The herald., 1896-01-01
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INT flfllfUURlH 6UIGM0S
Senator John Sherman intro
duces a Resolution
TO PROTECT THE RESERVE
Mitchell Of Oregon Makes a Plea for
Tariff
The House Meets PerfunctoriIy and Both
Branches ADJOURN Over Till Friday
Legislation In Prospect
Associated Press specid Wire.

Associated Press specid Wire.
WAsHINGToN. Dec. 3l.-The senate held
two hours session today, in the course of
Ohich speech by Mr. Mitchell on the
ODstoration of the Mckinley duties an
woods was listened to and a resol usion was
passed for the investigation by the COM
mittee on naval affairs of the prices paid
by the government for ship ar nor. The
resolution contain ed broad intimation
that officers Of the government were inter-
ested in armor plate processes.
The most importa ut feature OF the ses-
sion, perhaps, was a resolution offered by
Mr.. Sherman for the restorati on of the
gold reserve, which hereafter should be
held for the redemption, Of green backs and
treasury notes, the former to be reissusd
only in exchange for gold coin or bullion.
Mr.. Elkins asked for The immedi ate con-
alteration of 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 a. private
- Q or contract, but should be disposed of
by advertisement TO the highest bidder,
but Mr.. Hill of New York objected.
When the senate met, Mr.. Perkins, Re-
publican. of California asked unanimous
consent for the consideration of resolu-
ton directing the committee on finance to
report Cd amendment TO the mouse tarlff
bill, laying an additional duty on raw
sugar equal to the other increases of the
bill.
Mr.. Berry, Democrat, OF Arkansas OBJ.
jected.
, It was agreed to adjourn over till Fri
day.
Mr.. Morrill,. Republican, of Vermont ex-
planned that the finance COMMITTEES desired
to consider the bond and tariff bills on
Thursday.
M, Chandler's resolution offered yester-
day, directing the commit ee on naval af-
fairs to investigate the prices paid by the
government for armor plate and as to
whether any official of the government was
interested in patent processes, Was called
mp.
crat, of Maryland the words directing an
INQUIRY into the facts as to whether the
prices paid by the United States were
40 low as paid by foreign governments,
were stricken out,
MIR. Mills, Democrat, Of Texas could not
see the reason for the amendment. Mr..
German explained that II was we'll known
shat an armor plate company had con-
peted with E 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 at loss. There had been
no cnncealment about it. AS to the
remainder of the resolution Mr.. German
said it contained an intimation that there
had not been careful business conduct OF
the offices of the navy department., and
furth that the officers of the government
were interested in armor plate patents. Ii
the information of the senator from New
Hampshire warranted these intimations,
he had no objection to the resolution, but
he regretted that any body should deem 1t
necessary 10 make such an inquiry. He
spoke of the fact that b. 'th political par lea
had united in the rejuvenation of our
army.
Great discretion had been given to the
secretaries of the navy and results ad
been marvellous to the wor d. The hones.
ty, integrity and INTEL gence Of the he. ads
of the navy department had not been ques'
toned. He again expressed regret tha
just at this time, in the peculiar atmos
phere which enveloped us, it should be
thought necessary TO make this inquiry.
Mr.. Hale also spoke of the achievements
of the navy department and expressed the
hope that nothing would be found atnss.
Mr. Chandler said he shared the genera
regret, but he was ready 10 assume The re-
sponsibility OF the resolutions. Facts had
come to his knowledge, he said, that re-
quired investigation and publicity in o de
that future contracts for the ar,nor in th'
equipment of vessels now building and u
be built should be above suspicion anC
reproach.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. sherman then introduced the follow
ING resolution, which was listened to witt
keen interest, in view OF the senator's l.
oSf ha ant nf
greenbacks. He gave notice that on Ell
day he would submit some remarks upoI
it. The resolution is as follows:
Resolved, Tnat by the injurious legis'a
tion OF the Fifty-third congress the reve
nues of the government were reduced be
low its necessary expenditures, and thu
fund created by law for the redemption o
the United States notes has been invade,
70 supply such deficiency in said reserve
that such misapplication of the resumption
fund is Of doubtful legality and greatly in
furious to the public credit, and should b
prevented by restoring the said fund to
sum not less than $1OO,OUO,OOO in gol
coin or bullion, to be paid out only in re
demption of United States notes and treas
ury notes; and such notes when redeeme'
to be reissued only in exchange for gol
coin or bullion.
Mr.. Mitchell, Republican of Oregon. the
took the floor and spoke in favor of his rel
0lution instruci!ng the finance commute
TO 70 tore the Mckinley duties on wool il
any revenue bill reported to the senate
He said:
No industry has received such stagger
ing and deadly legislative blow as that ir
6icted upon the wool industry by the Will
son tariff act. 1t drained from the Unite,
States within the .st year $S5, 5,OOO,OOO il
gold to pay for foreign wool, and occa
stoned loss to tine wool growers of thi
country of more than 81 ,OO0,OOO. UnIes
this legislation is changed the sheep indus
try of the Pacific coast will be annihilal cd