New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04


recognized medium Of exchange the world over.
and to these the country should return with thf
least delay. He asked for legislation on Civil
Service reform ard prohibition Of the 'inporta-
ton OF Chinese contract labor ard Chinese
women for immoral purposes. The President
referred TO the election troubles OF 1874 in the
South He said that interference In state afafrs
was repugnant to him, but declared that b
would enforce the laws with vigor. He appealed
to Southern men, who ignored the outbreaks 0
violence in .he South, to be governed by reasoA
and he asked that Southern questions should b
discussed with fairness, expressing the hope
that the time might come when Federal inter-
ference to protect the people In the right 70 vote
would become urneccs sary and obsolete lie Urged
the encouragement Of commerce and American
shipbuildng, and pointed to the nearly SlVa'
600 900 year then paid by this country annually
to foreigners for ocean freighting.
The most important law of this session was -
act providing for the resumption OF specie pay
ments, January /, 1879. Approved January ~
1915 The act was agreed upon at caucus q
Republican Senators, was introduced IN the SEN
ate December 81, 1874, by Senator Sherman
(Rep., Ohio) and was made party measure II
both houses 1t provided: % For the coinage "a
10, 25 and so cent silver pieces OF standard SD
yer and the redemption Herewith OF all tns
fractional currency, then amounting to betwees
$40, OOO, 900 and $50,OO00O0 1t was estimates
that, Germany having recently demonetized ~
ver bullion could be bought at so low a prs
that the fractional currency could all be ~
deemed dollar for dollar without loss TO u
Government other than the expense Of coinage
which would be small C0 For the repeal OK tns
charge Of one-ffth Of per cent for minting Ios
bullion into coin, the object being to stop ~
expectation Of gold bullion for the sake Of coin
age abroad under European free coinage lava
1t was considered that if the bullion were con-
verted into American coin this coin would tend
to remain in America CO For free banking
removing all limit alton Oh the aggregate anoum
OF National bank notes in circulation. but pro
viding that as fast as add tonal bank currency
was issued legal tenders should be retired Il
the extent Of 50 per cent Of the additional banh
circulation until the legal tenders had been re-
drced to 5000 100000 in amount. The Secretary
Of the Treasury was authorized and after
January l. 1879. to redeem greenbacks in sums
Of $50 and over in coin, and, II necessary, to u.s.
the surplus revenue and Issue bonds 20 secure
the needed amount Of coin.
RecOlleCtlnS the exnauStlnS Oh Wv
previous winter over financial questions, this
bill was pressed to a vote In both houses With
out unnecessary delay. 1t was passed in the
Senate December %. 1874 by 81 yeas CD Re
publicans, 3 Liberals) to IA nays G. Republicans
II Democrats, l LiberaD in the House January
Z. 1875, by 1856 yeas Q34 Republicans. , Liber'
als) to 9S nays (23 Republicans. - Democratic
3 Liberals). Not one Democrat voted for thu
great measure in either house.
General Grant approved the bill and took the
Us ual step Of sending a message TO Congress an.
ncuncng the fact and congratuating that body
uron the passage Of the act. He made the suS'
gestion that in order 10 carry out its purposes
maintain the public credit and continue the re-
duction Of the debt. an increase OF the revenue
would be desirable. He advised a repeal Of the
horizontal reduction Of 10 per cent in the tar1
by the law OF June q, 1872 and the inpositios
OF higher duties on various articles.
SOME LAWS OF THE SESSION
Other laws were the following:
An act granting free right of way through
public lands To railroads in the Territories 40
| proved March 3, 1870 There was no division "a
either house on this bill. but 1t was Republic
can measure, and carried by Republican votes
Admitting Colorado as State. The vote ~
| the Senate was A. yeas 60 Republicans. !
Democrat. = Lberals) 10 l. nays TALL DemoCratsG
| in the House, III to III. nearly party vote.
Republicans in the affirmative.
An act forbidding the importation OF chinese
contract labor. Of cOnVcts, and OF women for
immoral purposes This VAS Il Republican meas
| ure like the previous laws on the subject
An act authorizing the coinage OF 2o-Cont silver
| pieces at the mint .
A civil rights bill, giving TO ALI persons
| within the jurisdiction Of the United States. ths
| full ard equal enjoyment OF the aCcommodS.
| lions, advantages. facilities and privileges OF
| inns, pubic conveyances on land or water.
| theatres and other places OF public amuSe'nent'
subject only TO such limitations and laws ~
| should apply 20 ali alike. This also was te'