Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-06-03
May Decrease IN Public Debt About
16. 66l.o7

value between Dgltl0n and standard dollars
The wage earneIs of the United States wer
counted by millions, were the most nu
merous creditor class Of the country IAN,
he believed, the largest in ainount). l
was tina. class which it was now propose,
10 pay off in cheaper, OF deprecated stand
ard money aud to require higher prices TO
anything they had to buy.
Could there be anything, he asked, NOR,
likely in all parts Of the country at an earl,
day to provoke strikes for higher wages
The silver miners of Nevada and Coiorad,
wantei everything aboIt gold stufck out
simply to say, ''wc want forty per cen
more profit" Silver would tolerate n,
rival near the throne. As to the stories O.
public and private Indebtedness of tn,
country he (Morrill) had no faith in them
and believed if the correct figures would b,
obtained it would be found that the indebt
eduess, per capita, MAS never less than il
1890. lie believed by wise and moderst.
legislation sufficient amount of silver nigh
be utilized and yet the bi-metallic STANDARD
be maintained, He did not want the United
States divorced from the commercial world
The transparent design of those who led
of in the debate was to 90 by a single
bound 70 the silver standard. II tho
country is to have but single standard. he
preferred the standard should be gold
rather than silver. He would like to have
both maintained and with the exception
that. with very liberal increase of silver
and good management on the part of the
treasury department, the purity of value
wonld be preserved and while silver wal
advancing good DEAL gold was receding
somewhat in value. As to the obloquy
frequently attempted t. be thrown on Con
gress in 1878, in connection with the ces
sai;oD of silver coinage, there was no rea-
son in it, because at hat time the silver
dollar was worth three per cent more than
the gold dollar. The depreciation of sill.
yer WAS caused, not by that act but partly
because of the demonstration of silver in
Europe and partly by the increase of the
silver production in the world. The United
States has been coming silver dollars a,
the rate Of two millions a month since 1879
and has tried its best to put them in circu-
lation. Yet, as the result, there was in
circulation September 1889, only S57,374,-
900 or S4,6l7,34s less than. three years
before.
Morrill, argued against the proposition to
issue legal tender treasury notes, in ex-
change for silver. as an unconstitutional
measure, referring to the fact that Chase,
as Chief Justice, had like another Brutus.
sacrificed his own child (the original legal
tender law to the safety of the republic,
and to the statement by Charlie, Sumner,
who had sustained that measure, that the
extreme medicine of the constitution should
not constitute its daily food. He said he
was not quite ready forgive his consent to
these new aud untried theories, of all the
teachings Of Jefferson. Hamilton, Marshall,
Story, Benton and Daniel Webster. II
would be sad day for the country when
the highest authorities on constitutional
questions were no longer needed or rev.
eraaced.
Call, rising to question Of personal priv
i'ege as referred to a pamphlet published
against him by w. D. Chipley. He was
charged. he said, with false swearing, dis
graceful transactions, use of his senatorial
knowledge for land deal, disregard of de-
cisiops of the supreme court. bossism.
and many other improper acts. The
declared pamphlet from the first sentence
10 the last was falsehcod. The pamphlet
intended to protect a vast appropriation of
public lands Of Florida by individuals
1t was conspiracy against the legislation in
behalf of the people of Florida. There
were no politics in it. 0..
The conference report of the military
academy appropriation bill was presented
and agreed to.
The Can teen System.
The conference report on the army ap-
preparation bill was taken up, and the
question in regard to the provision as to
canteens discussed, the conference re-
port being to the effect that no intoxicating
drinks should be supplied in canteens oil
traders stores in statesor territories where
prohibition legislation exists. A long dc.
bate ensued.
George asked Allison why the rule should
he restricted to enlisted men and not ap.
ply to officers.
Allison replied that the senator mus
answer the question himself. The confer.
ence committee found the provision in the
bill anl the Senator from Mississippi him
self voted for it, The conference con-
nittee had no righ, to set aside the actor
of The Senate.
George said if be had voted for such a
proposition he hal done it unconsciously
He did no. think he voted for a distinction
between officers and enlisted men on the
que estion Of temperance and sobriety. liz
believed it 8 great deal more important to
have sober officers and sobcr men.
Blair argued against the report. and read
letters from soldiers and others agai ast tht
canteen system.
Hale said that every Senator who had The
experience of the conference committees
knew it was difiicult for the conferees oi
either house to have their way entirely. He
n GREETED in this case the concession made
to the House. He predicted that if thi,
cauteen system went into effect. it would
become so obnoxious that it would last bu
little willie. Such law could no. bt
continued in the face of public opinion.
Eus;is asked Allison whether he though
it conducive to discipline in the army to
have rulss not uniform, nor prohibition.
applicable 10 the same troops; whether tn,
Iowa idea vas TO be thrust down the throat.
of the Sena,ors in regard to the army a
hal been the other day in regard to police
power.
Allison replied that in the matter in
question there was no uniformity now.
was wi'hins the power of the commando
at any post to prohibit or allow the sale o.
any kind of intoxicating liquors.
Dawes suggested that troops stationed il
Louisiana should not be required to eat tn,
same food, or sleep under the same numbel
Of blankets a. troops stationed at Alaska.
Plumb suggested that the movemen
against The canteen system was in the in
ierest of post traders. The Secretary o
War, Adju:ant General, and other arm,
ofH regarded the canteen system witt
great favor and said its results xhereve
tried had been good. It vas sanctioned b,
Law, and experience Of European armie
under the post trader system was that tn
soldiers could get aii the liq1or they wante,
and got nothing In return for the none
they spent but the vile stud furnished them
while under the canfeen system IL tn
soldier did bay liquor the profit at less
came back in the shape Of increasing coz,
psny fund, to be spilled to tine purchase Q
things which sofdisrs needed for theis com
lss 3ss - = .,sasf Afsleld: "a.
tee4 aid good vAmen sol sthe country
had been dragged fnso h III favor of Ii
post trader, Who vac the curse OF the ARM
/ S:ngu!sfly enough. The amendment I
proposed BY Hale and adopted BY the Ser
ate did NOT abolish poss tsaders, while th