Geddes-I supposed you were, because
You have only heard the old side.
Mr.. Reed am as dissatisfied with the time
being taken up on that side as the other.
Mr. Geddes then started once more upon his
speech, when he was interrupted by Mr. Reed
with the point of order that he was not speak
ing to the amendment
Mr. Geddes inquired why Mr.. Reed had not
made that point against the gentleman from
PENNSYLVANIA.
Mr. Reed replied that he had not done that
gentleman the honor OF listening to his speech.
and therefore could not tell whether he had
spoken to the amendment or not. He raised the
point OF order, not in any righteousness to the
tla,.o <hA hou
vocated. but he wished adjudication of the
question.
The Chair stated that he did not think that
the gentleman was addressing himself to the
amendment, and hoped that he would proceed
to do SO.
Mr. Morrison, of Illinois. while he deprecated
this character of discussion, could way
to prevent it, unless gentlemen would observe
the spirit of the rules
Mr. Bland, of Missouri hoped that the House
would have some respect for the committee
coinage, weights and measures. He intended to
ask that day should be set apart for the con-
sideration of the DILL reported from that COM
mittee, and then the discussion could proceed.
Mr. Geddes, however, carried his point and
resumed his speech. He said that gold, instead
of leaving the country, WAS abundant i'll the
land The report of the Comptroller of the
Currency for 1881 showed that from the restora-
ton of silver to its proper place in 1878, to Nov.
l. 1881. the imports of gold had exceeded the ex-
ports by sl97, 900, 900.
Shortly after the conclusion of Mr.. Goddess
speech, the committee rose and the House passed
a dozen private bills.
Mr. Bland, of Missouri asked unanimous con-
sent to offer O resolution making the free-silver-
coinage bill on the calendar continuing special
order from Tuesday next
Mr. Steele of Indiana objected.
The House then took recess until 730, the
evening session to be for the consideration of
pension bills.
At its evening session the House passed Forty
four pension bills, and at $50 adjourned until
Tuesday.