Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-08
A SHARP TRICK.
Democratic Senators Gain a
Point on Republicans.
Seigniorage Coinage Bill Pushed to
Vote on Its Passage.
House Passes Pension Gill Carrying Appro.
priation ef Only S151 ,000, 900.

Gibson reported from the committee on
naval affairs the bill appropriating SIS COO
for the purpose of reclaiming the ship of
war Kearsarge and her equipment; pro-
vided that not more than $4,000 be ex-
pended if the attempt prove failure. The
bill passed.
Morgan, from the committee on foreign
relations, reported a resolution requesting
the President to inform the Senate, if not
incon .istent with public interest, whether
the government of Great Britain has occu-
pied Blewfie or any other place on the
Mosquito reservation in Nicaragua with q
military force; and to state the character
and strength of such force, and the claim
or authority on the part of the British gov
ernment SO to occupy that country. He
supposed, he said, that the kearsarge was
dispatched to Blew fields on account of that
occupation. 1t was very delicate and
grave question for the people of the United
States, particularly if the military 0ccupa-
ton had taken place on the idea that Great
Britain reserved to herself, in any treaty
with Nicaragua, the right to make an inter-
vention of this kind. The resolution was
agreed to.
Sherman. from the committee on foreign
relations, reported back the House joint
resolution authorizing Major General Oil
yer O. Howard, U. S. A., to accept from
the President of the French republic q
diploma conferrirg on HIM the decoration
Of the national order of the Legion of
Honor, and it was passed.
Horris called for a vote on his motion
for the second reading of the seigniorage
bill, saying that after its second reading he
would ask unanimous consent to have it
taken up, considered and disposed of. The
bill had its second reading; then the Vice
President asked whether there was any OBJ
lection to Harris request to take it up for
consideration.
Sherman said he would move to refer
the bill to the finance committee. The
bill proposed an issue of United States
notes to the amount of $55 ,000, 900 for the
current expenses of the government This
was a grave and revolutionary proceeding.
This issue of $50, 5,O00,0 900 would be fol-
paper money without any provision behind
them for redemption. Such measure
ought not to be forced on the Senate in an
unusual way. The finance committee
could determine probably in day or two
whether it should be reported.
Hale did not concur with Sherman as to
the necessity of referring the bill to the
finance committee and asked Sherman what
he expected to gain by the reference.
Sherman replied that reference to commit
tees was the universal custom of legislative
bodies. There were two different PROPOSE
tions in the bill. One was whether Con-
gress had the right to pledge again the sill
yer in the treasury for any other purpose
than the redemption of treasury certificates.
The other was whether in the time of pro-
found peace paper money should be issued
to pay the current expenses of the govern
ment.
Hale did not see how the question could
be illuminated by any consideration by the
finance committee. He was willing to have
the bill brought at once be efore the Senate
and to let the country know what the Sen.
ates view was.
The discussion was interrupted bv ques-
lions of personal privilege. Mcpherson
read extracts from an article in today's
New York World, insinuating that he and
Senators Bfice and Vest had bsen recently
visiting brokers' offices in New York. and
speculating in sugar certificates. He gave
4 sweeping denial to the article. He said
hat be bought some sugar stock, after the
Christmas recess. and sold it at loss b.
fore the tariff bill was reported to the Sen
ate. Vest gave bis denial to the newspaper
article. Mcpherson declared that he alone
vas responsible for delaying reporting the
tariff bill. He found it construed on lines
altogether too low.
Then the discussion passed over again 20
the Bland seigniorage bill and Palmer ar
gued in favor of its reference to the finance
committee. The discussion was continued
till 2, when the Vice President laid before
the Senate the unfinished business, being a
bill for the site for a government printing
office. Harris moved to proceed with the
of the seigniorage bill. The
notion was agreed to without division. The
bill was before the Senate as in committee
of the whole and Dubois argued against the
melton to refer il to the committee on
finance. VOORHEES,, chairman of the finance
committee, said he was willing tc have the
bill taken up and considered
y ithout reference.
The discussion was interrupted TO allow
two messages from the President to be pre-
sented, and slso the report on the urgent
deficiency bill was presented and con-
Cured in.
The question was taken on Sherman's
motion to refer the seigniorsge bill to the
finance committee, and the motion vas de-
feated: yeas. 6; nays, 80. Affirmative
votes were by Davis, GaIlinger, Morrill,,
Palmer, Sherman and Villas. The bill was
read in full, and the presiding officer sail
the bill wss now open to amendment. No
was offered and be announced
that the question was on epgrossment and
third reading of the Till. That st'g, was
rs pidly passed and he said the question nos
was: "Sball the bill plss?"
All this was accomplished so deftls anl
speedily that the opponents Of the bill dill
not seem TO realize that their opportunities
bad slipped away. Finsl ly Hoar inquired
u hat had become of the amendment that
Stewart proposed to offer. He was Inform d
that Stewart had aban io1ed his purpose.
As the presiding officer put the questi IN,
Shall the bill psss." Hoar interpreted
motion to adjourn and called for the yeas
and nays. Motion to adjourn was defeated
yeas, Il nays, 40. Those voting for AL
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