Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-04
B0BS UP SERENELY.
s.es nessaurant Pse-Ths Nicaragua
Canal Bi'i-B'ach on the Currency
Measure Notes.

"ASotNSiON, January 3-SENATE,
Forty senators were in their seats
when the Senate was called to order at
noon. the Vice-President being In the
chair.
Mr.. Sherman reported the resoution re-
guessing the President to transmit 70 the
Senate all papers relating to the delivery
by the United States Consul at Shanghai
OF two Japanese citizens to the Chinese
authorities: and to inform the 5.nate
whether those two Japanese were Pvt 70
aeath after being tortured. The resolution
was agreed to.
Among the bills introduced and referred
was one by Mr.. George--by rcquest-"to
prevent the boarding Of coin in the Trea-
sury, sub-treasuries. or any other national
repositories, and to amend the Laws re-
'ating 70 national banks. and to supply
safe and permanent national currency"
During the morning hour there was 4
somewhat amusing discussion OF the r,so-
luton offered by Mr.. Allen tPopulist,. OF
Nebraska. before the holidays. proposing
an Investigation into the affairs OF the
Senate restaurant-Mr. Alien asserting
that. In addition TO rooms furniture. car
pets. tables. chairs ranges. and stoves.
supplied gratutiously to the restaurant
keeper. he was also furnished VITA fuel.
light. and Ice to the amount OF from
eight thousand to ten thousand dollars
a year; and this outlay from the con-
t!ngent fund OF the Senate was Gspounced
as larceny. At the expiration OF lmo -..-...-
~N..s.a
calendar. and will hardly be heard from
any more as It cannot be taken up ex-
ccpt on motion and by majority vote.
The Nicaragua canal bill was then
taken up. and Mr.. Morgan. chairman Of
the Committee on Foreign Relations. &C.
cupied the attention OF the Senate from
2 o'clock until In replying to Mr.. iur-
pies three-days' speech against The bill.
lie had not concluded at the time CT ad-
jourment but will do 80 tomorrow.
House Of Representatives
Less than 100 members of the House
were in their seats to-day when the last
session of the Fifty-third Congress was
resumed after the holiday recess. Chap
lain Bagby, in his opening prayer. asked
that there might be unity of opinion
among the representatives in the coming
months. In order that legislation might
be effected for the benefit of the whole
people. After call Of the committees, the
House went into Committee of the Whole
Mr.. Black reviewed some Of the various
criticisms made against the currency BILL
declaring that the measure had been the
subject of long and earnest consideration
and was not in any sense the creation of
immature thought. Regarding the point
that 1t proposed to retire the greenbacks
against the wishes Of the country, Mr..
no 10 hod hah al
opportunity on two or three occasions to
express themselves. In 1880, General
Weaver was a candidate for President
on a greenback platform. and he received
about 10000 votes, against S,@o,0cO for
Garfield ana Hancock. In 1884. General
Butler. Of Massachusetts. was the candi-
date OF the party, and he received of
the popular vote $4,000. against 100000
for Cleveland and Blaine. In 1883 Mr.
Streator received $4,000 votes. against
100000 for Cleveland and Harrison We
all know the result of the election of
1892.
The attitude of the Democratic party
toward the legal-tender theory engaged
Mr.. Blacks attention for a time. He
said he found no support In any Demo-
cratic platform, or in the writings or
speeches Of Democratic leaders Of the
past, for the theory now insisted upon
that this government shall enter upon
the issue of Treasury notes to be made
legal tenders.
As to the decision by the Supreme
Court, he said IT shocked the public con-
science. and was not in harmony with
Democratic doctrine.
FIELD AND WEBSTER.
Mr. Black quoted the dissenting opinion
Of Justice Field in that case, and an
extract from a speech delivered by Web
ster in the Senate in 1856 as expressing
his views. Mr.. Webster then said: Most
unquestionabiy. there is no legal tender,
and there can be no legal tender In this
country, under the authority of this gov
eminent or any other. but gold and sill
yer, either the coinage of our own minis,
or foreign coins, at rates regulated by
Congress"
The time had come. he said. when, If
the very fabric of our institutions was u
be maintained in its integrity. we should
return TO the safe requirements and iimi-
tations of the Constitution.
Mr.. Black deprecated the passage OF
legislation in the effort to relieve busi-
ness depression or any financial interest
Nothing ought 10 be done, he said, wAich
would lead the people to think that every
time they wanted anything done to re-
lieve or improve their condition. they
could come 10 Congress, with confidence
that what they asked would be granted.
The bill under discussion. Mr. Black
said in answer to a question by Mr..
Walker Repubican), of Massachusetts,,
might not do all that was expected of it,
but ne was willing 10 vote for 1t as an
experiment All legislation on this line
he said. was experimental In character.
Mr.. Black referred TO he opposition
which, It was stated. General Jackson
manifested TO banks of Issue. While ne
10 H. .sA
that ne had great reliance in the Stale
banks and when ne withdrew the gov
eminent deposits from the United States
Bank he placed them in the State banks.
Justice fancy had said with reference
TO this removal that he had no doubt
that the State banks could furnish a
better circulating medium. quite as uni
form in value as that which had been
furnished by the United States Bank, and
probab bly, more So
STATE-BANK TAX.
He declined TO enter into a discussion
of the merits of the State-bank system,
but announced his opposition TO the tax
which has been laid upon the circulation
of State banks. lie questioned the right
OF the House to continue the tax, and
urged that the people be permitted to
settle this matter for themselves.
He came from State that had never
repudiated its obligations. and If any Of
its paper were still outstanding. and
should be offered for redemption. ii would
be promptly redeemed in legal-tender
money.
Other speakers were Messrs McCreary
and Beckner. In advocacy of the bill, and
Messrs. Haughen Republican). Wisconsin.
and Adams Republican, Pennsylvania,
in opposition. An animated colloquy oc-
Cured between Mr.. Adams and Mr. War
ner DemocraD. New York. respecting
the operation of the Mckinley law upon
the wages OF Pennsylvania coal-miners,
with which the proceedings Of the after
noon closed. The House adjourned at 4i5
until tomorrow.