Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-02-27
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81
SENATE.

ed to the sundry civil bill and agreed
to.
The German amendment for the is'
sue of 500, 100000 of 8 per cent. certih-
Gates OF Indebtedness, and requiring
United States bonds to be offered to
the public for 20 days, was then taken
up.
Mr.. Berry made a point of order
against the amendment as general leg
islation on an appropriation bill.
Mr.. Hill, before decision of the
point of order, moved to amend the
amendment by adding the words land
| hereafter all treasury notes and United
States notes that may be redeemed
shall not be reissued, but shall be can
celled"
Mr.. Berry explained that his point of
order did not apply to Mr.. Hills
amendment.
Mr.. Hill proceeded to speak to the
point of order, but was interrupted
by Mr.. Mills, who asked the chair
whether debate was in order.
The Vice President.-Not without
unanimous consent.
Mr. Mills-I must object unless we
can all join in it.
Mr.. Cullum-So do 1.
The Vice President-The point of
order is not debatable, but the chair
is willing and woull to glad to hear
suggestions upon it.
Mr.. Hill argued that the German
amendment was general legislation,
| op6 ba onooa1ad tbot b;a o~o wand
ment would change existing law.
However important he might re-
gard his own amendment as a
proposition, for the best interests
of the country, it was Of the same
character as the other. Therefore,
if the one was to stand, the other
should stand, and a discussion would
be opened that would take the next
week to decide, because it involved
the whole financial policy of the gov
eminent,
Objection to Mr.. HIPS proceeding
came from both sides of the chamber.
81 have said enough" Mr.. Hill re-
marked, land am content"
Several Senators-Let US have a
vote.
The Vice. President said-'The chair
will submit the question to the Senate
and let the Senate decide it now. Is
the proposed amendment in order p"
The fact of the question being sub
mitted to the Senate made the whole
subject debatable; and Immediately MIR.
German took the floor. He said that if
relief was to be given to the Treasury
if authority was to be given to issue
certificates of Indebtedness in order TO
maintain the credit of the government
the only possible way in which it
could be given was on an appropriation
bill. He regretted exceedingly that it
had become the duty of any Senator to
inaugurate such proposition. He re-
gretted exceedingly that it had not
reached the Senate from the House as
a separate measure early in the session
when it could have been deliberately
entered upon and properly discussed.
Two years ago this identical question
of order had been before the Senate and
then it was held by vote of % to IS
that the amendment was perfectly
legitimate and perfectly proper.
Mr.. Villas complained that the dis
cussion was going far beyond the point
of order.
The Vice. President said that he had
no power to indicate to Senator the
line of argument which he should
pursue.
Mr.. German said the question was :
SIS the Treasury in such condition
that it can meet the wants of the gov
eminent under present law9 Are the
revenues of the government up to this
hour (under our revenue laws) suffi-
cient to meet the annual appropriations
made by Congress and the permanent
appropriations If it shall appear,
from the official reports of the Treas
ury, that we have appropriat-
ed more money than the re-
ceipts, then l submit to the
Senate that we cannot afford to
adjourn until provision shall be made
to meet that deficiency unless Congress
desires the issue of four per cent. bonds
running 80 years or five per cent, bonds
running 10 years, to be sold to meet it.
The Secretary of the Treasury has
said that, during this calendar year he
will have revenue enough to meet the
expenditures ofthe government. That
is misleading. With all the revenues
he will get this year he will have de-
ficiency of over $50, O0O,0 900 for the cal
endar year aud deficiency of $50, 00O,-
600 for the fiscal year. 1t is not wise
for Congress to adjourn, leaving the
Treasury department with the open
declaration made by the President of
the United States, that in an emer-
gency he will continue to sell bonds.
1 do not believe that, if permitted to
use every dollar Of receipts, he will
have enough money to meet the cur
rent expenses of the government by go
million dollars, without taking into &C.
count the amount due on former ap-
preparations. Up to this date $50
millions of appropriations (ncluding
the sinking fund) have been suspended.
Mr.. Mills followed Mr. German, but
the latter fearing his amendment would
delay the passage of the bill, withdrew
it.
HOUSE.
The Speaker laid before the House
message from the President vetoing
the bill granting q pension to Eunice
Preston.
The House joint resolution directing
the suspension of bonding privileges in
regard to articles shipped to the free
,o0a in Moyino with the Senata amenT