Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-01-30
FIFTY THIRD CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

strances against various features of the
Wilson tariff bill were presented and
referred.
The resolution offered yesterday by
Mr.. Stewart declaring that the pro.
posed issue of bonds is without author
ity of law, was laid before the Senate,
and Mr.. Stewart spoke in support of it.
He argued that the resumption act of
1875, under which the Secretary pro-
poses to issue bonds, restricted the use
Of the bonds then authorized to the
purchase of coin necessary for resump-
ton purposes. WAS there" Mr.. Stew
art asked, "any necessity for the sale
of bonds to provide for the redemption
OF United States notes 2" There was
now in the treasury, he said, about
seventy millions of gold coin available
for that purpose: and that was more
than would probably be necessary for
generation. There was therefore no
present necessity for the issue of bonds
to obtain coin to redeem greenbacks.
When Mr.. Stewart concluded Mr..
Sherman made speech in support of
the secretary's power and duty to issue
and sell bonds. He expressed his re-
greet that anybody should be found now
to question that authority. 1t was al
most unpatriotic to do so, at a time
when the revenues of the government
were insufficient to meet the expendi-
lures. Without regard to party feeling,
he felt like standing up for the honor
of the country and for the power OF the
secretary. That power, he contended,
was given in the strongest, clearest,
most direct language that could be
used. Aud it had stood unchallenged
and uncontradicted from that day UNI
til Il few days since when the Senator
from Nebraska (AIr. Allen offered res
olution denying the authority of the
Secretary of the Treasury. Mr.. Sher
man complained that that had been done
at the very time when the bid
ders were preparing their bids.
He said he did not believe that it was
the duty of the Secretary of the Treas
ury. or that it was within his power, to
apply the money derived from the sale
of bonds to any other purpose than
redemption OF legal tender notes. He
had no right to apply it to current ex-
penses. There was no authority of law
for that. Therefore his friends on the
other side would have to supply the
deficiency in some other way than by
tamperiDg with the gold obtained from
bonds. They could not diminish the
revenues las they were propos-
ing to do by new tariff meas
urr) without providing some means
of meeting the deficiency The
democratic majority was bound
either to reduce its expenditures TO the
amount of its revenue, or to superadd
to its revenue some form of loan to en-
BILE the secretary to meet current ex-
penses. 1t could not take this sacred
pledge of gold in the treasury (held for
the redemption OF United States notes.
and used it to meet temporary or per-
mancnt deficiencies.
When Mr.. Sherman closed, Mr.. Quay
offered an amendment to the resolu-
ton limiting the use of the money to
be received from the bonds to the re-
denption of the legal treasury notes:
and Mr.. Dubois offered, as substitute,
the resolution reported in the House. |
The latter, Mr.. Sherman said, had his |
Then Mr.. Teller made a
speech, taking much the same position
as Mr.. Sherman did-tllat the Secretary
of the Treasury had the power to issue
bonds for specific purpose-to pro-
vide for the redemption of greenbacks,
so called-and for no other purpose
The matter went over until to-mor-
row, Mr.. Gray insisting that he must
call up the bill to repeal the federal
election law.
Mr.. Chandler asked that Mr.. Gray
agree to fix time for taking the vote |
next Monday, but Mr.. Gray insisted |
that the Senate agree now to take the
vote next Monday.
After some further debate it was
agreed that the debate on the bill be |
closed at o'clock Tuesday next, with
debate on amendments under the five
minute rule until disposed Of the vote
10 be taken that day.
Mr.. Turpie then began to speak on
the subject of the constitutionality of
Of the federal election laws.
HOUSE.
The House very promptly went into
committee of the whole to consider the
tariff bill this morning.
Mr. Covert tool, up the thread of his
against the income tax at the
point where he dropped it yesterday,
when the House took a recess. He de-
clared that the bill was extreme
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