Year: 1876

DISCUSSION OF THE REDUCTION OF sALAhIEA


IN THE OMNIBUS RIIL-THE CURRENCY ouEs'


TIoN-THE THREE WAYS TO RESUME.


WASHINGTON March IL, 1916


Mr. ATKINS, dem of Tenn. from the Committee on
Appropriations reported bill approprating 100000
to supply the deficiency in the appropriation Tor GER
tain Sioux Indians Passed.


The House then at half-past twelve p NJ. went into
Committee Of the Whole Mr.. Cox, tdem.) OF n. Y,
in the chair the Judicial and Legislative Appropra
tion bill


Mr. WILLIS, 0ndl of N. Y, who had not concluded
his speech yesterday resumed tho floor and proceeded
with his remarks favor of honest currency as the
only safety for honest men.


Mr.. SEELYE, Qnd.) Of Mass, made a speech on the
same side Of the question He attributed tho instb-
ty OF the currency that the OF Congress
on tho subject uncertain and said the in
stability would continue long the currency was
established the present basis Hoargued that paper
currency rested solid ground OF industry, and
that when labor paid for in II labor was cheated
and therefore II that industry parayzed He
declared that any further imitation of the currency
would be followed by disaster and national humiliation
reputation would then become as inevitable
as the plunge the cataract after tho
rapids passed. The resumption of specie
payment was the only course left, and It would be





He hbor hoe opus, est Here he free to admit,
the gravest financial difficulty. Iwas much easier
TO say that further imitation of the currency would
lead reputation and that continuance of tho
present system meant inevitable ruin, than 1t was 10
see safe and speedy road to financial sovency; but
wise and patriotic people were not ought not TO DO
unable to solve such problem, and a brave people
were not ought not to be discouraged There were





in which specie payment could be reached and only
that To succeed The hrst was a accu-
Treasury
cen to permit the successful renauguration OF specie
payment but any sufficient accumulation of gold would
be followed by such financial disasters all over the
globe a. would compel a remuneration OF the plan
The second method was to retire from circulation
portion of the greenback currency of the surplus
revenue OF the government But there was no such
surplus as would warrant any hope from that method
The third and only honest way that was left 10
authorize the change Of currency into interest bearing
bonds OF the government, payable principal and in
returning TO specie payment.


Mr. DuRASD tden.l OF Mich, made speech on the
side OF the subject


LEGISLATIVE BILL


Mr. TOWNSEND, (rep) OF Pa, spoke on the subject OF
the Legislative Appropriation bill He had noticed
that 1t appropriated $4,000 900 less than had been APP
proprated for the purposes last year, and
81 600 600 less than had been asked the estimates
lie had examined the bill carefully in order to
tam what principle the reductions made, and
had reached the conclusion that the only principle
was that Of the behgerent Irlshman at Donnybroo
Fair--whcrever he saw head To hit il. The commit
had through the different departments OF the
government-thc War, the Navy, the Treasury
the Interior Department &c, and wherevei
they the head OF poor clerk, an auditor comp
troller or an assistant secretary they had HIT him.
and in some cases they had hit hiln very hard (Laugn
teri In this way Of the best officers Of the gov
crnment had been down. He criticised the
proposed reductions OF official salaries. including tha
compensation OF Senators and members, and quoted
from Mr.. Randalps speech delivereda couple OF years
ago. in favor OF paying members OF Congress 81, 500
year lie would not that the bill got up Tor
'buncomben aud for eectoneering purposes, but he
was bound to say that there was no principle in the
bill that worthy OF consideration The prin-
cple on which reductions of expenditure should bs
made was TO cut Off all supernumerary officials and to
cease making appropriations Tor public buildings for
which there was no immediate necessity.


Mr. RANDALL, tdem.l OF Pa, replied to Mr. Townsend
He said lie knew that his old speech on the salary
question to be brought up this BILL and,
therefore he was not unpreparcd for It, Every word
which he had then uttered he believed he had gone
home after that speech and after that VOTE and
OF his constituents condemned them. They had given
him credit Tor sincerity and honesty, and had returned
him to this House. in consequence of which he
held the exalted post to which the Speaker had
signed him Still he not unmindul OF the fact that
the American people condemned that act and he WAS
fair and manly enough to say In accordance with
that judgment OF tho American people, he stood hera
seeking TO remedy what the people had condemned
Tho democratic majority in the House meant hive
economy and retrenchment they meant to cut down
the salaries OF members and OF the higher officials OF ha
government The committee had not made reductiuns
indscrimInatelY, but had reduced all salaries over
81 200 ten per cent with exception of Cabinet
and the judges OF the Supreme Court The salary
OF the President had been reduced the original
s25, 900 after the 4th OF March The COMMITTEES
had also made reduction of twenty per cent in tho
clerical force of the departments These reductions
were as dlsasteiul TO hlm to anybody and nobody
would suffer from the reduction relatively than
himself; but he was here the will of tho
people plainly expressed. republican Secretary Of
the Treasury had informed Congress that nothing could


SAVE THE TREASURY FROM BANKRUPTCY
except economy IN expenditure ana he meant that
Treasury should never approach that position wha
the democratic party in power in tho House Gen.
tIemen on the other side talked about economy but
whenever the question presented practically they
threw every obstacle in the way He glad TO say
however, that there some honorable exceptions
on the other side ofthe House. for the republican
bers OF the Appropriation Committee had. in the man
co.operated with the majority III these reductions


SIR WHITE, dcm.) of ky.-Do | understand the
gentleman to say that he realized the fact that the
country condemned his vote the back salary ques-
tiouY


Mr.. RAEDALL-It is none of your business what l
realize (laughter) l have made my statement IN
that connection.


Mr.. WHITE Docs not the gentleman believe that the
country would be better pleased II that back salary
refundedl


Mr.. RANDALIs-That Is none of your business either
(Laughter.) When do aught here that does not DO
come aRepresentative the people will take
sign me back to private HE. took that salary; thu
law gave It TO INC, and my people have approved of
since and II does not lie in the power any miserable
man here-(aughterl-to talk about my conscience


Mr.. WILSON (rep.) OF Iowa. connection with the
appropriations Tor the Agricultural Bureau spoke Of
tho Importance OF the flax growing interest IN his state
which, he said would be seriously nterfered with II
Mr. Morrison's Tariff bill should become a law.


Mr.. HUNTER, (rcpl OF Ind, made a spccch on tho
payments after the cancellation OF the public debt and
IN advocacy OF BILL introduced by himself, To estAb-
lish uniform rate of interest six per cent? through
the United States


AT the close OF Mr.. Hunters speech the House. at
five minutes past five O'Clock, adjourned, when Il was
announced that there would be democratic caucus
this evening.


RERTIIA NTENEpG