Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-12-09

publicans were in caucus yesterday on
the currency bill. This caucus was q
continuation Of the one held Tuesday
evening. and it's existence was really u
victory for the advocates Of making
mandatory upon the secretary Of the
treasury instead of permssive. the
maintenance Of the parity of the metals
on gold basis, for had the advocates
Of this change been willing to accept the
bill as it was, an agreement could prob
ably have been reached Tuesday night.
The main amendment was proposed
by the trainers of the bill to clear up
some ambiguity of the present law. 1t
Is to be a new section. numbered 3, and
is as follows:
Section 9-That section 10 of an act
approved July u. 1882. entitled an act
to enable national banking associations
and the same Is. amended so as to read
as follows:
Section 10-That upon a deposit Of
bonds as described In section 5159 and
5160 of the revised statutes, the associa-
ton making the same shall be entitled
to receive from the comptroller Of the
currency circulating notes Of different
denomination in blank, registered and
countersigned as provided by law, not
exceeding the par value of the United
States bonds SO transferred and de-
livcred, and at no time shall the total
amount of such note issued to any such
association exceed the amount at such
time paid In Of It's capital stock; and the
| provisions of 5171 and 6176 Of the re-.
vised statutes are hereby repealed.
Another amendment Is to section 4 Of
the bill. inserting the word "redemp-
ton" before fund.-" to make more plain
that our redeemed notes and certificates
are to be held.
MIR. Warner offered an amendment re-
lating to that feature known as the im-
pounding Of the greenbacks. but he was
satisfied from examination that the
amendment was not essential and 1t was
withdrawn. There were some other sug-
gestions and tentative amendments, but
they were not pressed and the resolution
| of approval was then unanimously
! adopted.
| Mr.. Overstreet and his associates who
! framed the bill were warmly congratu-
lated on having been able to command
such complete unanimity and approval
which Is regarded as giving assurance
that the bill will be passed before the
Christmas recess.
Nearly 800 bills and joint resolutions
'everal important concurrent resolutions
and petitions. numbering hundreds were
presented to the senate yesterday. Some
Of the bills, majority of them In fact,
were old stagers. which had been in
troduced In the last congress or In pre-
vious congresses. A vast number OF
them were of minor Importance, hut a
few were Of national interest and con-
sequence.
Resolutions were offered providing for
an investigation by the judiciary COM
mittee of all phases of polygamy re.
Gently presented in connection with
what is known as the Roberts case, ex
the Beers in their war with Great Brit.
ain, and declaring that Senator N. B
Scott of West Virginia is not entitled
to a seat in the senate.
The secretary of the navy transmitted
to the senate report made by Rear
Admiral O'Neil upon the subject OF
armor plate for naval vessels. 1t re-
views the whole subject Of armor plat,
and the efforts that have been made t
obtain armor at the price fixed by con
gress. 1t goes into the subject of manu-
facture Of armor plate in great detail
and concludes by recommending tina
the restriction in price be removed.
1t Is not, 1t asserts that 1t will be i'm
possible to continue the construction O.
modern naval vessels. AS to the estab
lishment of a government armor plat
factory 1t Is asserted that. owing to tn
increase In the price Of materials, it 1
necessary to add 80 percent to the esti
mate Of $4,000, 900 made heretofore as t,
the cost of such plant.
The senate spent half an hour II
executive session, but beyond the con
frmation of Secretary Root and tn
reference to committee Of the numerou
nominations sent in. transacted no bust
ness. Mr.. Roots nomination was re
ferred to the committee on military af
fairs and Immediately reported bacl
and confirmed. There was no oppositio
| To immediate action