Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-04-04
THE NATIONS SCAPITAL.
Open or Secret Sessions the
Question,
During the Consideration Of
Bayard'S Fisheries Surren-
der Treaty.
The Senate Still Earnestly Debating the
Bond Purchase Bill and COntin-
gent Subjects.
The House IndulgeS in Two Sessions and
Takes Up Bills Reported from the
Committee on Military
Affairs.
The President and the Methodists in a
Controversy Over the Bible Among
the Indians
The President and the Methodists in {
Controversy Over the Bible Among
the Indians.
WASHINGTON, April 3.
Senate.

senate.
In the Senate, Tuesday, among the peti
tons presented and referred was the follow
ing: To send United states troops to Chica
go to protect the lives and property of citi
zens against Socialists of Illinois and Iowa
! The resolution heretofore offered by Mr.
Riadleberger to suspend SO much of tn,
rules as provide for executive sessions dur
ing the consideration of the fisheries treaty
was taken up.
Mr.. Edmun Is said he desired to submit
some observations to the Senate which he
did not care to submit to her Majesty's Min
lister just at present. He therefore moved
that the galleries be cleared and the doors
closed. The motion was agreed TO and the
Senate went into executive session.
The Senate at 3 10, after two hours secret
session. opened its doors. During the secret
session, Senator Riddleberger's resolution to
consider the fisheries treaty in open session
was the only subject debated Several Sen
ators ventured brief remarks on the merits of
the treaty itself but were called to order for
SO doing. Messrs. Edmunds and Hoar made
a strong fight against the resolution. Upon
motion of Mr.. Butler, the resolution was re-
ferred to the committee on foreign relations
only eight senators voting in the negative.
man asked unanimous consent to offer res
olution to have the following bills considered
in the order named
LIST, the bill for the establishment of bu-
reau of animal industry; 2nd, the bill for the
admission of Dakota; Sd, the bill for the in
vestment of certain funds III the treasury.
Objection was made by Mr. Plumb A
vote was taken on Mr.. Palmer's motion to re-
commit to the finance committee the bill to
provide for the purchase of L. ). bonds.
The motion was rejected bya vote of 20 yeas
to 81 nays. Mr.. Stewards pending amend
ment was read. Mr. Beck asked him to
withhold it till the bill was reported TO the
Senate. Mr.. Stewart agreed to the sugges-
ton.
Mr. Spooner offered as a substitute for the
whole bill the following: That section two
of the act making appropriations for sundry
civil expenses of the government for the
year ending June 80, 1882 in these words
That the secretary of the treasury may
at any time apply the surplus money in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated. or so
much thereof as he may consider proper, for
the purchase OF redemption of [. 5. bonds
provided that the bonds SO purchased shall
not be part of the sinking fund but shall
be cancelled" This was intended to be a
/ permanent oNislbll VI tut INV anu wv
same is hereby declared to have been since
its enactment aud to be now in full force
and effect.
The substitute was agreed to without divis-
ion.
Mr.. Beck then offered an amendment as
an additional section, providing that the cir
culaton or any portion thereof of any bank
not in liquidation shall be surrendered and
shall not be taken up by other banks, and
that the secretary of the treasury shall pur-
chase at the market price an equivalent
amount of silver bullion in excess of the
minimum monthly coinage which shall be
coined and used as provided for in the silver
coinage bill of Feb. 2S, 1873.
Mr.. Stewart proposed an addition to the
amendment, and MIR, Beck accepted 1t, pro-
viding that nothing in this act shall alter or
repeal the silver coinage act of 1873.
Mr.. Sherman approved fully the substitute
as adopted, and thought it an improvement
on the House bill, but thought it better to
postpone the consideration of Mr.. Beck's
proposition till more convenient season
He thought he could see some objections to
that proposition. 1t involved questions of
serious difficulty. One was whether it was
wise to continue the coinage of silver, when
purchased lie was of the opinion that it
was not wise. There was now in the Treas
urv or sub treasures over $500 ,00O, 900
in silver dollars, and only between S50.
! 900 aud s60 900 900 in circulation. If Mr..
Beck's proposition were stripped of its silver
coinage feature and applied only to the pur-
chase aud deposit of silver bullion 1t would
be relieved the objection he had to it. He
was as much in favor of a bi-metallic
currency as any man in the Uuited States.
I 4. l., l,n, k,.h ell and
necessary to carry on the financial affairs of
the government, but that gold was the only
representative of value in the operations with
/ foreign countries. He suggested that the
important question involved in Mr.. Becks
amendment be postponed week or two, SO
as to see how it might be modified or changed
without disturbing the business of the coun-
try. He therefore appealed TO the Sena-
tors whether it would not be best to let the
/ bill as it now stood. unobjectionable in form.
I 90 to the President, be approved and carried
/ into execution, and let the proposed amend-
ment and all the propositions as to the silver
question 20 to the committee on finance and
/ be carefully examined.
/ Mr. Stewart congratulated the Senate ard
! the country on the position in which the bill
now stood and still thought there was a good
/ deal of poison, in the way of contraction.
| He was i'll favor of sending with it the anti
dote contained in his amendment.
Mr. Beck reminded the Senate that he fav-
ored the passage of the bill just as it came
from the House. He had twice voted against
Plumb's amendment, but there was no prin.
ciple III the amendment which he had offered
1t merely provided against the contraction OF
the currency. He didn't care TO go now intC
the question of the suggestion by Mr.. Sher
man as to the combining of his amendment ts
the purchase of silver bullion. He didn'
propose to make any difference between
coined metals.
Mr.. Allison suggested some verbal chang
es in Mr. Beck's amendment which the lattel
accepted SO as to make it read 'that when
ever the circulation or any portion thereof
of any national bank not in liquidation shal
be surrendered by the deposit of UniteC
States notes in the treasury or otherwise anC
the same OF any equivalent amount shall no
be taken by other national banks within thir
tv DAYS, the Secretary of the Treasur,
shall, etc.
Mr.. Mcpherson expressed a belief that /
the Senate in such an unwise, i'll timed ant
i'll ligested manner was determined on thi
simple bill to force the country into snch
condition of affairs as it aimed at, the coun
try would be on silver basis within sixt,
days. and gold would be IT preminm.
Mr. Plumb though that the progress mad'
by the Senator from Ohio (Sherman) sine
the discussion of the bill commenced wa
worth nothing. He, Plumb. had no pride o
opinion in the amendment which he offered
He had withdrawn it most cheertully on tn
suggestion, that the amendment offered b