Year: 1879




the morning hour consideration was resumed
of the bill to amend the law relating to the
transfer of cases from the State to United
States courts, and Mr.. McLane concluded
his argument in favor of the bill.


Mr.. Urner opposed the bill on the ground
that one of the sections proposed to be re-
pealed, No. 639, was virtually the judiciary
act of 1889, which gave force and effect to
that clause of tho constitution which author
ICES United States courts to pass upon ques-
tions in controversy between citizen of one
State and citizen of another State. The
morning hour expired before Mr.. Urner had
finished his argument and the bill went over
till Tuesday next.


THE COINAGE ELL.


Consideration was then resumed of the bill
TO amend the statutes relating to gold and
silver coinage and coin and bullion cortif-
Gates, the question being on the third sec
ton and amendments thereto. The first
amendment was the ono offered by Mr.. Bel
ford confnirg the privilege of free coinage
to silver mined in the United States.


Mr.. Springer spoke in favor of his amend
ment, to which Mr.. Belford's amendment
was offered. It would make difference be-
tween the value of bullion and coin inure to
the government instead of to the bullion
owner It would give the bullion holder 81
cents for his bullion, which 1t was worth,
and not 100 cents, which it was not worth
It would put into the treasury the difference
between the bullion and coin value of silver,
and keep it there as trust fund for the peo-
pie of the United States. (Applause on the
Republican side.)


Mr.. Buckner opposed Mr.. Springer's
amendment as a proposition utterly destruc-
tive Of the whole theory on which the bill
was founded 1t was worse blow at silver
than the proposition Of the secretary of the
treasury to stop its coinage at fifty million
dollars. This amendment cut the throat of
the silver dollar and if it was put upon the
bill he would vote against the bill, because
he would then put into the hands of the sec
retary of tho treasury the very power he de-
sired, and would virtually stop the coinage OF
another silver dollar.


Mr.. Newberry opposed the BILL 1t was
not based upon facts but upon theories
opinions and guesses of the widest KIND
He criticised the provisions in tho eighth
section that certificates ''shall not exceed 2(
Dor cent. beyond the amount of coin and bul
lion in the treasury" What was that 20 pei
cent? It was simply a hat. It was tail te
the Greenback kite. 1t was legislation fol
the rich man. and for tho banker and broker
Why were the streets of Washington filled
with men who had bullion piled up in New
York, if not for the purpose of seeing tina
the bill was passed, and of lobbying /
through? He was thinking of offering al
owner of paper pulp might deposit the sam
at the treasury and receive therefor lega
tender notes OF the same dimensions of thos
now in use. .-.--rr


Mr.. Bright of Tennessee said the question
was whether the government should have
seignorage of coinage, or whether the coun
try shout havo free coinage, and arguet
that when seignorage was put upon coin
would be driven out of the mints. He OF
posed Mr.. Springer's amendment as amount
inc to little less than tax of 16 per cent. o
the coinage of silver bullion.


Soon afterwards vote was taken on MI
Belford's amendment, and it was defeated
yeas 81, nays 12O. ..s.


Mr.. Ewing offered an amendment to M
Springer's amendment. 1t provides that tt
secretary of tho treasury shall issue and d
liver to depositor of silver bullion certl1
Gates to an amount equal to the value
such bullion, and that silver dollars coine
from such bullion to the extent of 40 p
cent. of such certificates shall be held
the redemption thereof, and the remand
applied to the payment of the interest al
principal of the public debt. The certi
Gates so issued are to be received at par +
all dues to the United States and to be us
in payment of the current expenses OF t
government, and are to be redeemable
standard silver dollars. -


Mr.. Cannon favored MIR. Syringe
amendment because it would give the prot
of coinage to the government and not to I
holders of bullion.


Mr.. Boyne denounced the whole bill a
sheer, uumitigated fraud, and as not


tended to subserve the best interests OF
class of people except the holders and p
ducers of silver bullion.


Mr.. Marsh argued against any change
tho standard OF value and asserted that


day the gold dollar really represented l
and the standard silver dollar represen
one dollar. The demonstration OF sill
had been crime and a fraud, and the ia
section of the bill was another fraud,


cause it was giving bullion holders an


vantage of II per cent. Laughter and


plause on the Republican sidel. he wo
like to see the Democratic party going


fore the people in 1880 in advocacy OF