Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-03-07
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
SENATE,

purpose of retaining the U. S. ship o
wal K%earsarge and her equipment
provided that not more than $1,000
shall be expended if the attempt prov,
q failure, was passed.
Mr.. Morgan, from the committee CT
foreign relations, reported a resolution
requesting the President to inform thu
Senate, if not inconsistent with public
interest, whether the government o
Great Britain had occupied Bluefields
or any other place on the Mosquito res
~ervation in Nicaragua, with a military
force; to state the character anG
strength of such force; and the claim o.
authority on the part of the British
government so to occupy that country
He supposed, he said, although he did
not know, that the Kearsarge had been
dispatched to Bluefelds on account O
that occupation. 1t vas a very deli
cate and grave question for the people
of the United States-particularly il
the military occupation had taken place
on the idea that Great Britain had re-
served to herself, in any treaty with
Nicaragua, the right to make an inter.
v%ention of this kind, which in the esti.
mate of the American government VIC.
lated the spirit and purpose of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty of 1850.
The resolution was agreed to-.
Mr.. Harris called for o vote on his
motion for a second reading of the
seigniorage bill. He stated hat his
object yesterday was to bridge the day
over, in order that he might consult
with some OF his friends on the demo
cratic side of the chamber. He ha6
had such consultation; and now, il
view of what seemed 10 be the unan
imous views of both sides, and in view
Of the fact that after the tariff bill
should be reported, it would have to
remain on the calendar for a number
of days, so as to allow it to be printed
and TO allow every Senator an oppor.
tunity to examine it carefully, he knew
of no better method of occupying the
intermediate time than to take up ant
dispose of the seigniorage bill. After
its second reading he would ask unani
nous consent (Which, from the indica
ton of yesterday, he was sure would
be granted) to have it taken up, con.
sidered and disposed of.
"Does hat mean" Mr.. Hoar asked
that it will remain the unfinished bust
ness for one day only, or is it to remain
until disposed?"
81 do not propose Mr.. Harris re.
piled, 'to limit to one day, n hour
or one minute. 1t will be under con
troll of a majority Of the Senate"
The bill had its second reading and
then the Vice-President asked whether
there was any objection TO Mr.. Harris's
request to take it up for consideration.
Mr.. Sherman said that he would
move, if no one else did, to refer the
bill to the finance committee.
Mr.. Hale did not concur with Mr..
Sherman as to the necessity of referring
the bill to the finance committee, and
asked Mr.. Sherman what he expected
to gain by the reference.
The discussion was continued at con-
siderable length and was only inter-
rupted by questions of personal privi-
lege, started by Mr.. Mcpherson.
Two propositions were found in the
bill, Mr.. Sherman said-one, whether
we had the legal right to coin the
seigniorage the other whether to pay
current DEFICIENCIES in times of profound
peace, we shall issue irredeemable pa
per money.
Mr.. Cockrell said he was COMPOUNDED
and amazed at the attitude of Mr.. Sher-
man. He came here with the belief that
when the democrats moved to take up
this bill they would have the united
support of the republicans, who yester-
day could scarcely contain themselves
when unanimous consent was refused.
Mr.. Aldrich was referred to specifically,
to which he retorted that he wanted to
call up the bill, not to pass, but to de-
feat it.
An excited colloquy followed be-
tween Mr.. Cockrell and Mr.. Sherman
over the question to what the seignior-
age really is. Mr.. Cockrell contended
that it belonged to the public fund.
Mr.. Sherman that no seigniorage can
accrue until the bullion is coined. Mr..
Cockrell characterized Mr.. Sherman's
distinction as the difference between
tweedle-dum and tweedle dee. The
seigniorage ought, he said, to be coin
ed and paid out. Mr.. Sherman, he
said, wanted to hold the silver in the
treasury as q commodity, like hemp,
iron or cotton, to be subsequently sold
for gold. All the Bland bill did was 10
make that silver money to meet the ex-
penses of the government instead of the
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