Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-27
The Certificate Amendment Dis
cussed in the Senate. q
Mr.. G0RMAN'S EXTENDED SPEECH
He Believes That There Will Be a
Deficiency.
MATTERS IN THE HOUs E

the Senators were slow IN arriving today
and only dozen were on hand when con-
sideration of the sundry civil bill was re-
sumed.
After agreeing to an amendment grant,
ing Henry Talbot, clerk of the House ways
and means committee, 5000 for assisting
the Senate finance committee in its tariff
work last fall, Mr.. Wolcott suggested the
absence of quorum. 1t was some time be-
fore the necessary number put in an APP
pearance. An amendment was agreed to-
appropriating s25,OO0 for a hospital at Fort
Meade, s. D.. to take the place of the one
recently burned. This cleared the way for
the long impending contest over the finan-
cial amendment to the sundry civil bill. 1t
is at the close of the bill and provides an
issue of $1OO,00O,OOO of certificates OF IN
debtedness. Of small denominations. bear
ing 3 per cent interest in order to meet de-
flciencies in the treasury.
A Point of Order.
IT make a point of order against this
financial amendment on the ground that 1t
is general legislation" said Mr.. Berry
(Ark.).
Mr. Hill IN. W offered further amend
ment that hereafter all treasury notes and
United States notes. when presented to
the treasury. shall not be reissued. but
shall be Cancelled.
Mr.. Mills Texas) rose to suggest that
the point of order was Of such Importance
in determining the whole question that he
hoped the presiding officer would submit
the question to the Senate.
Efforts were made to have Mr.. Berry
temporarily withdraw the point OF order,
as 1t cut off debate on the merits Of the
which had been awaited with much in
terest, by Mr.. German, the sponsor for the
financial amendment.
Mr.. Hill sought to speak in explanation
of his amendment, but Mr.. Mills insisted
on the rule and an immediate decision on
the point of order. Mr.. Hill continued
speaking, however. He said the amend
ment for certificates Of indebtedness and
and contrary to the settled rule that gen.
eral legislation could not be added to ap-
preparation bills. If these propositions
were not ruled out, then the Senate was
tificates. bonds, greenbacks, etc.-for the
next week.
Considerable Disorder.
Mr.. Hill was interrupted with frequent
suggestions that debate was out of order.
There was considerable disorder, and the
Vice President finally requested the ser
geant-at-arms to see that order was pre-
served.
The Vice President was about to decide
the point of order, and had begun the
first sentence, when Mr.. Mills Interrupted:
Does the chair decline to submit the Ques-
ton to the Senate? 1t is not only GUS
tomary, but it is the rule that questions
of order shall be submitted to debate and
l must insist that it be submitted to the
Senate"
The presiding officer paused in his de-
cision. Then he said: I'm view of the re-
marks of the Senator from Texas the
question will be submitted to the Senate"
He then directed a roll call, and again
called on the sergeant-at-arms with
n moi tot Or.1ar
Mr.. German on the Financial Situa-
tion.
By a singular parliamentary situation the
order for the vote made the amendment
subject to debate. and Mr.. German ad-
dressed the Senate. He said 1t had become
evident that there was to be no financial
relief unless it was made part of an ap-
preparation bill. He regretted that 1t had
not come as an Independent measure from
coordinate branch of the government;
but such action had not been taken, and
sary that the treasury CT the United States
should have this legislation?
On the point of order, Mr. German said,
the same question had been raised two
years ago, and the Senate had voted-2S to
1S-tl1at bond amendment could go on an
appropriation bill He desired to restrict
the question to the simple needs of the
treasury, and not to go into broad dis
cussion of currency and financial questions.
Mr.. Wolcott here interrupted with the
query: Has the Secretary of the Treasury
notified the Senate that he does not want
such legislation as this?
THAT is the whole question: responded
Mr.. German, land If the Senator will per-
init me, l will, in my own crude way, pre-
sent the question of the treasury's neces-
Stiles"
rs the treasury in such condition that it
can provide for the wants of the govern
ment?" asked Mr.. German. Are the reve-
nues coming in sufficient to meet the ex-
penditures and the appropriations we are
making? If our actual expenditures are
greater than our receipts we cannot afford
to adjourn until we meet this emergency,
unless Congress wants more bonds sold to
meet our obligations
Mr.. German then unfolded an elaborate
table of financial figures. He said the an
swers made by the Secretary of the Treas
were on their face somewhat misleading
showing little cause for fear of deficiency,
A Deficiency Predicted.
81 think I will be able to demonstrate"
said Mr.. German, earnestly. that the Sec
1etary of the Treasury will have def
cheney of s3O.0O0,OOO for the calendar year
and s6O,OOo,OOO for the fiscal year." Re-
turning to the figures, Mr.. German said
the Secretary's reply to the Senate stated
that there was $106,000, 600 on hand avail
able to pay ordinary expenses. He (Mr.
GOrman) knew this was q mistake, and he
went to the treasury and said to those who
had made up the figures: Your figures are
misleading. You have made a mistake"
He called their attention to the fact that
they had omitted checks, drafts. etc.. out
standing. These had been included in the
monthly report. It disclosed that there
was actually $67, 100000 available. Here
was mistake of about $30,OOO,0 600 to begin
with. Mr.. German proceeded to itemize
the immense sums due for rivers and har-
bors, public buildings, etc. He also took up
the Secretarys estimates of receipts he
hoped to have. The Secretary estimated
his total expenditures at $35S, 600, 900. In
1888 the appropriations were $5O7, 600, 600,
and already. the House had appropriated
$374.0O0,O00 for this year. The Senate will
add $2O00O.GOO. The total will be 1890 OOO,-
900. and the Senator said he would stake
his reputation that it would reach $780,
100000. And yet the Secretary of the Treas
ury tells US bis estimate for all expenses
this year is $685.. 100000. What was the
cause of this error? The Secretary himself
could not question the accuracy of the
foregoing figures.
'The truth is" said Mr.. German, that
they made mistake about a year ago in
making up their balances of $4,000, 900, and
they have been trying to adhere to it ever
since" In taking up the question of gold