Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-07-24
2a92@@555
ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES.
Proceedings of Congress.
WASHINGTON, D. o., July "a.
SENATE.

tlonary soldier David Wilkinson).
Mr. Morgan introduced bill TO FIX the
liuoit Of value and to provide fer the free
coinage Of silver. 1t recites that the market
value of silver bullion is rapidly approach
ing the value q gold On the standard rela-
ton fixed by the laws of the United States,
and that there is n provision of law for the
coinage Of standard silver dollars or for the
purchase ofsilver bullion by the government
when the value of silver bullion exceeds 81
70: 81 grains of pure silver. 1t therefore
provides that the unit of value In the United
States shall be the dollar of 4l24 grains of
standard silver or 25 $40 grains of gold
that those coins shall be legal tender for ali
dshts, public and private, and that any
owoer OF silver or gold bullion may deposit
Ii q. eny mint to be formed into dollars or
bars for bis bent fit and without charge. He
called the special attention of the finance
committee to the bill, which, he said, was
the same as had already received majority
OF II in tbs Senate. he had introduced it
because he was Convinced that, in the rapid
advance OF the price Of silver bullion In the
markets Of the world, the time was not far
distant Ito say the least of it, when silver
and gold bullion would be on per with each
other. When that time did arrive the law,
az it now stcod, would not permit the gov
ernment to buy silver bullion if there was
,oho do of In, he
yond the price of gold and there was no
provision of law for the coinage Of
any silver except that purchased be-
iors oliver had reached that point.
La view OF what appeared to be in
tle air, as we'll as on land and on sea,
ia regard to the immediate future of
the country, he thought that 1t would be
well enough to make some pr0Viso 90 that
silver or gold bullion would not be with
drawn from the United States by other in
terested governments. and boarded up In
their great banking institutions. The Uni
led States might then find Itself 10 very
unpleasant predicament, weakened in one
Of it's great elements of strength at time
when it needed it most. The United States
bad its India locked up in its bosom-ne-
groes, indians and the poorer classes, for
whom silver currency should be provided.
Great Britain provided for her India by lay
ing up silver and permitting its coinage In
these Provinces. The United States would
have use for ali the silver coin which could
possibly be put through the mint. In case
of collision or hostilities between the United
States and foreign power the United States
would fad itself very much diHarmed In one
Of the essential powers of ils war-making
capacity if it permitted Its bullion to be
tsker abroad.
The Sonato resumed consideration Of the
Indian appropriation bill.
The next amendment to provoke disous-
sion was one increasing an appropriation Of
100000 for the support of Indian schools 10
$4,000. including Tia construction OF 8
school building ct B.ackfeet agency, Mon
tara.
Mr.. Vest opposed the amendment as the
introduction of q system intended to abolieh
deoominational education emoDg the In
dans. He spoke OF On official visit which
he had made to on Indian agency or
years ago and of h;s observation of the work
of the Catholic church in educating the In
daus. 4 school building which had been
erected there By the Catholic church was
then standing unoccupied because the agent
would not permit the Jesuits to teach any OF
the Indisn children. His opinions on the
subject were fxed. The Jesui!s had sue
oaeded better than any other people living
in the education of Indians. Whatever
prejudice (if that wac the proper word) he
might have against the Society of Jesus. he
had 10 sag that much as au educated Pro-
testant.
Mr.. Davis a's) opposed the amendment
and spoke Of the efforts of Catholic mission
aries at the Backfset agency. These good
people (he said) lad applied to those phil
an!hropic ladies, the Misses Drexel, OF Phil
alelphia, and had obtained $40 600 which
they had expended in school building re-
Gently completed. These men we're now to
bs told, not only that there Sas to be gov
ernment scnool put on that reservation in |
with them, but that they were
to have no contract whatever for the eduoa-
ton of The Indians, az had been plainly i'm
piled in the correspondence between the
OF Iudian Affairs and the per-
scp5 in authority in the enterprise.
MIR. Vest explained his position to be :
That, il the Catholics were doing better in
educating the Indians than other denomiDa-
tons, he was in favor OF the Catholics; and
that if the Preaby terans or Baptists were
doing better, he was ln favor OF them. But |
hs 1as convinced that the Catholics were
far more efficient among the Indians than |
any Protestant denominatinn nonld no M |