The Portland daily press., 1888-03-27
Lth CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Marc.

WASHINGTON, March 27.
Among the petitions and memorials pre-
sented and referred in the Senate today,
were several from Iowa Patrons of Hus-
bandry, asking that agricultural products be
equally protected with manufactured arti-
cles; that foreign Immigration be restricted
so as to keep out all paupers and criminals,
and that United States Senators be elected
by direct vote of the people. Also petitions
for protection of woods and wooden goods.
The bill appropriating $1,000 to defray the
funeral expenses of the late Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court, was passed.
Senator Cullom, from the committee on
Territories, reported unanimously the reso-
lutions declaring it to be the sense of the
Senate that new States should be admitted
into the Union only on the basis of equality
with the existing States, and that Congress
ought not to exercise any supervision over
the provisions of the constitution of any
such new States further than is necessary to
guarantee to each State Republican form Of
government; that the proposed constitution
for the State of Utah contains provisions
which would deprive such proposed State, II
admitted, OF that equality which should ex-
ist among different States, and that 1t is the
sense of the Senate that the Territory of
Utah ought not to be admitted into the
Union as State until it is certain beyond
doubt that the practice Of plural marriages.
bigamy, or polygamy has been entirely
that the civil service of the Territory is not
controlled by the priesthood OF the Mormon
church.
He asked for the immediate consideration
of the resolutions, but they were laid over
for consideration.
A message from the President on the sub
ject of furnishing copies of minutes and pro-
tocos of the fisheries commission, was pre-
sented and referred to the committee on for
eign relations.
ecutive session in respect to the fisheries
treaty was taken up, and laid over.
The Senate then proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of the House bill to provide for the
purchase of United States bonds by the Sec
retary of the Treasury.
auiring the Secretary of the Treasury, when
ever the circulation of National bank is
surrendered, to issue an equal amount OF
treasury notes. Senator Plumb said that the
lions yearly, and under the proposed bill 1t
would shrink fifty millions year more. The
country was over the crater of financial
disturbance. The question had more to do
with the peoples welfare than. any other
pending in either, house. For every dollar
VI
equal shrinkase in property. His amend
ment would prevent further contraction.
Senators Morrill,, Beck and Farwell op-
posed the amendment ON the ground that it
would cause long discussion and delay the
passage of the bill, while the finance COM
mittee had under consideration several bills
covering the point made in the amendment,
two such bills being already on the calendar.
Senator Plumb's amendment was laid on
the table, yeas, %; nays, p. Senator Plumb
renewed the amendment, modified in regard
to the legal tender quality of the proposed
treasury notes and proceeded to argue the
point. He said that the paper currency had
diminished nearly one hundred eighty mil
lion since 1873. The pending bill was pro-
posed to increase the volume of the curren-
cy. No one could prophesy such results.
The national banks held about sixty millions
in bonds as security for currency beyond the
amount needed to maintain their charters.
Under the proposed law the secretary of the
treasury would not probably buy over sixty
million bonds, and It was possible that all
those bonds would come from the National
banks. 1t would be practically no increase
at ali In the circulating medium.
Senator Stewart said It was bad time for
the government to speculate in bonds, The