Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-20
THE HOUSE.

The House met at II o'clock today Mr..
Breckenridge OKy) reported an urgent de-
ficiency bill appropriating 100000 for the
census, s125,OO0 for salaries and $4,000
for printing the reports This appropria-
tion was included in the deficiency bill
which passed the House a few days ago,
which is now being held up in the Senate.
Mr.. Breckenridge stated that unless this
supplementary bill were passed Immediate
ly the work of the census would stop.
Mr.. Cannon Qll) prevailed on Mr.. Breck-
inridge to accept an amendment appro-
priating s125.0o0 for the fees of jurors (also
included in the former bilD, and as amend
ed the bill was passed.
On motion of Mr.. Sickles On. W a bin
was passed to pension the widow Of
Major General Nathaniel p. Banks at
the rate of 500 per month. There was no
debate on the bill.
Mr.. Outhwaite at this point presented a
joint resolution for the usual holiday ad-
Journment, to begin Saturday, December
22, and end Thursday, January 3. The res
olution was privileged.
Mr.. English On. j. arose with the inten-
tion OF Offering an amendment to adjourn
tomorrow, and when Mr.. Outhwaite cut
him off with a demand Tor the previous
question the gentleman from New Jersey
gave notice that he would demand quo
Ium. The vote only developed the pres
ence OF forty-five members, and when Mr.
English made the point of no quorum Mr..
Cultivate withdrew the resolution.
The Currency Bill Debate Resumed.
The House then went into committee of
the whole and resumed the consideration
of the currency bill. Mr.. Sperry CConn)
took the floor in support of the measure
which, he said, exceeded In interest and
affected the public welfare more than
tariff bill or any other bill of an economic
.har anf. hot 1Tnt1A h.f
Mr.. Sperry was strongly of the opinion
that the government should cease issuing
paper money. The legal tenders, although
they had passed the test of Supreme
Court decision, were of doubtful constitu-
tionality, so generally considered by the
legal profession.
The fact that this bill sought to retire
the legal tenders and take the government
out of the note issuing business was the
first point in its favor. Mr.. Sperry said
that while personally he did not favor the
revival of state banks, he would be willing
to acquiesce under the conditions imposed
by this bill, in order to secure the other
good features of the measure. He was a
believer in the safety fund principle, he said.
because il insured the prompt redemption
of the notes without expense to the hold
ers. 1t made the notes practically ma
tional currency.
Opposed Some Features.
Mr.. Sperry, however, was strenuously
opposed to various features of the bill,
particularly the one repeating the law re-
quiring national banks TO deposit United
States bonds to insure the redemption of
their notes. He did not believe Congress
had the right to change the character of
the security behind existing bank notes.
Mr.. Sperry argued that all legal tenders
and treasury notes of the government
should be retired. Their existence was
running the government into debt to MAIN
tai hundred
had already been borrowed, and II he were
to indulge in prophecy $50.000,Oo0 more of
bonds would be issued before Washing
toms birthday. He was prepared to vote
for this bill If he could get nothing better.
The impression was abroad that this gov-
ernment was almost insolvent or about 10
slip into a silver basis.
But the solution of the problem was, in
his opinion, the funding of all outstanding
notes Of the treasury, which would relieve
the treasury forever from It's present en-
barrassment, and extension OF the ma
| tional banking system on the present lines.
Mr. Sperry was literally applauded. Mr..
Brosius Pa), who followed in opposition,
said the other side presented strange
spectacle. In the midst of the dissensions
even those who declared they were In
favor of the bill admitted they were op-
posed to every section of II.
At 2 o'clock, when Mr.. Brosius concluded
his argument, according to the special or
der, the exercises ia connection with the
reception and acceptance OF the statues or
Gen. John Stark and Daniel Webster from
| the state of New Hampshire began. There
was not a larle attendance in the House
or in the galleries.
Gov. John 3. Smith of New Hampshire,
accompanied by his staff. filed into the hall
of Representatives, as Mr.. Baker of New
Hampshire arose. He formally presented
|, the letter of Gov. Smith, addressed to
| Speaker Crisp. donating the statues TO the
government, al sent to the clerks desk
the resolution formally accepting them on
behalf of Congress. He then made the
] opening address.