The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-01
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.

;
in the course or which a speech by Mr..
Mitchell on the restoration of the Nc
Klnley duties on wool was listened to,
and n resolution was passed for the in
| vestiEut!On by the committee on ma
val p3fairs Of the price paid by the gov
orumeut for ship armor. The resolu-
tiou contained q broad intimation that
officers Of the government were inter-
cstcd IN arnOr plate processes, and Sem
atUg Chandler, the author Of the resolu-
tiOn, said the facts that had come to
his knowledge warranted him In as
suming the responsibility for inaugura-
ting the inquiry. The most important
feature Of the session perhaps was .
resolution offered by Mr.. Sherman for
the restoration of the gold reserve.
which thereafter should be held sacred
for the redemption Of the greenbaCks
! and treasury notes, the former to be re-
issued only in exchange for gold coin
and bullion. Mr.. Sherman will address
the senate on his resolution on Friday.
| Mr.. Elkins asked for the Immediate
consideration of n resolution apropos
| OF the anticipated bond issue, declaring
1t to be the sense of the senate that no
bonds of the United States should be
sold at private sale or by private con-
tract, but should be disposed of by ad-
Vertlscment to the highest bidder. Mr..
Hill, Of New York, objected
When the senate met, Mr.. Perkins
| CRep.. CALI asked unanimous consent
for the consideration Of u resolution
| directing the committee on finance to
report an amendment to the house tar
| If bill, laying an additional duty on
raw sugar equal TO the other increases
Of the bill. Mr.. Berry CDem., Ark.) OBJ
jected.
1t was agreed to adjourn over till
! Friday. Mr.. Morrill, (Rep., VIZ explain
ing that the finance committee desired
to consider the bond and tariff bills
on Thursday,
Mr.. Chandier's resolution offered yes
| tcrday, directing the committee on ma
val affairs to investigate the prices
paid by the government for armor
| plate, and as to whether any officials
| Of the government We're interested in
| patent processes, was called up. At the
suggestion OF Mr.. German Dem., Md
| the words directing an inquiry into the
| facts as to whether the prices paid by
| the United States were "as low as paid
| by foreign governments" were stricken
out.
Mr.. Mills (Dem.. Texas) could not
see lue reason for the amendment.
Mir. German explained that 1t was
we'll known that an armor plate COM
pany had competed with England for
furnishing armor plate for q Russian
vessel The prices asked were lower
than received from the United States.
The contract, he thought had been
made Mt n loss. There had been no
concealment about 1t, AS to the re-
mainder of the resolution, Mr. Cor
man said 1t contained an intimation
| that there had not been careful busi-
| ness conduct Of the office Of the navy
department. and further that officers
Of the government were Interested in
| armor plate patents. If the information
| OF the senator from New Hampshire
warranted these ntimations he had no
| objection to the resolution, but he re-
/ f.retted that anybody should deem 1t
necessary to make such an inquiry.
| Ilc spoke of the fact that both political
parties had united in the last twelve
! vears IN the rejuvcnatlon of our navy.
Crest discretion had been given to the
secretaries OF the navy, and the results
had been marvellous to the world. The
honesty, Integrity and intelligence of
tie heads Of the navy department had
not been questioned. He again express
! cd regret that just at this time, IN the
pecula" atmosphere which enveloped
us. that Il should he thought necessary
| to make tlyis Inquiry,
Mr.. Hale also spoke Of the achieve
mcnts Of the navy department, and eX-
| pressed the hope that nothing wou!d be
found nniss.
Mr.. Chandler said ne shared the gen
eral regret. hut he was ready to as
sumo the responsibility for the resolu-
I,,,. n
he said. that REQUIRED investigation and
publicity in order that future contracts
for armor in the equipment of vessels
now building and to be built should be
above suspicion and reproach'
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. sherman then introduced the fol-
| lowing resolution, which was listened
| to with keen interest in view of the
! senator's ut:n:ances against the retire
! mont Of tho greenbGcks. He gave notice
| that on Friday he would submit some
remarks upon 1t. The resolution was
as follows:
Resolved, That by injurious iegista-
! ton by the Fitty-thiTd Congress the
! revenues Of the government were re-
| duced below its necessary expenditure
| and the fund created by law for inc
redemption Of United States notes mas
| been invaded to supply such deficiency
| Of reserve; that such n misapplicatton
| OF the resumption fund Is of doubtful
| legality and greatly injurious TO the
| public credit, and should be prevented
| by restoring said fund to the sum OF
| not less than $l00,0O0OGO in gold coin or
! bullion, 70 be paid out only In the re-
| dempton of United States notes and
| treasury notes. and such notes when
| redeemed to be reissued only in e%-
! change for gold coin or bullion"
Mr. Mitchell CRep.. Orcgon) then took
! the floor and spoke In favor of his reso-
luton instructIng the finance commit
| too TO restore the Mckinley duties on
wool IN any revenue bill reported to the
| senate
While Mr Mitchell was contending
that the secretary Of the treasury could
have stopped the gold raids by using
| hts discretion to redeem notes in coin,
| Mr.. Hill (pem., N. V asked him II 1t
! was not true that greenbacks had been
redeemed in gold by every secretary of
| the treasury since 1879.
Mr.. Mitchell replied that 1t might be
true, but, in his opinion, 1t was very
| poor policy.
Treasury notes have only been re-
, deemed In gold since 1891" interrupted
Ny. C0ckreli CDem., MOI.
rs that ract?" asked Mr.. Mitchell.
ut is," replied Mr.. CoclSrell emphat-
icnliy. IN 1898, In response to q tele-
gram sent by me to Secretary Foster.
| he replied that the first treasury note
| had been redeemed by him in gold IN
| 1891 -,
'{ am talIting about greenbacks,"
snId Atr, Hii',
"Baye not all oecretarlcs OF the treas
ury redeemed these notes in gold since
1872"
"Greenbucks were never presented"