Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-01

self. 10 say that BIO had not indicated
such policy for them or for himself.
He had made no statement from which
n fair-minded and honorable man could
deduce such a conclusion. When the
Republicans should be called upon to
consider the tho draft or project of the
tariff bill, which they heard was being
prepared. il would be time for them to
determine their policy.
Mr.. Holman. of Indiana, from tho
Committee on Public Lands. reported
bill TO secure to actual settlers public
lands adapted TO agriculture and to pro-
tect the forests on the public domain.
Ordered printed and recommitted.
The House then went into Committee
Of the Whole (Mr. Burrows. of Mlchl-
Gan. in the chair for consideration OF
the bill authorizing the Secretary of the
Treasury to purchase bonds with the
surplus revenue.
MIR. Mills, OF Texas, stated that the
Secretary of the Treasury had been
authorized by the law of March 3, 1881,
to purchase or redeem bonds with the
surplus money in the Treasury, but this
authority had never been exercised. The
fact that authority had been given In the
appropriation bill seemed to raise
donbt whether it extended beyond the
period covered by thar bill The Secre-
tary of the Treasury had prior to
last June bonds subject to call
sufficient to employ the surplus money,
and after that time he could
purchase bonds for the sinking fund.
As it was a doubtful question whether
the Secretary could use the large sum OF
money ia the Treasury for the purchase
or redemption OF bonds, that officer pre-
ferred 10 remit the question TO the law
making power II Congress intended
that he should use the surplus IN
purchase or redemption it should IN
vest him with undoubted authority to
do so.
Then followed long and interesting
political debate, in which the Republl-
can members assailed the financial policy
of the President, whom alone they held
responsible in not using the surplus In
the purchase OF bonds after the 3 per
cents had been redeemed. They held
that full power had existed under the
appropriation bill of March 3, 1881, ana
TO pass the pending resolution vould
add nothing to his power. The chlet
Republican speakers were Messrs. Nc
Kinly, Reed. Kelley, and Weaver.
MIR. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, was
the foremost champion OF the Admins
tration. lie asserted that whatever re-
sponsibility there was for the necessity
| for the pending resolution, it lay as
much With Congress as with the executive
! branch of the Government and IN large
measure with the Republican members
OF the Forty ninth Congress, who had
voted not to consider the tariff bill du-
ring last session. lie assured his Re
publican friends that they would soon
| have as much tariff Legislation to con-
slider rs they cared for. Mr.. Breckin-
ridge was supported by Messrs. Randall
and Hooker.
The debate continued until the hour
for the special order arrived and was
then continued half an hour.
At its conclusion Mr.. McCreary, OF
Kentucky. offered the following amend
ment, which was accepted by Mr.. Mills {:
provided that the bonds so pur-
chased or redeemed shall constitute no
part of the sinking fund, but shall be
cancelled by the Secretary OF the Irea-
sury."
Mr. Bayne, OF Pennsylvania, then
offered an amendment repeating all laws
imposing taxes upon snuff, cigars, or
other manufactured tobacco and upon
dealers and peddlers Of the same.
MI Bayne's amendment was ruled ont
on point of order raised by MIR. Mills.
The committee then arose and reported
the bill to the House, and it was passed,
together with Mr.. McCreary's amend
ment. without division. The following
is the text OF the bill:
"rhat the Secretary of the Treasury
is hereby authorized to apply the surplus
money now IN the Treasury. and such
surplus money rs may hereafter be IN
! the Treasury and not otherwise appro-
printed, or 50 much thereof as he may
consider proper, to the purchase or re-
demptlon OF United States bonds: pro-
vided that the bonds SO purchased or re-
deemed shall constitute no part OF the
sinking fund, but shall be cancelled by
the Secretaryof the Treasury.
Mr.. Dockery called up and the House
passed the bill relating to postal crimes.
1t provides for the fine and imprison-
ment of any person who gives false eyl-
dence as to the character of any publ
cation Tor the purpose of securing its
admission TO the mails as second-class
matter, and for the punishment OF per
sons forging or fraudulently changing
money orders and postal-notes.
Eulogies upon the late Representative
Mofiatt, OF Michigan, were then pro
nounced, and the House adjourned.