Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-05-23
The SILVER BILL
And Naval Appropriations Before
the Senate.
Discussion oIsf lnealts for lnpfuTils
Boston and PoFtsnolth IiIy Yards.


WAsHIxerox. May 23.-The silver bill
vas taken up, and Daniel addressed the
Senate in favor Of silver currency. The
currency, he said, vas congefted in the
treasury and hundred miilious held to re-
deem another portion that vas, like itself.
legal tender, and thirty millions we're lent
out 10 bankers withous interest. The tax
atioa was excessive and . worse than use
lees burden, bringing = surplus into the
treasury and stimulating extfavagance to
get it out The public debt had been put
in sueh anomalous relations to the laws
that the government appeared on one side
OF the sales counter and boosted up the
price Of bonds far beyond their par value.
On the other eide is paid them before
maturity at exorbitans rates. Gold and sill
yer money are welded BY nature. They
are readily measufeable, readily stamped
and coined. Before the Jury Of all civil
and enlightened nations throughout CEN
tu,ies, the case Of gold and silver has been
heard and with one voice nations have an
swered that to gold and silver belong the
royal attribute Of money.
The free coinage Of silver would bring
gold into the country. Everything assimi-
lated with its kird the world over. where
money was most social, was assimiixtive
and procreative Of all material things.
American silver had drawn gold to the
United States In 1878, when United
States had no silver money there was $500.
100000 of gold in the country; even par
tally restored silver proved such magnet
to capital, that the country now had be
tween three and four hundred milIione of
silver and between sig and seven hundred
millions of gold. II free coinage of ai-
yer was established in Americs, it would
gladden. the heart of humanity by giving to
the laborer = larger price for his product
The silver bill was laid aside Without &C.
ton, and the naval appropriation bill
taken up. All the formal aud minor
amendments, reported by the committee,
were agreed to.
The amendment wss taken up which
strikes out OF the bill the appropriation of
$50, 900 for repairs of the dry dock in the
Boston navy yard.
Dawes opposed the amendment. The
Boston navy yard dock vas the largest, he
said, in the country, . granite structure
which had cost an immense sum Of money.
II bad been in excellent repair up to re.
Gently, and required only the email sum Of
5000 to put it in good condition.
Haar spoke against the amendment
Hale ia charge Of the bilD said he
would not oppose the Senators from Massa-
chusetts but there were several amendments
both in reference to the Boston navy yard
and the Portsmouth navy ard that involved
the question of reopening the navy yards
already closed.
Blair opposed the amendment in relation
to the Portsmouth navy yard. striking out
the appropriation of 100000 for recon-
strucliag buildings destroyed by fire. He
said the yard had been constantly in use
since the beginning of the war. Upwards
of s6 coo 900 had been expended there and
the best wooden ships ever built for the
navy were built there. There were many
wooden ships in the nayy and they were
cent there for repairs
Allison Chairman of the committee on
appropriations) stated that the desire Of the
question Of where the one navy yard on the
Eastern coast was to be located. That vas
question for the committee on naval af
fairs He doubted the good policy Of re-
constructing these buildings and suppl, ing
them with machinery until that question
was settled.
hale tuOuknt DOtD 6menumentD ought 10
be agreed to and the Boston and Ports.
mouth navy yards put On the same footing.
German, believing that unless the amend
ment reported by the committee a. to the
Ports tsmouth navy yard was adopted Con.
gress would be practically entering on .
new scheme to increase navy yards, said he
would vote for it. The amendment as to
the Boston navy yard stood on . different
footing. He would vote against it. The
dry dock there ought 10 be repaired.
Hswley replied to criticisms upon the
fys,cm of using navy yards for public pur-
poses instead of having the work done in
private shops and said the right policy was
being followed by the government. Private
parties were encouraged to build ships Of
war and essential parts Of great guns; at
same time the government quite wisely was
putting come of its own yards in condition
so they could also build some of the great
ships.
The bill went over without action on
either Boston or Portsmouth navy yard.
After brief executive session the Sen
ate at 80 adiourned