CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE.

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 2389 The following petitions, praying for the enactment of a law provid

ing temporary aid for common schools, to be disbursed on the basis of illiteracy, were severally referred to the Committee on Education:

By Mr. DAVIS: Of 115 citizens of Dukes County, Massachusetts. By Mr. HAUGEN: Of107 citizens of Barron County, Wisconsin. By Mr. JACKSON: Of 318 citizens of Lawrence County, Pennsyl-

vania. By Mr. KERR: Of citizens of Johnson County, Iowa. By Mr. McCORMICK: Of 209 citizens of McKean County, Penn

sylvania. By Mr. PATTON: Of 464 citizens of Union County, Pennsylvania. By Mr. J. W. STEW ART: Of 141 citizens of Bennington County,

and of 116 citizens of Addison County, Vermont. By Mr. YARDLEY: Of 174 citizens of Montgomery County, Penn

sylvania.

The following petition, asking for the passage of the bill prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and importation of all alcoholic beverages in the District of Columbia, was referred to the Select Committee on the Alcoholic Liquor Traffic:

By ~1r. PAYSON: Of 148 citizens of the Ninth district of Illinois.

SENATE. MONDAY, March 26, 1888.

Prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. J. G. BUTLER, D. D. The Journal of the proceedings of Friday last was read ·and approved.

PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore presented two petitions of citizens of Massachusetts, praying for prohibition in the District of Columbia; which were referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

He also presented a petition of citizens of Kansas, praying for the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which was referred tothe Committee on Pensions.

M1·. HALE presented a petition of the board of regents of the Dakota Agricultural College, praying for legislation authorizing that board to select and reserve f1·om any public agricultural lands now in the Territory, or which may soon become available for this purpose, the minimum amount, 90,000 acres, for the endowment of that college; which was referred to the Committee on Territories.

Mr. SHERMAN presented a petition of 81 wool-growers, citizens of Ohio, protesting against the further reduction of the duty on wool and praying for the restoration of the wool duty of 1867; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. PAYNE presented twenty-three petitions of 970 ex-Union soldiers and sailors, citizens of Ohio, praying for the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which were referred to the Committee on Pensions.

He also presented the petition of 11 citizens of Cleveland, Ohio, and the petition of Rev. J. B. Hammond and 11 other male citizens of Saybrook, Ohio, praying for the better legal protection of women and girls within the Territorial, admiralty, and maritime jurisdiction of the United States; which were referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

He also presented petitions of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel 'Vorkers at Bridgeport, Youngstown, Mingo Junction, Ironton, Massillon, Girard, New Philadelphia, and Canal Dover, in the State of Ohio, in favor of a protective tariff policy; which were referred to the Committee on Finance.

i\Ir. MORRILL presented a petition of citizens of Gaysville, Vt., praying for the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr, STOCKBRIDGE presented the petition of R. R. Smith and 29 other ex-Union soldiers, citizens of Michigan; the petition of August Ludwig and 19 other ex-Union soldiers, citizens of Michigan; and the petition of George H. Sexton and 399 other ex-Union soldiers, citizens of Michigan, praying for the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which were referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. SABIN presented a petition of citizens of Breckenridge and Barnesville, in the State of Minnesota, praying for the passage of a bill prohibiting employment of convict labor in trades competing with free labor; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor.

1\Ir. CAMERON presented seven petitions of ex-Union soldiers and sailors, citizens of Clifford, Carbondale, White Haven, Muncy Franklin, and Rockport, in the State of Pennsylvania, praying for'the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which were referred to the Committee on Pensions.

He also presented a petition of the Trades Assembly ~f Western Pennsylvania, praying for the pasaage of a bill for classification of clerks in first-class post-offices; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.

He also presented a petition of Osterburgh Grange, No. 737, Patrons of Husbandry, of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, praying for the pas-

sage of a law to prohibit the sale of adulterated lard and other food products; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.

Mr. ALLISON presented a petition of Mills County Pomona Grange, No. 1, Patrons of Husbandry, of the State of Iowa, praying that agricultural products shall be equally protected with manufactured articles, etc.; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

He also presented a petition of Mills County Pomona Grange, No. 1, Patrons of Husbandry, of the State of Iowa, praying that the patent laws be so amended as to protect the innocent purchasers of patented articles; which was referred to the Committee on Patents.

He also presented a petition of the Mills County Pomona Grange, No. 1, Patrons of Husbandry, of the State of Iowa, praying that the Commissioner of Agriculture he made a Cabinet officer; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.

He also presented a petition of the Mills County Pomona Grange, No. 1, Patrons of Husbandry, of the State of Iowa, praying that foreign immigration shall be restricted so ::1.'3 to keep out all paupers and criminals of the Old World; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Re-lations. -

He also presented a petition of the Mills County Pomona Grange, No. 1, Patrons of Husbandry, of the State of Iowa, praying that the postage on seeds, bulbs, ci.ons, etc., be reduced 50 per cent.; also, that fractional currency be reissued;a1so, that postal notes be abolished; also, that money orders for $5 or less be issued for a fee of 3 cents; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.

He also presented a petition of the Mills County Pomona Grange, No. 1, Patrons of Husbandry, of the State of Iowa, praying that United States Senators be elected by a direct vote of the people; which was referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections.

He also presented a petition of 35 surviving soldiera and sailors of the Union Army and Navy, citizens of Mount Vernon, Iowa, praying for the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

He also presented a memorial of the I. M. Huston Post, No. 394, Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Iowa, in favor of the passage of a substitute for the dependent pension bill, and outlining the provisions thereof; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. CALL presented a memorial of merchants of Cedar Keys, Fb., remonstrating against the passage of a bill providing for the consolidation of the St. Uarks and Tampa custom-house districts, and praying that the custom-house at Cedar Keys may be retained; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

:Mr. COKE presented a petition of citizens of Fate, Tex., praying for increased compensation to fourth-class postmasters; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.

Mr. PLATT. I present the petition of J. W. Alsop and other citizens of Middletown, Conn., praying for the paEsage of Senate bill283, relating to Yellowstone Park. As that bill has been 1·eported, and is now on the Calendfllr, I move that the petition lie on the table.

The motion was agreed to. Mr. DAVIS presented a petition of ex-Union soldiers and sailors,

praying for the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which W:l.'3 referred to the Committee on Pension.Q.

He also presented a petition of citizens of Minnesota, praying for protective legislation for wool and woolen goods; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

He also presented a petition of the Agriculturnl College at Brookings, Dak., praying legislation granting them authority to select and reserve 90,000 acres as primary school lands; whiC'h was referred to the Committee on Territories.

Mr. TURPIE presented a petition of Henry Ganson and otht3rs, exUnion soldiers, citizens of Indiana, praying for the passaO'e of the per per diem rated service-pension bill; which was referred ""to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa, pres~nted a petition of 27 surviving soldiers ofthe Union Army and Navy, residents of Williamsburgh, Iowa; a petition of 34 surviving soldiers and sailors of the Union Army and Navy, residents of l\Ioun t Vern on, Iowa.; and a petition of 98 citizens of Decatur Couuty, Iowa, praying for the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which were referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. HARRIS presented a petition of citizens of Tennessee, praying that a pension be granted to Eliza Ann Woods; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Ur. MORGAN presented a petition of citizens of Calhoun County, Alabama, praying for the repeal of the internal-revenue laws; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. FARWELL presented the petition of August G. Schoenborn and others, citizens of the District of Columbia, praying for the passage of an act authorizing the commissioners of the District of Columbia to widen the alley in square 686, running from B to C street, northeast; which was referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

Mr. HISCOCK presented a petition of 275 ex-Union veterans, citizens of the State of New York, praying for the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which was referred to the Committee on Peneions.

2390 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE.

He also presented a memorial of 46 members of the New York State Agricultural Society, remonstrating against the passage of the Palmer cattle-commission bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agri-culture and Forestry. ·

He also presented a petition of the wood-pulp industry companies of the State of New York, praying that the present duties on woodpulp be maintained; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. PLUMB presented a petition of ex-Union soldiers and sailors, citizens of Kansas, praying for the passage of the per diem rated servicepension bill; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

He also presented a petition of 63 citizens of the Third :::.nd Fifth Congressional districts of Kansas, praying for prohibition in the District of Columbia; which was referred to the Committee on the District of Co-lumbia. .

He also presented a petition of the Gun Club ::md citizens of White City, Kans., praying for the passage of the bill setting apart a certain tract of land lying near the headwaters of the Yellowstone River as a public park; which was ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. FRYE presented the petition of Hector Mcintosh and others, citizens of Pennsylvania; the petition of .lll. L. Coburn and others, citizens of Pennsylvania; the petition of Clara G. Rowley :mdothers, citi· zens of Pennsylvania; the petition of Joseph May and others, citizens of Pennsylvania, and the petition of D. C. Ritchie and others, citizens of Pennsylvania, praying for the pa....~e of a bill extending protection to girlhood by raising the age of consent in females to eighteen years; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. BROWN presented the petition of the executive board of the National Farmers' Alliance, praying for the establishment of a department of agriculture with a Cabinet minister at its head; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.

1\lr. PAD DOCK presented a petition of 20 ex-soldiers, citizens of Clay County, Nebraska, and a petition of the Per Diem Rated Service-Pension Association of New York City, officially signed, praying for the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which wererefened to tho Committee on Pensions.

Ur. DOLPH presented a petition of the Marion County Pomona, Grange, of Oregon, praying that the work of eradicating pleuro-pneumonia be continued under the Bureau of Animal Industry; which was ordered to lie on the table.

1\Ir. EVARTS presented a petition of the executive board of the N a tiona! Farmers' Alliance, representing organized bodies of farmers in the United States, comprising an aggregate membership of 1,400,000 persons, praying for the enactment of a law during the present session of Congret'5 establishing a department of agriculture with a Cabinet minister at its head; which was referred to the Committee on Agricult· ure and Forestrv.

He also presented a petition of the Medical Society of the county of Rensselaer, N.Y., praying for the removal of import dut.y on all medical and surgical supplies, instruments, and appliances; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

He also presented a petition of Typographic..'ll Union, No. 98, of Brooklyn, N. Y., praying for the passage of the Chace bill providing for an international copyright law; which was ordered to lie on the table.

HealsopresentedapetitionofR. D. Lathrop Post, No.138,GrandArmy of the Republic, Department of New York; a petition of 102 ex-Union soldiel's and sailors, citizens of Cohocton, N. Y.; a petition of 44 exUnion soldiers and sailors, citizens of Union Springs, Cayuga County, New York; a petition of 27 ex-Union soldiers and sailors, citizens of the State of New York; and a petition of 29 ex-Union soldiers and sailors, citizens of Scottsville, Monroe County, New York, praying for the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which were referred to the Committee on Pensions.

He also presented the petition of George H. Lawrence, late first lieutenant Company E, Second New York Mounted Rifles, praying for an increase of pension; which was referred to the Committee onPensions.

Mr. SPOONER. I present a memorial of the Turnve.rein, of Milwaukee, Wis., remonstrating, first, against the passage of any laws tending to make the right of immigration dependent on the personal views of the immigrant, or which may be so construed as to restrict and impede immigration; second, in favor of the laws against the importation and landing of bond slaves or laborers under contract being strictly enforced. I move that the petition be referred to the Committee-on Education and Labor.

· The motion was agreed to. 1\Ir. SPOONER.. I also present a petition of citizens and members

of the Grange of the State of Wisconsin, praying that there be no further extension of the time for the payment of the public debt; second, that there be no extension of charters of the national banks, and no increase of the percentage of the currency to those banks on their present securities; that the duties on sugars be abolished, with a bounty to home producers; that there be restored to wool-growing the substantial protection enjoyed under the tariff of 1867, so modified as to meet the later forms of foreign competition and evasion; and prayingior protection to agriculture in other indicated ways. I move that the petition be refened to the Committee on Finance.

The motion was agreed to.

CONSIDERATION OF THE CAI,ENDAR.

1\lr. EVARTS. If it be in order now, I would ask the attention of the Senate to the propriety of going on for to-day and to-morrow with the Calendar. On Wednesday, as we know, the Senate will not be in session, and the last two days of the week, Thursday and Friday, a certain number of Senators will be necessarily absent in attendance at the funeral of the late Chief-Ju~ tice. It seems to me that we should all feel under obligation to go through with the Calendar, and these two days might well be occupied in that way, and the general debates opened after Wednesdaytill they shall be completedortheSenateshall otherwise order. I would a13k, if the Senate concur in this feeling, that there may be a general consent to that course to-day being continued under the same arrangement as heretofore.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New York asks unanimous consent that the unexecuted order of Friday for the consideration of the Calendar under Rule VIII be continued to-day and to-morrow. Is there objection?

Mr. MORRILL. With this exception, Mr. President: When this order was made I had previously given notice that last Tuesday I would call up the bill (H. R. 5034) to provide for the purcrmseof United States bonds by the Secretnry of the Treasury. I desire to call up that bill this morning. I think it will take but a few moments, and after that bill is passed I shall have no objection to going on with the Calendm:; but until that bill bas been taken up and considered I object to anything else.

1\fr. PLA.TT. 1\fr. President, I am willing to consent that the order shall stand for to-day, as I think that was implied in the order which was made on Thursday that it should continue on Friday or the next legislative day. As we had no day on Friday for business, I think it is equitable and fair that the order should be continued for to-day; but I would not like to con ent to longer than to-day.

Mr. PALMER. I tbink there is a special order down for 2 o'clock to-day. Although I do not wish to appear intract..'lble in this matter, I should not like to give my consent to ha,ve that displaced or deferred without consultation with gentlemen who are here now waiting for action on that bilL

Mr. PLA.TT. I suppose this debate goes on by unanimous consent, and I ask permission to say a word.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The morning business has not yet been concluded, and therefore the debate proceeds by unanimous consent.

Ur. PALMER. I ask the Chair if i~ requires unanimous consent to displace the special order made for to-day at 2 o'clock?

'l'he PRESIDENT pro tempore. A special order can be displaced by a majority of the Senate, when it is reached.

Mr. PLA.TT. I tijink that special order ought never to have been made, for this reason: A long time ago I gave notice that upon the conclusion of the undermluation bill I would move to take up the bill for the admission of South Dakota. I do not think that any business can be more important than that of the admission of new States. The Committee on Territories has already reported three bills for the admission of new St..1.tes, and I have another on my table ready to report, and I think that the import..w.ce of those measures requires their consideration. I have, however, acceded to .the general wish of the Senate that the Calendar should be proceeded with; but here comes in this special order. I do not know that I want to antagonize it; but I simply say that I do not wish to consent that this order shall run longer than to-day.

Mr. PALMER. I think that the Senator was on the floor or in the Senate at the time that special order was made.

Mr. PLATT. · I was in the chair, I think. Mr. PALMER. And it seems to me that his remarks would have

been more pertinent at that time than at this in regard to the propriety of making that special order.

I would say, in regard to the comparative importance of the bills, that I regard the pleuro-pneumonia bill, so called, as of much more importance than the admission of any Territory. Dakota would not ask for admission if pleuro-pneumonia were permitted to run riot through that Territory. The people could not live there. If it did not become a desert it would be deserted. People must have cattle, must have animals, must have the domestic animals, and if pleuropneumonia gets across the Mississippi River it will be said of Dakota, as it was of Rome,Dakotafttit, if gentlemen will permit mea.littleLatin.

Mr. PLATT. 1\Ir. President, whether the remarks of the Senator from Michigan are intended to be jocose or not I am unable to tell-

:Mr. PALMER. In great seriousness, 1\Ir. President. 1\fr. PLATT. But I assume that made in the Senate of the United

States they are serious. I think he will hardly convince the people of Dakota or of this country that his bill is of more importance than the question of the admission of a new State. The admission of a new State goes to the honor, the dignity, the power, and the glory of this whole nation. Territories add but little to the honor and glory and the strength of the nation. The nation is a system of States, and the addition of a St.<tte gives us power and standing among the nations of the earth; and I can only account for the sentiment of the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, that his bill is of more importance than

1888. CONGRESSIONAL REOORD-SENATE. 2391 the question of the admission of a State, upon the theory that it comes from his committee.

Mr. REAGAN. Mr. President, I was not in my seatwnen the order was obtained by which the bill to pl'Ovide for the establishment of a bureau of animal industry was set for to-day. If I had been here I should have objected to making a special order of it. I never learned the fact that it was so set until Saturday. The people of the State I in part represent have perhaps a larger interest in that subject than those of any other State in the Union. The people of that State have a very deep interest in anything that relates to cattle raisiJlg and cattle transportation, and they are very earnestly opposed to the passage of this bill; and I hope it will not be taken up to-day, or until we ca.n get time to look into the subject, which I have not yet had an opportunity t.o do. It is a question of great importance, and it ought to be fairly considered.

Mr. P .ALMER. Ur. President-The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Debate proceeds by unanimous .con

sent, the morning business not having been concluded. Ur. PALMER. I ask the courtesy of the Senate to state that this

is a bill of very great importance and of as much importance or more to Texas than any other State, and I hope if it shn.ll be defeated it will not be defeated by measures of retardation or indirection. I hope that the thing will be discussed on its merits, and unless the Senate sees fit to change the spedal order I think, without further information from gentlemen who are here waiting in the interest of the bill, I shall ask that the special order be observed as it now stands.

Mr. VEST. I rise to morning business. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chaii· will receive it.

REP ORTS OF COMMITTEES.

Mr. VEST, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to whom was referred the bill (S. 1974) for the erection of a public building at Fort Worth, Tex., reported it without amendment.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 1805) for a public building at Greenville, S. C., reported it without amendment.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (8.159) for a public building at Greenville, S. C., reported adversely thereon, and the bill was postponed indefinitely.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5062) for the erection of a public building at Birmingham, Ala., reported it without amendment. .

lllr. HARRIS, from the Committee on Epidemic Diseases, to whom was referred the petition of the San Diego (Cal.) Medical Society, urging that a quarantine station be established for San Diego Harbor, asked to be discharged from its farther consideration; which was agreed to.

He also, from the same committee, submitted a report accompanied by a bill (S. 2493) to perfect the quarantine service of the United States; which was read twice by its title.

He also, from the same committee, to whom were referred the bill (S. 665) to establish a quarantine station at the port of San Francisco and the bill (S. 1641) to establish a permanent quarantine station at or near Cape Charles, Virginia, reported adversely thereon, and the bills were postponed indefinitely.

Mr. PLill1B, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 1782) to authorize the leasing of the school and universio/ l~ds in the Territory ofWyoming1 and for other purposes, reported It w1th amendments.

Mr. PLATT, from the Committee on Territories, to whom was referred the bill (S. 1619) to provide for the formation and admission into the Union of the State of Montana, reported adversely thereon· and the bill was postponed indefinitely. '

He also, from the same committee, submitted a report accompanied by a bill (S. 2512) to provide for the formation and admission into the Union of the State of Montana, and for other purposes· which was read twice by its title. '

J';1r. DOLPH, from the Committee on Public Lands to whom was referred the bill (S. 2003) to grant to the city of The'Dalles in the State of Oregon, certain lands for the purposes of a public park re-ported it with amendments. • '

/ Mr. PAD DOCK, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was re~e!fed the bill (S. 1 ~65) to provide for the sale of the Fort Sedgwick m1htary reser~at10n, m the State of Colorado and Territory of Wyoming, to actual settlers, reported it with amendments.

Mr. SPOONER, from the Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2337) for the relief of MariaN. Abbey asked to be discharged from its farther consideration, and that it be ~ferred to the Committee on Pensions; which was agreed to.

FUNERAL OF CHIEF-JUSTICE W .A.ITE.

Mr. ALLISON. I introduce a bill and ask unanimous consent that it may now be put on its passage. :Cet it be read at length for information.

The bill (S. 2494) to provide for payment of the funeral expenses of the late Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court was read the first time at length, as follows:

Be it cnacu<l, etc., That the sum of $5,000, or so much thereof as may be neces-

sary, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out o( any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to defray the expenses necessarilv incurred in the funeral of Morrison R. Waite, late Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, to be disbursed by the marshal of the Supreme Court upon vouchers to be approved by the senior associate justice of said court.

The bill was read the second time by its title, and by unanimous consent considered as in Committee of the Whole.:-

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the thir.d time, and passed.

TERRITORY OF UTAH.

::M:r. CULLOM. On behalf of the Committee on Territ.ories I report back a memorial and proposed constitution for the admission of the Territ.ory of Utah as a State, and ask t.o be discharged from then· further consideration, and to report resolutions which were .unanimously adopted by the Committee on Territories, and I request that they be now considered.

The PRESIDENT Jl'I'O tempore. The resolutions reported by the Senator from lllinois will be read.

The Chief Clerk read as follows: R esol1:ed, That it is the sense of the Senat-e that new States should be admitted

in to the Union only upon a basis of equality with the existing States. and that Congress ought not to exercise any supervision over the provisions of the constitution of any such new State further than is necessary to guaranty to every State in this Union a republican form of government. '

Resolt·ed, '!'hat the proposed constitution for the State of Utah submitted to Congress with the memorial praying for the admission of the Territory of Utah into the Union as a State, contains provisions which would deprive such proposed State, if admitted into the Union, of that equality which should exist among the different States.

Resotved furtlwr, That it is the sense of the Senate that the Territory of Utah ought not to be admitted into the Union as a State until it is certain beyond d.oubt that the practice of plural man·iages, bigamy, or polygamy, has been entu·ely abandoned by the inhabitants of said Territ-ory, and until it is likewise certain that the civil affairs of the Territory are not controlled by the priesthood of the 1\Iormon Church.

Ur. HOAR. Let those resolutions be printed and go over. They are very important resolutions.

The PRESIDENT pro temp01·e. The resolutions w1lllie over under the rules and be printed. _

1\fr. BUTLER. May I inquire of the Senator from illinois if those resolutions are accompanied by a bill sent to the committee .

.Mr. CULLOM. No, sir. This report has nothing to do with the bill introduced by the Senator from South Carolina. It simply has to do with the memorial and the proposed constitution from that Territory.

Mr. BUTLER. That is what I wished to inquire about. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair also understood the Sen

ator from Illinois to report back from the committee the memorial and draught of a constitution, and ask that the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the same. That order will be made unless there be objection. '

BILLS INTRODUCED.

Mr. BUTLER introduced a bill (S. 2495) to equalize the pay of certain officerso~the Navy; which was read twice by its title1 and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. BERRY introduced a bill (S. 2496) granting the right of way over West .Mountain, in the Hot Springs reservation, in the State of Arkansas, to theW est Mountain Inclined Rail way and Improvement Comp!lny; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. COKE introduced a bill (S. 24.97) for th.e relief of Jonathan L. Dobbs, Daniel C. Kyle, Keith & O'Neal, James C. Lovina and the legal representatives of John Hittson, deceased, Alexander "'Timmons, deceased, Nathan Watson, deceased, and Daniel Cretsinger deceased· which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Co~mittee o~ Claims.

He also introduced a bill (S. 2498) for the relief ofWil]iamR. Baker· which \vas 1·ead twice by its title, and referred to the Committee 0 -r{ Claims.

He also introduced a bill (S. 2499) for the relief of Hiram D. Drum· which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee o~ Claims.

.l\1r. HALEi~troduceda bill(~- 2500) .granting a pension to Gertrude K. L!fe:rd; whiCh was read tWice by 1ts title, and, with the accompanyiDg papers, referred t.o the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. PLA.~T introduced a bill (S. 2501) for the relief of William M. B~yant; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Patents.

He also introduced a bill (S. 2502) for the relief of James Caler which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee or:. Claims.

Mr. BECK intro~uced a bill (S. 2503) to increase the pension of Mrs. ~far! L. Scott, ofLmcoln County, Kentucky; which was read twice by Its t1tle, and referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. DAVIS. introduced a b~ll (S. ~504~ granting a pension to Mary A.. Moran; which was ren.d tWJce by Its title, and referred to the Com-mittee on Pensions. ·

Mr .. SHERMAN int_r~uced a bill (S. 2505) removing the charge of desertiOn from the military record of L. F. Decker; which was read

2392 CON-GRESSIONAL REOORD-SENATE. MARCH 26,

twice by its title, and, with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

1\Ir. FRYE introduced a bill (S. 2506) for the establishment of a lighthouse, fog-signal, and day beacon in the vicinity of Goose Rocks, Fox Island Thoroughfare+. Maine; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. PLUMB introduced a bill (S. 2507) granting a pension to Joseph Hicks; which was read twice sy its title, and, with the accompanying papers, referred to the Co durn ttee on Pensions.

Mr. TELLER introduced a bill (S. 2508) for the relief of B. F. Rockafellow; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.

He also introduced a bill (S. 2509) to equalize the salaries of certain postmasters; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads.

He also introduced a bill (S. 2510) to amend an act entitled ".An act - authorizinO' the citizens of Colorado, Nevada, and the Territories to

fell and re~ove timber on the public domain for mining and domestic purposes," approved June 3, 1878; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. WALTHALL introduced a bill (8. 2511) to withdraw the public lauds of the United States in Mississippi from sale at ordinary private entry, and to restrict disposals thereof under general statutes to homestead settlers; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. SPOONER (by request) introduced a bill (S. 2513) gmnting a pension to Charles H. Sedgwick; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Pensions.

He also introduced a bill (S. 2514) granting a pension to Michael Shong; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. DANIEL introduced a bill (S. 2515) to provide pneumatic guncarriages for the War Department; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. .

He also introduced a bill (S. 251_6) to appropriate a sum of money to the Mount Vernou .Avenue .Association, us assignee of the State ot Virginia, and for other pmposes; which was read_ twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. _

He also introduced a bill (S. 2517) for the establishment of a lightship at Bush's Bluff Shoal, Elizabeth River, Virginia; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Ur. GEORGE (by request) introduced a bill (S. 2518) providing a remedy for the retention of officers of the Navy (not retired for age or length of service) on the retired-list after the disability for which they were placed there bas ceased; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Naval .Affairs.

AMEND:llENT TO A BILL. Mr. PALMER submitted an amendment intended to ba proposed by

him to the bill (S. 1430) to forfeit certain lands heretofore granted for the purpose of aiding in the construction of railroads, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table.

EXECUTIVE COID1UNICATION. The PRESIDENT pro tempore laid before the Senate a communica

tion from the Secretary of War, transmitting, in response to a resolution of the 20th ultimo, a letter from the Chief of Engineers embodying a report of a board of engineers in regard to estimates for restoring quarters and buildings 9f Fort Moultrie for garrison of United States troops, etc.; which, with the accompanying papers, was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

FISHERIES NEGOTIATIONS. 'file PRESIDENT pro tempore laid before the Senate the following

message from the President of the United States; which was read, and, with the accompanying papers, referred to th~ Committee on Foreign Relations, and ordered to be printed: To the Senate:

In response to the resolution adopted by your honorable body on the 16th instant, as follows: "Resolved, That the President of the United States bet·equested, if in his judgment not incompatible with the public interest, to transmit to the Senate copies of the minutes and daily protocols of the meetings of the commissioners who negotiated the treaty with Great Britain, submitted by the President to the Senate on the 20th of February, 1888," I submit herewith a. report of the Secretary of State, which, I hope, will satisfactorily meet the request for information embraced in said resolution.

EXECUTIVE :i'l'!ANSION, Washington, Mm·ch 22,1888.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

1\IESSAGE FROl\I THE HOUSE. A message from the Honse of Representatives, by Mr. CLARK, its

Clerk, announced that the House bad agreed to the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendments of the Senate t<1 the bill {H. R. 6437) to provide forcertain of the most urgent deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the Government for the :fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, and for other purposes.

The message also returned to the Senate, in compliance with its request, the following bills:

.A bill (.S. 192) to provide that judges of the United States circuit and

dist;ict courts shall reduce their instructions to juries to writing in all States wherein by the laws thereof State judges are required so to do; and -

.A bill (S. 788) to provide for holding terms of the United States courts at Mississippi City.

The messag~ further announced that. the House bad passed the following resolutions:

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT.A.TIVES, March 23, 1888. Resolved, That the House of Representatives ~as heard of th~ death of Chie[

Juslice Waite, of the Supreme Court of the Umted States, which occurred this morning at 7 o'clock, with feelings of deep and sincere sorrow.

Resolt:ed, That while the nation mourns the loss of one of its most useful and illustrious sons, it is fitting that the House, representing the people, express its deepest sympathy with the family of the deceased in their affliction.

Resol-r;ed, That the Honse will attend as a. body the funeral of the late ChiefJustice, and the Speaker is requested to appoint a. committee consisting of nine members to act with a committee of the Senate in tmy necessary action relating to the funeral.

Resol<ted, That as an additional mark of respect to the memory of the deceased the House do now adjourn-.

And that the Speaker bad announced the appointment ofl\Ir. KELLEY, of Pennsylvania; Mr. SENEY, of Ohio; Mr. GROSVENOR, of Ohio; Mr. BRECKINRIDGE, ofKentucky; 1\fr. CANNON, ofillinois; Mr. CARLTON, of Georgia; Mr. STEW ART, of Vermont; Mr. ANDERSON, of Iowa, and 1\'Ir. RussELL, of Connecticut, as members of the committee.

The message also announced that the House had passed the following re.solntions:

Resol·ved, That the funeral ceremonies of the late Chief-Justice WaHe be held in the Hall of the House of Renresentatives on 'Vednesday, March 28,1888, at 12 o'clock, noon, under the arrangements of the Supreme Court, and that when the House adjourn on the 27th inst11.nt it shall be until 11.30 a. m, of March 28.

Resolved, That the Clerk of this House notify the Senate and Supreme Court of the passage of these resolutions. _

The message' further announced that the House bad passed the following bills; in which it requested the concurrence of the Senate:

A bill (H. R. 1874) to change the eastern and northern judicial districts of Texas, and for other purposes;

.A bill (H. R. 4948) to amend section 988 of the Revised Statutes, regulating st..'l>ys on executions in courts of tho United States;

A bill (H. R. 8180) to regulate the liens of judgments and decrees of the courts of t)le United States; and

A bill (H. R. 8808) to amend an act entitled ''An act to provide for holding terms of United States courts at Vicksburg, Miss."

ENROLLED BILLS SIGNED. The message also announced that the Speaker of the House had signed

the following enrolled bills; and they were thereupon signed by the President p1'0 tempore:

.A bill (H. R. 1611) for the erection of a public building at Springfield, Mo.;

A bill (H. R. 4487) to enable the Secretary of the Interior to pay certain creditors of the Pottn.watomie Indians out of the funds of said Indians; and

A bill (H. R. 5728) to amend the laws relating to navigation, and for other purposes.

UNDERGROUND WIRES IN DISTRICT. Mr. HALE. I submit, by request, two resolutions touching an in

quiry into the expediency of a revised system of underground wires in the District of Columbia. Everybody knows the inconvenience to which we were all subjected last week in getting communication with the different parts of the dty. These resolutions cover the subject. One should go to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, and the other to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

The PHESIDENT pro tempore. The resolutions will be read separately.

The CbiefClerk read as follows: Reso~ved, That the Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds is-hereby

directed to report to the Senate on or before Monday, the 16th day of April, 1888, a comprehensive system of underground wire for telegraph and telephone service to connect the several Departments and bureaus of the Government in Washington City, presenting in detail the same, and an itemized estilnate of the cost.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Does the Senator from Maine desire action on the resolutions or their reference only? The Chair nuderstood the Senator to say be desired one to be referred to tl1e Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds and the other to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

Mr. HALE. This one should be referred to the Committe on Public Buildings and Grounds; but if there is no objection to the passage of the resolutions, I ask that they be considered now.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection to the present con-sideration of the resolution?

Mr. HARRIS. Let it be read again. The resolution was read. The PRESIDENT p1·o te~npore. Is there objection to the present con'

sideration of this resolution? The resolution was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The next t·esolution submitted by

the Senator from Maine (Mr. HALE) will be read. The Chief Clerk read as follows: Reso~ved, That the commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby di

rected to report to the Senate on or before Monday, the 16th day of April, 1888, a

1888. CONGRESSIONAL ~RECORD-SEN ATE. 2393 comprehensive system of underground wires for telegraph and telephone service for use of the District of Columbia, presenting in detail the same and an itemized estimate of the cost.

The resolution was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to.

LAND PATENT SUITS.

Mr. STEWART submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, Tha t the Attorney-General be directed to inform the Senate : First. 'Vbat suits to vacate land patents issued by the United States have been

commenced by the direction of the Depo.rtment of Justice, and are now pending in court, and the present st::~.tus of the same.

!::)econd. What suits he has authorized to be commenced, and which have not yet been entered in court.

Third. What suits he has been requested by the Department of the Interior to commence, but upon which requests final action has not yet been taken.

Fourth. What applic.'\tions for the institution of such suits have been filed with him, and are pending before him, or on reference to the Interior Department.

Fifth. Whether any special counsel h ave been employed in the conduct of such suits, or in any wise authorized to represent the United States therein ; and, if soi the names of such counsel, aud whether the expenses of any such suits in who e or in part are paid by any parties other than the Government.

Sixth. To what extent does the Department of Justice determine whether such suits ought to be commenced, or whether they can be successfully maintained.

CONSIDERATION OF THE FISHERIES TREATY.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair lays before the Senate a resolution coming over from a previous day, which will be read.

The Chief Clerk read the resolution submitted by :Mr. RIDDLEJJERGER March 22, 1888, as follows:

R esolved, That so much of Rules XXXVI, :XX:XVIT, and XXXVIII as pwvide for executive sessions be suspended during the consideration of the fisheries treaty when the same shall be reported to the Senate.

' Mr. RIDDLEBERGER. I believe that is a resolution I offered. I ask, without making any remarks upon it, that it may be acted on. I have heretofore said all I care to say in the way of objection to secret executive sessions. I do hope it will be the pleasure of the Senate to pass this resolution. There are two treaties which will come up for consideration pretty speedily, perhaps, and I hope will be treated like their predecessors and shelved until next December.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The question is on the resolution offered by the Senator from Virginia.

Mr. SHERMAN. It seems to me that if the Committee on Foreign Relations have that treaty under consideration, it would be bettu no t to make any order of this kind at this period of the session. It may be that the committee itself will recommend that the debate be open, and public. The official r{lport has been laid on our table; it is open to the public. But pending the consideration of the treaty by the committee, I think this order had better remain. Let it lie on the table, and it may be that the committee itself will report in favor of having the debate public. At present I am not prepared to give any opinion whether the debate may not be public or not. Let the commi tee act on the question. It is simply idle for .the Senate to act on it now. It had bett er be put over until the committee report, and then it is perhaps probable that the committee may agree that the debate shall be open to the public. I think we ought not to commit ourselYes non-.

:Mr. RIDDLEBERG ER. Mr. President, this is a resolution that does not go to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and each member of that commit tee acts here as a Senator as .contradistinguished (if that is understood) from his relationship to the Foreign Relations Committee. This is a resolution which if it had gone to any committee would have gone to the Committ ee on Rules. The Committee on Foreign Relations will have performed its duty, or all that is expected of it, when it considers t he treaty itself; and it has no right to consider what course of action the Senate shall pursue, whether it shall be in open or in executive session. That is a matter that I do not propose for one to let go to that graveyard of propositions like this.

Mr . President , I t hink this is the proper time to consider a resolution of this sort. The Senator from Ohio thinks it ought to be delayed until the committee of which he is chairman shall arrive at its conclusion on this t reaty. So far as I am concerned if he will make that a condition I will agree to it, conditioned, however, that the chairman of that committee will not press the fisheries treaty in executive session before this resolution is acted upon in open session. I would not say that that Senator has any other than always a candid motive, but I have grown to believe that sometimes there is a bug under the chip. That fi sheries t reaty may come in here at any time and I can not discuss it. I am forbidden even to tell the truth about it, and the only way that it can be taken out of that executive or secret session is to pass a resolution during the morning hour that it shall be conside1·ed in open Senate.

It does not come before us as a polit ical proposition entirely. I do not see how yon can intelligently discuss that treaty without expresslv providing that it shall be considered in open session and that the comments of Senators upon it shall be laid before the public. I have not seen an American newspaper, or, I will say, a newspaper published in the United States, t hat has not denounced the treaty. They say about it what I would be forbidden to say on the Senate floor. When I referred to another treaty I was told by a Senator, and bad to deferentially accept it, that I was violating an oath as a Senator. r ·am not doing it now,

sir. I would not have accepted it in any other spirit. 1\fenmayswa:p well-deserved reputations for cheap notoriety. I hopei shallnotdoit.

I am asking for the consideration of this resolutionafter"the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations has had srnce last Thursday tO examine it. It is a resolution, as I shall repeat, that does not properly go to his committee. I ask the Senate to consider it and not the Com .. mittee on Foreign Relations. I am_rem.inded of what was well said on this floor by a very distinguished Senator when it was proposed by the chairman of the Judiciary Committee to refer his bill to that committee, and the Senator from Ohio Teminded him that it was not debatable, and he said, "Mr. President, I do not rise to debate it. I simply want to bid farewell to my bill." I do not want to bid farewell to this resolution. Iwanttovoteforitthismorningwheuitcomesup, and no single objection can pass it over, as it can on the day of its introduction.

I ~ain ask the Senator from Ohio to express the same view in his vo~e which he bas expressed repeatedly before, if I and others have an opportunity of expressing our view that America is big enough to take care of herself, and she does not require or need any treaty where she hn.s to make concessions to those who are not manly fighting her.

l\Ir. GRAY. Mr. President--:Mr. SHERMAN. If tho Senator from Delaware will allow me to

make a single reply to the observation of the Senator from Virginia, I wish to say that I am absolutely indifferent in regard to this matter except that I take . it the Senate would not care to decide a question until it becomes important to decide it. I can not tell when the treaty will be reported to the Senate, and I say to the Senator from Virginia, and that is all I wish to say, that undoubtedly he will have ample notice. I "'ill see myself that he has ample notice, so that he can ask for a vote of the Senate on the resolution before the treaty is considered. As a matter of course that would naturally be the case, and I give him the assurance that there is no doubt about it at all. So far as the question itself is concerned, I am indifferent except I think the Senate had better wait until the treaty is presented here for consideration.

Mr GRAY. I merely rose to say that I thought the suggestion ot the Senator from Ohio was a proper one at this time in regard to the resolution of the Senator from Virginia to consider the fisheries treaty in open session. I am not opposed to the resolution of the Senator from Virginia; in fact, I expect to vote for it. The President of the United States sent the fisheries treaty to the Senate with a request th:.t it b':l made public, and it has been published. The people of the United States are fully possessed of that treaty and know all about its terms aheady; but I think we should act in this matter indecency and in order, and when the committee which has that treaty in charge shall haYe reported it, after consideration of the treaty itself, there will be time enough then for the Senate to decide whether it will con!;ider the ratification of the treaty in open session or not.

So far as I understand the sentiment of the Senatora on this side of the Chamber who sit around me, I think, unless something in the report of the committee should change their minds, and I can not conceive how that cau be, they are in favor of the consideration of the treaty in open session. But I think the suggestion made by the Senator from Ohio is an eminently proper one, and that for the present the 1·esolution should lie on the table. I make that motion now.

U r. lUDDLEBERGER. I will relieve the situation so far as I can by simply suggesting to the Senator from Delaware, and the Senator from Ohio, that if the Senate will consider the resolution in the morning hour, at least one day antecedent to the taking up of the fisheries treaty in execnth-e session, with that understanding I will let the matter lie over. I do not wish to have the Senate lay the resolution on the table, for it would then require a vote to take it up.

Mr. SHERMAN. There is no objection to the course suggested by the Senator from Virginia.

The PRESIDENT pro te:npore. Does the Senator from Delaware withdraw his motion to lay the rewlution on the table?

1\fr. GRAY. I will withdraw the motion if the resolution is not to be pressed at this time.

Mr. RIDDLEBERGER. I shall not press it any further now. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The resolution lies over fo1· consid

eration. MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE.

A message from the Honse of Representatives, by M:r. CLARK, its Clerk, announced that the House had passed the bill (S. 2494) to provide for pa.ymen t of the funeral expenses of the late Chief-Justice. of the Supreme Court.

PURCHASE OF BONDS.

Mr. MORRILL. I move that the Senate proceed to the eonsideration of the bill (H. R. 5034) to provide for the purchase of United States bonds by the Secretary of the Treasury.

The PRESIDENT p1·o tempore. The bill will be read at length for information.

The Secretary read the bill, as follows: Be it enacted, etc., That the Secretary of the Treasury is her~by authorized to

apply the surplus money now in the Treasury, and such surplus money as may hereafter be in the Treasury, and not otherwise appropriated, or so much thereof' as he may consider proper, to the purchase or redemption of United States

2394 ' UONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. MARon 26, ·

bonds: Prot--ided, That the bonds so purchased or 1·edeemed shall constitute no part of the sinking fund but shall be- cn.nceled by the Secretary of the Treasury.

The PRESIDENT pro -tempore. The Senator from Vermont moves that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of the bill.

The motion was agreed to; and the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to consider the bill.

:M:r. MORRILL. I ask to have the report read, which will explain the bill as briefly as it can be done.

The PRESIDENT pro temp01·e. The report will be read. The Secretary read the following report, submitted by Mr. MORRILL

March 6, 1888: The Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5034) to pi·o

vide for the pm:chase of United States bonds by the Secretary of the Treasury, 1·espeetfully report: ~ The committee unanimously believe no additional legislation is required to give the Secretary of the Treasury full and ample power to apply at any time the surplus money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, or so &.uch thereof as he may consider proper, to the purchase or redemption of United States bonds. Section 2 of the act of March 3, 1881, nearly identical in phraseology, was reported by 1\Ir. Bayard, chairman of the Committee on Fil1ance, and inserted as an independent section of law with the approval of the Committee on Appropriations, and still stands unrepealed and with all of its original force on the statutes.

As the President has, however, expressed his belief that the law "is subject to the suspicion that it \vas intended as temporary and limited in its application, instead of conferring a continuing discretion and authority," it is likely that the Secretary of the Treasury may not feel at full liberty to exercise the power to purchase .United States bonds as the public interest may seem to ~·equire. The comnuttee, therefore, recommend the passage of the House b1ll, with some an1endm.ents designed to free the matter from all doubt.

The PRESIDENT p1·o tempore. The bill was reported from the Committee on Finance with amendments which will be stated in their order.

The :first amendment of the Committee on Finance was, in line 4, after the word " apply," to insert the words " from time to time;" so as to read:

The Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to apply from time to time the surplus money now in the Treasury, and such surplus money as may hereafter be in the Treasury.

The amendment wa-s agreed to. The next amendment was, in line 6, after the word "Treasury," to

insert the words "not held for specific purposes;" so as to read: And such surplus money as hereafter may be in the Treasury, not held for

specific purposes, and not otherwise appropriated, or so much thereof as he may consider proper, to the purchase or redemption of United States bonds.

The amendment was agreed to. 1\Ir. PLUM:B. Is it in order now to move an amendment? The PRESIDENT pr·o tempore. The bill is open to amendment, the

amendments of the committee having been acted upon. :Mr. PLUMB. I move to add as a separate section what I send to the

desk. :Mr. STEW ART. I wish to offer an amendment. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Kansas has been

recognized, and offers an amendment, which will be read. The SECRETARY. It is proposed to add as an additional section the

following: SEc. 2. That whenever the circulation of any national bank, or any portion

thereof, shall be surrendered, and the same is not taken up by other national banks within thirty days thereafter, the Secretary of the Treasm·y shall thereupon issue an equivalent amount of Treasury notes of the denominations now provided by law for national-bank notes. Said Treasury notes shall be deposited in the Treasury and paid out as other moneys kept for the discharge ot the obligations of the Government. They shall be receivable for salaries and for all dues to the Government,including duties on imports; shall be a legal tender for all debts, public and private; shall be redeemable in coin, as the legal-tender notes of the United States now are; and when received into the Treasur..,. they shall be reiBsued, and when mutilated or worn they shall be replaced, ir. the same manner as now provided by law for said legal-tender notes. The coin held in the Treasury at the date of the passage of this act for the redemption of the legal-tender notes of the Government shall also be applicable to the redemption of the Treasury notes herein provided for; and such coin reserve may, from time to time, be increased by adding thereto other sums from payments made into the Treasury, in the discretion of the Se01·etary of the Treasury: Pr01:ided, That the total amount of said coin reserve shall never be lesa than 25 per cent. nor more thau 30per cent. of the total amount of legal-tender and Treasury notes outstanding. The true intent and meaning of this section being that the volume of paper money outstanding (exclusive of gold and silver certificates) shall remain as now existing.

The PRESIDENT p1·o tempore. The question is on the amendment proposed by the Senator from Kansas [Mr. PLUMB].

Mr. MORRILL. ~Ir. President, I hope that the amendment-Mr. BECK. Will the Senator from Vermont allow me to make a

suggestion before he goes on? I offered an amendment to the bill, in reference to the sinking fund, which was noted and regarded as pending. I rose about the time the Senator from Kansas offered his amend· ment to say that knowing this to be a mea.snre which came from the other Honse, perhaps to remove a doubt, I proposed to withdraw my amendment, because this measure ought to stand by itself, and the question I sought to consider and the questions which the Senator from Kansas and others seek to consider should be placed upon other bills. Bnt as this amendment has been thrown in I may as well let my amendment remain for a little while, and then I can withdraw it.

Mr. PLUMB. In view of th& statement of the Senator from Kentucky, if he desires to offer his amendment, I will withdraw mine until he hns had a chan~e to present his.

r

Mr. BECK. No, I will let ib go for the time-being. Mr. STEW ART. I have an amendment to offer. 1\Ir. MORRILL. The amendment of the Senator from Kansas is en

tirely alien to the topic thn,t is considered by t~e House bill. There is supposed to be an urgent necessity for the passage of the Honse bill with the amendments which have been made by the Committee on Finance, and agreed to by the Senate this morning. I trust that the Senator from Kansas will not press his amendment, which, if it was to be seriously discussed and considered, is one that would be likely to require a week or ten days of time for its consideration. I am sure that there is no present necessity for any action in the direction proposed by the Senator from Kansas. In order that we may get the bill through without taking much time this morning fl'om the consideration of the Calendar, I hope that all amendments which have been propo¥ed will be withdrawn and the bill allowed to pass. ·

Mr. PLU:M:B. Different people ha'\"'e different ways of manifesting haste. The bill under consideration has been on the Calendar just twenty days to-day. If there had been any great hurry about its passage, any very great emergency, I imagine the Finance Committee · would have urged its passage long ago. It is not going to ta.ke ten days to dispose of this amendment, although it bad better take thirty days than not have it or some such proposition adopted. It is entirely germane to the subject of the bill, just as germane as the punctuation that is in it.

This bill is for the purpose of relieving the Treasury from its surplus funds and adding to the circulation of the country, the last object being the main one I take it. The country to-day is in distress for lack of mone:};, which the Treasury has locked up; and this is an effort on the part of Congress to induce the Secretary of the Treasury to do what he has heretofore refused to do, and that is to pay out the public money in discharge of the public debt.

Bnt, Mr. President, this will only accomplish a partial purpose. No one can tell how many bonds will be bought under the authority of the hill if the Secretary shall choose to act under H, as be has heretofore refused to act under similar authority now on the statute-book. No one can tell how much it will add to the volume of money outstanding, bocause nobody can tell how many of the bonds will come from national banks now holding them as a basis for circulation. All the money that there is in the Treasmyof the United States, I suppose, is in the neighborhood of $100,000,000, according to the Tieasuryview of it, which ca,u be paid ont in discharge of the public debt under the terms of the bill which is now pending. I think there is $160,000,000 there available for some such purpose beyond any reserve required by law or by the practice of the Department to be kept. But sn ppose there be only SlOO,-000,000, and suppose the Secretary of the TreasLuy buys $100,000,000 of outstanding bonds of the United States with that money, it must be $100,000,000 of course minus the premium, or plus, as youmayusethe term. That is to say, if he buys 4 per cent. bonds at the market price to-day he would be able to take up the principal of only about $80,000, -000 of bonds. If those bonds should be offered for sale-by banks holding them already as a basis for their currency, there would only be 10 per cent. of that amount added to the volume of the currency outstanding, notwithstanding the disbursement by the Treasury of $100,000,000. The gA>in therefore would be fractional and imperceptible, and the purpose which I suppose the Finance Committee ha-s in view would be lost. If one-haif the bonds shonld be tendered by national bauks, and onehalf by outside parties, of co'l.lrse the gain to the outstanding circulation would be greater. While the bill itself is proper, at the same time as it stands, and by itself, it is trifling with a very great question.

For years the national-bank ci.J:culation and so. the volume of money outstanding in .the United Sta.tes has been declining. The population bas increased, business has increased, but the currency with ·which that business is to be transacted has diminished each year dnring the last five years; and yet the Finance Committee of the Senate and the similar committee in the other Honse, and all those whose special privilege it has heretofore seemed to be to take care of these questions have proposed nothing whatever-not one single measure for the purpose of keeping up the volume of the currency and nothing to increase it in accordance with the increasing needs of business. Here is a proposition which is pnt forth as something which is to relieve the ex:isting stringency, which is to diminish the surplus in the Treasury, which is to add to the volume of the circnla.ting medium, of which it can not be said with k-nowledge that it will perform one single thing of that which it is assumed on its face it will do.

:Mr. President, I should like to know from the chairman of that committee what the committee propose as a substitute for the nationalbank circulation, which has shrunk during the last year over $30,00:>,-000, and which, in all human probability, during the comillg year will shrink more than $30,000,000 more, and which under the operation of this bill will probab~ shrink at least $50,000,000. Does that committee have in view any remedy for this extraordinary state of affairs?

Mr. MORRILL. I will say to the Senator that we have several bills in the committee which have been considered, but not yet fully completed, and we propose to report upon them at the earliest practicable day.

l!ir. PLUMB. Ent this contraction of the currency, by means of

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 2395 the retirement of national-bank circulation, has been going on for more than ten years, and all the committee has to say now is that it only consideTed some bill, but it is not yet completed. If the committee will not complete some measure, t4e Senate must. If the Senate will not and if the other House will not, then the country is going npon the breakern of financial disturbance. As a Senator says in my hearing, it is there now. I think it is there now. We are dealing with a question which has more to do with the welfare of the people of the United States, which is of more concern to them than any other thing that is pend-

Jng in either House of Congress, or which can be pending-the volume of the circn1ating medium of the country, the value of its property, the difference between debt and bankruptcy, on the one hand, and freedom from debt4Qnd prosperity on the .other.

It is estimated that there are in circulation, including that which is locked up in the Treasury and held in banks as a reserve fund, about sixteen hundred million dollars of all kinds of cunency of the United States, gold and silver, the overplus of gold and silver certificates, greenback notes, and national-bank notes, all told, and there are more than $60,000,000,000 of property which must finally be measured by this volume of currency. It has been contracted during the last year more than 5 per cent. in addition to all that has occurred by reason of abrasion and loss. No man can tell the volume of greenbacks outstanding. Nominally it is $346,000,000 and a fraction, but that volume has been subject to all the accidents which have occurred during the past twentyfive yearn, whereby money bas been consumed, worn out, lost, and it is doubtful if the amount is really over $300,000,000 to-day.

But saying nothing about that, the retirement of the national banking circulation during the past twelve months bas been 5 per cent. of the total amount of currency outstanding. There ba.c; been during that period a phenomenal depreciation of the prices of property. There bas been the greatest depreciation of the price of agricultural products the country bas ever known. And yet the Finance Committee has simply incubated something that may ripen after a time, and it may not. I do not speak of this for the purpose of reflecting on the committee, but for the purpose of expressing in a feeble way my view of the gravity of the situation which Congress has yet done nothing to rueet.

The cont.raction of the currency dming the last three years bas been 5 per cent. of its "'f"olume. This means the depreciation of the property of the country $3,000,000,000. Debts have not only increased but the means to pay them have diminished in proportion as .the cuiTency has been contracted. Events based upon non-legislation have proved of advantage to lenders but disastrous to boiTowers.

The proposition which I have made here is simply that we shall do with reference to the volume of the national banking circulation substantially what we did in regard to the volume of the greenback circulation. We arrested the policy of the Treasury whereby the greenback circulation was being diminished, and we said that after the date of the law w hicb we passed in 1878, known as the Fort bill-that from and after that date the volume of currency should remain exactly as it was then; that whatever dollars of greenbacks the Treasury took in it should pay out, and not dest1·oy as it bad been doing.

In 1884 I moved this amendment in substance to a then pending measure reported by the Finance Committee, providing that whatever the volume of paper money then was it should be maintained at, by giving to the Secretary of the Treasury authority to issue greenbacks to take up, to fill the void then impending, and which we have since seen wonld have met the subsidence of the national banking circulation. That amendment received 11 votes in this body. Since that time the national banking circulation has gone off more than $60,000,000. If such a.n amendment as this had been adopted at that time the paper money in circulation in the United States would now be $60,000,000 greater thl;ln it is, and a Jarge portion of the shrinkage in the value of the property of this country, of the paralysis which rests upon its business, would have been obviated, as I believe.

It is late to propose it again, perhaps, but better late than never, and I propose it in view of the fact, as stated by the chairman of the committee, that nothing of this kind is practically pending in that committee, and that committee bas no design whatever to propose any measure which shall arrest this contraction of the currency and let the country go on and on with increasingneeds and yet with a diminished quantity of money for the transaction of business until the wornt shall come to the wornt. And that hour may not be long delayed, :Mr. President. It may arrive at any time. We have deluded oUTSelves with the belief that because we have bad an abundance of currency in the banks of New York there was an abundance of money everywhere, which is an entirely misleading state of fact. The abundance of money inN ew York 1 estifies to nothi.J;tg except the subsidence of stock speculation. There is a great shrinkage in the West. In all the producing regions of the country there is great lack of the money necessary to carry on business, and we have a right to look to the Finance Committee of this body to propose some measure which shall relieve this condition of things.

The measure which I propose does not add to the volume of the curl'ency, as it ought to do. It is a conservative measure. It simply provides that whatever that volume is to-day as it relates to the paper

money ~t shall be maintained; it shall not be diminished. It is applying the same thing in practice, although different in form, that we applied in 1878 to the greenback notes. We ought at least to do that much.

If those who guide thefinancesofthecountry, if those who by reason of their familiarity with them and their prominent relation to the subject heretofore, are prepared to offer nothing now of an affirmative character calculated to give back to the country the currency of which it has peen deprived, they ought at least to be willing to say that where this contraction is now it shall stop; that is, it shall go no further.

The Senator from Delaware [:M:r. SAULSBURY] the other day spoke with gr~"tt feeling about the mortgaging of farms in this country. So far as that complaint relates to a general condition, to the lack and to the shortcomings of legislation, it is more nearly related to the diminished volume of currency than to any other one thing.

For my part I do not care to rest any longer under the responsibility of this condition. I at least shall "in season and out of season" and on every proper bill move amendments of this character until Congress does something better, I hope, than I propose, but at least something which if it does not provide for the expanding commerce and the increasing population of the country will at least accommodate itself to the condition of things now existing, so that the currency shall not be further diminished until some proposition which shall meet with the consent of Congress and of the President shall be adopted to dispose of this question for all time to come.

Mr. MORRILL. If the Senator from Kansas bad noticed what was on the Calendar, he would have discovered that already there are two bills which have been reported, one by the Senator from Ohio [Ur. SHER~lAN], and another, Order of Business 736, by the Senator :from Rhode Island [Mr. ALDRICH].

But without discussing at this time the mexits of the proposition introduced by the Senator from Kansas-and I do not know whether I have any hostility to it or not-it does eem to me that it is more important that we shall act upon the measme that comes to ns from the Honse of Representatives than to encumber it and embarrass it with various amendments. I therefore move to lay the amendment of the Senator from Kansas on the table.

The PRESIDENT p~·o tempore. The Senator from Vermont moves to lay the amendment on the table.

Mr. FARWELL. I should like to bear the amendment 1·ead. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The amendment will be again read

if there be no objection. , The Secretary read the amendment-submitted by Mr. PLUMB. The PRESIDENT pi'O tempm·e. The question is on the motion of the

Senator from Vermont [Ur. MORRU.Lj. . Mr. BECK and Mr. FARWELL addressed the Chair. The PRESIDENT pro tempo1'e. The motion is not debatable. Mr. BECK. I know it is not. I only desire to ask the Senator from

Vermont to withdraw the motion a moment until I can make some explanation, and then I will renew it for him.

Mr. FARWELL. I wish to say a word. Mr. MORRILL. I do not desire to interfere with debate. My only

anxiety is to have the bill acted on; but if the Senator from Kentucky and the Senator from Illinois desire to be heard, I withdraw the motion to lay the amendment on the table.

1r1r. FARWELL. I desire to make an observation or two. The PRESIDENT pro tempm·e. The Chair recognized the Senator

from Kentucky [Mr. BECK]. Mr. BECK. I had offered what I thongbtwas animportantamend

ment bearing upon the questions involved in this bill, quite as important, in my opinion, as the amendment proposed by the Senator from Kansas, and perhaps there are others quite as important as either that other Senators may present; but this is a bill that has beeii passed by the other House, the single purpose of which is to remove a doubt expressed in the President's message in regard to the rjgbt to buy bonds under, existing law. I have no doubt about the right to purchase them under the present law myself. The second section of the act of 1881 reads thus:

SEc. 2: That the Secretary of the ~reasury m~y at any time apply the surplus money rn the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, or so much thereof as he may consider proper, to the purchase or redemption of United States bonds: Pr()'l)ided, That the bonds so purchased or redeemed shall constitute no part of the sinking fund, bnt shall be canceled.

I have always thought, and believe now, that under that provjsion the Secretary of the Treasury has all the authority that the pendinO' bill gives him; yet I desire to remove all possible doubt. The Presi~ dent says in his message:

Heretofore the redemption of 3 per cent. bonds, which were payable at the option of the Government, has afforded -a means for the disbm-sement of the excess of our revenues; but these bonds have all been retired, and there are no bonds outstanding the payment of which we have the right to insist upon. The contribution t-o the sinking fund, which furnishes the occasion for expenditure ~h;~ee!':{~~~fe~~~~h~:dt~ct7~~~ already made for the current year, so that

In the present state oflegislation the only preten-se of any existing executive power ta restore, at this time, any part of our surplus revenues to the people by its expenditure, consists in the supposition that the Secret-ary of the Treasm-y may enter the market and purchase the bonds of the Government not yet due, at a rate of premium to be agreed upon. The o~y provisionoflawfrom which

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2396 CONGRESSIONAL REQORD-SENATR. MARon 26,

such a power could be derived is found in an appropriation bill passed a number of years ago-

To wit, the section I have just read-and it is subject to the suspicion that it wa.s intended as temporary and limited in its application, instead of conferring a. continuing discretion and authority. No condition ought to exist which would justify the grant of power to a. single official, upon his judgment of its necessity, tQ withhold from or release to the business of the people, in an unusual manner, money held in the Treasury, and thus affect, at his will, the financial situation of the country; and if it is deemed wise to lodge in the Secretary of the Treasury the authority in the present juncture to purchase bonds, it should be plainly vested, and provided as fo.r as possible with such checks and limitations as will define this official's right and discretion, and at the same time relieve him from undue responsibility.

In considering the question of purchasing bonds as a. means of restoring to circulation the surplus money accumulating in the Treasury it should be borne in mind that premiums must of course be paid upon such purchase, that there may be a large part of these bonds held as investments which can not be purchased at any price, and that combinations among holders who are willing to sell may unreasonably enhance the cost of such bonds to the Government.

I do not entertain the doubt which the Secretary or the President thinks may exist, but I know some good lawyers who entertain the same view as the President. I believe that this bill ought to be passed promptly unencumbered by any amendments. My amendment was offered in committee, and has been printed. It proposes to repeal the laws requiring the further maintenance of a sinking fund, which Iregard as no longer useful. In fact the sinking-fund provision now is simply adding by law $50, 000,000 a year to the taxation we are obliged to provide for when there is no possibility of taking up any bonds with the money thus collected without paying any premium the bondholders may see fit to ask.

We have surplus enough on hand now to pay all the bonds that mature in 1891. There are only $230,000,000 of them left. We can not pay any of the fours till 1907; yet we are required by law, under the construction given to the sinking-fund provision, to provide $50,000, 000 annually more than we need for the legitimate expenditures of the Government. That simply allows the bondholders to exact any premium on their bonds that they see fit to demand. I can show by official documents we have aJ.ready bought and paid for and retired and sunk in the sinking fund, or in some other way, so that our debt is reduced over $700,000,000 more than anybody pretends that the sinking-fund law requires, or under any possible construction of it ever required ns to pay or sink.

But I told the chairman that I would withdraw that amendment, just as I hope the Senator from Kansas will withdraw his amendment, regardless of their merits. I hope other gentlemen who may desire to present otbera will withhol them, so as to allow this bill as it came from the House of Representatives to pass and become a law. We can each present our propositions when other questions come up. Let this much be done and settled, and then the Secretary, a~ well as the President, will have the doubt removed as to the right to buy bonds.

I do not want a proposition about which we all agree tied up between the two Houses because of a long conflict of opinion about other matters, which may so complicate things that the bill will not pass at all. While we are wrangling some emergency may arise and the Secretary will be tied up by his construction of the law and thus be unable to buy bonds at all.

Howe>er, I hope he will regard the action of the House and of the Finance Committee of the Senate, coupled with the general expression here, as authorizing him to accept our construction of the act of 1881, even if he bas some doubt about it.

There are $230,000,000 of 4~ per cent. bonds that he can purchase perhaps at 6 or 8 per cent. premium. The interest at 4 ~ per cent. for two years would more than pay the premium. The money is lying idle now; the soone~ they are bought and the interest stopped the better. The 1891 bonds are so near maturity that they certainly can be bought at a premium less than the interest saved by the purchase, as the idle money is bringing in nothing. Besides, I desire to say to the Senator from Kansas that there is a bill reported by the Senator from Ohio [Mr. SHERMAN] which is in the direction which his amendment looks.

I think I should be very much inclined on that bill to favor what he sugge ts. I agree that this is one of the most important questions we have to deal with, and I further agree that the contraction of the national-bank circulation is alarming; but, as I said, there is a bill now on the Senate Calendar reported by the Senator from Ohio from the Finance Committee, the purpose of which is to relieve t.he contraction by purchasing bonds with the legal-tender notes that are now held as security for the national-bank circulation, which is left unprotected by bonds, as required bylaw. Tlierewasabout$102,000,000 six weeks ago, I think about $98,000,000 now, of greenbacks held for that purpose. The Finance Committee thought that 80 per cent. of that fund can be used in the purcha,ge of bonds, and that the interest saved will indemnify us against any possible reduction in premium if we have to sell them again.

A majority of the committee think we can afford to pay even more than they are worth, and the saving in interest between now and the time the national-banknotes come in would be a good investment for the conntry, and releases perhaps seventy-five or eighty millions of greenbacks now locked up for the J?ayinent of the unprotected notes issued by the

banks, as the bonds on which the original issue was made have been paid. Again, the Senator from Rhode Island [Mr. ALDRICH] has reported a proposition which has been up time and again to reduce the intexest on the outstanding 4 per cent. bonds to 2! per cent. That will bring up questions which I desire to discuss as well as the question which the Senator from Kansas desires to have acted on now. By passing this bill in its present form we can put ourselves in shape to guard against any possible contingency that might arise from the failure of the passage of this bill, and we shall then be prepared to discuss other questions when we are not embarrassed as we are now, in rega,rcl to a bill which we all think is right as it now stands. _

While I have been a friend of the greenback always, perhaps more than most people, my own idea is that the basis of our circnl~ion ought to be gold and silver coin, supplemented by existing legal-tender note3. I believe coin certificates, which I have contended tor time and again, based on either gold or silver coin deposited in the Treasury and redeemable at the option of the Government in ci ther coin, so as to eg nalize both, would be the best basis.

As the national-bank circulation goes down I would issue coin certificates on all surplus not held as a special fund. There are now 187 -000,000 of silver certificates outst.anding and everybody is satisfied with them; they constitute the grea.t bulk of our currency as the nationalbank circulation is being contracted and is growing rapidly less every day as bonds are called in and paid off or purchased. Of course, as the premium rises, the banks will sell their bonds in order to secure the premium; therefore a system must be devised promptly to guard against that obvious contraction. The Comptroller of the Currency, a thoroughly weli-informed gentleman, writes to 'the Rand-McNally Bankers' Monthly, a bankers' magazine, for the present month, an able article, in which he uses this language, speaking of the national-bank circulation:

But it is important to keep in mind,

Says the Comptroller of the Currency-But it is important to keep in mind that our national-bank notes are, stl'ictly

speaking, not IJank circulation; they are Government currency, maintained in a cumbersome manner a.t unnecessary expense, and no longer of any advantage to the Go>ernment, the people, or the banks. Moreover, the bonds on which they are based are approaching maturity, and are growing scarcer and dearer, so that the extinguishment of this currency is now obviously only a question of time, and of not a yery long time.

That is a frank confession of the folly of longer relying on the national banks to fumi'3h the people with needed circulation. It is agreed, I believe, by all the lawyers of the country that the only es ential function the national banks possess is that which enables them to keep national-bank notes iu drcnlation. Every other function belongs to every State ba.nk as well as to them. They can operate just as well under State charters in every regard except in circulating notes of their own. Their circulation has decreased $160,000,000 in the last four years, and is decreasing every day; every act done which appreciates their bonds induces them to sell them and contract their currency until, as the Comptroller says, the extinguishment of this currency is now obviously only a question of a very short time.

The right to issue circulating notes is really the only function fo1 which Congress cha1tered or could charter them, and as that fails some substitute must be found for the system. But notwithstanding, I regard the amendment I proposed as important, and I 'think I could show that it ought to be adopted. Perhaps the amendment of the Senator from Kansas ought, and so in regard to any other amendment that may be offered to this bill, but they would bring about a long discu ion in this body; and the amended.bill would have to go to the House of Representatives and there produce discussion and delay tor a long time. Therefore I think good policy requires that we should pass this bill as it came from the Senate Committee on Finance xegardless of how good the amendments may be.

I desire before I cast my vote to say that it is not because of any opposition to the amendment of the Senator from Kansas, and not because I do not believe he has offered a measure well worthy of consideration, and not because I do not believe in any other amendment that may be offered that I will vote to lay them on the table, but I believe this much ought to be done now in order to remo>e the doubt the President and the Secretary of the Treasury have as to their power to buy bonds. Let us pass this bil1, and then the other questions can come up, as necessal·ily they will, on bills now on the Calendar.

I have introduced a bill which I hope to have discussed where it can be considered, in regard to coin certificates; and I think the question arises on that bill as well as on the bill of the Senator from Ohio or the bill of the Senator from Rhode Island. On those bills e>ery one of these questions can be as well considered, and we shall be much safer after the President and the Secretary of the Treasury arc relieYed of their doubt about purchasing bonds under the authority which this bill will make clear. It was to enable me to make this explanation that I desired the Senator from Vermont to withdraw his motion to lay the amendment on the table till I could make a statement as to why I shall vote to lay all amendments on the table, my own ancl all others. I would rather not lay them on the table, but I feel constrained to do so. If they are not laid on the table I may vote for them, because all the questions will be opened up by the Senate.

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. , 2397 Mr. REAGAN. Will the Senator from Vermont allow me a word? of the national-bank notes, receivable for all taxes and public dues and :Mr. MORRILL. The Senator from illinois [Mr. FARWELL] desired redeemable in coin at the will of the holder. I desire to make that ex

to make a statement and I withdraw the motion far enough to allow planation because I do not wish to do anything that would favor the him to be heard. ideaoflegal-tenderpapermoney. !shall voteagainstlayingtheamend-

Mr. FARWELL. Mr. President, I hope that no amendment will be ment offered by the Senator from Kansas on the table, because I think made to this bill. The only one that I could suggest, if I made any, there is nothing that it is more important to preserve and perpetuate would be to require that its provisions should be mandatory and not the prosperity of the country than to maintain the volume of the curdiscretionary. I"ency. · It wa.s stated as well by the Senator from Kentucky as by the

The amount of money in the hands of the Treasurer to-day under Senator from Kansas that the redemption of the bonds will necessarily control could wen be applied in my judgment to the redemption of reduce the volume of currency. We have seen already the effect of a bonds. The rate of interest on money is increased because of the large somewhat reduced currency. If we are to carry that reduction beyond amount held in the Treasury under the existing law and thus resei"ved what has already occurred we are to cripple the industries of the connfrom the use of the people. In my judgment very wisely the surplus try, to reduce the value of all property and the value of labor, and I bas been partially applied to the redemption of Government bonds, hold that it is more important to protect the country against this misthus adding to the circulating medium. After this had been done by fortune than to be delayed a few days or a few weeks in the passage of the Secretary of the Treasury, I think very unwisely a question arose this bill. as to the authority under which be bad done it. This bill is to solve The amendment, it seems to me, is mainly right; it is appropriate that doubt and make the power unquestionable. upon this bill; it preserves the best interests of the country by prevent-

The next thing the Secretary did was also in my judgment very wise, ing a contraction of the volume of currency, and I shall be glad if the namely, todepositin the national banks$50,000,000sothatthatmoney motion to lay on the table shall be voted down and the amendment could be loaned to the business people of the country. adopted.

I say that this ·bill ought not to be amended except to make it man- Mr. HARRIS. Mr. President, I shall be constrained, wit.hout regard datory. The fact that be has so many millions of dollars in the Treas- to the merits of the amendment of the Senator from Kansas, to vote to ury is a threat to the business of the country which in my judgment lay it on the table, or any other amendment, however meritorious it is very dangerous and Tery alarming. I care not what political party may be, because I think this bill ought to pass, and pass promptly, and be belongs to, no Secretary of the Treasury should ever hold such power paes a.s it came from the House of Representatives.

in his hands. BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. There seems to be a feeling of hostility to national banks. It is only

necessary to look at our condition for a moment to realize of what The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The hour of2 o'clock having arrived, benefit they have been to the country. Before the war the currency the Chair lays before the Sena.te the special order, being the bill (S. was furnished largely by State banks. When the war came, the Sec- 2083) to provide for the establishment of a Bureau of Animal Industry, retary of the Treasury needing money, asked authority to issue green- and to facilitate the exportation of live-stock and their products, to exbacks. Congress gave it, established the national bank system and tirpateconta.giouspleuro-pneumoniaandotherdiseasesamongdomestic legislated the State banks out of existence for the purpose of getting a animals, and for other purposes. market for the bonds. Those bonds were taken by the national banks and Mr. MORRILL. I ask that the bill be temporarily laid aside until the circulating medium was b::tsed thereon. That system bas worked we conclude the bill we have bad under coQSideration. to the satisfaction of everybody in the United States. Sometimes it is Mr. PLATT. If we can have a vote on the bill of the Senator from called a money monopoly. The speech --of the Senator from Colorado Vermont, I shall not object; but if there is to be further discussion I [Mr. TELLER] a few days ago showed the Senate that the stock of those j shall object. banks is mainly held by small investors, more than half held by peo- Mr. PLUMB. I think that bill ha-d better go over until to-mor-row. pie having less than $5,000 interest. So the hue and cry about the Mr. REAGAN. IbopetheSenatorfromMichigan willallowhisbill money power is simply a mistake. The banking capital is the accumu- to go over for a day or two in order to allow further examination of it. lation of small sums of money in the form of the stock of the national The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Vermont asks banks. unanimous consent that the special order be informally laid aside. Is

The enhanced premium on the bonds which has accrued for some there objection? timepasthasmadeitnecessarythatbankdirectorsandmanagersshould, Mr. PALMER. I object. in taking care of small holders, dispose of their bonds. As a matter of Mr. MORRILL. Then I move to lay aside tLe special order for the course, the profits decrease as the period of payment of the bonds ap- purpose of proceeding with the bill which has been under consideration proacbes. That condition of things having taken effect, the bank di- this morning. · rectors have retired within the last six years over $200,000,000 of The PRESIDENT pro tempo1·e. That motion can not be entertained bonds, and since 1882 over $200,000,000 circulation of banks ha.s been by the Chair. A motion to postpone to a day certain or to postpone inwithdrawn, so that to-day there are outstanding only about $160,000,- definitely can be made. 000 of national-bank notes secured by a deposit of bonds. That pro- Mr. HARRIS. I move a postponement until to-morrow. That will cess will go on until tbey are all retired. reach the object of the Senator from Vermont.

I was foolish enough, perhaps, to introduce a bill providing a rem- The PRESIDENT pro temp01·e. It is moved that the consideration edy for this state of things. I bad the bill referred to the Finance Com- of the special order be postponed until to-morrow at 2 o'clock. mit tee, and have since modified it, so that I think it will apply not only Ur. PALMER. Out of deference to the Senator fTom Texas I shall for to-day but next year and for all time to come. I provide in the make no objection to that postponement. modified bill that any existing national bank, or any new national Mr. PLATT. I object to it. bank may go to the Treasury and buy bonds, paying currency for them, Mr. PALMER. The Senator from Connecticut objects. Under these and that those bonds may be the basis for circulation. I then direct, circumstances I shall feel compelled to object. I should like to defer in another section of the bill, that the Secretary of the 11:easury at the to the Senator from Texas on this question; but as there are a great nomend of each month shall invest every_dollar of the surplus in the pur- ber of parties in the city waiting for action on this bilJ, and as the connchase of bonds. If no reduction in the revenue takes place, within a try is urgent for it, and as it is essential that some action should be very few years the national debt will be paid off. Having that in view, taken soon for the great cattle industry of the country, I shall object I provide in this bill that the national banks shall furnish other seen- to its postponement until to-morrow. ritie.s, these securities to be taken at 75 cents on the dollar, and they Mr. HARRIS. I wish to accommodate both the Senator from Michiare not to be taken until they are passed upon by a committee of three, gan and the Senator from Connecticut, if I can. Will the Senator from the Secretary of the Treasury, the Comptroller of the Currency, and Michigan consent to a11ow his special order to go o>er for the next two the Treasurer of the United States. That I look upon as as much seen- days, this day and to-morrow, the Senator from Connecticut waiving rity as we can possibly have. The national banks will issue a circu- his motion until that time, ana the Senator from Vermont, on the conlation to the like amount, with the security filed, and thus circulation elusion of the bill he ba.s in charge, allow us to proceed with the Calenwill be provided for. dar under Rule VIII, as we have been doing for the past two or three

There can be no surplus in the Treasury as long as there is a debt. days, by unanimous consent? I think we shall accomplish a good There can be no reduction in the volume of the national-bank currency deal more in that way than in any other. I should certainly be very if my bill is passed, because as the Governinent bonds are paid other glad if the Senators would consent to the suggestion I make to proceed securities will be substituted. with the call of the Calendar to-day and io-morrow.

1\lr. REAGAN. I ask the Senator from Vermont to allow me a word. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The pending question is on tbe mo-. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The motion is not debatable. tion of the Senator from Tennessee [Mr. HARRIS] to postpone the con-

Mr. UO RRILL. I do not renew the motion if the Senator from Texas sideration of the special order until to-morrow at 2 o'clock. The Sen-desires to be heard. a tor from Tennessee asks unanimous consent that the special order and

Mr. REAGAN. As I shall vote against the motion to lay the amend- the bill for the admission of South Dakota be postponed for two days, ment offered by the Senator from Kansas on the table, I desire to say and that the consideration of the bill moved by the Senator from Ver· that in doing so I do not concur in that part of the amendment which mont be continued to its conclusion, and that thereafter the Senate pro· proposes to make the notes of the Government a legn.l tender for pri- ceed to the (..'Onsideration of the Calendar under Rule VIII. Is there vate debts. I would have the notes to be issued exactly on the basis objection?

2398 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD~SENATE. MARCH ·26,

Mr. PLATT. I object. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The question recurs, then, on the

motion to postpone until to-morrow. Mr. REAGAN. Only a word on tha.t motion. The Senator from

Michigan says that the country is urgent for this bill and that persons are here anxious for its passage. I am not aware of the circumstances which create the special emergency for its passa.ge. We ha\e a law in force to control and regulate anill\31 industry and to protect ca.ttle against the evil effects of pleuro-pneumonia. I do not know of the great changes between the law proposed and the one in existence which would indica.te that there is a great emergency and an urgent necessity for action upon that bill. It proposes a change from the head of the Department of Agriculture and those associated with him to an independent commission. There are other changes, but that is the main point in the bill. I hope, if the Senator will allow the matter to go over, to be able to show that there is no necessity for that change.

Mr . . p AL~IER. I think the Senator from Texas is mista.ken when he says that there is no immediate necessity for the enlargement of the powers of the Department of Agriculture. This morning I saw a telegram in the papers that a new and very fatal malignant disease among cattle ha.d broken out in Gainesville, Tex. There is a new outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia announced this morning in Cincinnati, and we a.re continually getting memorials urging us to do something to enlarge the powers of the Department of Agriculture and to make it more efficient in this direction. I did not hear the whole of the remarks of the Senator from Texas, but the bill which will be brought up for consideration, Senate bill 2083, is very distinct from bill 941, and it will be amended so that all those who object to detracting from the powers of the Department of Agriculture will be perfectly satisfied that it has been the intention of the committee to magnify that Department rather than to detract from it. What we contend for now, and what we can show by the concession of the Commissioner of AgricultuTe, us well as memorials and testimonials from other parts of the country, is that the Department of Agricultrue has not sufficient power, and we want a radical bill that will enable the commissioners proposed in this bill No. 2083 to take hold of this disease and stamp it out wherever they can fiml it in the country.

llut the bill is much more comprehensive even than its title would indicate, "for the suppression of pleuro-pneumonia. ' It takes up the swine plague, all communicable diseases1 glanders in horses, and other diseases which are now running riot through theN OTthwest; and in my opinion it is one of the most important bills that has ever come up before Congress for legislation. It repre ents directly 35,000,000 people. It represents$2,400,000,000 in property. It indirect.ly represents 30,-000,000 peorle more. It has greatly to do with our foreign trade and our interstate trade, and, in my opinion, there is no more important bill coming up this SE'SRion for the consideration of Congress. For myself, I should be willing to have it postponed for a day; but if the Senator from Connecticut, who is very urgent with his Territorial bill, insists that! shall keep mypbce and retain my right, I can not concede the request of the Senator trom Texas, which, under other circumstanees, I should be very gla1l to do.

1\Ir. REAGAN. l\fr. President, if the Senator will not consent to the postponement of this bill, I desire to address a word to the Senate, and that woTd is that the motion to make this the order of the day was made when both my colleague and myself were absent from the Senate and we had no opportunity to be heard, and no chance was given for the iuve tigation of a question which the Senator says is most important. So I shall appe.."'>l to the Senate not to require us to come to a vote on this subject before we have time to meet the arguments in favor of the bill.

Mr. GEORGE. Mr. President, I desire to be allowed to make are-mark or two :!n regard to the importance of this bill. .

It; is admitted to be a very important one, and if the bill passes it ought to be pa ed promptly. In all my experience I have not known a bill which so plainly and so clearly contravened the interest of the people and which so obviously u::;urped powers which on all sides have been heretofore conceded to belong to tbe States and which have been decided in numerous cases by the Supreme Court of the United States to belong to the States. ·

Mr. PLUUB. I think the controversy about that bill will depend more npon the question of con titutionality than anything else; but outside of certain provisions which under the beliefs held by Senators on that sii!e and some on this side are unconstitutional, there are provisions in it which ought to be enacted into law. The great interest which it represents, a.nd the gravity of the situation ought to prevent any opposition to the bill coming up and being considered, merely because of ohjection to some particular provision in it. There are provisions in it which on reflection all will concede not only to be important, but to be necessary to be adopted, whic:l:rarejust as importa~t to the 8t..11te of Texas ns to any other State in the Union . I know the Senators from that State will be glad to adopt some new features of legislation which will secure protection to one of the great industries of that State from the dangers that threaten it, if they can do so without violatitH! the Constitution. We disagree about some provisions of the bill, but there are portions of it which no one will object to.

The PRESIDENT pro tempo1·e. The question recurs on the motion of the Senator from Tennessee, ro postpone t.he consideration of the special order until to-morrow at 2 o'clock.

The motion was agreed to. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The further consideration of the

special order is postponed until to-morrow at 2 o'clock. LANDS IN DENVER.

The PRESIDENT pro temp01·e laid before the Senate the action of the House of Representatives non-concurring in the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H. R. 3300) to amend an act to enable the city of DenveT to purchase certain land for cemetery purposes.

On motion of Mr. TELLER it was ResoZ1:ed, That the Senate insist on its amendments to the said bill disagreed

to by the House of Repre entatives, and agree to the conference asked by the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon.

By unanimous consent, it was Ordered, That the conferees on the part of the Senate be appointed by the

President pro tempore.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore appointed Mr. PLmm, Mr. TELLER, a.nd 1\lr. COCKRELL.

ENROLLED BILLS SIGNED. A message from the House of Representatives, by :ho'Ir. C!-ARK, its

Clerk, announced that the Speaker of the House had signed the following enrolled bills; and they were thereupon signed by the President pro tempore:

A bill (S. 2494) to provide for the payment of the funeml expenses of the late Chief-Justice of tho Supreme Court; and

A bill (H. R. 6437) to provide for certain of the most urgent deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, and for other purposes.

PRESIDENTIAL APPROV ALl;!.

A message fi·om the President of the United States, by l\Ir. 0. L. PRuDEN, one of his secretaries announced that the President had on the 23d instant signed the act (s. 1027) to fix the charge for passports at 1.

PURCHASE OF BOND . 1t1r. HARRIS. I now move that the Senate proceed with the con

sideration of the bill in charge of the Senator from Vermont [Mr. MoRRILL].

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. If there be no objection--M:r. PLATT. I should like to make a parliamentary inquiry. If

that bill is taken up now and not finished to-day, it will have precedence to-morrow of the special order, will it not?

The PRESIDENT jlro tempo1·e.. It will if ]eft as the unfinished business.

Mr. PLATT. I <lo not propose without the consent of the Senate to have another important matter interjected between that bill and the Dakota matter.

The PRESIDENT pro tem,pore. The question recurs on the motion of the Senator from Tennessee, that the Senate proceed with the consideration of the bill (H. R. 5034) to provide for the purchase of United States bonds by the Secretary of the Treasury.

The motion was agreed to; and the Senate us in Committee of the Whole, resumed the consideration of the bill, the pendi,ng question being on the amendment submitted by 1\fr. PLmun.

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. President, I am inclined to think it wotud be wise to confine the debate to the pending bill and not to go into tho other propositions which have been made, and if that be the desire of the Senate I shall not seek to say anything on those propositions. If, however, it is the desire of the Senate to proceed with the considcmtion of the financial questions growing out of the contraction of the currency, I shall desire to submit some very important figures bearing on the subject.

As to the bill that is before us, it is now the law, conceded to be so by every member of the Committee on Finance familiar with the bic;tory of the law. The language of the law of 1 1 is stronger and clearer and better than the language of the bill before us. Not a single act can be done under this bill that can not be done under the existing law, and all that this bill intends js to remove, not a doubt expressed by tho Secretary of the Treasury, because he never had any and never expressed any, but a doubt expressed by the President, who shows by the context of his remarks that his attention was not called to the legal question at all, and he probably did not know anything about it. Still, to remove a doubt and get on the way of putting out the money of the Treasury, I would vote for the bill, and another one like it the next <i'ly, and so on day by day until we shall have a bill compelling the exercise of the power that has necessarily existed in tlle Secretary of the Treasury since 1862, and a power without which that Department could not conduct the great operations intrusted to it.

I do not wish to go further into this matter, or debate the proposition of th·e Senator trom Kansas, if he will yield to the suggestion which has been made. I ask the Senator from Kans::ts whether he insists on a vote upon his amendment?

Mr. PLUMB. Not only on this biJl, but, if it is voted down here1

on every bill to which it is appropriate and germane.

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 2399 Mr. SHERMAN. If that be so, we may as well dismiss the ques

tion that is proposed of taking up the bill to admit Dakota. · Now, in_ order that we may exactly understand each other, I will

take the liberliy of renewing in a moment the motion made by the Senator from Vermont, because if the Senate shows by its affirmative vote that it is not willing to go inlio the general financial question to·day, into all the questions that grow out of the contraction of the currency, then by expressing its opinion by laying the amendment on the table without regard to its merits it will express its view as to whether it will go on and discuss those questions. If not, and that proposition is voted down, then I have an amendment to authorize the investment of what is called the bank fund. I also have a proposition to authorize the issue of more circulating notes to national banks. The Senator from Nevada [Mr. STEW ART] has a proposition to make the coinage of silver bullion free, I suppose, and the Senator from Kansas [Mr. PLUl\IB J has a perpetual and perennial proposition to attach to this or any other bill.

Before I go into a discussion of the financial subject I renew the motion of the Senator from Vermont, and I shall vote in favor of laying this amendment on the table without respect to its merits and without respect to any opinions on the general question, but simply pledging gentlemen that whenever the question can come up in the ordinary way on a bill involving these various points I will join in perfecting any measure that may be thought proper to relieve us from the roolly distres ed condition of our :finances at this moment.

Mr. CALL. I ask the Senator from Ohio to allow me to put a question. Is it not certain, in his opinion, that the exercise of this authority to purchase bonds will have some effect on the price of bonds in the markets?

Mr. SHERMAN. I think not. The money that is paid out for these bonds will enter into cuculation as a matter of course.

Mr. CALL. How would it affect the national banks? Mr. SHERMAN. I do not see how it could affect the national-bank

circulation. You may as well make up your minds that if the national banks can not issue circulation to something approaching the value of their bonds, they will not feel justified by the law of banking, that is the law of profit, to continue the issue of circulating notes. The 4 per cent. bonds are now worth 125 per cent. If deposited in the Treasury by the banks the latter can only get 90 per cent. of circulation on the par value of those bonds.

Mr. CALL. What I want to get at is, whether or not this authority to pttrchn.se bonds might not have the effect to produce a larger price for them.

Mr. SHERMAN. That leads me to make a remark which I would have elaborated and made more at length if there was discussion. If -the Secretary of the Treasury thinks this bill compels him to go right into the market and bull the market, to use a cant phrase, and put up the price of bonds, then as a matter of course it might induce the banks, in order to get a high and unnatural price for their bonds, to sell their bonds to him, and in that way withdraw more"andmore bank currency. But if he does as all his predecessors have done, lets no man know when he will buy bonds, giving his order to the assistant treasurer in New York to buy a million of bonds, say to-night, watching the market, he can not only prevent the increase of the market value of the bonds, but probably so aetas to produce a decrease in the price of the bonds. It depends precisely on the manner in which he exercises this authority.

I hope the Senator from Kansas now will let us have a vote on the question. I do not care how the Senate vote on it. If they vote to lay this amendment on the table on the ground that they wish to pass this bill without am,endment, then I shall say no more on the subject.

Mr. PLUMB. Do the Finance Committee propose an amendment to this bill?

Mr. SHERMAN. No; the Senator from Kentucky [Mr. BEcK] proposed an amendment, but does not urge it.

Mr. PLUMB. Do the committee recommend the bill as it came from the other House?

The PRESIDING OFFICER (.Mr. FRYE in the chair). Did the Senator from Ohio renew the motion of the Senator from Vermont to lay the amendment on the table?

Mr. SHERklAN. I did. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio moves that

the amendment lie on the table. Mr. PLUMB. I call for the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered. Mr. VOORHEES. I ask that the amendment be read. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The amendment will be again rec1.d. The Secretary read the amendment of M:r. PLUMB. The Secretary proceeded to call the roll . Mr. HISCOCK (when his name was called). I am paired with the

Senator from New Jersey [Mr. McPHERSON], but as I understand he would vote as I should, I shall record my vote on this question.

Mr. PLATT (when Mr. HAWLEY's name was called). Myco1league [M:r. HAWLEY] is absent from the Senate Chamber and is paired "With the Senator from Missouri [Mr. CoCKRELL]. If he were present, my colleague would vote '' yea.''

Mr. PUGH (when his name was called). I am paired with the Sen-

atorfrom VJ)rmont [Mr. EDMUNDS]. If he were present, I should vote ''nay."

Mr. WILSON, of Maryland (whenhisnamewascalled). Iampaired with the Senator from Rhode Island [Mr. CHACE]. Not knowing how he would vote if present, I decline to vote.

The roll-call was concluded. Mr. KENNA. My colleague [Mr. FAULKNER] is paired with the

Senator from Pennsylvania [Mr. QUAY]. I am paired with the Senator from Minnesota [Mr. SABIN].

Mr. COCKRELL. I am paired with the Senator from Connecticut [Mr. HAWLEY] . If he were present, he would vote "yea" and I shoulg vote "nay."

.M:r. CALL. I understand my colleague [Mr. PASCO] is paired with the Senator from Pennsylvania [Ur. QUAY].

Mr. PAD DOCK. I am paired with the Senator from Louisiana [M:r. EUSTIS].

~fr. SPOONER. My colleague [Ur. SAWYER] is necessarily absent from the city. He is paired with the Senator from Georgia [M:r. BROWN].

Mr. EVARTS (after having voted in the affirmative). !voted "yea" without noticing that the Senator from Alabama [Mr. MoRGAN] was not in his seat. I am paired with him, and therefore withdraw my vote.

Mr. BROWN (after having voted in the negative). I withdraw my vote. I did not think at the moment that I was paired with the Senator from Wisconsin [M:r. SAWYER].

The result was announced-yeas 23, nays 22; as follows : YEAS-23.

Allison, Bate, Beck, Blackburn, Cullom, Davis,

Dawes, Farwell, Frye, Hampton, Harris, Hiscock,

Hoar, Sherman, .Jones of Arkansas, Spooner, l'tiorrill, Stanford, Payne, Stockbridge, Platt, Wilson of Iowa.

Berry, Bowen, Call, Cameron, Coke, Daniel,

Saulsbury, NAYS-22.

Dolph, George, .Jones of Nevada, Manderson, Mitchell, Palmer,

Plumb, Ransom, Reagan, Sabin, Stewart, Teller,

ABSENT-31. Aldrich, Colquitt, Hale, Blair, Edmunds, Hawley, Blodgett, Eustis, Heru·st, Brown, Evarts, Ingalls, Butler, Faulkner, Kenna, Chace, Gib_son, 1.\-fcPherson, Chandler, Gorman, l'tforgan, Cockrell, Gray, Paddock,

Vance, Vest, Voorhees, Walthall.

Pasco, Pugh, Quay, Riddleberger, Sawyer, Turpie, Wilson ofMd.

So the amendment was ordered to lie on the table. Mr. PLUMB. I now move the same amendment, leaving out the

words "public and private," leaving the Treasury notes to be issued receivable for Government dues and legal tendru: only between national banks.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Kansas desire to have the amendment read?

Mr. PLUMB. I do not think there is any necessity to read it. I do not ask to have it read. At all events, I shall not ask to detain the Senate for that purpose.

Mr. MOH.RILL. I move to lay the amendment-Mr. PLUMB. I beg the Senator's pardon; I have the floor. I was about to observe that this ought to be a measure of very great

importance and of very great urgency in order to induce the Senate at this ·stage of it.s proceedings to resort to the only way in which debate can be cut off in this body; aud ·yet this bill, as reported from the Finance Committee, is almost an exact copy of one already on the statute-books. There is not a member of the Finance Committee and there is not a member of the Senate who will say that one single line of this legislation is necessary or that if passed it will enable the President to do other or more than he can do under existing law. .And yet it is in behalf of a bill simply designed to get the President out of a hole, and which adds nothing to what has already been enacted, that the Senator from Vermont and the Senator from Ohio have sought to stifle debate in the Senate.

Mr. President, if there be urgency, it is for the passage of such a propos1t1on as is embodied in my amendment. '.rhe urgency is, or should be, to prevent the further contraction of the currency; to secure to the people of the United States an ample supply of money with w hicb to transact their business.

On the 26th day of December, 1873, the volume of national-bank notes outstanding was $341,320,256. It is now less than $170,000,000. In other words, about $180,0001000 of national-bank circulation has been retired, has absolutely disappeared, during the past fourteen years.

l\lr. FARWELL. I beg the Senator's pardon. There are about $270,000,000 now out, but the Government of the United States has assumed to pay $100,000,000 of those notes with the money which has been deposited in the Treasury for that purpose. Therefore the amount out6tanding is $100,000,000 more than the Senator has stated it, but it is not secured by any Government bonus.

.-

2400 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. MARoH 26,

:hfr. PLUMB. 'l'he report of the ComptroJler of the Currency states the amount outstanding on the 1st day of August, 1887, as $166,000,000. That was last August, and the amount was $166,625,658.

1t!r. FARWELL. I beg pardon for one moment. That statement is not accurate. The Senator will see a further item in the report. He will find $105,000,000, or about that amount, ofUnitedStatesnotes on deposit with the Treasurer for the purpose of redeeming a like amount of national-bank notes unredeemed.

. Mr. PLUMB. That only makes it so much worse. Then there has been a contraction not only of this $180,000,000 national-bank circulation withdrawn, but there is $105,000,000 of the three hundred and forty-six nominal million dollars of national-bank n-otes retained in the Treasury.

Mr. FARWELL. No. Mr. PLUM~. Greenbacks? Mr. FARWELL. Those have been paid out. .Mr. PLUMB. They have been paid out, but they are not out now;

they are not performing any office of currency at the present moment. Mr. FARWELL. I beg pardon. On the contrary, the Government

has assumed to pay the one hundred and odd million dollars because it has received the money for that purpose. Thi'! $105,000,000 has been invested in the purchase of bonds.

Mr. PLUMB. I am talking about what is out in the hands of the 'People. What is in the Treasury is not in the hands of the people. What is locked up is not performing any purpose of circulation.

Mr. FARWELL. That is what I desire to say to the Senator. The $100,000,000 have not been paid out now.

Mr. PLUMB. But the Comptroller of the Currency says that on the 1st day of August last there were only $16G,OOO,OOO of national-bank notes altogether outstanding.

Mr. FARWELL. No, he does not. 1\fr. PLUMB. I beg your pardon. If you can read better than I

can, read this statement-Mr. FARWELL. That is not the fact. Mr. PLUMB. I am sorry. The table on page 93 of the Comptrol

ler's report gives the circulation on the 1st day of January, 1886, at $213,239,530, and on the 5th day of October, 1887, at $167,283,343.

Mr. FARWELL. Secured by Government bonds. Ur. PLUMB. Secured by Goyernment bonds. Mr. FARWELL. That is right. 1\fr. PLUMB. Is there any circulation outstanding of national-bank

notes not secured by Government bonds? M..t·. FARWELL. One hundred and five million dollars. Mr. PLUMB. Not secured by Government bonds? 1\Ir. FARWELL. Yes, sir; $105,000,000. 1\Ir. :PLUMB. I will sit down very cheerfully for an hour to hear

the Sen:ttor tell me just how be makes that out. 1\Ir. FARWELL. Certainly; I will do it in two minutes. T he PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from K::ms..'\8 yield

to the Senator from Illinois. Mr. PLUMB. I do. .Mr. FARWELL. In 1882 there were $359,000,000 of national-bank

notes outstanding. Since that time the national banks of the country ha,·e sunendered one way and another, by going into liquidation and vo1unt:trily surrendering their circulation, $200,UOO,OOO of their bonds, and they have also taken up until they have paid in that amount of money and taken their bonds out. They have paid into the Treasury

:200,000,000 in money and received back in bonds more than $200,COO,OOO.

Ir. PLUl\IB. That comes back to just the same thing exactly. For all purposes the amount of national-bank currency outstanding is

1G6,000, 000 or $167,000,000, as the case may be, taking which one of t~ese t:tbles you please. .

Mr. FARWELL. - secured bv Government bonds. Mr. PLUMB. It is in process of retirement.; it is performing no

office practically as currency. Mr. FARWELt. Ibegpardon; thereareover$100,000,000outstand

ing for which the United States has notes of equal amount. Mr. PLUMB. That is only another way of stating the essential fact

of my first statement, that there has been a diminution of the paper currency of the country since 1873 of about $180,000,000, because the Senator from Illinois is only talking about the method of book-keeping, not about the thing itself.

:Mr. F AHWELL. I beg the Senator's pardon, that is not correct. If you take the last statement of the Secretary of the Treasury you will fi nd that there are only 33,000,000 to-day, or were at the beginning of this month, of United Stn,tes notes in the Treasury. There were

61,000,000 of money deposited witlrtbe national banks, and that added to the $33,000,000 makes the $90,000,000 and odd of surplus.

Mr. PLUMB. I am not talking about what is in the national banks and what is in the Treasury; I am talking about the currency of the country in actual existence.

Mr. FARWELL. If the Senator will permit me, I will state that we have in circulation in the United Statesto-day$346,000,000 of United States notes, less $33,000,000. in the Treasury. Then add to that the

silver certificates and the gold certificates and the national-bank circulation of about $270,000,000. In the debt statement the Tre.:'\Surer says be bas gold for $105,000,000 of national-bank notes which are outstanding, which he has received the money to redeem, and this $105,000,000 is invested in bonds, so that so far as the Government of the United States is concerned the $105,000,000 stands precisely in thesame status as United States notes.

Mr. PLUMB. The Senator from Illinois seems to think that money in the Treasury is as usefully employed as though in circulation among the people. I am talking about .the volume of paper money proper, which is composed of but two kinds. I am not talking about silver certificates or gold certificates. They correspond to the amount of metallic money which has been deposited in the Treasury, the persons so depositing it merely desiring to put it into more convenient form for the transaction of their business. The volume is not changed by the process .

1\fr. FARWELL. I desire to say to the Senator, if be will allow me, that the present national-bank circulation is about $270,000,000, and the gr~enba.ck circulation is about $313,000,000. That is now in the hands of the people, and the report of the Secretary of the Treasury shows that to be the case.

Mr. PLUMB. I have the official report in rega1·d to this matter, which I propose to take as the correct figure until somebody rises with something better.

Mr. PLATT. M:ay I ask a question for information? Mr. PLUMB. Yes, sir. M:r. PLATT. Does the Senator know how much during the period

he speaks of the silver certificates have been increased? Mr. PLUMB. I do not know the exact amount. It is not pertinent

to :what I am speaking of. I come back to my first proposition, that the paper money of this country has diminished in volume since 1873 by nearly $180,000,000.

Mr. PLATT. Since 1883? Mr. PLUMB. No, since 1873. In the last fourteen years it has

diminished $180,000,000. Mr. President, the pending bill is justified on the ground that in the

event the Secretary of the 'l'reasury should conclude to obey its mandates the surplus in the Treasury will be thereby depleted and the currency in circulation be increased in volume by the amount of the surplus thus paid out. But, as I have before said, no one can tell, not a single member of the Finance Committee will even guess-that is, he will not guess out loud so as to be responsible for his guess-as to the amount that will be added to the circul:tting medium of the country by the purcl!a.se of bonds which may or can be purchased under the provisions of this bill.

I am told upon what I believe to be good authority, and it is accessible in the records, that the national banks of this country hold about $60,000,000 in bonds as security fof currency beyond the amount they need to hold in order to maintain their charters. For instance, many banks requiring only $25,000 in bonds to retain their charters have $50,-000 and sometimes $100,000 bonds in addition, on which currency is issued and outstanding. Such banks can sell the excess of bonds above

25,000 by retiring their circulation based on such excess, or by depositing an equivalent amount of greenbacks the Treasury will retire them, which is the same thing. This contracts the volume of currency outstanding, but it may slightly increase the amount actually in circulation, that is, by 10 per cent., the difference between the face of the bonds and the cunency based on them.

If this bill should become a law and the Secretary of the Treasury should act upon the bheory which has heretoforo controlled him, it is not probable that he would buy more than $60,000,000 of bonds, and if be did not it would be possible, if not probable, that these bonds would all come from national banks now holding them as security for circulation, and thereby there would be practically no increase of the amount of money in actual circulation by reason of the purchase of bonds by reason of the passage of the bill.

We are urged, therefore, to pass a bill as a matter of emergency which no one will say what the effect of will be, except the one effect of putting the money out of the Treasury into the bands of the holders of bond~, without any reference to the effect it may have upon the volume of the currency.

But, Mr. President, it may have another effect of an injurious kind. The Treasury Department is in active partnership with the national banks. The Secretary of the Treasury has loaned to these banks over $61,000,000 of the public funds instead of buying bonds and saving interest. He has chosen to do this, and up to date the banks have been willing to receive the money. It cost them nothing and they could loan it to the people for current rates of interest. But now the banks have got to a point where they are declining, I understand, to receive any more public money on deposit, because they believe tho money liable to be called for at any time suddenly and in bulk, and those of them who have read history know that in the only other period of history when such a partnership was entered upon it proved disastrous to the b~nk.S, disastmus to the Goyernment, and disastrous to the people. Meanwhile the Secretary bas given to the banks the use of funds

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 2401· whichba"'e yielded them not less than$5,000,000which the people have paid, and has failed to save to the Treasury at least half that sum, which he could have done by purchasing bonds.

EYen if this bill should pass, the Secretary might decline to obey its mandates. as he has the one of the same tenor now on the statutebooks. There is, therefore, grave doubt of the propriety of its passage.

But whether the bill passes or not, the great question of the volume of the currency of this country is left to take care of itself. The Administration recommends nothing and the Finance Committee does nothing.

Mr. President, if there is urgency for anything, it is for wise legislation upon the currency question. My amendment ought to be put upon this bill specially, because it is a House bill. It therefore offers an opportunity to have the HoWle pass upon it directly, which will not come if it were put upon either of the other bills which have been mentioned here, because they are Senate bills.

But the Finance Committee, as heretofore and always, does not mean that any legislation adding to the volume of the currency, or any measure which replaces the currency which has been taken from the people, shall ever be adopted. That committee intend to obstruct and prevent everything of this kind. That committee is moved by impulses, by determinations, by theories, which are opposed to anyincreasein the"'olume of the currency and equally opposed to anything that stops its contraction.

.M:r. MORRILL. The Senator from Ka.nsas, so far as I am concerned, speaks entirely out of the book. He does not know anything about it, so far as I am concerned.

Mr. PLUMB. I appeal from the word of the Senator from Ve1·mont to the record of his committee; I appeal to the action of that committee on this floorw hene"'er this question has been up. I say that that comlnittee, with all the determination of its able and determined chairman, with all the determination of the former Secretary of the Treasury now a member of the committee, with n,ll the determination ot that influence which has controlled the financial policy of the country for the last thirty years and controls it yet, the control of bondholders and money-lenders, has resolved that nothing shall be done which shall operate to make th~ burdens of the people lighter by increasing the volume of the currency or even by preventing further contraction.

These facts are shown by the character of the opposition offered to this amendment. It is not debated upon its merits. The Senn.te is asked to vote it down without debate, upon the pretense that it does not belong to a bill of this kind. Mr. President, it is in order; it is germane; it is highly important; and without it the bill might just as well never be passed.

So far as I am concerned I intend, as I said before, to move this amendment, or one similar to it, to every bill which that committee proposes. I do not expect to make any impression on the indurated hide of the Finance Committee; but I do hope to arouse the Senate, I hope to arouse the country, to the non-action which has characterized Congress for the last fifteen years upon this very important subject. We have sat here for the last fourteen years and seen the volume of the currency contract by reason of the shrinkageofthenational-bankcurrency, and the motive ior such non-action is found in the remark of the Senator from Ohio a moment ago, to the effect that if more currency was wanted inducements shou]d be offered to the national banks to supply it.

I tell that Senator, as I have often before said in my place here, that Congress will never offer to any national bank any inducement to take

• out or to issue any more currency than they have got now. It is after the feast entirely. The country has made up its mind that the national banks are not to furnish it with currency:. They are no longer factors in that great question. The issue of currency is an act of sovereignty which the people do not mean to have delegated to any further extent than it is now, and as fast as the national-bank currency now outstanding is retired something else is to take its place. The question of the volume of the currency is not to be settled by private corporations upon the basis of their own desire for gain as against the public interest.

That is a question to be settled by Congress, and the Senator from Ohio will wait a long time before his remedy of more currency to be issued by the banks will be adopted. He will soon see what he probably prefers, a still further reduction in the volume of the currency. To this complexion it has come at last. The Secretary of the Treasury, working on the same line as the Finance Committee, preaches the issue of more national· bank currency, and in effect threatens the country-that is, that or nothing.

And thus, as we approach nearer and nearer to the financial brink and the danger becomes greater, we are admonished that the only remedy is more national-bank circulation. . No one expects relief from the Secretary of the Treasury. It has got to come from Congress. The Secretary of the Treasury has power to issue $2,000,000 a month more of silver certificates or to coin $2,000,000 more of silver dollars, which would result in that amount added of silver certificates, but he will not do that. We may be sure that the administration of the Treasury Department is inspired with the same motive .

XIX-151

that the Finance Committee is, and that is that there shall be no currency which is to come direct from the Government and no relief of any kind whatever unless it comes from the national banks by some enlargement of their power and of their profits. That is to be held before us. That is the rod which is constantly held over us.

The Senators from Vermont and from Ohio belong to the school of:finan· ciers who belie\e that n, small and diminishing volume of currency is a blessing, and that a large volume of money is a curse. They look at the condition of the vaults in the banks of New York City and say that because money can be bad there by favored ones upon collateral security which can be sold at a moment:s notice therefore there is enough to suppJy the country, and they know nothing and apparently care nothing about the condition of the country n.t large, about the impoverishment of the people in the interior, because of this hidebound policy which has characterized Congress unde1· the leadership of the Finance Committee and which controls the Treasury Depart· m-ent. ·

Mr. STEW ART. :Mr. President, I think this is an exceedingly bad time for the Go>ernment to be speculating in its bonds when the currency is contracted as it now is. I do not believe in paying the debt in any other mode than that provided by law, and when that mode is not at hand, when it can not be paid as provided by law, I do not believe in anticipating the payment.

The debt is payable in either gold or sil>er coin at the option of the Government. The act of July 14, 1870, distinctly provides that the bonds of the United States issued thereafter should be redeemable in coin of the then presen·t standard value. The question has been thoroughly discussed and decided that ''the present standard value'' means the standard value of July 14, 1870. The Secretary of the Treasury, when issuing bonds, raised the question whether this phraseology could not be construed io mean the standard value at the time of issuing the bonds. He add'ressed a letter to the Attorney-General on the 21st day of April, Hs77, in these words:

TREASURY DEPART::IfENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, lVashi?lgton, D. C., .Ap1·il21, 1877.

SIR: I beg leave to rnlryour attention to, and ask your opinion upon, the following questions growing out of the refunding act of July 14,1870, to wit:

Can I stipulate in the body of the 4 per cent. bonds about to be is3ued that they shall be redeemahle in coin of the present standard value, that is, the standard value at the date of their issue, or must it be the date of the law? ;:I submit a statement, prepared by Hon. H. F. French, Assistant Secretary, having- reference to tbe laws.

It maybecomeimportanttothepublicinterests.to make the new bonds payable in coin of the present stand11.rd; that is, gold coin. Some doubts have been expressed upon whether previous bonds issued under acls passed prior to 1873 are not legallypayablc in silver coin. This question may become important, as any doubt upon the legal terms of a publ;c security affects its value.

Very respectfully,

llon. CHARLES DEVENS, .Attor11ey-Geneml.

JOHN SHERl\1A.L'f, &c1·etm·y.

9n the 26th of that month the Attorney-General rendered his opinion, holding that "the ~~resent standard value" meant the .-alne n,t the date of the act. L. . _le give this opinion:

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, ..dp?"il2G, 1877. Sm: In answer to your letter of the 21st instant, requesting my opinion upon

the following question growing out of the refunding net of July 14, 1870, to wit, "Can I stipulate in the body of the 4 per cent. bonds about to be issued that they shall be redeemab!e in coin of the present value, that is, the standard value at the date of their issue, or must it be the date of the law? " I have the honor to reply:

The act provides for the issue of bonds "redeemable in coin of the present standard value." The word ''present" undoubtedly refers as a matter of date to the time when the act was passed, and not to the time when the bonds were thereafter issued. It contemplRted that a long period would elapse before it would finally be C.'lrried int.o eifect. and that changes in the coinage of the country might occur uuring that per:od.

Whatever changes in the coinage should occur, these bonds were, however, to be redeemed in coin of the standard value as it existed..at the date of the act. By this provision the holder was guarded against any depreciation that might take place in the value of the coin, and the Government would not be compelled to pay the additional value should the coinage be appreciated. All the bonds issued under the act were to stand alike, no matter what was the date when such bonds were i<~sued. Each was to be 1·edeemnble in coin which was included in the authorized coinage of the cotmtry at the date referred to, it being of the standard value as it then existed. Since the law was passed no change bas taken place in the standard value of the coin. It is understood that there bas been a certain change in the coinage of the country, and that silver dollars have now ceased to exist practically as coin. It has been further provided by the statute of Februaryl2, 1873 (Revised Stat•

utes, sections 3585, 3586), that "the sih·er coins of the United States shall be a. legal tender at their nominal value for any amount not exceeding $5 in any one payment."

Notwithstanding this practical change in the coinage of the country and the passage of this act in regard to legal-tenders, the form of bond to be issued by you should not be changed so far as the mode in which it is to be redeemed is concerned. It was not intended that this should be varied according to the changes which might be made in the coinage, because a definite rule was given by reference to the coin of a particular date. That which will pay the bonds heretofore issued under this act will pay the bonds which you may hereafter issue . It can not be authoritatively said that t-he words "payable in coin" or "pay ..

able in gold" are equivalent to the words used by the statute. E'\.·en if this leaves open for discussion the question whether bonds issued under this act are or 11.re not redeemable in silver coin of the character and standard which existed July 14,1870, it is not a. doubt which it is in your powertoremedybytheuse of words in the bond other than those which this statute provides. ·

While I comprehend the difficulty suggested in your letter, and the conven· ience that there might be in removing any question on this mfOtter, I am,

2402 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. MA.Ron 28,

therefore, of opinion that it would not be safe to issue the bonds, except as redeem~~rble in coin of the standard value of July 14, 1870.

Very respectfully, your obedient servan t, CHARLES DEVENS, .Allorney-Genm·a.L.

Hon. JoHN SHERMAN, Secretary of the 'Jireasury.

That was not entirely satisfactory to all. The question was further agitated and finally passed upon by a vote of this body and of the other House, more than a. two-thirds vote in each House holding that every dollar. of bonds issued by the United States was payable in silver. That is the opinion of every lawyer; that is the language of the law, and that is the option of the United States. If the United States might p3y in either gold or silver at its option, was it not the duty•of the .executive officers to so exercise that option as to save all they could to the overnment? Suppose one of you were an agent for an estate, and you bad to deliver under a contract either a thousand bushels of oats or a thousnnd bushels of barley at a given date, and when that date came barley was scarce and worth three times as much as oats, would you expect to retain your place and be regarded as an honest man if you shonJ.d pay in barley at treble the price that you would have to pay in oats? Would it not be necessary for you to exercise in favor of your principal that option which would benefit him most?

I will show you, if the Treasury Department had exercised that option, what the result would have been. I have some figures here which may be interesting to show how much has been lost already by the failure to comply with that option and obey the law. The following amounts have been paid on the bonded debt since 1879, when the Government commenced to coin the silver dollar under the act of 1878:

Principal of the public debt, $924,723,930. Interest on the public debt since that time, $501,802,000. Total, $1,426,525,960. The average price of silver bullion from 1879 to October, 1887, was

84 cents on the dollar as compared with gold. If t~ money paid on the principal and interest of the bonded debt had been paid on a silver basis, there would have been a saving of $229,824,154, and at that time a law had been passed ru.J.owing the Secretary of the Treasury to buy and coin $4,000,000 silver bullion monthly in orde1· to take advantage of this option, and one month before the passage of the law of 1878 both Houses of Congress had by more than a two-thirds vote declared that the bonds were payable in silver, and provided by law a means of paying them in that way.

The present bonded debt is $1,027,615,662. The interest, at 4! per cent. and 4 per cent. and interest on the Pacific Railroad bonds at 6 per cent., in the aggregate, when they all come to maturity, will be $670,107,445. This, added to the principal, will make an aggregate, which must be paid by the Government, of $1,697,723,107. That· amount must be paid to liquidate the present bonded indebtedness and interest. The average price of silver bullinn in 1887 was 74 cents on the dollar as compared with gold. If that price remains the same·until the maturity of the bonds there would be a saving of $451,408,008 in the payment of the existing bonded indebtedness aud interest with silver. Add the money already paid out and lost on the principal and tnterest: namely, $264,141,994, to what will be lost if the policy of paying in the dearer metal is pursued, namely, $451,408,008, and it gives a total loss of $715,550,002. This amount the Government will lose if it continues to pay its bonded indebtedness in gold, provided the price of sil >er remains stationary and does not advance.

It can not be said that it would be inequitable to pay in silver for two very obvious reasons. First, the bondholder contracted to take silver, and there is no more reason why he should not be bound by

- the contract than other people. Wealth ought not to exonerate any class of men in the United States from complying with their contracts. The Govemment never pays its poor creditors beyond the letter of the law and denies them interest, and usually demands a compromise of a part of the principal. Almost every relief bill has a compromise of that kind in it.

Second, silver will buy more property to-day than it would when the contract was made. It has not gone down. We should not be paying the bontlholders in depreciated currency. The average furm value of wheat in the United States in 1879, when the Government commenced coining silver dollars, was :i)1.04 per bushel on a gold basis. The farm value of wheat in 1887 was 68 cents per bushel, a. fall in the price of wheat of more than 34 per cent., whereas the decline in the price of silver has been only 26 per cent., making an exce..~ in the decline of the price of wheat over thatofsilver of8 per cent. Thesa.me is true of the general range of commodities. Consequently the bondholder has nothing to complain of, either in law or equity, if the United States insists upon the terms of the contract.

Silver has not gone down, but the coining of gold and the action of various governments of the world in using gold alone has sent gold up and enhanced the value of the bonds. Legish1tion sought after the contract and the action of the Treasury Department has done this, and there bas been a loss of over $700,000,000 on our debt by the officers having the administration of the Government declining to do what any honest agent for a private party would be compelled to do, and would be prosecuted if he did not do it.

I do not believe that any bill should be passed to buy more bonds

and pay for them in a contracted currency at :m enormous price, because you say it will only take such a percentage, and now it takes more wheat to pay for them, it takes more cotton, more products. The 4 per cent. bonds are at 25 per cent. premium, and the other bonds are at a premium almost equal to the interest that has not becnme due. I say that to go into the market and buy them now, without providing the currency in which to buy them, without giving the people something that will stop this contraction and let property go up, is unfair and unjust, and I will not vote to buy a dollar of bonds unless there is ample provision made for the use of silver.

I have several propositions. I have one that I intended to offer as an amendment to this bill which I will read but shall not offer at present, because there seems to be a disposition now to pass the bill in a hurry without consideriilg amendments. The amendment that I had intended tq offer to this particular bill, to go with it as an antidote, is as follows:

To secure to the United States the benefits of the option contained in theacts of Congress under which the bonds of the United States were issued, to po.ythe same in either gold or silver of the standard value of July 14, 18i0, and to furnish silver coin sufficient for that purpose, the Secretary of the Trea ury is authorized a.nd directed to purchase from time to time silver bullion, at the market price thereof, not less th~n $4,000,000 worth per month nor more than ,-000,000 per month, a.nd ca. use the same to be coined monthly, as fttst as purchased, into silver coin of the denominations, veight, and fineness now provided by b~ -

The Secretary of the Treasury ought to have done that. If he were doing it now there would be some relief to the people. I agree that the amendment of the Senator from Kansas is in the right direction. It is in a proper direction, but I should like something better. I should like to adopt what has been the world's money and was the world's money for two thousand years before the hands of speculators struck it down by legislation. There was no reason in 1873 for depriving the world of the use of silver as money and bringing on this contraction. I think it is the crime of the nineteenth century to have done this, and the world is feeling it, and the people of this country are feeling it; and while we are enduring these evils on a. gold basis; and practically discarding silver, I am opposed to going into the market and paying this debt, for I believe that before it becomes due the conscience of this country will be aroused to do justice to the people as well as to the bondholders, and bold the bondholders to their contracts as well as the people.

1\Ir. IDS COCK. :1\fr. President, the bill before the Senate is prompted by this language on the part of the President of the United States:

In the present state of legislat.ion tho only pretense of any existing exe<'utive power to restore at this time any part of our surplus revenues to the people by its expenditure consists in the supposition that the Secretary of the Treasury may enter the market and purchase the bonds of the Government not yet duo at a rate of premium to be agreed upon. The only p1·ovision of law from which such a. power could be derived is found in an appropriation bill passed anumber of years ago; and it is subject to the suspicion that it was intended as temporary and limited in its application, instead of confening a continuing disct·etion and authority.

The President does not deny that the Secretary of the Treasury has the power to purchase bonds under the act of 1881, but he seems to doubt the propriety of making the purchase on account of the provision having been enacted into a law upon a general appropriation bill. This bill, therefore, has been passed by the other House and has been reported to the Senate for the purpose of relieving the mind of the Executive upon that question and enabling him to get out of the Treasury the rapidly-accumulating surplus there.

This has been made the occasion for the offering of an amendment by the Senator from Kansas, providing for the issuing of Treasury notes by the Treasury Depaxtment. It has been made the occasion 1or an attack upon the Finance Committee for not providing any way to relieve the Treasury from the surplus which is there now and which is rapidly-accumulating.

I wish the Senator from Kansas were hereto respond to the question which I shall propound, and that is, how will his amendment get any money out of the Treasury? How will i t 1·elie e us of the surplus already in the Treasury? How will it provide for paying out that already in the Treasury? We have more money there now tb..1.n is necessary to pay the current expenses of the Government. We h..1.ve more there than is necessary to pay the interest upon the bonded indebtedness of the Government. The surplus is rapidly accumulating, and why on this bill should we provide for increasing the currency when there is no possible way to reliev~ the Tre..'l.Sury of that currency when it is put there?

Suppose we add the amendment proposed by the Senator from Kansas to this bill, how do you propose to get the money out of the Treasury? What are you to pay it out upon? Is the Finance Committee subject to the charge which has been made against it? There is no way to get the surplus alrea.dy in the Treasury or accumulating there out of the Treasury unless you pay it upon the indebtedness of the Government or purchase the outstanding indebtedness of the Govern men~. Is there any object in connection with thi;; bill to provide for printing more Treasury notes and piling them up in the Treasury Department? I might go further than that. Is there any necessity, if you wish to expand the currency, to coin more silver or gold for the purpose of enlarging the currency?

However the currency may be contracted to-day by the retirement

1888. , CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 2403 of national-bank notes, whatever its volume, :is there no means or method to get out of the Treasury that which is there. There is hut one way in which that can be done, and that is by the reduction of taxation. I do not propose to discuss that question here and now. The sources from which money :is pouring into the Treasury must be cut off; -€be fountains must be dried up from which the money :is flowing into the T1·easury to-day; and we are not relieving the people from a contraction of the currency by either coining more sil\er or by making more treasury notes.

The Committee on Finance may report and bring in here the pi'oposition advocated by the Senator from Kansas and numerous other propositions which have been suggested, and the only possible effectofthem if enacted into law is to make more paper and pile it up in the Treasury Department, or coin more silver or gold and pile that up in the Treasury Department.

We come in here with asimple proposition, providing away in which money can be got out of the Treasury, in which the surplus that is there may be paid outandput intocirculationamongthepeopleof the United States. Why encumber it, I ask, with thesepropositioDS"to make more currency at t.hie particular time, when it is ma.de a cam;e of offense on the part of the Administration? Why encumber it with the propositions which are made here to increase our circulation?

I concede many of the ills which are complained of in reference to the contraction of the currency. I am prepared to support any bill which may be brought in looking to relief upon that question which is proper in its terms; but any and all bills and all provisions which are brought here are ineffectual, and must be ineffectual unJess some way shall be provided to pay the money out and take it to the people.

Mr. PLUMB. Will the Senator from New York permitme to interrupt him?

Mr. HISCOCK. Certainly. Mr. PLUMB. Wllat would the Senator say to a proposition to

simply extinguish some more of the nation's debt with it? There are nearly a thousand million dollars of the public debt outstanding.

:M:r. HISCOCK. If the Senator desires to inquire of me whether I have any purpose or intention or care to support or defend the national banking system, I say to him, no, sir; I do not .

.Mr. PLUMB. I am not speaking of that. I am addressing myself to the Senator's proposition, that if we issue these additional Treasury notes we should have them piled up in the Treasury, with no way of getting them out. I want to suggest to him whether we could not pay the national debt with them. What would be the objection to that method of getting them out?

Mr. HISCOCK. On the one hand the Senator asks me that question and a moment a.go he made the argument that the more bonds were purchased the more it v.as probable, or likely, or possible at least, that

isfied ' from an examination of it that it represents every conviction that I hold upon this question, and I want to make this statement before the yeas and nays are taken. -

The Secretary proceeded to call the roll. Mr. BROWN (when his name was called). I am paired with the

senior Senator from Wisconsin [Mr. SAWYER]. If he were present, I should vote "nay'' and I presume he would vote ''yea.''

M:r. PUGH (when his name was called). I am paired with the Senator from Vermont [IIIr. ED:llUNDs]. If he were present, I should vote ''nay.''

Mr. WILSON, of Maryland (when his name was called). I am paired with the Senator from Rhode Island [Mr. CHACE], but I am told that if he were present be would vote ''yea." I therefore vote. I vote " yea."

The roll-call was concluded. Mr. FAULKNER. I have transferred my pair with the Senator

from Pennsylvania [Mr. QuAY] to the Senator from Florida [Mr. PAsco]. I therefore vote "nay."

Mr. BLACKBURN (after having voted in the negative). I am informed at the desk that the Senator from Nebraska [Mr. MANDERSON] bas not voted on this question, and as I am paired generally with him I ask leave to withdraw my vote. [A pause.] I am informed that the Senator from Nebraska voted ''nay '' before. So I will · let my vote stand.

Mr. PADDOCK. I am paired with the Senator from Louisiana LMr. EuSTIS]. Not knowing how he would vote, I 1·efrain from voting.

Mr. EVARTS. I am paired with the Senator from,. Alabama [Mr. MoRGAN]. I should vote" yea" if he were present.

Mr. COCKRELL. I am paired with the Senator from Connecticut [Mr. HAWLEY]. If he were present, he would vote ''yea" and I should vote "nay."

Mr. PAYNE (after having voted in the affirmative). I am paired with the Senator from Nebra-ska [Mr. MANDERSON]. I ask leave to withdraw my vote.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Ohio withdraws his vote.

Mr. KENNA. The Senator from Ohio :is paired on this particular vote with the Senator from Nebraska [Mr. MANDERSON).

The result was announced-yeas 24, nays 24; as follows:

Allison, Beck, Chandler, Cullom, Davis, Dawes,

Farwell, Frye, Hale, Hampton, Harris. Hiscock,

, YEA.S-24. Hoar, Sherman, Ingalls, Spooner, Jones of Arkansas, Stanford, Morr;:J, Stockbridge, Platt, \Vilson of Iowa, Saulsbury, Wilson of Md.

the currency would be contracted by reason of the national banks sell- Bate, . ing their bonds and thereby being compelled to surrender their circu- Berry, btion. Blackburn,

NAY8-24. Daniel, Palmer, Faulkner, Plumb, George, Ransom,

Teller, Turpic, Vance, Vest, Vo01·hees, WalthnU,

Mr. PLUI\ID. But my proposition goes beyond that. g~~eron, 1\Ir. HISCOCK. I· say to the Senator very frankly that I am not at Coke,

Jones of Nevada, Reagan, Kenna, _ Sabin,

the present time disposed to enter into the question whether it is best 1

now to purchase of the national banks the bonds at such price as they ma.y see fit to ask for them, looking to the retirement of the bonds and our 1mtting out in placo of them Treasury notes. If that is the question the Senator asks me, I sny that upon this bill I do not propose to discuss that question. It would then make it a question as between the national banks and the Government, whether the banks can make mow money by selling their bonds to the Government and' giving up the circulation which they received in place of them, a.nd using the notes they receive as the circulation of the banks.

I say that upon this bill there is no propriety in discussing that question. The pro posit' on comes here ind~pendent of any proposition to reduce re\•enbe, providing one means, one method, by which the money which is now piled up in the vaults of the Government may be gotten out to the people. If we were prepared to add to this bill another measure which looked to the reduction of the revenues or which provided some other method to relieve the Government of the amount of money which it has now on hand, then the amendmentoffered by the Senator from Kansas would be properly here for discussion. But it seems to me that I have answered all of the proprieties of the case in reference to that amendment and kindred propositions when I make it manifest that by such a bw it would be utterly impossible to relieve the Treasury of a single dollar of the surplus which has accumulated there; it would be practically impossible to add a dollar to· the circulating medium·now in use by the people.

The PRESIDENT p1·o ternpore. The question recurs on the amendment proposed by the Senator from Kansas [Mr. PLU.l\fB].

1\Ir. MORRILL. I mo>e to lay the amendment on the table. The PRESIDENT pro tempoTe. The Senator from Vermont moves

to lay the amendment on the table. :M:r. PLUUB. I ask for the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered.· Mr. BLACKBURN. Ur. President, following the adviceofthecom

mittee when this amendment substantially was pending before, and without careful consideration I voted to lay it on the table. I am sat-

1\Iitchell, Stewart, ABSENT-28.

Aldrich, Cockrell Gorman, Paddock, Blair, Colquitt.; Gray, Pasco, Blodgett, Dolph, Hawley, Payne, Bowen, Edmunds, Hearst, Pugh, Brown, Eustis, .r.IcPherson, Quay, Butler, Evarts, 1\[andersorz, Riddleberger, Chace, Gibson, Morgan, Sawyer.

So the motion to lay the amendment on the table was not agreed to. The PRESIDENT pro tempm·e. The question recurs on the adoption

of the amendment. Mr. PLUMB. I ask for the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered. Mr. BECK. Let it be read. .1. The PRESIDENT pm tempore. The amendment will be again read. The SECI!ET.A.RY. The amendment is to add to the bill: That whenever the circulation of any national bank, or any portion thereof,

shall be surrendered, and the same is not taken up by other national banks within thirty days thereafter, the Secretary of the Treasury shall thereupon issuean equivalent amount of Treasury notes of the denominations now provided by law for national-bank notes. Said Treasury notes shall be deposited in the Treasury and paid out as other moneys kept for the discharge of the obligations of the Government. Tbey shall be receivable for salaries and for all dues to the Government, including duties on imports; shall be a legal-tender between na- · tional banks, and for all debts due to any national bank; shall be redeemable in coin, as the leg-al-tender notes of the United States now are; and when received into the Treasury they shall be reissued ; and when mutilated or worn they shall be replaced in the same manner as now provided by law for said legal-tender notes. The coin held in the Treasury at the date of the passage of this act for the redemption of the legal-tender notes of the Government shall also be applicable to the redemption of the Treasury notes herein provided for; nod such coin reserve may, from time to time, be increased by adding thereto other sums from payments made into tho Treasury, in the discretion ofthe Secretary of the Treasury: Provided, That the total amount of said coin reserve shall never be less than 25 pet· cent nor more than 30 pm· cent. of the total amount of legal-tender and Treasury notes outstanding, the true intent and meaning of this section being that the volume of paper money outstanding (exclusive of gold and silver cerlificates) shall remain as now existing.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. On the question of agreeing to this amendment the yeas and nays have been ordered.

The Secretary procee~ed to call the roll.

CONGRESSIONAL RECO~D-SENATE. MARon 26,

Mr. COCKRELL (when his name was called). I am paired with the - Senator from Connec~~cut [Mr. HAWLEY]. If he were present, I pre

sume he wou1d vote nay ' ' and I should certainly vote "yea." Mr. EV .ARTS (when his name was called). I am paired with the

Senator from Alabama [M:r. UORG.AN]. Inhisabsence I cannotvote. Mr. HISCOCK {when his name was called). I am paired with the

Senator from New Jersey [Mi. :McPHERSON], but as I know he would yote against this amendment if present, I vote "nay."

Mr. PADDOCK (when his name was called). I am paired with the Senator from Louisiana [M:r. Eu sTis]. I do not know how he would vote if present., and therefore I withhold my vote.

Mr. PAYNE (when his name was called). I am paired with the Senator from Nebraska [Mr. MANDERSON]. If he were here, I should vote "nay." ,..

Mr. PLATT (when his name was called). My colleague [Mr. HAwLEY] is absent, paired with the Senator from Missouri [Mr. CocKRELL]. If my colleague were here, he would vote ''nay."

- 1\lr. PUGH (when his name was called). I should vote "yea," but that I am paired with the Senator from Vermont [Mr. EmmNns].

Mr. SPOONER (when Mr. SAWYER's name was called). My colleague [Mr. SAWYER], as I stated some time ago, is absent from the city , and paired with the Senator from Georgia [Mr. BROWN].

Mr. WILSON, of Maryland (when his name was called). I am paired with the Senator from Rhode Island [Mr. CHACE], but as he would vote ''nay," I vote "nay."

The roll-call was concluded: Mr. KENN4. I am paired with the Senator from Minnesota [Mr.

SAmN]. If he were present, I should vote "yea." _ Mr. CALL. My colleague [Mr. P .ASCO] is paired with the Senator

from Pennsylvania [Mr. QUAY]. Mr. COCKRELL. I was paired with the Senator from Connecticut

[Mr. HAWLEY] and so announced; but I transff;r the pair to the Senator from Colorado [Mr. BOWENl, who is absent. If the Senator from Colorado were here: he would vote ''yea'' and the Senator from Connecticut would vote ''nay.'' I v~te ·'yea. ' '

Mr. KENN.A. I understand that the Senator from Minnesota [Mr. SABIN], with whom I am paired, is in favor of the amendment. So I vote " yea."

1\fr. BROWN. I am paired with the senior Senator from Wisconsin (l\Ir. SAWYER]. I should vote "yea" if he were present.

Mr. FRYE. I notice for the first time that the Senator from Maryland [Mr. GoRMAN] is absent,· and in his absence I am generally paired with him. I do not know how he would vote on this amendment if present, but it is a very important amendment, and as I am ignorant of his position in relation to it, I shall refrain from voting. I should vote against the amendment if not paired.

'Ihe result was announced-yeas 28, nays 21; as follows: YEAS-28.

nate, Beck, Rerry, Hinck burn, Blair,

Cockrell, Coke, Daniel, Dolph, Faulkner, George, Ingalls,

_Jones of Nevada, Kenna,

Stewart, Teller, Turpie, Vance, Vest, Voorhees, Walthall.

Call, Cnweron,

Mitchell, Palmer, Plumb, Ransom, Reagan,

NAYS-21. Allison , Chandler, Cullom, Davis, Dawef!, Farwell,

Gray, Hale, Hampton, Harris, Hiscock, Hoar,

. Jones of Arkansas, Stockbridge, :Morrill, Wilson of Iowa, Platt, Wilson of Md. Saulsbury, Sherman, Spooner,

• .ABSENT-27. Aldrich, Edmunds, Hearst., Blodgett, Eustis, McPherson, Bowen, Evarts, Manderson, Brown, Frye, Morgan,

- Butler, Gibson, Paddock, Chace, Gorman, Pasco, Colquitt, Hawley, Payne,

So the amendment was agreed to.

Pugh, Qua y ,

~ Rid~leberger, Sabin, Sawyer, Stanford,

Mr. STEW ART. I offer an amendment as additional sections to the bill.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The amendment will be stated. The CHIEF CLERK. It is proposed to add as additional sections the

following: SEc. -. That any person may deposit at any mint or assa y office of the United

States either gold or silver bullion, or both, in quantities of not less tha n 5 ounces of gold or 80 ounces of silver. and demand and receive coin certificates thet·efor The price to be paid for gold bullion, in exchange for certificates, shall be at the rate of $1 for 25.8 grains of gold, nine·tenths fine; the price to be paid for silver bullion, in exchange for certificates, shall be stated by the Secretary of the Treasury on the 1st and 15th day of each calendar month, and when either of these days shall fall on Sunday, or any other holiday, such statement shall be m.ade on the following secular day, and the price so stated shall be equal to the average quotations of silver in the N ewYork City market during the fifteen days next preceding such statement: Provided, That the price stated by the Secretary of the Treasury shall not exceed $1 for 412t grains of silver, nine-tenths fine. Bullion below the standard value deposited under the provisions of this section may be reduced to the required fineness at the several mints and a ssay offices of the United States, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary oft he Treasury, at the same cost to the depositor as is now charged for reducing gold bullion to the standat·d 1·equired for coinage.

SEc. -. The <:oin ~ertificates issued under the provisions of this act shall be o~ such denominations as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe: Provtded, That they shall not be of less denomination than ~1 or more than n ()()() and t.hat one-half ofth~ amount iss~ed shall be of denomina tions less than $50; and. shall be redeemable rn gold or stlver coin at the option of t.he United S lates. And the Secretary of lhe Treasury shall cause to be coined from time to time such portion of the b~lion dep~sited :under the provisio_ns of this act as maybe neces~ary t<? enable. him to furmsh com f?:t; the redempt10n of such cet·tiiicates. All co~n cet·ti~cates Issued under the provl8Ions of this act shall be a legal tender at therr no~mal valt~e for all dues, public and private, except where otherwise expressly stipulated m contracts heretofore made.

Mr. MORRILL. I ask for the yea~ and nays on that amendment. The yeas and nays were ordered. Mr. STEW ART. I should like tO explain the exact provisions of the

a~endment. This amendment simply provides that persons having etther gold or silver bullion may deposit it in the several mints and assay offices of the Unites States and receive therefor coin certificates? The price fixed upon gold is the standard price of $1 for 25.8 grains of standard gold. The price fixed upon silver is the market price. Persons are to deposit it a.nd receive the market price. That market price is to be ascertained by the New York quotations during the preceding :fifteen days. ~he certificates to be issued for it are to be in denominations not less than one dollar nor more than a thousand dolla rs; but one-half of the amount of the certificates must be in denominations less than fifty dollars. When bullion is deposited it is provided that it shall be reduced to the proper :finrness at the assay office where depos~te?- at the same ch~ges that are now made on gold for preparing it for comage. The certificates are redeemable in the same manner that the gold and silver certificates now issued are redeemable.

I ~ave now s~ated the sub~tance of the amendment. It does not put up silver. It s1mply allows Itt{) be used as money at its market value. ~ th!nk t.hat if this amend.ment ca.n be adopted we shall have prosperIty 1!1 th1s country .. It w_1ll stop the contraction that is now going on. It w1l1 not produce mflat10n beyond the actual amount of bullion produced. Bullion has been used for a thousand years; and the avowed object of demonetizing part of it was to limit the currency. In 1873 Congress demonetized silver, .and it has gone down. I recoO"nize that fact; I take the situation as it now is, and provide for taking silver at its market value.

Ur. PLATT. Does not this amendment oblige the Government to coin all the silver that anybody chooses to bring?

Mr. STEW AUT. No, it requires the Government to purchase nothing. There is no element of that l~ndin it. It simply exchanges coin certificates for sih·er bullion at its market ·mine. Do you say yon purchase gold when you allmv it to be coined? Was it a purchase of gold or silver from the beginning when each had that privilege which had been extended through all ages to exchange it on a known basis? Was that regal'ded as a purchase? No; it is but a means of furnishin()' circulation; it costs the- Government nothing; it bases the circulati;n on the bullion. You might as well say it was purchasing gold when you allow it to go to the mints to be coined.

Mr. PLATT. If it is not a purchase, it has this effect at any rate to oblige the Government to take all the silver in the country and issu~ certificates for it if all the silver should be offered.

1\Ir. STEW ART. Certainly, the same as it takes all the gold now, and to make these certificates a legal tender. We treat silver at its market price. You have depreciated its market price by legislation. We accept that; but we now say treat it as a money metal and have prosperity, and be able to l?ay your debts according to the contract and give the people some chance for prosperity or for relief. '

See how this compares with your scheme of national banks. You say that the n..'l>tional-bank notes are good money. Why? Because the bonds they deposit are security for the notes. Very well, the bond is put into the Treasury as security_for the note . • My colleague has well asked, Why not keep the bond m the Treasury and save the 2 per cent.? Why put it out and pay 2 per cent. more, and then put it back in the Treasury as security?

I pl'opose the old-fashioned way of having money. It avoids your schemes; it avoids tinkering with the money of the country; it avoids going to W~ll street and asking the speculators there to make some arrangement whereby a little c,·tn be doled out. It lets the people know the basis on which money is issued, and it returns as far as practicable (recognizing what lias already been done) to the do!lble standard, allowing the producer of bullion to bring it to the mints and receive certificates for it at its market value.

It is suggested that we coniine the provision to what is produced in this country. That is unnecessary, and I want to say right here that there is no danger of the Treasury being flooded with silver under tbis · provision. There is not $5,000,000 of silver bullion in Europe and America. I know what is the operation here. It is shipped by every steamer. With the disposition to demonetize it the producers do not know what may happen, and it is unsafe property to keep. So in England; she has sent the bullion to Asia, and it has never l'eturned and it will not return.

Then we are told that Europe will demonet ize her silver and send it here. That can not be done. She has none that she can afford to demonetize and send here. If we should coin it and ra~e it at 16 to 1 she could not send any here. He1· silver is circulating on a par with

1888. CONGRESSIONAL REOORD~SENATE. 2405 gold at a. relation of 15} to 1. If brought here, and we paid 16 to 1 :tor it-if we paid par for it, they could not bring it here then, because they would have to put another half-ounce of silver in each dollar's worth before they could make it 16 to 1. But there is no danger of any coming from Europe. Europe is not going to take her silver legal tender and send it to us, her legal moneythat is circulating among the people; she is not going to send it here at 25 or 26 per cent. discount. It is dollar for dollar there, and a part of her legal-tender money that circulates on a par with gold, and to send it here she would have to pay par for it and sell it here at a discount.

There is >cry little that can come from Mexico. It is c-irculating there. They have use for their sil >er there, and ha>e none to send to us. I tell you there is no danger whatever. The only difficulty will be that we shall DDt get enough. We shall have a basis that the people will know; -we shall have a currency that the people will know how it is circulated and by whom; and we shall return to allowing our exchanges to be regulated by silver as well as gold. It is a step in the right direction. Pass this measure, and my word for it you will have prosperity.

l\1r. EVARTS. Mr. President, I would ask the Senator from Nevada. whether his confidence in the result of this amendment is not undertaking a responsibility quite in advance of the general judgment of the community, although that judgment may greatly desire a step in the right direction to tbe rehabilitation of silver? For myself, adher-ing firmly to the proposition that the two precious metals should form the basis of circulation and of the support of credits in common, I have not been able to see that any moYement could be made forward in the absence of some convention with Europe on the subject that should extend the opening of our mints on any condition beyond the product of this country.

The Senator from Nevada would undoubtedly regard that as a step forward, but not so great a step forward as he would desire, and upon his horoscope of the future he would be responsible that all the movements of sil Yer from Emope, now stagnant and paralyzed to n. certain extent, and the immense production of new silver from the mines of Mexico and the now tendency of our silver outward to obtain a good market in India, would all be so unaffected by this new movement, which he considers a prodigious movement, so great a movement that it makes a difference between prosperity to this great nation and a lack of prosperity-that this agitation will all tend to nothing but this rehabilitation of the value of Ril>er and its enlargement as n. part of our currency. .

Mr. Presideut1 a step back ward in this direction can not be ea-sily t.."tken. If this movement were confined in its present shape, which I agree doe3 not cu haucc the mea u re of our coinage given to the silver thus in1roduced, ir it cnuld lJe limited to the silver produced :in this country, weshonld ha,·e an ex_pcriment of great interest, of great value, and containing 110 seriou:3 threat to the influence upon the currency and values in common of this country. llut with all my desire that by convention, if possible, and in an accurate measure of convention with Europe, we should establish a system of our own, I can not ::;eo any wisdom in the Yery precipitate movement that is forced upon the country in this sideway amendment of n. measure with which it has no conne(}tion; nor do I believe that the public mind, whether it favors the enlargement of silver currency or not, has at all meditated upon this measure. lf the Rt-nator from Nevada has done so,l1e has the gre.at distinction of being more alert than the rest of the country. In measures of this kind It is not wise to go in advance of the public judgment as deliberately formed in matters that concern in a most intimate sense alI that tonch4 s the currency and the values in common of this country. I must there!ore Yote against this measme, beca.use I believe it will not :wcomplish and may endanger what I desire-a sound and sure movement towards the rehabilitation of silver.

Mr. S1'E\VAltT. E,·ery movement has to be begun. The movement to rlemone~ize silver had a beginning. Movement after movement to restore silver to currency has been made. We are making no experiment when we go back to a. thousand years' experience., It was a mistake to rlemonetize silver. But we do not seek to remedy that mistake altogether; we only propose a step in that direction.

l\fy bill provided that silver bullion should be recei ,-ed by the Treasury Department at 412:! grains for a dollar, received at par; but it was objected O.at it was already at a lower price than that. Then I s..'ty receive it at its market priee and use it as a basis of currency. That is the pending amendment..

This talk about getting the consent of Europe is all bosh. You can not do that. T.hey have a deliberate policy there which this would destroy entirely. I believe the sentiment of this country, having seen the experiment, is overwhelmingly in favor of the use of silver as well as gold as a. basis of circulation. I believe it is overwhelmingly in favor of such an extension of currency as ma.y be made by the use of both metals and that the country wants no arbitrary limitation. I believe that the thousand millions of mortgageS on the value of property are made heavier by our contraction policy. I believe this continual contraction of the currency will ruin the debtors. I do not believe I shall ha.ve any opportunity to get an expression of opinion on the subject un-1 ess I offer it as an amendment to a bill w hicb is likely to become a law.

If I could see any other way I should not offer it as an ammdment here.

I offered my bill early in the session. I sent amendments to it to the committee, a.nd Ihavehru>rd nothing from them. There is no way to bring the subject before the Senate except by an amendment when a bill is pending. No report is made upon it, no reason has been assigned by the Finance Committee why silver should not be received, and we have gone on for fifteen years, and during those fifteen years the value of all commodities has shrunk over 33! per cent., business hns been paralyzed, and it has been said here to-day that the country -was trembling on the brink of ruin. Something must be done. You struck at the basis of its progperity and one-half the foundation of its currency. Now it is trembling. We get no report from the Finance Committee, no consideration of this great question. They promise to do it in the future. That bas been the talk. You may promise fore\·er. 'Ve want performance in this line, and if we can not ha.Ye the benefit of the consideraqonofa. committee on so important :1 question I say the Senate is bound to consider it, discuss it and vote upon it. I believe that every Senator, if lle will examine the question ca.refully, wm feel conscientiously bound toletthepeoplehavesilver as moneyon the old basis.

The idea. of letting Europeans run our finances and not taking care of ourselves has not worked well. Wedonotwantthem. Why should we not provide for ourselves?

I ask to have a reasonable amount of .circulation based upon the precious metals, so that the people may do business, so that they shall not be compelled to sell their wheat 1or nothing. Wheat is lower than it has been 1or one hundred years. Why? It is a plain proposition. We can buy wheat here on a gold basis and you have to sell it in England on a gold basis. They can buy silver here for 26 per cent. discount to-day, ta.ke that silver to India, and sell it at par for wheat. There is no part of the world where wheat is grown that has prospered in the last ten years and has developed its resources except India, where they have had a. silver basis. The silver-basis countries are prosperous because they have abundant currency by getting onr cheap silver. When the merchant who has bought;vheat on a silver basis in India comes in competition with the merchant who has bought wheat on a gold basis in the United States he can undersell him, and this cuts off our foreign market. The same is true of cotton.

When the1·e ia a question affecting the people as this does, if it is not considered in committee, the whole Senate should convert itself into a Committe,e of the Whole and examine the subject, and see if there is any relief for the farmers and for the mechanics and for the laboring men of this country, or whether we shall go on contracting.

We are told by Mr. Wells that it does not make any difference ho~ much money we have. He says the values are short as much as the money is short, and they will accommodate themselves to it. That is true. If you destroy one-half of the world's money, if you reduce the money you have now one-half; values will shrink correspondingly, and they will continually shrink. That is an argument, he says, wlly we do not need any mon~ money. We draw it down, and so reduce the debts of the people and decrease the value Of property, which shrinks to accommodate itself to the volume of money. Will you let this gd on? If it is not worthy of discussion in open Senate, it has to be discussed elsewhere. · ·

Mr. EVA. RTS. Mr. President, the Senator from Nevada mixes with this discussion very large and important considerations which do not seem to bear upon the question before us. I will agree with him from the bottom of my hea.rt that the capital error, the stupendous blunder, of European statesmanship has been the demonelization of silver. I will agree that we. have suffered under that demonetization, but Germany and England have suffered much more. The lack of prosperity may grow out of this disturbance between the united current of the two precious metals which have built up ami on which are sustained the credit of the world, but which are now made to war against one another. EYery depreciation of the value of either of them or the enhancement of one at the expense of the other is a mischief to commerce. All this I will agree with. No doubt the ·demonstration has been marked step by step in the history of Europe and of this country, till now we seem to be reduced really to a practical, and, for the time at least, a permanent, reductionofthe silver values in the currency of the world by one-quarter of the nominal rate of silver. But the Sen a tor does not propose to redress that mischief and to restore that parity by opening our mints to-silver; by no means. He does not open the mints to silver, for the mints are never opened to silver unless they are opened to coin the silver as coin at the value at which the dollar is rated.

Mr. STEW ART. The Senator will allow me. The Secretary of the . Treasury is authorized to coin a certain amount per month. Does the Senator prefer another amendment which I have, providing that any one could put in silver on the same terms as gold at the ratio of 16 to 1, that is, the ratio of 412i grains of standard silver to 25.8 grains of standa.rd gold, and receive it free at the mint the same as gold? .Are you prepared for that? That is free coinage.

nir. EVARTS. I have stated that in redress of the mischiefs which the Sena.tor complains of, and justly, from the demonetization of silver

•

•

2406 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. MARon 26.

by t11e action of Germany, I did not propose at one bound to open our That they shall not be of less denomination than $1, or more th11.n SL.OOO, and that ,.,..;nts to the coinage of the silver of the world. one-half of the amount issued shall be of denominntions les.'3 than $.)0, and shall ~ be redeemable in gold or silver coin at the option of the United States. And

l\Ir. STEW ART. To what does the Senator refer? the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause to be coined from time to time such l\Ir. EVARTS. I am talking about the pxoposition of our friends here. portion of the bullion deposited under the provisions of this act as may be neces-

h h · · · ki sury to enable-him to fm-nish coin for the redemption of such certificates. All Nobody will venture to eay t at t at proposition IS ta ng any proper coin certificates issued under the pl'Ovisions of this act shall be a legal tender at step to what we desire, a restoration of parity between silver and gold their nominal value for all du.es, public and private, except where otherwise exat a proper measure. I said it might perhaps e~--perimentally be intro- prcssly stipulated in contracts heretofore made. duced as undertaking to have better care for the silver produced in our l\Ir. PLATT. Mr. President, the reading of the proposed amendown mines, leaving out the rest of commerce, Europe and the South ment shows the inadvisability of acting upon a. proposition of this kind American nations, to take care of their silver and see that it does not in this hurried manner. In very important particuln.rs it differs from fhll too much on their hands, while we weTe taking care of our own. the amendment of which we have had notice, and which has been be-

It is to me, therefore, a question of prudence and of what steps are fore the Senate only since March 1, 1888. Any one reading the amendto bring us most safely and without relapse and disaster to the final ment of which we have had notice and votin~ for the amendment which object. The risk we recognize is that the steady, historical, uniform has been proposed to-day might be mistaken, or if he understood the co-ordination of the two metals in sustaining t.he commerce a.nd credits amendment of to-day would vote hastily upon :first impression upon a of the world bas been interrupted; but it does not follow that if one matter of the greatest importance. limb has been broken you can afford to, dance with it instead of musing it I bad expected to bear from the Finance Committee on this proposiso as to secure the restoration of the bruised lir:Ob. Wnetber I would or tion. I know that they are much better equipped for this discussion would not introduce a measure, I can Qnly sa.y that this measure, as it than I n.m. I do not intend to discuss it at any length, but before a appears in my judgment, is not the wisest and the best, nor does it vote is taken I think I ought to say that it seems to me we are Jannchcarry us as much forward in what we might expect to gain as one would ing our ship upon an unknown sea; whither it will sail no man can that was limited to our own silver. I certainly should not propose to tell. open the mints to coinage for all the silver of Europe. I venture to say There ha..':l been a great deal said here to-day about the 0ontrnction of t hat a great deal of European silver not now in the shape of coin would the currency in the past few years. I bad been of the impression that come here if they could put .it into different forms. You open our the currency of the country had not been contracted within the past mints for all the silver of the world to come here and take out our few years; that, tdking the gold and silver coin, the greenbacks or silver dollars that a1·e a legal tender here, and see whether they will legal-tender notes, the national-bank notes, our currency had been inn ot lose 3 per cent. and 5 per cent. and 10 per cent., to the detriment creased rather than diminished within the past few years. I think I of our silver standard which was created for us. am right. Whether our cuiTency is equal in volume to the necessities

But I have hoped that a judicious measu.re might be framed in the atld 1·equirements of trade and population is another thing; but that interest of our silver product, which we can count and measure, and there bas been by reason of the retirement of the national-bank notes whatever benefit was done to it was done within our own territory and any absolute decrease in the currency, the circnlating medium of the for our own product, by which we might escape a resort to the public country, I think is not true. m arket as a measure of silver. But the Senator from Nevada still ad- I have seen no returns for the past few months; but a few months h eres t o the market. I had hoped that at some measure between par ago I 1."UOW that it was not true, but that on the other hand there bad and 75 per cent. we migh t give to our silver a xecognition of free coin- been an absolute increase in the volume of our circulating medium. age here at a measure say of 87t cents, and which would be a move- Possibly there may have been some diminution since the last statement ment towards elevating the value of our silver and of forcing upon which I saw, but I apprehend that when the facts are brought to our E urope t he necessity of looking out for a disastrous effect upon its own knowledge, when the :figures are before us, as they are not now-no silver. one bas given any figures to-day - it will be found that there has been

l\Ir. STEW ART. If you said silver should not go above a certain no actual decrea~e, that the coinage of the silver dollar has moxe than figure, then you would fix a new ratio. made up for the retil·ement of national-bank notes. Yet we are told

Mr. EVARTS. I would attempt to deal with the problem as a wise to-day that there has been SllCh contraction that prosperity has gone, physician or surgeon would, by such prudent remedies as the condition that ruin stares us in the face. of the patient seemeq to require. If be had but one leg, I would try Mr. President, if we should believe aU that bas been said within- the to fix up the other. last half hour we should believe that this was not a prosperous coun-

Mr. STEW ART. So would I; and not cut off the head at once. try, that it was a country from which prosperity bad fled. We were Mr. EVARTS. I was talking oflegs, not heads. Let us stick to told by the Senator from Nevada within the last five minutes that in

the metaphor. the past ten years there had been no prosperity in the world except in Now, a grave discussion on a proposition of tha.t kind would be nee- India.

essary before the public mind, before the Senate, before the House of Mr. STEWART. Oh, no. Representatives could wisely under take such a measure. This pend- l\Ir. PLATT. The RECORD will show what the language of the Scn-ing (lroposition exposes us as now proposed to a. combination on the ator was. He said there was no prosperity in the world except in Inpart of all those who have silver to part with at a better rate than they dia, where silver was used. 1-:!r. President, has not this country beeu can get otherwise, to raid the market of silver in the city of New York prosperous for the last ten years? Has there ever been such prosperity for the purposes of an avernge to be made. But the principal, and I on the face ofthe earth as this conntr~ has enjoyed in the last ten years? suppose final, answer t o the adoption of this measure as an amendment Why should it be thought necessary to nm down our own country in to a necessary bill, with which it has no connection, is reason enough order to pass an amendment of this sort? WhateYer may be in quesfor voting against it. tion as to whether there bas been contraction or not, if this amendment

Now, if the Finance Committee, against whose slownes.:; of movement shoulu pass we should ha,ve unlimited inflation. No man c..1>u now comthe Senator from Nevada has spoken, will meditate on what is the best pnte the amount of inflation which would occur under this measure. measure forward towards our financial aim in rehabilitating silver, I The Senator from Nevada asks me why? I will endeavor to answer certainly shall give it a candid support with a readiness to go as far as him. If I undexstand the reason for the decline of silver, when you the farthest in what may be rational and involving no menace of too have taken out all other element3 that enter the determination of that rapid and serious ~nterference with the basis of things now existing. question, silver has declined as all othex things decline, because there

Mr. STE'V ART. I think there is a misapprehension as to the ) bas been an overproduction of i~ in the world, because there bas been amendment that is before the Senate. The amendment as printed bas more sil ve:r than was required for coinage and other uses, including manbeen very much changed, and for the infoxmation of the Senate I should ufacturing and the arts, more than the people desired to use. That like to have it rereau, that Senators may know just what it is. bas been the reasonfor the decline in silver. Other things I know have

Mr. PLATT. I shall be glad to have it read. entered in, but that universal Jaw of supply and demand bas not been The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The amend~ent will be read. without its effect upon the decline in silvex. The CHIEli' CLERK. It is proposed to add as new sections: What does this amendment propose to do? It proposes that there

SEc.-. That any person may deposit at any mint or assay office of the United States either gold or sih·er bullion, or both, in quantHies of not less than five ounces of ~old or eighty ounces of silver, and demand and receive coin certificates therefor. 'l'he p:·ice to be paid for gold bu.llion, in exchange for certificates, shall be at the rate of $1 for 25.8 grains of gold, nine-tenths fine; the price to be paid forsih-er buWon, in exchange for certificates. shall be stated by the ecretary of the Treasury on the lstand 15th day of each calendar montll, and when either of these days shall foil on Sunday, or any other holiday, such statement sh::tll b e made on the following secular day, and the price so stated shall be equal to the average quotations ofsil ver in tL1e New York City market dUI·ing the fifteen days next preceding such statement: Provided, That the price stated by the Secretary of the Treasury shall not exceed l for 412t grains of silver, nine-tenths fine. Bullion below the standard Yalue deposited under the provisions of this section may be reduced to the required fineness at the several mints and n."say offices of the United States, under regulations prescribed by the Sec1·etary oftbe Treasury, at the same cost to the depositor as is now charged for reducinoo gold bull-ion to l.he standard required for coinage. - "'

SEc. - . The coin certificates issued under the provisions of this act shall be of such <l.enominations as the Sect·etary of the Treasury shall prescribe: Provided,

shall be no overproduction of silver in the world. :Mr. JONES, of Nevada. I wish to ask the Senator a question. If

there has been such a great overproduction of silver ip. the world, and tbe cause for its decline, as the Senator bas stated, is this overproduction, if the uses for it did not demand the whole of it, why is it that the same amount of silver will buy more of land and labor and all the commodities that enter into our daily life tba.n it would before its demonetization?

1\Ir. PLATT. I am not going into that question. I am going to st.'llld by this uutil somebody shows me that I am wrong, that silver has declined because there has been more produced of it than could be coined under the demonetization of silver in Europe, under our laws for coirrage, and than could be used in the arts and manufactures. In other words, more silver was produced tha.n there was use for. I think that will not be denied.

'

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 2407 Mr. TEL LEn. I should like to say that I will take occasion to. deny

it if I can get the floor, and I think I can show that there is not the slightest foundation for that sta,tement. ·

Mr. PLATT. Very well. If that be true, silver is di:;.ent from any other commodity on earth. When there is a full demand for a commodity the price increases; when there is not a suffici~nt ~ema.nd for the production the price decreases; and I shall look w1th mterest to fact-s and :figures which 0\erthrow this universal l-aw with regard to prices.

But I was going to remark that if this bill passes the Senator from Nevada may well Sfl.Y there will be prosperity. There will, but it will be the prosperity which comes with inflation, to be followed at last by worse adversity. The history of t he world has shown that wbe:n a government begins, upon the demand for more money, to increase its paper money, there is no end to that increase and inflation except absolute bankruptcy and :financial ruin.

To be sure this is not exactly the inflation of a meTe paper currency, but it is an i'nflation which no man knows where it wiU stop. And why? Because if there be not now an o~erprod'!ction of silver in t~e world there will be an increased produchon of silver the moment this measC:re goes into operation. When any man owning a silver mine knows that he can take all his snrplus silver to the United States Government and receive for it coin certificates, the business will be good and it will be pursued with renewed and redoubled energy, and the production will be increased.

I heard the Senator from Nevada say solto 1:oce that this bill would put silver at pn:r. And ~vhy ~ Because it will furnish a custom.er for all the silver that can hemmed m tbewboleworld. And whatwill be the effect of that? Simply that mining will be more profitable, will attract new capital, will enlist new enterprise, and the more it is produced the more the Government musttakeofit andissne the coin certificates there for and this not only in the United States but throughout the world. Tb

1ere is nothing to prevent the bringing of silver to this country, and

there is nothing to prevent any f(rreigner, anybot1y on the whole face of the wide globe, from bringing all his surplus silver to the Treasury of the United States and taking the coin certificates of this Government for it.

The very :first words in the amendment-and they have not been changed-are that "any person," no matter whether he is mining silver in South America, Mexico, in Canada, in the Himalaya Mountains, can brin..., his silver in bullion to the United States Treasury and take coin certilicates therefor. If the mining of silver is profitable now when silver is worth 70 cents on the gold dollar, will it not be very mnch more profitable when, by reason of having a market for every ounce of silver that can be mined in the whole globe- will it notbesomuch more profitable that the output of sUver will be immensely increased? And that process is to go on? The Go•ernment is to take all the sm-plus silv~r there is now, be it $5,000,000 or $50,000,000, and when that is gone It is to take all that can be produced in the future.

Mr. President, while I would be entirely willing to consider the question of whether we ha\e circulation enough now, whether our circulating medium is sufficient for our wants, and to adopt wise measures to increase that circulatiOn if it be not sufficient for our wants, I am tillwilling to enter upon any snch unexplored sea. as this proposed increase of our circulat ing medium.

I reO'ret M:r. President, that a measure of this importattce should have been' thus snddenlythrust upon the Senate-all the surplus silver of the world to be issued in coin certificates of the United States, and the coinage of gold and sil\er to cease except as the Secretary of the Treasury may order it to be done. I think that is in the amendment.

'· rTo gold or silver sh1all be hereafter coined"-Mr. STEW AHT. That is not the amendment. Mr. PLATT. "Except what may be n ecessary in payment of the

obligations of tbe United States exp~ssly made payable in coin," etc. The Senator says that has been stncken out. };fr. STEW ART. That is not the amendment. It is anothe1· amend

ment. Mr. PLATT. It was the amendment which the Senator proposed

to o1l'cr. I f in this respect at lea t be has seen the unwisdom of his proposition and withdraw,n that portion of his amendment, I am thankful for it.

Mr. BECK . - Mr. President--1\Ir. HARRIS. As the whole financial question bus been precipi

t a ted upon ns in debate, I hardly think tbe Senate will find it conYenient t o continue the discussion longer to-day. In view of this fact I move t hat t he Senate do now proceed to the consideration of executive b usiness.

• Mr. STEWART. I ask for an orderthatt~e amendment be printed as modified.

The PRE IDE~ p l'o tcmpol'e. That order will be made if there be no objection. Before putting the que ·tion on the motion of the Senator from Tennessee t he Chair will la.y before the Senate sundry bills from the House of Representatives for reference.

severally read twice by their titles, an<f referred to the Committee on the Judiciary :

A bill {H. R. 1874) to change the eastern and northern judicial districts of Texas, and for other purposes ;

A bill {H. R. 4948) to amend section 988 of the Revised Statutes, regulating stays on executions in courts of the United States;

A. bill (H. R. 8180) to regulate the liens of judgments and decrees of the courts of the United States : and •

A bill (H. R. 8808) to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for holding terms of United States courts at Vicksburg, 1\Ii.ss."

CLAIMS UNDER EIGIIT-HOUR LAW.

.Mr. DAWES submitted the following resoll;ltion; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

R esoh,•ed, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to communicate to the Senate in detail and by the ditl'e r ent classes therein named the amount allowed and dieallowed of accounts for services of laborers, workmen, and mechanics under the second section of chapter 172 of the sta tutes of 1872, making appropriations to supply deficiencies, elc., and for other purposes.

PUJ>LIC BUILDING AT CHARLOTTE, N . C.

:Mr. SPOONER. I ask the Senator from Tennessee to yield to permit me to ask unanimous consent to call up a public-building bill which I think will elicit no discussion.

Ur. HARRIS. If the Senator can obtain unanimous consent, I shall not object.

Mr. SPOONER. I ask unanimous consent to proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 408, being Senate bill 907, to provide for the erection of a public building at Charlotte, N. C.

l\lr. VANCE. I hope the Senate will proceed to the consideration of that bill.

By unanimous consent the bill (S. 907) to provide for the erection of a public building at Charlotte, N. C. , was considered as in Committee of the Whole . .

The bill was reported from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds with amendments, in section 1, line 3, after the word "o.t~" t o strike out" two hundred" and insert" one hundred and seventy-five;" in line 12, after the word "of," to strike out "two hundred 11 and in! sert 1

' one b nndred and seventy-:five; '' in line 15, after the word '' of,' ' to strike out " two hundred" and insert "one hundred and seventyfive; 11 and in line 19, after the word " alleys," to insert:

And that no money appropriated for this purpose shall be available until a. . valid title to the site to said building Phall be vested in the United States, nor until the State of North Carolina shall ha>e ceded to the United States exclusive jurisdiction over the same during the time the United States shall be or remain the owner thereof, for all purposes except the administration of the criminal laws of said State and the service of cidl process therein. 'l.'he Secretary of the Treasury may acquire said site by purchase, or by condemnation proceedings in the name of the United States.

So as to read: Tlfttt the sum of $175-,000 be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any

moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriat-ed, for the purpose of erecting a United States court-house and post-office in the city of Charlotte, N. C., to be expended under the direction of the Supet·vising Architect of the Treasury Department. The site, and building thereon, when completed upon plans and specifications to be previously made and appro...-ed by the Secretary of the Treasury , shall not exceed in cost the sum of ,.175,000; and no plan for said building shall be approved by the Secretary of ibe Treas;ury involving an expenditure exceeding the said sum of $175,000 for said builcling; and the site shalllea.ve the building unexposed to danger from fire by an open space of at least 40 feet, including streets and alleys. And that no money appropriated for this purpose shall be available until a valid title to the site to said building shall be vested in the United States, nor until the State of North. Carolina shall have ceded to the United States exclusive jurisdiction over the same, during the time the United

·states shall be or remain the owner thereof, for all purposes except the administration of the criminal laws of said State and the service of civil process therein . The Secretary of the Treasury may acquire said site by ptuchuse, or by condem.nalion proceedings in the name of the United States.

The amendments were agreed to. Mr. SPOONER. I offer the following amendment: .After the word

'1 of,'' in the sixth line, insert: Purchasing or acquiring by condemnation proceedings or otherwise a site

antl of. The amendment was agreed to. Mr. SPOONER. Also afte1· the word "erecting," in the sixth line,

I move to insert the word ' ' thereon.'' The amendment was. agreed to. l\fr. SPOONER. I move to strike ontall after the word 1

' T1·easm·y," in the hyenty-seventh line, and insert:

If in his judgment the public interest will be better subsen·ed, m ay direct the loca tion of said building Oll ground belonging to the United States situated in said city, a. part of which is now occupied b! tbe United States mint.

The amendment was agreed to. The bill was reported to the Senate u.s amended, and the amendments

were concurred in. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the

third time, and passed. ·

ENROLLED BILLS SIGNED. JIOUSE BILLS REF ERRED.

A message from the House of Representatives, by J.Ir. CLARK , i ts The following bills, received from the House of Representatives, were Clerk, announce(!. that the Speaker of the House had signed the follow-

-

2408 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. MAROH 26,

"ing enrolled bills; and they were thereupon signed by the President pro tempore:

A bill (H. R. 1528) to reward the Esquimaux natives of the Asiatic coast of the Arctic Ocean for acts of humanity to shipwrecked seamen;

A bill (H. R. 1589) to provideior holdingtermsofthe UnitedStates courts at Mississippi City;

A bill (H. R. 5373) to change the location of a certain alley in the city ofWashington; and •

A bill (H. R. 5723) to amend section 461 of the Revised Statutes, reguln.ting fees for exemplifications of land patents, and for other purposes.

EXECUTIVE SESSION. · Mr. HARRIS. I move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of executive business.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair first lays before the Senate the unfinished business, being the bill (H. H. 5034) to provide for the pnrcbuse of United States bonds by the Secretary of the Treasury. The Senator from Tennessee moves that the Senate proceed to the consideration of executi...-e business.

The motion was agreed to; and the Senate proceeded to the consideration of execul.ive business. After seven minutes spent in executive session the doors were reopened, and (at4o'clockand 53 minutes p. m.) the Senate· adjourned until to-morrow, Tuesday, March 27, 1888, at 12 o'clock m.

NO~HNATIONS.

Executive nominations receivecl by the Senate the 26tlt day of JJfarcl~, 1888. RECEIVERS OF PUBLIC 1\IONEYS.

E. Nelson Fitch, of-Ludington, Mich., to be receiver of public moneys at Grayling (formerly Reed City), Mich., vice William H. C. Mitchell, term expired.

1\Ir. Fitch was nominated to the Senate January 4, 1888, to be receiver of public moneys at Reed City, and so confirmed. Said office bas been removed to Grayling.

Francis T. Anderson, of Del Norte, Colo., to be receiver of public t;loneys at Del Norte, Colo., vice Charles A. Coryell, resigned.

REGISTER OF LAND OFFICE. J. H. Woodworth, ofWaupaea, Wis., to be register of the land office

at :Menasha, Wis., vice Henry Cornelius, deceased. INDIAN AGENT.

Thomas McCunni:ff, of Alamosa, Colo., to be agent for the Indians of the Southern Ute agency in Colorado, vice Christian F. Stollsteimer, removed.

CHIEF OF BUREAU OF MEDICINE .AND SURGERY. John M:. Browne, medical director, to be Surgeon-General and Chief

of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in the Department ofthe Navy, with the relative rank of commodore, to fill a vacancy arising from-the expiration of the term of office of the present incumbent, which occurs March 27, 1888.

POSTMASTERS. Stephen W. Coffman, to be postmaster at Watsonville, in the county

of Santa Cruz and State of California, in the place ·of George B. Card, whose commi3sion expired March 24, 1888.

Deuton E. Bingham, to be postmaster at Sout.hington, in the oounty of Hartford and State of Connecticut, in the place of John Hemingway, whose commission expires April 2, 1888.

Nicholas Morper, to be postmaster at South Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, in the place of Nicholas Morper, whose commission e1..-pires AprilS, 1888.

John H. Andrick, to be postmaster at McGregor, in the county of Clayton and State of Iowa, in the place of RudolphusHubbard, whose commission expires .April23, 1888. .

William E. Hottman, to be postmaster at Ellinwood, in the county of Barton and St..1.te of Kansas, the appointment of a postmaster for the said office having, by law, become vested in the President from and after Oetober 1, 1887. .

C. W. Richardson, to be postmaster at Somerset, in the county of Pulaski and State of Kentucky, in the place of John Inman, whose commission expires April 30, 1 88.

Henry C. Norton, to be postmaster at Cottage City, in the county of Dukes and State of Massachusetts, in the place of Francis P. Vincent, whose commission expires April 9, 1888.

Josiah D. Richards, to be postmaster at North Attleborough, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, in the place of Burrill Porter, jr., whose commission expires April 8, 1888.

Paul W. Grier,pon, to be postmaster at Calumet, in the county of Hou~hton and State of Michigan, in the place of Albert T. Streeter, who e commission expires April 15, 1888.

Amos Cogswell, to be postmaster at Owatonna, in the county of Steele and State of Minnesota, in the place of Lewis L. Wheelock, whose com-mission expired March 12, 188 . ·

James C. Frost, to be postmaster at Anoka, in the county of .Anoka and State of Minnesota, in the place of James A. Foote, whose commission expires April 8, 1888.

M.D. L. Martin, to be postmaster at Water Valley, in the county of Yalabusha and State of Mississippi, in the place of William H. Brister, resigned.

Barton ,uiorrow, to be postmaster at Neosho, in the county of Newton and Si!!e of Missouri, in the place of Hugh C. Armstrong, deceased.

James D. Hubble, to be postmaster at Fairbury, in the county of JefferSon and State of Nebraska, in the place of Robert B. Wallace, whose commission expires April 9, 1888.

Warren Clark, to be postmaster at Concord, in the county of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, in the place of George W. Crockett, deceased.

William F. Jones, to be postmaster at Eaton, in tlle county of Preble and. State of Ohio, in the place of Benjamin Neal, removed.

Allen G. Sprankle, to be postmaster at Millersburgh, in the county of Holmes and State of Ohio, in the place of Ni va Huston, whose commission expired March 12, 1888.

William A. Sterling, to be postmaster at Shamokin, in the county Northumberland and State of Pennsylvania, in the place of Darius S. Gilger, whose commission expired January 24, 1888.

J ohu T. Williamson, to be postmaster at Columbia, in the county of Maury and State of Tennessee, in the place of Hugh F . Fariss; whose commission expires Apl"il15, 1888.

Thomas Francis Meagher, t-o be postmaster at Sprague, iu the county of Lincoln and· Territory of Washington, in the place of John J. Burns, whose commissi<>n expires April14, 1888. .

James Tiernan, to be postmaster at Fort Howard, in the county of Brown and State of Wisconsin, in the place of Peter V. Cottrell, deceased.

CONFIRMATIONS. Executive no:ninati011s confir·med by tl~e Senate Ma1·ch 20, 1888.

UNITED STATES CONSUL. Frederick W. L. Butterfield, of New York City, to be consul of the

United States at Ghent. POST11IASTERS.

J. Henry Browne, to be postmaster at Tompkinsville, in the county of Richmond and State of New York.

John J. Stitt, to be postmaster at Sharon, in the county of Mercer and State of Pennsylvania.

Eben H. Clark, to be postmaster at Honesdale, in the county of Wayne and State of Pennsylvania.

John F. Cashen, to be postmaster at New Rochelle, in the county of Westchester and State of New York.

John McLaury, to be postmaster at Belleville, in the county of Re· public and State of Kansas. •

Executive 1wminations confirmed by the Senate llfarch 26, 1888. COMMISSIONER OF LAND OFFICE.

Strother M •. Sto<:!kslager, to be Commissioner of the General Land. Office. ·

ASSISTANT COl\Il\IISSIONER OF LAND OFFICE. Thomas J. AndeTson, of Iowa, to be assistant :commissioner of the

General Land Office. REFINER OF THE 1\IINT.

John H. Dennis, of Nevada, to be melter and refiner of the United States mint at Carson, Nev.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTA'l'IVES. 1\foNDAY, Ma1·oh 2G, 1888.

The House met at 12 o'clock m. Prayer by. Rev. J. H. CUTIIBERT, D. D., of Washington.

The Journal of the proceedings of Saturday was read and approved. LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

By unanimous consent, leave of absence was granted as follows: To Mt·. ANDERSON, of Mississippi, for two days, on account of sick

ness in his family. To M:r. WILKINS, for ten days, on account of bu iness. To Mr. SIMMONS, for six:· days, on account of important business.

FUNERAL CERE:\fONIJj:S OF CHIEF-JUSTICE WAITE. Mr. GROSVENOR, by unanimous consent, offered the following res·

olutions: Resolved, That the funeral.ceremonies o~ the lnte Chief-Justice ·waite be held

in the Ha.ll of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, .March 28, at 12 o'clock noon, under the arrangement of the Supreme Court, a.nd tbnt when the House adjourns on the 27th instant i t shall be until 11.30 a.. m. March 28.

Resolt;ed, That the Clerk of this House notify the Senate and the Supreme Court of the passage of these resolutions.

T!le resolutions were adopted. BUSINESS FROJII THE COIDHTTEE ON COM~IERCE .

. l\1r. CLA.RDY. Mr. Speaker, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week hn.>e been set apart for the consideration of bills reported by the Com-

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 2409 mit tee on Commerce. In view of the unlooked-for and very sad event which deprives us of the use of Wednesday. I ask unanimous consent that the corresponding days of next week be allotted for the consideration of that business.

:M:r. O'FERRALL. Mr. Speaker, I do not object, but I wn.nt to give notice that to-morrow morning, immediately after the morning hour, I shall can up the con tested -election case of Worthington against Post.

Mr. DINGLEY. Mr. Speaker, is the order which the chairmn.n of the Committee on Commerce asks to hn.ve made to be on tho same condition as the one for which it is to be substituted?

The SPEAKER. The Chair so understands. Mr. CLARDY. Yes; after the morning hour. The SPEAKER. After the hour for the consideration of bills. Mr. O'FERRALL. I wish to add, Mr. Speaker, that I suppose the

case of Worthington against Post will consume only a. few mo!fients of the time of the House. The report in the case is a unanimous one from the Committee on Elections, and I suppose there will be no discussion whatever. ·

The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. CLARDY]?

Mr. WEAVER. I shall have to object for the present. Mr. CLARDY. I trust the gentleman will not object. Unless we

can ba.ve this order we shall lose both days. Mr. WEAVER. I am willing to let the matter lie over until I can

have a consultation with some other gentlemen. The proposed order would interfere with business in which I am greatly interested, and which I think equally as important as that of the Committee on Commerce. I do not wish to object unless I am compelled t~--

ORDER OF BUSINESS. The SPEAKER. The gentleman objects for 'the present. This being

Monday, the regular order is the call of States and Territories for the introduction of bills and joint resolutions.

MINERAL LANDS, MONTANA. Mr. 'l'OOLE. Mr. Speaker, I baveapetitionfromcitizens of Montana

with respect to the mineral lands of that Territory, and I ask unn.nimous consent that the body of the petition be printed in the RECORD, the petition itself being referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

There was no objection, and it was so ordered. '£be petition is as follows:

To His ExcellenC'IJ the President of the Un·ited Slates and to the Senators and Representatives 'jn Oong1·ess assembled:

Your petitioners most respectfully submit that they are all citizens of the United States, or ha;e declared t-heir intention to become such, and are all residents of the Territory of Montana.

That they are all interested in the protection anddevelopmentof the mineral resources of said Territory.

'l'hat the Northern Pacific Railroad Company claim nearly all the odd-numbered sections of the surveyed portion of the mineral lands of said Territory, being gold, silver, lead, or copper, and bas already caused the same to be certified f.Q itself for patent by the Hnited States land officers in said Territory. ·· That said certification has been based upon certain plA.ts made by the deputy United States surveyors, and now on file in the respective United States land offices in said Territory, showing these lands so certified f.Q be non-mineral in theil- character; which said plats are erroneous, in that they designate large quantities of mineral land as agricultural, mountainous timber lands.

That under the present acts of Congress, and the various decisions of the Snpreme Court of the United States construing such acts, there is little, if any, hope of correcting the existing errors and of preventing said railroad company from acquiring titles f.Q these lands.

'l'hat only within a few years has quartz mining proved to be a paying industry in Montana, and therefore the lands bearing the precious metals are to a large extent undeveloped.

That millions of dollars are now invested and are being inYested in the development of such resources, the benefit of which will inure f.Q the said railroad company if it is permitted to acquire title to the lands already ce1·tified to and to which it is not entitled_

That unless relief is granted said railroad company will soon acquire the absolute title to nearly one-half of the mineral land of this Territory.

That the acquirement of title f.Q these lands by the said railroad company would not only work ineparable injury to the industries of the Territory of Montana and materially retard its t>rogress, but would deprive all citizens of the United States of the right given them by the statutes to locate and appropriate our mineral lands, and would create one of the most colossal monopolies that ever existed. -

Now, therefore, we most respectfully and earnestly pray that such legislation be had as will preserve the mineral lands of the Territory of Montana bearing the precious metala to the citizens of the United States and prevent the Northern Pacific Railroad Company from acquiring any lands to which it is not clearly entitled under its grant.

.ARSENAL ON OR NEAR THE TENNESSEE RIVER. Mr. WHEELER introduced a bill (H. R. 8832) to construct and es

tablish an arsenal on ·or near the bank of the Tennessee River; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

REFUND OF COTION TAX. Mr. OATES introduced a bill (H. R. 8833) to refund the cotton tax

collected under the act approved July 1, 1862, and acts supplemental thereto; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.

SITE FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS, SAN DIEGO, CAL. 111r. VANDEVER introduced d bill (H. R. 8834) to transfer certain

\)roperty now held for military purpOSC!S in the ci_!;y of San Diego, Cal.,

to the Treasury Department, to be held for the erection of public buildings thereon; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

POST-OFFICE BUILDING, NORW ALK1 CONN. Mr. GRANGER introduced a bill (H. R. 8835) for the erection of a

public building at Norwalk, Conn.; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, and ordered to be printed.

LIGHT OR LIGHTS, ST. ANDREW'S BAY, FLORIDA. Mr. DAVIDSON, of Florida, introduced a bill (H. R. 8836) for a light

or lights at St. Andrew's Bay, Florida; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed.

PUBLIC BUILDING AT 1\-IOUNT VERNO:N, ILJ-. Mr. TOWNSHEND introduced a bill (H. R. 8837) for the erection

of a public building at Mount Vernon, Ill.; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, and ordered to be printed.

DEFINITION OF ''BREVET.'' Mr. TOWNSHEND also (by request) introduced a joint resolution (H.

Res. 137) in explanation of and to define the term "brevet" as used in the military ln.ws of the United States; which was read a first n.nd second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

CHICAGO, BURLINGTON AND . QUINCY RAILROAD. Mr. LA. WLER sent to the desk a. paper; which was read, as follows:

Resowed, That the locomotive engineers and firemen of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy road wish to call the attention of Congress and the public f.Q the facts of the trouble now existing on the lines of the aforesaid railroad, and present tbe accompanying statement, to be referred to the Committee on Commerce, and that the same be printed in the RECORD.

The SPEAKER. This is not in order during the call of the States and Territories for the introduction of bills and resolutions.

Mr. LAWLER. I offer this as a resolution, the object being to get it be1ore the committee and have it published.

The SPEAKER. It will go to the committee, if sent there as peti-tions usually are. •

Mr. LAWLER. But, Mr. Speaker, is there any objection to the publication of this statement in the RECORD?

The SPEAKER. This is not the time lo ask unanimous consent for that purpose. The Chair is now calling the States and Territories for the introduction of bills and re..c;;olutions for reference to the appropriate committees.

PAY OF NAVAL OFFICERS. Mr. JACKSON. At the request of the gentleman from Illinois,

[Ur. THOl\:t:As], who is unable to be present, I introduce the bill which I send to the desk.

The bill (H. R. 8838) to equalize the pay of certain officers of the Navy was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

INTERSTATE COMMERCE. Mr. KERR int1·odnced a bill (H. R. 8839) to amend the interstate

commerce law; which was read a first and seconcl time: referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed.

INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION. Mr. KERR :llso introduced a bill (H. R. 8840) for the establishment

of a permanent court of arbitration between the United States and Great Britn.in and France; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

RAILROAD BRIDGE ACROSS 1\IISSOURI RIVER. Mr. STRUBLE (by Mr. LYMAN) introduced a bill (H. R. 8841) to

authorize the construction of a railroad bridge across the 1\fissonri River at or near Decatur, Nebr.; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed.

BRIDGE ACTIOSS OHIO RIYER. Mr. CARUTH introduced a bill (H. R. 884:.!) to authorize the Louis·

ville and Jeffersonville Bridge Company to construct a bridge across the Ohio River connecting the cities of Louisville, in the State of Kentuc-ky, and Jeffersonville, in the State of Indiana; which was read a first and second time, referrred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed.

INAUGURATION DAY A PUBLIC HOLIDAY. Mr. CARUTH also introduced a. bill (H. R. 8843) to amend section

9!)3 of the Hevised Statutes of the United States for the District of Columbia, so as to make "Inauguration Day 11 a holiday within said Dis· trict; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia, and ordered to be printed.

REFU~D OF COTION TAX. Mr. NEWTON introduced a bill (H. R. 8844) to refund certain taxes

collected by the United States Goverument on raw cotton during the

2410 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE: MARCH 26,

years 1863 to 1868, inclusive; which was read a first and second time, :referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.

ARCTIG CRUISE OF S'rEAMER CORWIN, 1884 AND 18S5.

Mr. REED introduced a resolution to print 5,000 copies of the report of Capt. M. A. Healey upon the cruise of the revenue-steamer Corwin in the Arctic Ocean in 1884; which was referred to the Committee on Printing.

Mr. REED also introduced a resolution to print 5,000 copies of the report of Capt. M. A. Healey upon the cruise of the revenue-steamer Corwin in the Arctic Ocean in 1S85; which was referred to the Committee on Printing.

PNEUMATIC GUN CARRIAGES.

1\ir. COMPTON introduced a bill (H. R. 8845) to provide pneumatic gun-carriages for the War Department; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

DANIEL W; PERKINS.

1\Ir. TARSNEr in trod need a bill (H. R. 8846) for the relief of Daniel W. Perkins; which was reacl a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.

JAMES E • .ANDREWS.

Mr. NELSON introduced a bill (H. R. 8847) to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to issue certain duplicate bonds to James E. Andi·ews in place of certain bonds destroyed by fire; which·was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Banking and Currency, and ordered to be printed.

STREET DIPROVEMENTS, DISTRICT OF COLU1tiBIA.

1\Ir. RICE (by request) introduced a bill (H. R. 8848) relating to street improvements in the District of Columbia; which wa.s read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia, and ordered to be printed.

CONSTITUTIONAL CENTENNIAL.

1\ir. HOOKER introduced a bill (H. R. 8E4 9) to provide for a joint celebration at the national capital in 1889 by t.he sixteen American Republics, in honor of the centennial of the Constitution of the parent Repub1ic, the United States; -which was read a first and second time, referred to the. Committee on Foreign Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

ALLOTl\IENT PJ LANDS IN SEVERALTY.

1\fr. HOOKER (by request) also introduced a bill (H. R. 8850) to amend an act to provide for the allotment of lands in severalty to Indians on the various reservations, and t{) extend the protection of the laws of the United States in the Territories over the Indians, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Indian. Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

BUSINESS FROM COM..l\fiTTEE ON AGRICULTURE.

Mr. HATCH submitted the following resolution; which was read, and referred to the Committee on Rules:

Resolved, That Thursday, the loth day of May, 1888, after the second call of committees, be set apart for the consideration of such business as may be presented by the Committee on Agriculture, this order not to interfere with general appropriation or revenue bills; and whether so interfered with on that day o.r not shall be a continuing order until the bills presented by said committee shall be disposed of.

NEW DESIGNS, UNITED STATES COINS.

1\Ir. BLA.ND introduced a bill (H. R. 8851) to amend section 3510 of the Hevised Statutes of the United States, and to provide for new designs of authorized devices of United States coins; which was read a fu·st and second time, referred t{) the Committee on Cojnage, Weights, and Measures, and ordered to be printed.

THANKS TO OFFICERS OF ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Mr. LAIRD introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 138) tendering the thanks of Congress to Lieut. A. W. Greely, Lieut. James B. Lockwood, and others, for their courage, energy, and fidelity in the conduct-of the late scientific expedition to the Arctic seas; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

CLAIMS OF 1tiiSSISSIPPI, ETC.

Mr. WOODBURN introduced a bill (H. R. 8852) to extend the provisions of an act entitled "An act to settle certain accounts between the United States and the State of Mississippi and other States, and for other purposes;" which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed.

CLAIMS OF NEVADA.

Mr. WOODBURN also introduced a bill (H. R. 8853) for the relief of the State of Nevada; which was read a first and second time, referred to. tl'le Committee on War Claims, and ordered to be printed.

LIFE-SAVING SERVT<"E.

Mr. BUCHANAN introduced a bill (H. R. 8854) in relation to the Life-Saving Service; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed.

UGHT-SHIP, SANDY HOOK.

1\Ir. BRYCE introduced a bill (H. R. 8855) for the establishment of a light-ship,.with steam fog-signals, at Sandy Hook, New York Harbor; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed.

OVERLOADING OF VESSELS.

Mr. NUTTING introduced a bill (H .. R. 8856) to prevent steam and sailing vessels being overloaded, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, and ordered to be printed. ·

MILITARY MUSTER-GUTt ROLLS.

Mr. WEBER introduced a bill (H. R. 8857) directing the Secretary of War to furnish States with copies of muster-out rolls; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee oil Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

CIRCULATION OF OBSCENE MATTER.

Mr. CUMMINGS (by request) introduced a bill (H. R. 8858) torepeal section 3893 of the Revised Statutes and amendments, relating to circulating obscene matter, etc. ; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads, and' ordered to be printed.

P A Y.MENT OF CERTAIN GOVERNl\IENT El\IPLOYES.

Mr. CUMMINGS also introduced a joint resolution (H. Res.139) providing for the payment c;>f the employes of the Federal Government for certain holidays; which was read a first and S.econd time, referred to the Committ~e on Appropriations, and ordered to be printed.

RECALL OF A B.ILL FROM: THE SEN ATE.

· Mr. CUMMINGS also introduced a resolution providing for t.he recall from the Senate of the bill (H. R. 4910) entit1ed "A bill to amend section 14 of the act approved March 3, 1879, entitled 'An act making appropriations for the service of the Post-Office Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, and for ot.her purposes,' and relating to second-class mail matter;" which was referred to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads.

USE OF MAILS FOR FR.AUDULENT PURPOSES.

Mr. WHITE, of NewYork, introduced a bill (H. R.8 59) to amend section 5480 of the Revised Statutes; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads, and ordered to be printed.

FIRE-ESCAPES, DISTRICT OF COLUl\IBIA.

:Mr. ROMEIS introduced a bill (H. R. 8860) providing for the erection of fire-escapes in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia, and ordered to be printed.

VOLUNTARY RETIRE~!ENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS.

Mr. MAISH (by request) introduced a. bill (H. R. 8861) to provide for the voluntary retirement of certain officers of the United States Army; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affi:tirs, and ordered to be printed.

PUBLIC BUILDING SITE, SCRANTON, PA.

1\Ir. LYNCH introduced a bill (H. R. 8862) authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury t{) exchange or sell and convey the property purchased at Scranton, Pa., as a site for a public building for more suitable property, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, and ordered tQ be printed. ·

CLAil\IS FOR REVOLUTIONARY SERVICE.

Mr. YARDLEY introduced a bill (H. R 8863) t{) provide for the settlement of claims of officers of the Revolutionary Army and the heirs of those who died in the service; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on War Claims, and ordered to be printed.

SECTION 3887, REVISED S'f4TUTES.

Mr. ·M:cl'lULLIN introduced a bill (H. R. 8864) to amend section 3887 of the ReVised Statutes of the United States; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and ordered to be printed.

BUSINESS OF JUDICIARY COliBIITTEE.

Mr. CULBERSON submitted the following resolutionj which was referred to the Committee on Rules:

Resoz.t:ed, That Tuesday, the lOth day of April, be set apart, immediately after the hour for the consideration of bills by committees, for the consideration of bills nnd resolutions reported from the Committee on the .Judiciary in such order as the committee may designate, this order not to interfere with revenue or general appropriation bills.

SECTION 725 REVISED STATUTES.

Mr. UARTIN introduced a bill {H. R. 8865) to amend section 725 of the ,Revised Statutes of the United States; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.

- '

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 2411 PATENTS. ture should be recommended or not. In the event of a. favorable re-

:Mr. MARTIN also introduced a bill (H. R. 88B6) to amend section port it can afterwards be referred to the Committee on Accounts. d 1 Mr. SOWDEN. I object.

4881 of the Revised ~tatu.tes u~on the subject of J?atents, an repea - The SPEAKER. Does the gentleman from Illinois move that the ing all laws in confhct With sald ame~dment; which was read a :first resolution be referred to the Committee on the Territories? and second time, referred to the Comnnttee on Patents, and ordered to Mr. SPRINGER. I care nothing about it. Let it go to the Com-be printed. , j..mittee on Accounts.

F GHT-SHIP AT BUSH s BLUFF. The resolution was referred to the Committee on Accounts. Mr. BOWDEN introduced a bill (H. R. 8867) to establish a light-ship

at Bush's Bluff: in the Elizabeth River; which was read a :first and second time, referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed.

WORLD'S EXPOSITIO:N IN 1892.

Mr. GEA.R introduced a bill (H. R. 8868) to proTide for a world's exposition at the national capital in 1892, and thereafter a permane~t exposition of the three Americas in honor of the four hundredth anmversaryof the discovery of America; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Foreign Affhirs, and ordered to be p1inted.

WATER SUPPLY IN DISTRICT. Mr. BREWER introduced a. bill (H. R. 8869) relating . to the matter

of supplying water in certain cases in the District of C?lumbia; whi~h was read a first and second time, referred to the Comnuttee on the DIStrict of Columbia, and ordered to be printed.

IrACKLED F·LAX. Mr. LODGE. I a.Ek unanimous consent to present at this time and

have read, and printed in the RECORD, a memorial of certain hacklers of flax against the admission of hackled flax free of duty.

'Ihe memorial was read. • 1\lr. LODGE. I ask unanimous consent that the memorial be printed

in the RECORD. 1,1r. BRECKINRIDGE, of Arkansas. Let it be referred in the usua.l

way. rrhe SPEAKER. The gentleman from Arkan. .. ••as objects.

BE.l\"'NINGTON BATTLE MO:NUME....~T. 1\Ir. STEW ART, of Vermont, introduced a bill (H. R. 8870) in aid

of the Bennington Battle Monument Association; which was read a firet and second time, referred to the Committee on the Library, and ordered to be printed.

PRINTING FOR NAVAL ACADEMY. Mr. HERBERT introduced a ·bill (H. R. 8871) relating to printing

for the Naval Academy; which was read ar first and second time, referred to the Co~mittee on Printing, and ordered to be printed.

PRESIDENTIAL POSTl\IASTERS. Mr. CUTCHEON introduced a bill (H. R. 8872) to equalize the sal

aries of postmasters at Presidential post-offices; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Post-Office and PostRoads, and ordered to be printed.

BONDS OF DISBUMlliG OFFICEBS. Mr. CUTCHEON also in.h·oduced a. bill (H. R. 8873) in relation to

bonds of disbursing officers and to monthly payments of the Army; which was read a first and second time, referred' t{) the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordel'ed to be printed.

AMENDMENT OF RULES. Mr. COX submitted the following resolution; which was read and

referred to the Committee on Rules: Resolved, That Rule XXXIV of the House of Representatives be amended by

inserting after" foreign ministers," in line 14, "the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution ."

CUSTO:\IS INSPECTOBS AT NEW ORLEANS. Mr.WILKINSONintroducedabill(H. R. 8874) toincreasethe pay of

day and night inspectors of cnstoms at the port of New Orleans to an equality with the wages paid the same class of officials in the cities of Boston, New York, ·Baltimore, and San Francisco; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury Department, and ordered to be printed.

ADMISSION OF STATES. Mr-. SPRINGER submitted the following resolution; which wusread:

Resolved, That there be compiled, under the direction of the Committee on the Territories, a. history of the seYeral acts relating to the admission oi States into the Union and the organization of the several Territories by acts of Congress, particularly with reference to the debates thereon, as shown by the Annals of Congress, Congressional Debates, or Congressional Globe, or RECORD; and the necessary expense attending the execution of this order shall be paid out of the contingent fund of the House on the approval of the Committee on Accounts' ..

The SPEAKER. The resolution will be referred to the Committee on Accounts.

Mr. SPRINGER. I ask to have it referred to the Committee on the Territories.

The SPEAKER. All matters I'e1ating to expenditures out of the contingent fund go to the Committee on Accounts.

Mr. SPRINGER. I desire to have it referred to the Committee on the Territories, that that committee may determine whether this expendi-

WITHDRAWN LAND-GRANT LANDS. Ur. SYMES introduced a bill (H. R. 8875) to protect purchasers of

lands withdrawn by the executive department of the Government as lying within the limits of laud grants in aid of the construction of railroads and afterwards held to lie without the limit'3 of such grants; which was read n. first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Public Lands, and ordered to be printed.

CLAIMS OF WORKMEN Ul\TDER THE EIGHT-HOUR LAW.

Mr. ROCKWELL. .Mr. Speaker, I have a petition of citizens of seventy localities throughout the Union which I desire to present. It is a petition for the settlement of the claims of workmen arising under the eight-hour Jaw. I ask that the body of the petition, wbic¥ is short, may be printed in the RECORD.

Mr. BRECKINRIDGE, of Arkansas. Let the petition bereferredin the manner required by the rules.

The SPEAKER. The gentleman from .Arkansas objects. FOREIGN IlllMIGRA.TION.

Mr. SMITH, of Wisconsin. I haV"e here a memorial of citizens of JHilwaukee in regard to foreign immigration, which I would like to have printed in the RECORD.

Mr. BRECKINRIDGE, of Arkansas. Let the memorial be referred in the usual way.

ORDER OF BUSL.~ESS. Mr. HEMPHILL. Regular order, Mr. Speaker. lli. BOWDEN. I ask unanimous consent to present a report. The SPEAKER. The gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. HEMP

HILL] demands the regular order, which cuts off all requests for unanimous consent. The regular order is the consideration of business reported from the Committee on the District of Columbia.

SECTION 4693, REVISED STATUTES. Mr. STONE, of Kentucky, introduced a bill (H. R. 8876) to amend

subsection 4 of section 4693 of the Revised Statutes of the United States; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OF B"CSIKESS. Mr. STONE, of Missouri. M:r. Speaker, is it in order"to present a

report at this time? The SPEAKER. It is not. Mr. STONE, of Missouri. Is there no call for that business to-day? The SPEAKER. There is not. This day, after the call of States

and Territories for the introduction of bills and joint resolutions, is assigned for the consideration of business reported from the Committee on the District of Columbia.

CII.A.PTER 20, REVISED STATUTES. Mr. BURNETT, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R.

8877) to amend chapter 20 of the Revised Statutes; which wus read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OF llUSINESS.

:Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Speaker, I aHk consent--The SPEAKER. The gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. HEMP

HILL] bas demanded the regular order. Unless that demand is wi~drawn the Chair can not recognize any request.

:Mr. HEl\IPIDLL. I withdraw the demand for a moment, as the gentleman [ Ur. LAWLER] was on the floor at the time I demanded the regular order.

The SPEAKER. What is the request of the gentleman from illinois?

111r. LAWLER. I ha.>e a statement of the locomotive engineers and firemen of the Chica~o, Burlington and Quincy lines of road which ' they desire presented for the information and consideration of Congress. I ask that the statement be read and be printed in the RECORD.

There was no objection, and it wus so ordered. The statement is as follows: Resolved., That the locomotive engineers and firemen of the Chicago, Burling

ton and Quincy lines of road present for thA consideration of Congress and the public a s tatement of the causes which led to the strike now in existence on the aforesaid rnilroa<l, and that said statement be referred to the Committee on Commerce, and for the information of the members of Congress the same be printed in the RECORD.

THE FACTS AS THEY EXIST.

To the public: CHICAGO, Marc]~ 17, 1888.

. The officers of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy R.'lilroad Company have circulated Unoughout the country what we shall show to be a. very misleading

..

2412 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. MARCH 26,

statement of the matters in issue be tween the engineers and firemen formerly employed on that road and themselves. For the purpose of more effectively misleading the public the circular is addressed to the engineers and firemen. Of course it is intended for the public.

We shall not resort to the trick of addressing the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy road, but address the public, for whom this is intended, directly.

In the road's circular t•eferred to, which is under date of February 22, appears the following:

"The important changes which your committee suggest are as follows: 'First.:Pay to be governed solely by the miles run, without regard to other conditions or circumstances.

. "'Secondly. A large average increase in existing rates of pay. "'Third. '!'he abolition of any classification based upon length of service, age,

or experience.' " In relation to the firs t s tatement we reply tha t we have requested our com

pensation to b e fixed by the mile, because that is the method upon which compensa tion is based on nine-tenths of the railroads in operation in the United States. It is misleading to say that this compensation is sought to be fixed "without regard to other conditions or circumstances."

True the re are some runs on branches of the "Q " road where the engineer's responsibility appea rs to be less that;~ that on the m ain lines, because he has to haul a smaller number of cars . But the road carefully conceals the fact that on all of these b ranches where the engineer has a smaller number of cars to care for he is compelled, at the end of his trip, to take care of his engine by performing the work known to engineers as that of a "hostler." The imposition of this labor upon him saves the company the expense of employing a man at this work. On the main lines the engineer's work is ended when his train is taken in to its point of destination, and the work of the hostler is done in the round-houses by an extra man employed for that purpose. It will, therefore, be seen by the public that the men who are supposed to have easy runs under the present system are compelled to do extra work in addition to those easy runs, and are so worked as to save the company the wages of a hostler.

·while it is correctly stated that we ask our pay to be based upon the number of miles run, it must also be understood that we care very little about the terms u sed by the road. They can continue to· pay by the trip in place of paying by tlle mile if they prefer that system, providing, however, that they pay us as much as other roads pay for trips of the same length. The fact is that it is as broad as it is long how the wages are computed, whether by mile or by trip. If the desire is to pay men honestly and fairly, without throwing any dustin their eyes, or in the eyes of the public, at the same rates as other roads, it will be seen that it isiDlmaterial whether the compensation is termed by the trip or by the mile. To illustrate: If a man runs 100 miles on a passenger train we say he should be paid 53.50. This rate is paid by th Rock Island road, the Santa Fe road, the 'Vabash system, and other roads too numerous to mention. The "Q" road, not desiring to pay upon the basis which would enable a fair com:: parison of its wages to be made with those of other companies, abandons the mile scheme and simply says: "We will pay you 53 for the trip,.'' which means, in other words, 3 cen t.s per mile for what other roads pay 3·} cents for. "\Ve think this pretense is too transparent to need very much discussion.

Second. It is true that we demand a large average increase in existing rates of pay. But the public must not be misled into the supposition t.hat we are demanding a large increase from the "Q" over what is paid by its rivals. If the "Q" gives to us the large increase which we demand, it will oiJly then place us on a footing with the employes of other roads, and it will only then be called upon to pay precisely what its neighbors and rivals pay and have paid for years. If it is a fact that it will require a large average increase of our wages to be made before we are pla~d on an equality with the employes of other roads-and we concede that it is a fact-this only proves that for many years the ·• Q," has had the advantage of shaving from its employes a large portion of the wages which it should have paid them. Although in justice we ought to ask it to make 1·estitution for the past, we do not do so. We only ask it to deal fairly with us in the future.

In answerto the third point made by the road, namely: That we ask.the abolition of any classification based upon length of service, age, or experience, we have to say that that statement is also misleading. Our position is this: If an engineer be competent to take charge of the best train on the "Q" road, then he ought to get the best pay, and it is immaterial whether he is thirty or ninety years old. When the "Q" road places a man in charge of one of its great express trains, and intrusts to him the precious lives of its patrons, by that act it certifies that he is a first-class engineer, and he ought to receive pay on the 1·oad's own certificate.

Our position is: That a man' who does the wor~ of a first-class engineer ought to receive the pay of a firs~class engineer.

The "Q,'s" position is this: It places a man in a position which requires at his hands the skill and ability of a first-class engineer. The first year he is in that position it pays him much less than a firs~class engineer's wages. The second year it slightly advances his wages, but still keeps them less than the first-class engineers. The third year he is paid their highest wages for an engineer. The result is that it is constantly gaining from the men who are only serving in their first and second year a large discount of wages. It also gains all the percentages in this transaction, because a number of men who work the first or second year do not stay in the company's employ long enough to be entitled to the first-class wages that are given to the man who has served his third year. These first and second year men who happen to leave to engage in other occupations are replaced by other first and second year men, and so the road manalfes to keep a large percentage of employes at under rates. We have no objectiOn to its paying those who have been a long time on the road any extra gratuity it wishes. Nor will we e"'er complain if in its generosity it desires to pension men who have served it faithfully for a great many years. But we do msist that one of two things must be true: Either, first, that the engineers are firs~class men and entitled to first-class pay; or, second, that the public is decei>ed when it is asked to travel on trains run by men who are entitled only to second or t-hird-class con~pensation.

What is said in relation to the engineer applies also to the case of the fireman, because on all the roads the fireman's wages are based upon those of the engineer, and the fireman r eceives from 55 to 60 per cent. of what the engineer's wages are. Therefore, a shaving down of the engineer's wages means a shaving down of the fireman's wages, so that on all sides the peculiar system adopted by the "Q" road manages to punish its workingmen and enlarge its treasury.

But have we just cn.use of complaint? Are the engineers and firemen of the "Q" road seeking to take any advantage of that corporation? Have they just cause of complaint? Are they paid now as well as employes performing like services on rival roads?

We invite the attention of the public to the following comparisons: On the "Q," road there is a round trip between Rockford and Aurora which is made twenty-six times a month by the engineer.

On the NorthwesteTn road there is a round trip between Rockford and Chicago which is also made twenty-six times per month.

'l'he Northwestern round trip is 22 miles greater than the "Q" round trip. The. Northwest~rn engineer travels 572 miles per month more than the "Q's" engineer.

At the rate of compensation asked by the engineers namely, 3l cents per mile, the Northwestern road should only pay $20.02 per month to the engineer on the Rockford-to-Chicago trip greater than that paid to the "Q" engineer who runs on the Rockford-to-Aurora trip. But the fact is that the "Q" road pays its engineer only ~104 per month, while the Northwestern pays its engi-

/

neer 5175. The "Q" engineer holds just as responsible a position as the engineer on the Northwestern. He has to cross ·three intersecting roads in the making of his trip, and in addition to his work as:au:engineer the labor of hostlering, or caring for the engine, is imposed upon h i m, while the engineer for the Northwestern is not obliged to care for his engine. The latter's work begins when he jumps on the engine at one end of the trip and ceases when he delivers it at the other end.

On the Pan Handle road the freight engineer who t•uns from Indianapolis to Bradford, a distance of 105 miles, receives$4.25 for the trip; his fil·eman receives ~.15.

On the "Q" road the round trip run from Galesburgh to Peoria is 105 miles, for which the engineer receives $3.60 and the fireman $2.10 .

From Quincy to Colchester the round trip is 107 miles. The "Q" road pays its engineer for that trip 53.75, and its fireman $2.15.

For runs of 100 miles on the Union Pacific road the engineer on passenger trains receives $3.85. The" Q" road is a competitor of the Union Pacific, and for a long distance travels over parallel lines through country of precisely the same character. Yet we have only asked $3.50 per 100 miles for a passenger engineer on the "Q" road.

The engineer on the Sterling B ranch run draws $34.10 for 90 miles. He stops in Rock Falls six hours, and takes care of his own engine. The engineer that runs the Batavia and Geneva accommodation receives $87.10. And the Chicago and Northwestern pays for like runs $96.20, the distance being 2 miles greater on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy.

The reason we a.sk more pay for the branch runs is to compensate the men for the extra work done on account of the engineers having to do the work or a machinist.

The engineer .on the Rockford way freight runs nightly (twenty-six nights constituting one month), for which he receives $56. Fireman, $l5 per month.

The engineers on the fast m a il, Chicag-o, Burlington and Quincy, 125 miles per day, receive 97.50fortwenty-six days' time. Theengineerson the Chicago and Northwestern, for the same services, receive $120. ..

The runs on the main line of the Chicago, Burlington a.nd Quincy, 125 miles per day thirty-five days per month, amount:' received, $131. On the trunk lines out of Chicago for the same service the engineers receive $161.

'.rhe engineers on the Buda. and Vermont Branch of the "Q" line, 188.3 miles per day, twenty-six days constituting one month, receive for same $125.50. The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad pays for like service $181.

"\¥"e desire fUl'ther to state th~ no firs~class engineer on the Chicago and Northwestern receives less than~96.20 for twenty-six days' work, if ready for dufv

The Rock Island road pays its engineers on all of its passenger trains $3.60 and its firemen $2.15 for the 100-mile run fwm Galesburgh to Quincy.

The Quincy road only pays $3.50 for this same run to the engineers on a few of its heaviest trains-like the Kansas <Jity one-and on all other trains it pays only 53.37t. It only pays its fireman S2 when with the engineer who is paid $3.50, and $1.90 when with the engineer who receives 53.37-}.

The Rock Island road pays $4.15 for a run of 100miles to itsfrei~thtengineers, and does not require them to act as hostlers for their engines.

The Quincy road pays its freight engineer on the 101-mile run from Galva to Tew Boston 53.75. This run is on a branch roa.d, and the engineer is compelled

to do hostler's duty for his engine at both ends of his run. Let us compare two short runs: The first is on the Chicago, Milwaukee and

St·. Paul road. The round trip between Chicago and Elgin is 74 miles, for which the engineer is paid $3.70. The engineer has fu 11 control of his time every second day and has not to act as hosller for his engine. The Eec:md is on the "Q" road . .., The round trip between Chicago and Aurora is 71 miles. The engineer is paiu l!3.35. He has to "hostler" his engine, and his entire time belongs to the road. Some days he has to be under orders for eighteen hours per day.

Complaint is made in the road's circular because we asked that; "GaJesburgh Division engineers and firemen be not required to run east of Aurora." The idea sought to be conveyed by the company is that this request is unreasonable and calculated to impose g,:eater expense on the road. The fact is that compliance with this request will not impose one cent of extra expense on the road. No objection has been offered to running the engines through from Galesburgh to Chicago. The change of crews-engineers and firemen-at Aurora will not increase the company's outlay. There are about three hundred of the engineers and firemen. who live in Aurora. Many of these men own their homes; some of these homes, however, are not entirely paid for. If they are compelled to run from Galesburgh to Chicago and return, they would have to sacrifice theh· property and remove either to Galesburgh or •to Chicago. They·ask that the crews be made to run on the one end of the route only, trom Chicago and Aurora and return, and on the other end only from Gales burgh to Aurora and return. If we were paid on the mile system, the change of crews would riot cost the road one cent.

It is also complained that we asked that some arrangement be made in re:ation to passing Brotherhood men on the "Q" trains. We make no demand in this regard. Our purpose in making this request was to get some uniform rule put in force on this road the same as pre-.ails on other roads. We have no r ight to demand this. We did not demand it. Our desire was, while we were m gotiating to get this question, now unsettled, so determined that the conduct~rs would hereafter know precil!ely wha.t to do, and thus be able to avoid 9Gnfiit ts. The company can decide this as it pleases. It does not stand in the road of a. settlement.

:llESSAGE FROM THE SENATE.

S. E. HOGE, Chairman Committee.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. PLATT, one of its secretaries, announced that the Senate had passed the bill (S. 2494) to provide for the payment of the funeral expenses of the late Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court.

Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that that bill be now considere_d.

The SPEAKER. The Chair was about to lay it before the House. The Chair lays before the House the bill justreceivedfrom the Senate, which will be read.

The bill was read, as follows: . A bill (S. 2494) to provide for the payment of the funeral expenses of the late Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court .

Be it enacted, etc., That the sum of $5,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be, and the same is hereby, appropl'iated, out of any money in lhe Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to def1·ay the expenses necessarily incurred in the funeral of Morrison R. Waite, late Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court of tho United States; to be disbursed by the marshal of the Supreme Court upon vouchers to be approved by the senior associate justice of said court.

:Mr. COX. :Mr. Sp~aker, I ask unanimous consent to dispense with consideration of this bill in the Committee of the Whole, and that it be now considered in the House.

There was no objection, and it was so ordered.

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 2413 The SPEAKER. The question is upon ordering the bill to be read

a third time. Mr. TAULBEE. I believe the House has heretofore adopted a res

olution providing for the payment of certain of these expenses out of the contingent fund of the House. I presume this bill will operate in lieu of that resolution.

The bill was ordered to a third reading, was accordingly read the third time, and passed.

Mr. COX moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to. GOVERNMENT FOR ALASKA.

Mr. SPRINGER, by unanimous consent, reported from the Committee on the Territories, as a substitute for Honse bill 6555, a bill (H. R. 8878) to provide for the organization of the Territory of Alaska;

-which was-read a first and second time, referred to the Committee of the Wh6le House on the state of the Union, and, with the accompanying report, ordered to be printed.

House bill 6555 was, by unanimous consent, laid on the table. NATURALIZATION. .

Mr. STEW ART, of Georgia, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 8879) to amend the naturalization laws of the United States; which was read a. first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.

ANATOMICAL SCIENCE IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 1\Ir. HEMPHILL. I demand the regular order, and call up the bill

which was undisposed of when the Honse adjourned on the last District day-House bill No. 5040-for the promotion of anatomical science and to prevent the desecration of graves in the District of Columbia.

Mr. GROUT. The pending question is on the motion to lay this bill upon the table, which is not debatable. · I ask unanimous consent to make a brief statement.

The SPEAKER. Is there objection? Mr. TA.ULBEE. Not if the same length of time be allowed to the

other side of the question. Mr. ANDERSON, of Kansas. That is fair. Mr. TA.ULBEE. If the gentleman from Vermont desires to discuss

only the question of laying the bill on the table, I have no objection. The SPEAKER. That is the only question before the House, but

of course it involves the merits of the bill. Mr: GROUT. I trust the gentleman from Kentucky will not object

to a brief statement on my part. He occupied an hour the other day, and at the close of his speech moved to lay the bill on the table. The:re has been no chance for any one to be heard in reply to him.

The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Vermont asks unanimous consent to make a brief statement. Is there objection?

Mr. ANDERSON, of Kansas. In connection with that request! ask that the same time be allowed to the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. TAULBEE] to make a statement.

Mr. TAULBEE. I hope the gentleman from Kansas will withdraw that request. I do not know that I shall want any further time.

Mr. ANDERSON, ofKansas. Verywell, !withdraw it. The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman

from Vermont? The Chair hears none. The gentleman will proceed. 1\Ir. GROUT. Mr. Speaker, on the last District day, when this bill

was under consideration, and after all the funny men of the House had had their little joke concerning it, as a member of the committee reporting it I tried to get recognition for the purpose of showing how little all that had been said in opposition to it really touched the question whether or not it was wholesome legislation for this District. A..nd here let me say, in passing, that I expect the "fathers" foresaw the necessity t.hat gentlemen who should occupy these seats should be kept somewhat familiar with small things, and accordingly they wmte in the Constitution that Congress should have exclusive legislation over such District, noh exceeding ten miles square, as should be ceded, etc., and as the result the 250,000 people of this District bring all their public matters, small though some of them be, to the attention of Congress; and in the organization of the House the humble duty is assigned to the Committee on the District of Columbia. of recommending such legislation as in their opinion the wants of this people require. Now, aU·that this committee ask, all they can ask, is that when these measures are brought in gentlemen will for a time come down from the lofty heights where they are accustomed to consider questions involving national and international topics and give to these local matters a respectful consideration.

When I requested the other day to be heard, I was asked whether twenty minutes would satisfy me. Now, I did not wish to occupy half that time, and do not now; but I was unwilling to capitulate to these frolicsome gentlemen in the mood in which they then were, which it seemed to me had become, for a subject so grave, exceedingly gay-so gay as to deny what common courtesy would accord to the .committee reporting a bill, namely, the privilege of being heard in their own time under the rules of the House in reply to an ahtack as remarkable as that made upon this bill.

But enough. Now, this is what I then wanted to say: First, that \

when the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. TAULBEE] admitted, as he did, and as the House will remember, that the purpose oi his amendment was to defeat the object of the bill, he put himself in the attitude of attacking the bill indirectly, covertly, if you please, instead of stating in a frank, straight forward manner his objections to the bill.

I wanted also to say to hin1 that if he had read the bill carefully, as I trust members have done since it was last under consideration, he would not have turned the brilliant period that he did about the bodies of the poor being turned over to college professors for display in some medical museum; for the bill in express terms provides that after a body has been used for purposes of anatomical dissection the remains shall be decently buried.

For another thing, I wanted to say j:o gentlemen, if they had been disposed to consider this bill fairly ancf" upon its merits they would not have become so sentimental, nor would they have shed big tears over the misfortunes of the poor, especially after they are dead. We all know that all first-class statesmen he-awake nights thinking of the poor while they are alive; but this devotion to the dead, such as was shown by gentlemen the other day, is a pitch of enthusiasm to which few can rise.

Let me not, however, be understood as saying anything disrespectful of the poor, living or dead. Their misfortunes and sufferings should command thesympathyandassistanceofall men. Thepoor, itissaid, we have with us always. But I think the best time to help them is while they are alive, and not wait till after-they are dead.

I wish also to remind the gentleman from Kentucky that this bill in terms provides for the bodies of those who die in hospital, prison, almshouse, jail, or asylum, and that sometimes rich men have been found in jails and prisons; and according to the philosophy of the · gentleman more still snould be found there. What, then, becomes of the argument that the provisions of this bill apply to the poor alone?

M:r. TAULBEE. Will the gentleman permit me to ask him a. question?

Mr. GROUT. Certainly. Mr. TAULBEE. In that connection what explanation do you put ·

on that provision that only those who are buried at the public expense shall be included?

Mr. GROUT. It does not say only those buried at the public ex· pense. The word only is not used--

1\Ir. TAULBEE. Read that part of the bill in this connection. Mr. GROUT. It says:

The bodies of such deceased persons as are required to be buried at the public expense.

Mi. TAULBEE. Does the bill cover any whose remains are not buried at the public expense?

Mr. GROUT. Perhaps not; it does not exclude those not buried at the public expense.

There is one other point to which I wish to call attention, and that is in reference to the veto message of the President of a similar bill in the last Congress, which the gentleman has caused to be read as a part of his remarks. The President said in that message:

The purpose of this bill is to permit the delivery of certain dead bodies to the medical colleges located in the District of Columbia for dissection.

Such disposition of the bodies of unknown and pauper dead is only excused by the necessity of acquiring by this means proper and useful anatomical knowledge, and the laws by which it is permitted should, in deference to a decent and universal sentiment, carefully guard against abuse and needless offense.

From the above it appears that the President is not opposed to the principle of the bill, but is really in favor of it. And I am obliged to the gentleman for having brought in the veto. -

And I say so far the opinion of the President is an argument in favor of this bill, inasmuch as all his objections to the fbrmer bill have been carefully obviated in this draught. But without further following gentlemen in their groping about to discover what some one else may think of the bil1, let us, like men, say what we think of it ourselves. Now, one moment as to the merits of the bill. Everybody knows that without a complete and thorough know ledge of anatomy the physician or surgeon is not fit to practice his profession. Everybody knows also that the only way in which the surgeon can acquire a practical know ledge of anatomy is by the dissection of the cadaver. The medical colleges of the country are constantly turning out an army of young practitioners to take the places of those who are passing off the stage. A medical college in this city only the other day-in fact since the last District day-graduated twenty-four of them.

Now, tell me wbat sort ofministers to the physical ills that flesh is heir to would these young men be without an intimate and thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the human body, which knowledge can only be acquired by a minute and careful dissection of e>ery part of it, and how are these young men to make this dissection without subjects for that purpose? They must have them-they will have them. The experience ot the world shows that it is absolutely necessary. Now, how shall this demand be supplied? That is the question. Shall it be by the present ghoulish practice of body-snatching, and under which it is said from one to two hundred bodies have been resurrected in this city 'vithin the last year?

Does any one ask why not supply the demand in t.hat way? Then I answer, because in the :first place it is a scandalous and demoralizing

2414 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD~HOUSE. :MARon 26,

business to those engaged in it. In the second place, it is a standing terror to mourning friends who have just buried their dead. Now, the provisions ofthis bill are intended for the living and not for the dead, as the gentleman seemed to understand, or rather misunderstood, the other day. It is intended for the benefit of the living friends of the dead, and if adopted it will quiet all apprehension on the part of the friends of those dying outside the institutions named in the bill, us again t the work of the Washington resuuectionist.

Mr. MILLIKEN. Will the gentleman answer a question? Mr. GROUT. Certainly. Mr. MILLIKEN. What effect will this bill have upon the feelings

of a man who knows he bas got to die in the poor-house, and can not get out of it?

Mr. GROUT. He may request that his body shall be interred in the usltal way, and in that event, under the provi ions of this bill, tbaheqnc3t must be regarded.

1\fr. TAULBEE. Suppose he dies of apoplexy? Mr. GROUT. Ifhe had not in advance of such a misfortune made ·

such a request, I should say it would be too ln.te after he was dead of apoplexy.

.Ur. TAULBEE. In that case hewouldnothavebn.d an opportunity during his last illness to have acted as directed by thi'3 bill to sa.ve his body from that fate.

Mr. GROUT. .Af3 a gentleman on my right suggests, he would not then have had occasion tCJ'worry about it.

Ur. TAULBEE. But his friends might, perhaps. Mr. GROUT. I repeat, Jtfr. Speaker, this bill is for tho benefit of

the living; and if it be adopted it will quiet the apprehensions of those who are outside of these institutions; and at the same time- the bill carefully respects the wishes of the friends of those dying within the institutions named in the bill. It allows any relation by birth or marriage or any friend to request the burial of any person of this last class, and such request must be respected.

Mr. IDLLIKEN. Let me interrupt the gentleman again to ask: Do · I understand he is going to make a. distinction against people who do

not happen to have friends? Mr. GROUT. The bill only does what the gentleman's own State

bas clone. But to answer the gentleman more to his satisfaction perhaps, I will say that the bill goes upon the idea that a person dying in any of these institutions without friends to cl!:\im his body had better be turned over to the medical schools than that the dead in the churchyards, whose friends are still living in the vicinity, should be disturbed.

Mr. MILLIKEN. I am not discussing what my State bas done or may do, but what the gentleman's bill is intending to do.

Mr. GROU'r. Again I repeat, this bill is for the benefit of the living, and the living friends of those who may die both in these institutions and outside of them.

But, :Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Kentucky admitted the other day, on an inquiry addressed to him by the gentleman from Indian~ [Mr. BROWNE]-and I take it th..'lt he is a recognized authority upon theological questions-whether it would make any difference in the great Resurrection whether a body had been dissected or not, that it would not. M~. MILLIKEN. Why, then,. do you make any distinction between

the poor and the rich? Mr. GROUT. There is no distinction whatever; it applies equally

to all. It is for the benefit of all alike. :Mr. SOWDEN. Do I understsnd the gentleman to say that there

are enough people dying in these institutions to supply the demand of which he speaks in this city?

Jt!r. GROUT. I understand so. I understand thattbesupply would be ample for the requirements of the local medical institutions.

So we see, Mr. Speaker, that this bill provides for this supply in the way I have shown, giving no offense, no needless offense, in the. guarded language of the President, to any one. It supplies a demand that is absolutely necessary and will be met from some source. It will also tend to break up this nefarious, this ghastly and criminal business of robbing grave-yards in the District of Columbia., by meansofwhicb that supply is now made.

Mr. SOWDEN. What assurance can the gentleman give the House upon that subject?

Mr. GROUT. Only the assmance which arises from the very nature of things.

JHr. SOWDEN. Suppose all of these people who die in these insti-tutions file a protest that they want to be bllried.

Mr. GROUT. That is a mere supposition. l\I.r. SOWDEN. It is at least a decent supposition. Mr. GROUT. To be sure, but it is hardly a. reasonable supposition.

Such a result would at least be quite improbable. I said a moment ago that this business of grave-robbing was a c.rim

inn.l one. Have you ever thought how unfair it is to t.he medical profession, and bow inconsistent also, for thela.w to hold them to astrictaccountabilityt as it does, for any carelessness or error in their surgical work, oftentimes bringing them into court and a':sessing them in damages for not doing that work correct.Jy. and yet not only not providing

them with the means of information which would enable them to do well their work-I say not only does the law do this, but it does more; it forbids the obtaining tha.t necessary information under heavy penalties, such as exist for the disturbance of the dead after they are buried.

Mr. MILLIKEN. Will the gentleman permit a further question? :Mr. GROUT. To be sure. .Mr.l\IILLIKEN. Then, if I understand this bill, it provides that if

a man is poor and dies in an asylum or in a poor-bouse, in order to Sc'tve his body from going to the dissecting-table he bas got to make a request tbali after he is deceased be :i:s to be buried; while if he was placed in better circumstances and dies in his own home his body will·not go, no matter whether he makes the request or not. Why, therefore, do yon make this distinction against the poor fellow? He has got to go to the doctors for dissection unless be makes this special request, while e\erybody else will go to the church-yard for interment.

1\Ir. GROUT. I apprehend that the gentlema.n from Maine bas not made a careful study of this bill, as he seems to have imbibed some of the strange sentiments in refe1·euce to it that animate others.

Mr. :MILLIKEN. I am waiting an explanation from the gentleman himself .

Ir. GROUT. I am afraid I shall be unable to make the gcntlema.n unclentand this bill as I woulrllike to have him.

Mr. Speaker, when interrupted I was addressing myself to the inconsistency of the law, where a medical practitioner is held to a strict nccou_ntability in the practice of his proies~wn, an accountability which be can not a...-oid, while on...tbeother hand youmakecriminal the means whereby he alone can acquire that thorough knowledge of his profession wllich the law supposes him to ha.ve. .J~tthink of this proposition for a moment. Can it be that a civilized people will long tolerate such contradiction in their legal ysteD)? And yet that is the law in the District of Columbia to-day-hero where stands the Capitol of this great American people.

.:\Ir. JHILLIKE~. Will the gentleman from Vermont allow me to interrupt him again?

Ur. GROUT. Yes, sil'. Ir. MILLIKEN. This is the objection I make: that to save doctors

from the necessity of body-sna.tching you provide for that difficulty by taking the bodies of the poor. Why do you make any distinction? Why should not the man who is worth a hundred million dt>llars and who bas not filed his pro e 1t aga.inst his body being used in that way, why should ·not his body be assigned to the doctors as well as that of the poor devil who dies in a poor-house?

Mr. GROUT. Ileave the gentleman from :Maine to study out an answer to that question for him elf. And now, to resume my statementt this bill, as we have shown, will cu re this glaring inconsistency in the law, aud -n-ill at the same time supply this reasonable and necessary demaud of the medical profession. Nor iR it a new thing in legislation. Most if not all the older aml more advanced States of the Union h..'We adopted this principle, including the State of the gentleman from Maine [.Mr. MILLIKEN] and the State of the gentleman from Pennsylvania [l\Ir. SoyvnEN]. England also, from whence came the fabric of onr jurisprudence, long since enacted such a law, the pioneer act in the history of this kind of legislation.

Mr. CANNON. Will the gentleman yield to me for a moment? Mr. GROUT. Yes, sir. :Mr. CANNON. .Af3 I understand the position of the gentleman from

Vermont it is this, that when any man dies, whether he is poor orricb, it makes no difference to the dead man whether he goes on the dissecting-table or not. But it does make n difference as regards the feelings of the living. Now, in the class of cases provided for in this bill where the man himself does not object to it, where he does not make his objection known, and where there is no living relative or friend who ruakes the objection, I understand the body of such a. man goes on tho dissecting-table upon the theory that the feelings of the living are not outraged.

Mr. GROUT. Precisely so. Thegcntlemanhas the correct conception of the bill. It must be remembered also that the use of subjects for dissection is of absolute necessity, and that they must either be provided by law or they must be obtained in contravention of law, and no legal system is in keeping with high civilization that does not provide in a. legitimate and lega~ man~er 1orlfurnishing means. of inforn;t-ation in this way to doctors With a v1ew to a successful practice of.theu profE:'ssion.

Mr. MASON. Will the gentleman yield to me for a moment? '[e. GROUT. Ye~, sir.

).Jr. UASON. .Af3 a matter of fact in those States which have adopted thi law is it not true that the habit of grave-robbing has been substantial ly broken up?

:,ir. GROUT. That is true, as I understand it. !IIr. MILLIKEN. Bnt who can tell whether in those States they

have stopped snatching bodies or not. That is not a thing that is done in the light. 1 -

Mr. GROUT. But in those Sta.tes we do not bear of ca.ses of graverobbing.

JIJ:lr. MILLIKEN. Youdonothearmuchoftheminanycommunity.

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 2415 Mr. GROUT. Oh, yes; Washington papers are full of such cases.

If the gentleman reads those newspapers, every now and then he will find a sickening and disgusting account of dragging fmm ita last resting place some corpse for dissection.

IYir. Speaker, I have said all that I wanted and much more than I intended, but have been led on by interruptions. I will only add that the Committee on the District of Columbia are unanimously of the opinion that this bill ought to become a law; and should the Honse refuse to agree to the motion of the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. TAULBEE] that the bill be ordered to lie on the table, and it should seem necessary, other members of the committee will have something to say upon it. I thank the House for the courtesy extended in listening to this statement.

Mr. HEMPHILL. If the House shall vote down the motion to lay the b1ll on the table, I should like to be beard in discussion of it. I think I can give some information which may 'aSsist t_he House in understanding the necessity for this bill.

Mr. TAULBEE. If I am permitted todoso, Iwill withdraw forthe time being the motion to lay the bill on the table, so that the chairman of the committee may have such time as he desires in support of. the bill and that the matter may be open to discussion on either side. I

.made an effort two weeks ago to obtain unanimous consent to let the committee lL.we the time allowed under the 1·ules for debat-e, but I was not recognized for that purpose in consequence of an objection being made. That was my purpose then and is my purpose now.

The SPE.A.KER. The motion to lay on the table having been withdrawn,. the gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. HEMPHILL] is recognized.

1\I.r. IIEl\IPHILL. When this bill was up for discussion the other day the committee had not an opportunity to present its 'iews. I desire now to make a few suggestions in addition to what has been said by the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. ATKINSOX] and this morning by the gentleman from Vermont [.l\Ir. GROUT].

There can be no question there is a necessity, with a view to the investigations of science, that there should be some human bodies furnished to the medical students of this country; and it is only the q ne -tion as to how that shall be do11e which is proposed to be settled by this bill.

It is not worth while to argue the question of the necessity of that kind of knowledge. It is required by the medical board of the Army, it is required by· the medical board of the Navy, it is required by tbe Marine Corps, that every man, before he can enter the medical service of the Army or Navy or Marine Corps, shall demonstrate on the human body what be knows of its anatomy.

Now, gentlemen, the only question is whether this shall be done in a legiti.mate, regular way, or whether it shill be done in violation of law and in defiance of decency. A good deal has been said here about this bill being aimed at the poor people and intended for the protection of the rich. ~Ir. Speaker, I do not pose here as a special friend of any particular class of people. I think that every man in these Unit-ed States who is an honest, upright, patriotic citizen is entitled to as much consideration as anybody else, whether he be rich or whether he be poQr. But is this bill aimed at the poor people? Is it not rather framed for their benefit? We all know, sir, that the rich people of this country and of all other countries are perfectly able by the use of money to take care of themselves while living and to take care of their dead when they are laid in their last resting place.

The rich are able to build tombs of marble, and to surround them with walls of iron and stone which the "resurrectionists" can not break through, and therefore it is of no particular importance to them whether this bill or any other for a similar purpose passes here or not. But there are a great many people in this District, worthy, upright, and respectable citizens, men who fight the battles of the country, who pay its taxes; people who are entitled to protection at the hands of the law when living, and it is our duty to give their dead protection when it can be done in a proper and legitimate way. It is a well-known fact that since the 1st of January last there have been severnl cases reported in the newspapers of this District where bodies of people entirely respectable, but in moderate circumstances, have been ''snatched'' from their graves and carried to the dissecting-tables of the medical colleges. Now, how is that to be regulated? It is impossible to prevent the medical students from getting bodies for dissection.

They always have got them and they always will get them. But how are you going to prevent it? What does this bill provide? It provides, in the first place, that where people die in the almshouses, hospitals, jails, or asylums, etc., of this District who do not make any request to be buried, whose bodies havelainthereunclaimedbyanyperson, eitherwhiteorblack, relativeorfriend, fortheperiodofforty-eighthours, cases in which no relative either by blood or by marriage comes to claim that the body shall be buried, where no person claiming to stand in even the very indefinite relation of a friend comes and asks that the body shall beburied-wbentheseconditionsexist, and when, inaddition, itmeets with the approval of the health officer of the District, a sworn responsible official, whose duty it is under this bill to look after these matters-when all these contingencies concur, then the body may be delivered for the use of the medical colleges, and not until then.

Mr. LYNCH. Will the gentleman permit a question? Mr. HEMPHILL. Yes, sir. ~ir. LYNCH. Is there any provision made for giving public notice

of these deaths? Mr. HEMPHILL. There is no provision made in this bill, but if

the House sees fit to adopt an amendment requiring an advertisement to be published, I have no objection.

There is no purpose on the part of the committee to do anything but what is entirely fair and proper in the matter.

Mr. TAULBEE. Will the gentleman yield to me for a question? Mr. HEMPHILL. Y cs, sir. M:r. TAULBEE. In enumerating the conditions provided for in the

bill as antecedent to the delivery of a body to the medical colleges the gentleman mentioned the death of the person in the jail, the hospital, or the asylum, and the fact that the body must have remained fortyeight hours unclaimed by ii'iend or relative, but I believe he omitted one very important condition which the bill sets forth and to which I would like to have him direct his attention, namely, the provision that the person must be buried at the public expense. I would like to hear the gentleman on that point.

Mr. HEl\IPHILL. I will come to that presently, Mr. Speaker. The gentleman is exceedingly apprehensive upon that subject. As I have already said, the 1·ich are able to take care of themselves while they are living and their friends are able to take care of them when they are dead . There is another very large class of people who, though not rich, hase as many friends and as many rela,tions as the rich, and whose bodies are just as well protected by this bill as those of rich people or of anybody else. The law of this Disbict now is that if a body is not claimed by a friend or relative, it is the duty of the District authorities to bury it, whether it be the body of a rich person or the body of a poor person, and I think it will hardly be maintained by the gentleman from Kentucky [1\Ir. TAULBEE] that the poor people of this District are so inhuman, or that their relatives are so forgetful of the ties that bind them to their own blood kin, that they will not go and ask to be allowed to bury them. This bill does not say a poor man, it does not say a rich man, it says a man who is buried at the public expense; th~t is, a mau who has no friends who take enough interest in him to ask that be shall be buried. No man whose friends or relations will take the trouble to ask that he be buried, no matter whether he berich or poor, will be so forgotten as to be buried at the public expense.

Now, .Mr. Speaker, in addition to that, there are, unfortunately, in any community embracing so large a population as this city, a C<msiderable number of women who by lives of shame have cut themselves off from all ties which might bind them to their blood relations, and there are men whose conduct bas been such that their relatives and those who may once have been their friends would not recognize them when living or mourn for them when dead. It is this class of people whose bodies this bill proposes to operate upon, with the view of saving the lhing, whether poor or rich, from the harassing experience of hewing their loved ones snatched from their last resting place.

This bill is not aimed at the poor any more than at the rich. It is intended to protect those people who, when burying their dead, are now obliged to leave them to the mercy of the grave-digger and the bodysnatcher.

I know that in the view of some persons it looks like a rather severe measure to provide by law that cert-ain bodies shall be taken to the dissecting-table. But, Mr. Speaker, we can do the dead no good and we can do them no hann. This bill, like all other bills, shonld be framed for the protection of the living; and it is with the view of saving living • persons from having their minds harassed with uncertainty as to what has been done with the bodies of their beloved dead that the House is asked to pass this bill.

1\fr. WEAVER. But we impose upon certain classes named by the gentleman a certainty that their bodies ·are to be dealt with in this way--

Mr. HEMPHILL. No, sir. 1\Ir. WEAVER. And that would be harassing to them. Mr: HEMPHILL. I will state very distinctly my position on this

question. I think that when persons have so conducted themselves while living as to forfeit the respect of eociety, have led such lives of shame that after their death no friend or relative can be found to take interest enough in them to ask that their bodies shall be buried even at public expense, it would be no great hardship if we allow the bodies of such persons to be taken for dissection,•provided they do not before death request otherwise, and provided that the health officer of the District of Columbia says that they are proper subjects for anatomical study.

Mr. WEAVER. I do not subscribe to any such doctrine as that. It would be far better for the Government to institute houses of correction and to adopt other reformatory measures for the creatures referred to by the gentleman than to notify them before they die that as a penalty for the character of their lives they shaH after death be laid upon the qissecting-table and cut to pieces.

Mr. HEMPHILL. Well, Mr. Speaker, I do.notindulge in anysuch sickly sentimentalism as that.

Mr. WEAVER. Ob, yes; it is "sickly." Anythinginfavorofhu-

2416 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSEJ MARon 26,

manity is "sickly" in the estimation of men who will bring in a bill of this kind.

1\Ir. HEMPHILL. It is ''sickly " to be indulging in appeals of that kind.

1\Ir. WEAVER. The gentleman bas no right to impugn my motives. I have as much right to express my views here without having my motives impugned as be bas; and I say my -.iews are just as much in accord withhumanityandgoodgovernment--yes, moreso-than the views he has expressed here, which ought to send a thrill of horror throughout this House and the whole country.

Mr. HEMPHILL. I will come to that. I am not going to report here any bill which I am not willing to stand by. I have as much respect for any class of people who are honest, patriotic, Jaw-abiding, as any man in this House, and I do not care whether they be rich or poor. But I do say that it is the duty of the Government to legislate for the benefit of those citizens who are honest, upright, straightforward; who support the institutions of the country; who are patriotic in their desires; who :fight its battles andmaketbe country worth living in. And when the question is presented whether in our legislation we shall look to those who have forfeited all respect, who have led disgraceful lives, who have cut themselves off from aU the tenderest ties of humanity by their own willful misconduct, or whether we shall rega,rd the sentiment of the upright, honest, law-abiding peop1e of the country, I will not hesitate to make my decision in favor of the more worthy class; and I am not afraid to announce it on this floor.

Mr. WE.A. VER. Let me ask the gentleman this question: Under this bill can not the body of a. soldier who fought in the Union Army be sent to the dissecting-table as well as that of a man who bas led a "life of shame?" As I understand, there is no exception in favor of the Union soldier.

Mr. HEMPHILL. A gentleman on the other side proposed the other day an amendment to protect that class of citizens by directing that notice should be given in any such case to the Grand .Army post of the District; and, so far as I am concerned, I will vote for that amend-men~ .

1'1Ir. MILLIKEN. I ask the gentleman bow his description about leading a ''life of shame '' applies to persons w bo happen to die jn the hospital or the poor-house or whose bodies are taken to the morgue? May not such persons have lived as honest lives as the gentleman from South Carolina. or myself or anybody else, and may they not have died under these circumstances on ·account of mere misfortune?

Mr. HEMPHILL. Exactly; and the body of any man dying nuder such circumstances of misfortune can not be taken for dissection unless with the approval of the health officer of the District, and unless he bas no friends or relatives to ask that his body be buried.

Mr. MILLIKEN. Why do you not apply the same provision to everybody else?

Mr. HEli1PHILL. It is applied t.o everybody. Mr. MILLIKEN. Oh, no; it is not. Mr. WEAVER. Why not apply the provisions of the bill to rich

men who have led " lives of shame? " .M:r. HEMPHILL. I say, Mr. Speaker, that the bill makes no dis

crimination between the rich and the poor. The gentleman ii·om Kentucky .the other day, when he slipped the bridle and galloped all over this House without restraint, undertook to say that this measure is an insult, a.u indignity offered to the poor people of this country. Let us see whether members of this Honse who are going to vote for this bill, as I trust many of them will, will violate in so doing the best sentiment of the country. I have taken some pai.ns to look into this matter a little, and find that according to the law of the State of Connecticut bodies to be used for dissection are defined as those ' which shall not have been buried within twenty-four hours after death, nor claimed to.r burial by any relative or friend; but the body of no person known to !Jave relatives or friends shall be so delivered without their consent." This is almost the exact language of the present bill.

The great State of Iowa, from which, I think, my friend has the honor to come, and which, judging from its representative, is a tenderhearted country, provides that a coroner or undertaker in any county of the State of Iowa, or of any city where the inhabitants exceed 1, 000, may deliver to any co11ege or any physician in the State of Iowa the body or remains of any deceased person, except where such body has been interred or dressed for interment, or bodies of those known to have relati Yes or friends. That is in the State of Iowa, where we have the right to presume there is civilizat-ion. That State prov-ides that any coroner or undertaker, any man who sets himself up to bury others, may give the body of any deceased person to any medical college or physician, except where such body bas been interred or dressed for interment or of those known to have relatives or friends. It is not provided this shall be done under the. supervision of the health officer, as I recall the statute; but whenever the coroner or undertaker shall deem it fit to do so, he can tm·n over tbe bodies of any such persons to any college or to any one having a sheep-skin for the purpose of cutting them up.

When my friend from Kentucky [Mr. '£AULBEE] was talking the other day about the Scriptures and about the potter's :field, and charging this committee with having offered an indignity to the poorpeople of this country, the good people of his own State of' Kentucky, assem-

bled by their representatives at the capital of that State, were consid~ ering a bill to deliver unclaimed bodies of people over to the medicn.l men of any institution of that State. .And that bill has passed the house since then, and is now being considered in the senate, and ac· cording to the best information I have been able to procure, the law will pass that body. So that Kentucky is coming into line amongst the civilized States of the Union, and is opposed to body-snatching and in favor of the regulation of this business by some legitic:late means.

l'tlr. TAULBEE. Will the gentleman allow me to ask him a question?

Mr. HEMPHILL. Certainly. Mr. TAULBEE. I wish to ask whether the State from which he

comes has a law similar to the one which he presents to this House? If it has not I would like to know from him why it has not; I would like to know why his State has not come up to the line of civiliz:ttion, as he terms it? •

Mr. HEMPHILL. Anybody who ]mows anything of the civilization of this country never doubted South Carolina in that regard. I do not think it is necessary she should pass a law of this kind in order to prove her civilization.

Now, in ad4ition to what I have already said, I desire to state that I have gone over the statutes of the States of this Union to some extent, and I find there are thirty-one of the States and Territories, including the District of Columbia, where there are medical colleges. In eighteen, including the StateofTeunessee, which issomewhatpeculiar, there are laws like unto the one here proposed, some of which are much broader, and very few of which areas well guarded as this. In Connecticut, Missouri, Arkansns, Indiana, Illinois, Oregon, Iowa., Colorado, Mary land, New Hampshire, Ohio, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Nebraska statutes of this character are in existence, and one with similar provisions is being enacted in the State of Kentucky.

:l!Ir. Speaker, in all tbo3e StateR there is a provision that unclaimed bodies shall be given over to medical colleges, and in some that they shall be given over to any physician desiring them for dissection. It is especially provided in a number of the States that the unclaimed bodies shall be those which are buried at the public expense, and that is the phraseology which is used in this bilL

The State of Maryland, which lies in juxtaposition to this District, has a law almost identical in phraseology to this bill, some changes having been made in the pendin-5 bill for the purpose of meeting the objection urged by the President in his veto message.

Now, Mr. Speaker, it looks like a pretty bard thing to be legislating about matters of this kind. We have to legislate about a good many things which are not very pleasant. It is a hard thing to say that a man tor doing a certain thing shall be incarcerated in prison, or shall be hung between heaven and earth, but these things experience has proved are necessary for the protection of society and for the preservation of decency and goQ(l order.

This District has a number of medical colleges, which require from seventy to eighty bodies every year for the pmpose of instructing their students in anatomy, in order that they may go out into the world and pcactice for the cuTe of the living. Now, for a number of years the practice of body-snatching bas been going on in this District as it has been going on in other places throughout the Union where they have not enacted a Jaw Rimi1ar to the one now pending. The question at last comes down to this: Whetbm· or not we will do something toward giving to the people of this District the same protection which the majority of the States of the Union have already given to their people by providing, as is done in this bill, that unclaimed b_odies buried at the public expense, whether rich or poor, shall be turned over to the medical colleges which may require them for dissection by their students.

And I say if there is a man in this House who believes that the violation and contempt of the laws of this Distl'ict should be permitted to go on unchecked, and thinks that the business of the resurrectionist, "the business of the man who robs the graves of our people at midnight, should be unmolested, then let him vote against the bill. But if there are people who believe that this business, which is a necessity, which is known and recognized and winked at by the police and other authorities of the District, ought to be regulated in some fair way, then they ought to Yote for the bm, for that is what the bill seeks to do. That is the question submitted to them.

It is not a question whether or not weare going to stop the resurrectionist, but whether we will regulate this business in some way, and save the people of the District from the uncertainty and distress of -wondering whether or not the body of the friend or relative they have interred in one of the grave-yards of the city is lying there, or whether it has been dragged up at midnight with a rope around its neck and sold in secret to somebody for fifteen or twenty dollars to hack over.

Mr. J .A.CKSON. Let me ask th~ gentleman from South Carolina if it is not a fact that there is no provif>ion whatever in this bill making itanoffenseandprovidingapunishment for openly violating in anyway any one of the provisions referred to here-tbat is to say, that any one having charge of the bodies of persons dying under such circumstances, the bodies of strangers dying here, might give tile bodies away without reference to the l'equest of the deceased, or dispose of them in less than forty·eigbt hours, and do this without the incurrence of aey penalty

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 2417 whatever? I ask the gentleman 1rom South Carolina if it is not an ments which we all recognize as noble and worthy of encouragement omission from the bill which provides no penalties whatever. that we have undertaken to make some provision which will give the

Mr. HEMPHILL. The existing law is only changed in a few par- medical students of this District something which is necessary for their iiculars in this bill; and if there be other offenses committed the law education, and which they now get in violation of law,'and to the utter as it now stands attaches to them, and the party who violates the law abhorrence of the sentiment of the people who are not able to put their must suffer the consequences. dead behind steel bars, but are compelled to leave them, as most of them

:Mr. JACKSON. Yes, but that does not meet the question. This do, buried under the earth, wheretbesepeople go and snatch them out bill makes provision for the burial of the remains that have been dis- at night. sected, and provides penalties for such and such things, among the 1\ir. WARNER. Will the gentleman yield to me for a question? rest for removing bodies from their graves. It specifies what shall be 1\ir. HEMPHILL. Yes, sir. done with the bodies of these deceased persons. Mr. WARNER. As medical students may not be able properly to

But if the party whose duty it is to comply with the law in this re- distinguish between a man who dies and has to be buried at the pubspect violates it, what I say is that this bill makes no provision for a lie expense and one who has lived a life of luxury and can pay for his penalty. Here, for instance, you recognize a class of persons whose funeral, I suggest to the gentleman from South Carolina why not strike bodies ar~ to be disposed of in a certain manner-what is to prevent out the words "as are required to be buried at the public expense;" so the custodian from giving those bodies away, from speculating upon it would include the rich and poor? them, or doing anything else with them in violation of the law? Mr. HEUPHILL. I have no objection to that. I have no desire to

Mr. HEMPHILL. The object of this bill is to meet what we be- legislate for one set of people more than another. lieve to be an exigency; and if the gentleman has any modifications Mr. LYNCH. I desire to offer the amendment which I send to the which he will suggest I am satisfied the committee would cheerfully desk. accord him a patient hearing. The Clerk read as follows:

Mr. JACKSON. But I want the gentleman himself to saY. i:f this Amend the first section by adding the following: bill is not ve1·y objectionable and incomplete? "Providedfurthe,·, That public notice of the death and a brief description of the

1.Ir. HEMPHILL. No, sir. · deceased be given in two newspapers published daily in the city of Washing-Mr. JACKSON. Then how does the gentleman explain this omis- ton for two consecutive days before the body is delivered as aforesaid."

sion? Mr. HEMPHILL. I have no objection to that. Mr. HEMPHILL. By the simple reason that if there is a law upon Mr. WARNER. As the gentleman from South Carolina says he has

the subject already to regulate this business, whi"ch law makes no ex- no objection to the suggestion I have made, I will move to strike out ception, a person who violates that law knowingly must suffer the the words I have indicated in the tenth line. consequences of it. · Mr. HEMPHILL. I suggest to the gentleman to wait till amend-

Mr. JACKSON. But certainly the gentleman does not pretend that ments are i:u order. . there is any law in existence upon these subjects to which I ha>e re- The SPEAKER pro tempo1·e (Mr. HATCH). When this bill was la-st ferred in the District of Columbia? · under consideration a large number of amendments were presented at

Mr. HEMPHILL. So far as I know there is no law regulating body- the time the gentleman fr6m Kentucky [.M:r. TAULBEE] was on the snatching at all. floor, flnd can not under the rule be considered as pending amendments

Mr. JACKSON. Yes, but I am calling the attention of the gentle- anymore than the amendment just proposed by the gentleman from man to the traffic that may go on under the features of this bill in this Pennsylvania [Mr. LYNCH] which bas just been read, the Chair supDistrict without the incurrence of any penalty on the part of the per- poses, for information. ~t the proper time these amendments which son who violates the law. There is no provision attaching the slightest have accrunulated ia such number will have to be taken up under the penalty. It gives a license to any individual who may have charge of rule. the unfortunates who may happen to come here-and as we all know Mr. HEMPHILL. A number of those amendments were offered many come who are disabled and infirm, and die here friendless and when the House was in a specially good humor. I think it important unknown-to speculate and traffic in their bodies. to go on with the business. I belie>e the House now underst.'lnds the

Mr. HEMPHILL. Is that a question? bill, and unless gentlemen desire that it shall be further discussed I Mr. JACKSON. It is a question, if you can explain how it makes would like the House to go to the consideration oftbe bill by sections.

provision for the .C..'\re of the bodies of people dying under such circum- Mr. COX. Those amendments which were offered when the bill was stances, and provides no punishment for an infraction of the law. under discussion were offered in the hour of the gent.leman from Ken-

l\1r. ATKINSON. It is already provided for by law. tucky. They were readforinformation, as the RECORD will show, and Mr. HEMPHILL. If the gentleman from Pennsylvania will sub- are not pending.

mit a question I will take pleasure in responding, but I can not under- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will state that the gentletake to answer a long speech. Or if the gentleman will submit an man from Kentucky bad offered an amendment which was pending. amendment to the bill providing penalties for a violatioD of any of its One amendment to the bill had been offered by the gentleman from New provisions, I shall be very glad to consider it. · Jersey [Mr. BucHANAN] and bad been adopted by the House. Tbere-

Mr. JACKSON. The only amendment that I should offer would upon the gentleman from Kentucky offered an amendment; and after be one to strike out all after the enacting clause. the time occupied by the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. ATKIN-

Mr. HEMPHILL. And that of course we would not consider. soN] in debate the gentleman from Kentucky took the floor in support Mr. O'NEILL, of Missouri. Will t~e gentleman permit me to ask of his amendment; and during the time he was on the floor these other

him a question? · . amendments were offered by the yielding from time to time of the gen-Mr. HEMPHILL. .Certainly. tleman from Kentucky. Mr. O'NEILL, of Missouri. In the fourteenth line of the bill the 1\Ir. COX. The gentleman from Kentucky concluded by moving to

proviso reads: lay the bill on the table, the amendments having been read for in-That if the deceased person during llis last illness, of his own accord, requested formation.

to be buried, etc. The SPEAKER pro tempore. That is a correct statement of what What is the object of inserting these words," of his own accord?" took place. But the gentleman from Kentucky this morning withMr. HEMPHILL. For the simple reason, I suppose, that he might drew the motion to lay on the table.

not be persuaded into it. If he desires to give llis_ body or does not Mr. GROSVENOR. I desire to ask the gentleman from South Cardesire it he can express that wish. But if the gentleman desires it the olina a question. As I understand, he has no objection to the amend-words might be inserted ''of his own free will.'' ment as to members of the Grand Army of the Republic?

Mr. O'NEILL, of Missouri. Would it not be better to strike that Mr. HEMPHILL. No, sir . .. out as surplusage? Mr. COX. But it has to be voted upon.

Mr. HEMPHILL. I have no objection. The use of the language I Mr. ANDERSON, of Kansas.. I would like to make a suggestion to "of his own free will" would amount to the same thing. the gentleman in charge of the measure. When the bill was last under

Of course there are people who have given their bodies to be buried, consideration a motion to lay on the table had been made. That rooand some who have given their bodies to be cremated, and others who tion this morning bn..c; been withdrawn. The committee haYe been have given their bodies for scientific purposes. And after all, 1\Ir. heard now in ea:1enso; and under the circumstances I would suggest to Speaker, there is not so much difference in being cut up after death the gentleman l1a.ving charge of the bill the propriety of allowing furand buried afterwards, and being buried and cut up afterwards. For ther debate. under this bill all bodies that are dissected are to be buried decently 1\Jr. HEMPHILL. I do not desire to cut off debate unnecessarily. thereafter, and in order, bythe people who have the use of the body for We have other busjness, and we would like to go on with it as rapidly scientific purposes. ns we can consistently with a fair consideration of the measure now

We all know that our bodies are not preserved after death, but by na- pending. I reserve the balance of my time. tnre decay; and when we remember these things and know that it does The SPEAKER pro temp01·e. The gentleman has twenty-three min· not make much difference-really makes no difference to the dead what- u tes remaining. ever-whenwerememberthesethings it cannot beamatter of so much [Mr. TAULBEE withholds his remarks for revision. [See Appen concern, except as a mere sentiment in the living; and it is for the pur- dix:.] poseof protecting the people of this District and saving those senti- Mr. "WEAVER •. Mr. Speaker, Iwishtosayafewwords!nopposition

XIX-152

2418 CONGRESSIONAL REOORD-=-HOUSE. MARCH 26,

to thlB bill. In my judgment it ought not to pass. I do not think the country is suffering for want of this sort of legislation, and I think the time of the House could be spent in a better way. Neither am I opposed to it from any sentimentality; not at all. I do not believe t.he opposition to the bill is inspired by anything of that kind. It does make the sending of bodies to the dissecting-table depend upon the poverty of the person. It is in the nature of a penalty upon poverty. So far as it applies to criminals it is in the nature of a penalty or punishment after death:

One other thing. I had hoped the gentleman wonld have spared the House and the country the recital of the secrets of the chaxnel-house. It was unnecessary to the discussion of the bill, and I hope he wills trike out the horrible picture which he drew in that respect. I hope he will strike it from the RECORD; if it must be published, let it be published in the Police Gazette.

I look upon the bodies of all hum:m beings as sacxcd, and that they ought not to be mutilated after death, except in case of necessity and with the consentofthedyingperson. And inasmuch as the-committet! have incorporated into this bill a feature looking to the consent of the dying person, and to the effect that his body shall not be given up to the dissecting-table if he requests otherwise, why not put into this bill a provision that his body shall not be so d~sposed of unless he had re·que~ ted it? .Just re\"erse the conditions of the bill. Give him the righ t to t·equest or to decide the matter before death; and if he docs not, touch not his remains.

I have nothing further to say upon the subject. Mr. TAULBEE. I now yield five minutes to the gentleman from

New Jersey [Mr. McADoo]. 1\Ir. McADOO. Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that this bill might

very well be entitled "A measureto send the JerryCrunchers from the gravc-Y.ards into the hospitals."

Now, Mr. Speaker, there are a great many things about our daHy lives, a great many e\"ilS that afflict society, which are entire1y outs:ide of the pale of the law; and it has been argued by many social reformers that it is better to license such evils rather than to know that they exist as against the law, which is unable in some instances to control or regulate them.

I, tor one, am opposed to such a theory. To give legislative sanctity to seemingly irrepressible, and even apparently :pecessary, evils will, I am afmid, dignity make respectable, and encourage wrong. The ghonl of the grave-yard is by tbiB act dignified into the legalized'' bodysnatther" of the hospital. Science, in a. .n tilitarian age, selects its vic · tims by reason of their poverty.

I agree with all that has been said about the honors of this business of the resurrectionist, so far as it lacerates the feelings of the survivors :mel friends of the dead; but I (10 not wish, either by my vote or voice here, to add to the terrors which already surround the deathbed~ of the poor in onr puhlic hospitals and almshouses.

l\Iany persons who :find themselves dying ~n hospita1s::md almshouses are not the victims of their own evil ways. They are often good, hon

.. est, upright people, brought there b.v misfortunes, and the only crime of which they have been guilty is that unpardonable one in modern society, the crime of poverty.

K ow, why add to the terrors of death by increasing the suffering of the poor fellow in the hospita.l or the almshouse by the knowledge that mter death his body is to be appropriated to the dissecting-table, to be ruthlessly and brutally used for scientific purposes? This bill, with n. sort of refinement of cruelty, prescribes that pernons dying in the almshouses or asylums, unless of their own accord they request the privileges of Christian burial, shall be banded over to the savage, soulless science of the meclicn.l schools. Imagine for a moment a poor, homeless, friendless, suffering man in the very throes of dissolution, his faculties deserting him, eternity with its awful possibilities before him, the earth and its ties receding, and just as he iB about to penetrate the Yeil of the tremendous future, he is obliged, in order to preserve his body, the temple of his soul, from a dissecting-table, to collect his thoughts and cite to the attendants, if any there be, an act of Congress passed for the district of Columbia, dated the· 26th of 1\Iarch, 1888-probably sending for the statutes-asking that his body may not be handed over to the surgeons to be mutilated after his death.

Every poox waifofhnmanitywhowants the benefit ofthls act must spend his last moments arguing law to the hospital or conventionally cold-hearted almshouse attendant-s. Money, which can not happily buy he..1.ven, yet to the \"ery last secures special privileges on this faithless earth. Even in the gra>e there is a one nice distinctbn.

I think, sir, the proper way would be to provide that where a man is willing that his body should be handed over to the dissectingtn.ble for scientific dissection that he shall subscribe his wish to that effect in the presence of two or three witnesses, and thus dispose of his body after death. Never enact a law such as that proposed here, and put the burden upon him of saving his body byinsisting upon its preservation from the dissecting-table. Let the contrary be the practice in such cases. If the friends of this measure want to aid surgical knowledge, let them enjoin that their bodies shall be devoted to scientific research. Let us not be generous to science solely at the expense of the poor and needy.

.Ur. GROU'l'. Let me ask the gentleman if he recognizes the necessity for subjects by medical colleges for dissecting purposes.

1\Ir. 1\IcA.DOO. Well, I do not know. They have dissected so many and for so long a time, and there have been made such perfect charts and casts showing the whole science of anatomy, that it would seem scarcely necessary that this process of dissecting bodies should continue. It seems to me, not being a medical man, that where bodies have been dissected and charts and casts have been prepared, and animals are to be had showing the organization, arteries, veins, and tissues of the body, there is no necessity for ftrrther advancing the mediC!l.l science by exhuming and dissecting human cadavers. I pretend in this field, however, no special knowledge. · We have certainly no right to give them the bodies of poor unfortunates.

Mr. GROUT. I mean for medical students alone to dissect. You do not admit that position, do yon?

Mr. 1\Ic.A.DOO. I can only repeat that so many years this pmctice has gone on and so many bodies have been dissected that from an unprofessional view I do not see the necessity for continuing it further.

.Mr. GROUT. Are you aw::ue of the fact that the medical men all over the world differ with you very materially on tha~, point?

Mr. 1\fcADOO. I am not aware of the fact, and do not profess to have 3JJY scientific information upon the subject. Science will :find means to dissemjnatc itself.

But., Mr. Speaker, apropos of this subject of resurrectionists and the preYalence of this business in all countries and at all times, I ask the Clerk to read an extract from the" Tale of Two Cities," a con~ersation between Mr. Jerry Cruncher and his precocious boy. By this bill yon send Cruneher, ·as I said in the beginning, from the grave-yard to the pauper's bedside.

The Clerk read as follows: "Father," said ycmng .Jerry, as they·walked along, taking care to keep ali

arm's-length anu to have the stool well between them," what's a resurrectionman?"

Mr. Crunchc r cumc to a stop on the pa.yement before he answered, "How should l know?"

"I thought you knowed everything, father," snid the artless boy. "Hem! \Veil,'' returned Mr. Cruncher, going on again, and liftingo!fhisllat

to give his spikt.>S free play, "he's a tradesman." "Wlmt's hh! goods. father?" asked the brisk young Jerry. ''His goods,'' said 1\Ir. Cruncher, after turning it over in his mind, ''is a branch

of scientific goods." "Persons' bodies, ain't it, father?" asked the li'l"ely boy. "I belie'l"e it is something of that sort," observed ~It·. Oruncher. "Ob. father, l should so like to be a. resurrection-man when l'm quite

growe<.l up." 1\Ir. Cruncber was soothe{], but shook his bead in a. dubious and moral way.

"It depend!> upon how you develop your talents. Be careful to develop your talents and n e ver to say no more than you can help to nobody; and there's no telling at the present time what you may come to be fit for." As young .Jerry, thos encouraged. w e nt on a few yards in rulvance, to pl. ut the stool in the shadow of the bar, J\Ir. Crunchcr added to himself: "JeiTY., you bon~ tro.de3-man, there's hopes wot that boy will yet be a blessing to you, and a. recompense to you for llis mothe.r!"

Mr. TAULBEE. I yield ten minutes to the gentlemanfrol)l.Kansas (Mr. ANDERSON].

Mr. ANDERSON, of Kansas. When this bill was under consideration the other day I offered the following amendment, which I shall endeavor to Otrer again as n. substitute for the bill, unless it shall be held that the amendment is already pending. It is ~his:

Strike out all after the enacting clause of the bill and amend it so that iii will read:

"Be it enacted, etc., That whoever shall sell o1·1Juy the body or bodies ora deceased person or persons, or in any way traffic in the same, or who sllall disturb or remove bodies from graves in which they have been buried, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction, be imprisoned for a term of not less than two n"or more than three yeal'S at h.n.rd labor in the jail of said District.."

That proposition I am ready to support, because it looks to the COl'rection ofa.u unquestionable and horrible Cl·ime, that of robbing graves. A.nd I would diBlike to see the bill laid on the, table for the reason that to do so would prevent the enactment of such a law as this; for, as I undet-stand it, there is no such L.1>w to-day in this District--

1\Ir. GROUT. Oh, yes; there is. 1t1r. ANDERSON, of Kans..'lS. Not a law certa.inly which provides a

penalty such as is called for by the nature of the crime. This city to a large extent isana.ggregationofstrangers, and therefore in it more than in other cities there is need for a stringent and effective law which shall prevent ghouls from desecrating graves.

There bas been interjected into this debate the idea that the Committee on the District of Columbia was not treated with proper courtesy the other day. I am srue we are all willing to extend to the committee the fullest courtesy, a.nd have done so by again opening the debate. It is alleged also that the committee having examined this subject, and having concluded to recommend favorably the bill before us, that this fact in itself is a reason why the House should pass this bill.

Mr. GROUT. Nobody claims that~ W c claim that that fact should entitle it to respectful consideration.

l\Ir. ANDERSON, of Kansas. Now I, in common with every gentleman on the floor of the Honse, have the highest opinion of the sagacity, the wisdom, the integrity, and the ability of every gentleman on that committee, and if a proposition were pending here that we should enact this opinion into a law I personally would \"ote for it. But that is not the proposition at all. The merits of that committee, like " the

1888. 0 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 2419 flowers that bloom in the spring,'' have nothing to do with the merits ofthe case.

What is the exact proposition that we are asked to enact into a law? ·n is that when any persons die in any of the charitable or criminal institutions of this District the bodies of such deceased persons as are required to be buried at thepublic expensemaybedelivered to the medical colleges; provided, however, that if the deceased person during his last illness, of his own accord, requested to be buried, etc., then his body shall not be so disposed of.

My first objection to the bill is that it throws the burden of securing his body from dissection upon the person about to die. Who, ordinarily, is that person? Some one who is in the poor-house or in an insane asylum or hospital in this city, belonging to the class not ordinarily in the habit of reading the newspapers, usually not knowing what the laws of the District of Columbia may be; not knowing that there is such a law as this,eif it becomes law, which he must obey if he would have his bodv buried.

Then consider the circumstances in which that person is at the time: weak, in pain, the mind beginning to grasp the idea of an approach to the mysterious confines of eternity and to all the vast possibilities and realities beyondi a man ignorant, poor, emaciated, in a hospital or in a jail about to meet his God. And by this bill it is made his dnty to remember, at such a time and under those circnmE<t3.nces, that the Fiftieth Congress enacted that his body should be caned by a lot of deputy sawbones unless he, "of his own accord," without thesuggestionfrom a surgeon, nurse, or anybodyelse-unless he ''of his ownaccord" said he desired to have buried the body given to him by the Great Creator who made this world and made human bodies, and who vested in each man the right and title to his own body. Was it the pauper or the patrician whom that same God most loved when He walked the fields of Palestine so many centuries ago, Hi.c; eye sympathizing with and kindling at the sight of whom? Of the Scribe? Of the Pharisee? Of the ruler? Of the senator or congressman of that government? Oh, uo. Of the poor, the lame, the blind, the sick. Unlike this bill, He preferred Lazarus, whose sores the street dogs licked, to the rich man.

My objection is that by this measnre tlk'l.t very spirit of pity and care for the '\leak is sought to be invaded and OYerthrown by singling out a pauper, dying, agonized, perhaps a veteran soldier, and calling upon him to be aware of the fact that this august body, the Fiftieth Congr:es , had seen fit to enact a law that he, to save his body from going_ to the dissecting-table, " of his own accord," must say that he did not want to be en~ up for the benefit of a lot of sawboues. It is simply, in my judgment-and I say it with the highest respect for the committee and every member of it-a gross violation of that great spirit and heart of the God whoislove, and who most loves the poor and the weak, the helpless and forsaken.

Now, if you want to pass a law to carve the body of a railroad president for the benefitofmedical science, I will Yote for it. [Laughter.] These men will know what the law is and act accordingly. If you wish to pass a bill under similar conditions as here proposed to dissect Jay Gould's remains, I will vote for it in a minute. [Laughter.] He would be able to take care of himself. But, gentlemen-and I am in earnest about this-! do not propose by my vote to put upon the sta.tute-book a law which, as I see it, violates the vested rights of humanity and Christianity.

It is assumed by, gentleman that we must provide "stiff.:~" for the medic.:'\1 students; that we are somehow under obliga.~on to do it. That is the basis of their whole argument.. Why must we do so? For one, I deny the obHgation in toto. Why should this American Congress suspend the consideration of more important measures and come to a dead stop in order to enact a law of this cha.racter, violating, as I hold it does, the organic rights of men, the inalienable right of every man to his own body, be he poor or rich, sane or insane, merely for the purpose of providing subjects for medical students. What right lhwe we to another man's corpse? Think of it, gentlemen! And yet we are called upon to turn aside from important ancl needed legislation to grapplewith this great and cryingdemand that the American Congress shall provide "subjects, for the students of the medical colleges in the District of Columbia at the sole expense of the poor and friendless.

Now, I insist upon it that this Congress does not have to do any such thing. For one I am perfectly ready to pass a bill to punish seYerely any ghoul who desecrates a grave. I am ready to vote for the amendment of the gentleman from Kentucky, which strikes out the existing provision from the bill and puts upon the dying man the burden of directing affirmatively that his body may be used for dissection. I will vote for that amendment, but I prefer to strike out the whole bill and substitute my amendment.

Mr. TAULBEE. I yield five minutes to the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. WHITE].

Mr. WHITE, of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I wish to say a few words in opposition to this bill, because in my judgment it is a measure that ought not to pass. It is legislation in favor of the rich and agains.t the poor. Should this bill pass there is not a member of this House, there is not the head of a family in this great nation, who may not suffer from its provisions. Suppose that any member of this body or any

head of a family has a wayward child, either a son or a daughter, who leaves home, perhaps through some distaste for its sun·oundings, but without any unkind feeling towards the parents. In such a case the child will be likely to try to conceal his or her locality from those at home. Now suppose that the wanderer should straggle down to this city of 'Yashington and lJere, through misfortune, should become poor and sick and be compelled to go to a hospital. Suppose that there the poor patient gets worse insteadofbetter, what will behisfeelingswhen he sees death staring :him in the face to know that his body will be unrecognized and will be handed over to be cut up under the provisions of this bill ?

Mr. HE;\1PHILL. In the gentleman's own State, In diann,, they have a similar law with reference to bodies that are li:l.ble to be buried at. the public expense. Will the gentleman reconcile the view he is expressing with that law of his own State?

Mr. WHITE, of Indiana. If they hn,ve such a law it is just as outrageous and infamous as the one we are considering here, and I would condemn it jush as severely. Ur. Speaker, in the case I was supposing, the poor stray sheep dies with the sen.l of secrecy on his lips and comes under the operation of the provisions of this bill. But in the mean time some casual acquaintance, who knew that he is in the hospital but had not kept track of him in the mean time, discovers that he is dead, and knowing the residence of his parents :md knowing that they would gi \"C

half their fortune, or perhaps the whole <lf it, to discover even the body of their child, he writes or telegraphs to them, and they come here as fast as steam will carry them to reclaim the body of the unfortuna~ one. But do they find it? Not if this bill becomes a law. If you pass this bill you will make a law which will strike terror into families in e\"ery part of the country; no family in ::my part of this great nation will be safe against its provisions. Gentlemen know the feelings of parents in such cases. I know people in my own district who, even at this late day, if it were possible for them to visit the Southern battlefields and identify the places where their soldier-boy lies buried, would give t):leir last dollar to go down there and reclaim that body aucl carry it home and bury it in the littlA village grave-yard. I~hope that this bill will not pass.

[Here the hammer fell.] Mr. TAULBEE. With the consent of the gentleman from South

Carolina [Mr. HEMPHILL], I will yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania. [l\fr. SOWDEN], who desires to offer au amendment.

The amendment was read, as follows: In line 13 of section l,aftel." the wol."d "students," insert: "That none of tho

said officers in clk'l.rge of Uie institutions hereinbefore enumerated, nor the institutions they represent., shall be at any expense by reason of the delivery or distribution of the said bodies to any of the medical colleges in the District of Colnmbia.; hut all the expenses attending the dcli'"ery and distribution shall be paid by the college receiving them, in such manner as may be specified by the party making the delivery, and in no event shall the officer or otticers, whether directors, tru tees, superintendents, wardens, or managers, having lawful cus-tody of Eaid bodies, make any charge or receive any pay on account of, or by reason of, the delivery and distribution thereof except t.he actual expenses attending the delivery and distribution of the same. And any violation hereof shall be punished as provided for any Yiolation of this enactment in section 2."

Also, strike out. 'the words "Prot;ided, howeve1·," in line 13 of section 1, and insert after the preceding runendment the words "Providecl fU1iher."

Mr. MASON. 1\Ir. Speaker, we have bad Mr. Gould dragged in here several times upon this floor, '\lith other railroad presidents, but this is the first time that gentlemen have had a chance to have him • 'dissected'' at the desk. [Laughter. J I desire, sir, to address myself to the merits of this bill, allowing that sort of "rot" to take its place where, in my judgment, it belongs.

The United States Government requins, in regard to those who enter its service as physicians, certain thinf,rs, one of which is that they shall haYe had practical experience by the dissection of a dead body; yet that law, in the absence of some such legislation as the bill now under disCtlssion, places the physician in such a. position that in order to comply with the requirements of the Government he must rob the gran'" of people who are buried in this Dish'ict. In other words, the refu~:tl to pass a bill like this invites-nay, it absolutely forces-the medical fraternity to violate other laws of the community.

M:r. TAULBEE. Will the gentleman allow me to ask him a question?

Mr. MASON. I can not if it is to come out of my time. Mr. TAULBEE. I will consent that it come out of my time. I

would like the gentleman to cite the law to which he refers. I want to introduce a bill to repeal it; and I wish to know where I can find it.

1\.lr. MASON. I understand that there is a law in force in this District making it a misdemeanor to rob a grave. I am so informed. And I say that to refuse to pass a law giving the unclaimed pauper dead to the proper medical authorities as subjects for dissection invites, and in fact compels, the medical fraternity to steal dead bodies in order that physicians may comply with that law which requires that before they can be accepted by tht\ Government as surgeons in the Army or Na.vy they shall have dissected a body.

Now, all this tn.lk about drawing distinctions between the rich and the pom; by a bill of this kind is the merest nonsense. This bill will operate upon one person in the same way as upon another.

:Mr. TAULBEE. The law to which I asked the gentleman to direct my attention was the law requiring a physician to have such practical

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2420 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. ,....

MARCH 26,

knowledgeinsurgeryas isgainedfrom thedissectionofa body. Where is the law requiring a physician to have dissected a body? I want to know where to :find that law.

1\Ir. MASON. Why, sir, every State of t.he Union, as well as the District of Columbia, according to my information, requires that a man, before being admittecl to practice medicine, must have graduated at a medical college and recei>ed a regular diploma, which must show a certain course of study, including practice in the diSsecting-room.

Mr. TAULBEE. There is no such law in Kentucky, nor do !think there is such a law in the District of Columbia. If so, I would like to know where it is. · 1t1r. MASON. I will find the law for the gentleman; but I wish now to :finish my remarks on this branch of the subject.

Ur. Speaker, there is one view of this quest ion which I have not heard anyone refer to except the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. CANNON], who alluded to it in a question which I thought the House did not hear. The only shock or damage from the desecration of a grave comes to the living, not to the dead. If you or I die leaving no friends who care enough for us to bury us, there can be no injury from allowing our bodies to go to the dissecting-table, for it is certainly no injury to the dead. Throwing aside all the mock sentiment that bas been indulged in here about the rich and the poor, I say that when a man who has been supported by the Government as a pauper dies he dies in debt to society. The man who .requires money to be taken out ot the public Treasury for his burial, who has never done enongh in the way of kind words or deeds to inspire any person to take an interest in his burial, dies in debt to society to that extent-

Mr. TAULBEE. And the gentleman proposes to provide in this bill for a foreclosure of the mortgage.

Mr. MASON. I most emphatically do. Mr. TAULBEE. I am glad that the gent.leman is candid enough to

make the avowal. Mr. MASON. It is a square issue on this point. I say the man who,

with all the opportunities that this country with its free institutions affords, dies without having made one friend who takes any interest in his burial does not dese~ve one; and when he dies in debt to the Government, when the Government has to provide for his burial, when be leave'3 'no friends whose feelings can be shocked by the dissection of his body, it should go to the dissecting-table for the benefit of science.

When the State which I represent in part on th~ floor had no such law as is now proposed here for the District of ColJimbia., graves were robbed day after day and night after night, although there was a statute against grave-robbing. But the moment a law of this sort came into effect so thattne physicians could get subjects in a legitimate way without wounding the feelings of any living human being, grave-robbing in the State of Illinois was effectua1ly stopped. I would like to know whether the gentleman from Kentucky is familiar with State legislation on this subject. ·

[Here the hammer fell.] Mr . .MASON. I remind the Chair that the gentleman from Kentucky

occupied one minute of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. HATCH). The Chair has made

allowance for that. M:r. TAULBEE. I do not require the foreclosure of any mortgage in

order to recover the time which the gentleman occupied. I yield for the question which I understand he was about to ask.

Mr. MASON. I wish simply to ask whether the gentleman is familiar with the legislation--

1\Ir. TAULBEE. Of your State? Mr. MASON. Not only of illinois, but of Indiana and several other

States where laws similar to this bill have been passed. I can inform the gentleman that such legislat.ion has operated for the good of science, without injurytothefeelings of any human being, because an unclaimed pauper .who bas to be buried at the public expense leaves no friends to be concerned over the fact that his body is dissected. If the gentleman will study this question he will find that legislation of this kind has operated not only to furnish legitimate dissecting m~terial for the medical colleges; but bas directly operated to protect the cemeteries or grave-yards from desecration.

Mr. TAULBEE. i am not familiar with the legislation to which the gentleman refers, ·but I must confess I am surprised that it should have had any such effect.

Mr. HEMPIJILL. I will yield for eight minutes to the gentleman from :Michigan (Mr. CoTCHEON). ·

l\Ir. CUTCHEON. l\'lr. Speaker, this is an unpleasant subject in any aspect we can look at it, and yet we are not permitted to turn aside from duty because it is unpleasant. It has been my fortune to confront this question before in my life, when, for a number of years, as regent of the University of Michigan, having included with it the largest medical college in the United States, we bad to meet and solve, so far as we could, this question. We found that in that part of the State of Michigan near to o\.u medical college something analogous to a reign of terror prevaiJed amongst people who were called upon to bury their dead; that there was a feeling that no grave was sacred, and there was no assurance the dead would rest where they bad been laid. We found frequently the friends and relatives of the deceased discovering the

I

removal of the remains and following them to the dissecting-room and reclaiming them. And to meet this state of things the State of l\1ichigan enacted a law very similar to, almost identical with, the bill now before the House. I ean speak, I think, without question as to the effect of the law, that grave desecration in the State of Michigan since the enactment of that law has almost entirely ceased, and that complaint of the law has ceased on every hand. People now lay the bodies of their relatives and friends in the grave with the most absolute assurance they will repose where they are laid.

Now, Mr. Speaker, we are in this situation: In the first place, we must have medical men. We are all in the bands of the doctors. Sooner or later we go to them for help, and no conscientious physician can or 1Vill or dare stand by the bedside of suffering human.ity until he has qualified him elf for the discharge of the duties of pbyskian or surgeon by the amplest dissection of the cada>er. ~o physician as a mn.tter of tact does, and it is a f.'\Ct that is known t<Jevery man of common sense that anatomical material must be had and will be bad, either legitimately and lawfully, or will be bad clandestinely, illegitimately, and unlawfully.

Now, there is the grave situation we confront, either the graves of e>ery one of your States will be ground for plunder of the grave-robber or you must provide your medical colleges with legitimate anatomical material. Here is a choice of evils. It is not pleasant to say that certain bodies shaH be dedica.ted to the dissecting-tabl~, but we must either say tbat certain medical material shall be placed at the disposition of the medical colleges or we must say to the people of the country every one of your homes shall be liable to the invasion of the ~raverobber. We must take our choice between these two.

Now, if anatomical material is to be pmvided for medical colleges where are we to look for it? Mr. Speaker, I have no difficulty whatever about this talk about the rich and the poor. Ninety-nine per cent. of the poor in the District of Columbia die at home in their beds and their remains are as sacred as the remains of the millionaire; but more than that, it is not one case in ten thousand that a man dies not only so poor in purse, but so poor in reputation, and so poor in affect ion tbat there is not some one to claim his body for burial in the grave. There is no aristocracy in the grave. There is no rich or poor: no bond cr free. In the grave there is neither purity norimpurity. The grave is the great leveler of humanity. .

This, Mr. Spe.:'tker, is not a question of rich or poor; it is a. question of the preservation of the homes of the District of Columbia from the desecrating touch of the gra>e-robber, and we are now to choose here today whether every home shall be in,vaded by terror and the shadow of the resurrectionist, or we will provide the medical colleges necessary to civilization with the proper supply of legitimate anatomical material. And when it comes to that I will be ready to give my vote. I say we should go to the prisons and jails and almshouses, to the unknown and friendless man, w.ho has not upon the face of the broad earth one friend w bo cares enough for him to ask his body shall be buried, rather than allow bodies to be taken from thegrave-yards and terror to possess the firesides and homes of this District.

Mr. Speaker, this is a common-sense question. It is a question which comes home to every one of us. It is a question of coinmon sense that if anatomical material must be provided it should be provided legitimately; and we can provide it legitimately by going to the prisons, jails, and almshouses, where men are dying unknown, without any friend whose feelings can be injured by their dedication to the dissecting-table.

[Here the hammer fell. J The SP.EAKER pro tempo1·e. The gentleman from South Carolina

has ten minutes of his time remaining. fr. HEMPHILL. The gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. TAULBEE]

has given me five minutes of his time; and I desire to yield ten minutes to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Cox].

Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I do not think, sir, that I have any inordinate sensibility as to the human body and its disposition after neath. I believe in something beyond and better than the mere corporate entity. It is impossible for us long to. preserve our frail bodies in life unless we study them in death. The best use which can be made of some of our bodies doubtless is to consign them after death to the high and ennobling purposes of science and humanity.

This bill properly selects for this District that portion of the dead whose friends or friendlessness, whose crimes or condition, make them fit subjects for this object.

During the progress of time onr bodies molder and decay in the ground. They return unto dust, unless they are strangely preserved and immortalized like those of the ancient Egyptians. On our earth they mix with the soil, and if in another element, they

Suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange.

Through the processes of chemical action they are so changed that they enter into other forms and even develop into food for animals and >egetation.

Why, it is said, sir, that where the largest battalions fell at \'{aterlo() there were found the richest wheat :fields; and it is within my ob ervation that the tallest, finest cypresses that grow in the city whero I re-

1888. CONGRESSIONAL REOOR.D-HOUSE. 2421 • cently resided are those that spring out of the old Ottoman grave-yards

from the bone and sinew of the tough Saljukian Turk. It is even said that from the skull of Roger Will.ia.mB, discovered in Providence some years ago, a splendid apple-tree root had become embedded-rare fruitage from the brain that conceived religious liberty.

To understand why these mutations take place in our anatomy requires scientific research and study; and they teach us that we should not too highly prize the transient in decay.

Let ns not, however, fail to defer to scientists in another more important direction. 'May I not say, sir, that it is impossible to study the science of anatomy, with a view to the practice of surgery and medicine, without having the human body, with its wonderfnl ma,chinery, as the object lesson? It is in itself a microcosm. It has every force of mechanism, from the pulley to the wheel, and every form of matter known to nature. \Ve are fearfully and wonderfully made, and the study of its parts with a view to health and longevity is insurmountable without the lessons taught in the dissecting-room. It. may be cruel to the sentimentalist, but the forceps and the scalpel have their humane utilities. All the refinements that belong to that gre~"tt and elder school of medicine must be taught under such conditions.

This bill is in the interest of humanity and science in many senses; and for one who has labored here in our legislation with care and zeal for the saJety of human life, and who has advocated every project on this floor for its safeguard and preservation on land and sea, now, for the same relSon, sir, I would advocate the passage of this bill. It not only will preserve human life in the larger sense by adding to the. stock of human intelligence as to our bodies, but it will save the sensibilities of our friends from being racked through the wqrk of these human hyenas, who for filthy lucre despoil the grave where affection has planted her sweetest flowers.

I remember a few years ago that the body of a son of a President of the United States was found in a >at in a dissecting-room in Cincinnati. I remember, too, that in a cemetery in Ohio, to which my body may go, the graves were torn open ruthlessly and bodies taken to the dissectin~room. Ex necessitate the professors and students had to have their sn bjects. It was in the interest of science. But public opinion was aroused and outraged in that State. A law not unlike this was enacted. It gave them the bodies taken from the hospitals, penitentiaries, jails: and asylums! under proper regulatio~s and restrictions, and the outrages ceased. Thus science, through the medium of death, ~ave its ai<l to human life.

I favor the passage of this bill earnestly. I favor it in the interest of the living more than in the interest of the dead. I favor it because, sir, amid the changes that take place in our mortal sphere, the body, which is the mere shell of the life, is of little consequence compared with that life.

I am not insensible to the preservation of the form itself. Who that ishumancould beotherwise? If, then, we~ouldpreserretbem~moryof our dear and dead friends, with their features in a deathless picture, and since we can not have them in marble and only in dust, let their health and safety in life be oar chief anxiety in legislation even as ih our homes.

Let us care for them in such a mode by law that they mn.y be long with us here, assured that they have a "life beyond life-an immortality rather than a life." [Applause. J

Mr. TAULBEE. Will the gentleman from NewYork permit me to ask if he is willing that his own body shall be so disposed of?

Mr. COX. I would have to ask my wife about that. [Great laughter and applause. J

Mr. HEMPHILL. I had intended, Mr. Speaker, to close this debate by adding a few words to what I have already said; but it has been so protracted and the discussion has brought out all perhaps that can be said, that I will not further occupy the time of the House, but ask an immediate vote upon the question. If there are amendments that gentlemen desire to offer, I hope we can have a vote upon them wHhont delay. I yield now, according to promise, to the gentleman from Kentucky to present the motion again which was pending when this subject came up to-day.

Mr. TAULBEE. When the gentleman from South Carolina is through I desire to move to lay the bill and amendments on the table.

Mr. HEMPHILL. I shall not occupy the attention of the House further.

1\fr. TAULBEE. Then I make that motion. The question was taken on the motion of Mr. TAULBEE; and there

were-ayes 38, noes 84. Mr. TAULBEE. There is no quorum voting. I desire now to ca,ll

for the yeas and nays, so as not to consume time unnecessarily in a further division.

The yeas and nays were refused, there being 29 voting in favor thereof and 135 in opposition.

M:r. TAULBEE. I renew the point that no quorum has voted. 1\Ir. FARQUHAR. The vote just taken discloses the fact that a quo

rum is present. The SPEAKER pro tempore. But th.e point of order the gentleman

makes js that no quorum voted upon the motion to lay on the table tlle amendments and the bill.

Seyeral MEMBERS. Too late.

The SPEAKER pTo tempore. The Chair will state that before he declared the result of the vote the gentleman f1·om Kentucky [ Ir. TAULBEE] demanded the yeas and nays, and the yeas and nays have been refused. The gentleman now makes the point that no quorum has YQted. The Chair thinks the point is made in time, and will appoint as tellers the gentleman from South Camlina: [l'lfr. HEMPHIU .. ] and the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. TAULBEE]-

The House again divided; and there were-ayes 48, noes 116. So the motion to lay the bill on the table was not agreed to. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from South Carolina

[Ur. HE)IPHrLr..] is entitled to the floor. Mr. HEMPHILL. I move the previous question on the bill and

amendments. Mr. GH.OSVENOR. What amendments does that motion include? Mr. TAULBEE. I ask whether it is considered that all the amend

ments which have been read are pending? The SPEAKER pro tempore. The amendment offered by the gentle

man from Kentucky [Mr. TAULBEE] is the fir~t amendment pending. The Chair is not prepared now to say whether the others are pending or not.

Mr. HEMPHILL. I have no desire to cut off rea~onable amendments which may be offered. There were a number of amendments offered the other day that I suppose gentlemen do not propose to have voted on.

Mr. SOWDEN. I desire to have mine >oted on. Mr. TAULBEE. If the last remark of the gentleman from South

Carolina was intended to refer to my amendment, I beg to say the gentleman is mistaken.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. '£hat amendment is pending. Mr. WEAVER. I rise to a point of order. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state it. Mr. WEAVER. This bill consists of more than one section nml has

ne>er been considered by sections. The SPEAKER J;ro tempore. We are proceeding with the consjdera

tioJLOf this bill iu the House; and the gentleman in charge of the bill has the right at any time to move the previous question.

Mr. HEMPHILL. As I understand, all the amendments have been offered which ~entlemen deeire to offer.

Mr. MILLIKEN. No, sir; there are other amendments to be offered if the opportunitv is presented.

Mr. ANDERSO:N, of Kansas. Is the amendment I proposed considered as pending?

The SPEAKER p1·o tempore. The Chair will state the situation to the Honse, and when the Chair has done so the gentleman from South C:uolina can so frame his motion as to cover what be intends. If the Honse shall vote the previous questionon the bill and pending amendments that have been offered, then all the amendments offered will be put before the House in their proper order. '.rhe gentleman from South Carolina is entitled to the floor.

Mr. WARNER. I asked the gentleman from South Carolina a question while he was on the floor, and I indicated the purpose to offer an amendment striking out certain words in the tenth and eleventh lines, to which amendment the gentleman said he had no objection. lf there is an amendment alreacly pending which covers th'tt purpose, I do not ask to offer it. If there is not, I desire to offer it.

Mr. HE :1PHILL. I agree that that amendment shall be offered. I snbmit this proposition, that the Clerk read the amendments otfered to this bill, that it may be seen which amendments gentlemen desire to be regarded as pending.

M:r. MILLIKEN. Will the gentleman allow me to offer an amendment?

:lr. HE IPHILL. As soon as we get through with making this arrangement. I think gentlemen who offered amendments shonld indicate whether they desire to have them voted on or not.

The SPEAKER p1·o tempo1·e . The gentleman from Kentucky [Ur. TAULBEE] was on the floor and entitled to the floor, and the amendment which he offered was pending. While he was on the floor nurperous gentlemen offered amendments and he yielded to them, saying. he accepted those amendments. Of course, the gentleman could only accept an amendment as a modification of his own, and only such a:; were germarie. The Chair did not unde1-stand the gentleman as accepling all these as modifications of his own amendment.

1\Ir. TAULBEE. No, sir; I intended that my amendment should be acted on as a separate amendment, and that the others should be accepted and considered as pending.

Mr. HEMPHILL . . The gentleman from Kansas [M:r. ANDERSON] has submitted an amendment which I think was submitted iu good faith, and I should like it to be voted upon.

:M:r. ANDERSON: of Kansas. I shall send my amendment to the desk.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair desires to get the attention of the gentleman from South Carolina. He will state it is impossible for the Chair to determine what number of these amendments which have been offered by gentlemen on the floor were offered in good faith.

Mr. HEMPHILL. I will agree that the amendment offerecl by the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. TAULBEE], the amendment of the genw tleman from Kansas [Mr. ANDERSON], the amendment offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania [1\fr. SOWDEN], the amendment of the

I 2422 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. MAROH 26,

gentleman from Missouri [Mr. WARNER], and t~ amendment of the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. GROSVE.YOR] shall be voted upon.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from South Carolina. demands the previous question on the bill and amendments which he has indicated.

Mr. TAULBEE. I object to that. I think it was understood all the amendments should be read, and if any of t.llem appear to nave been offered otherwise than in good faith they could be designated.

The SPEAKER pf·o tempore. The Chair will now cause the amendments to be read in their order, beginning with the amendment of the gentleman from Kentucky. If when any of the amendments are read the gentlemen who offered them desire t-o withdraw those amendments, that will relieve the situation to that extent.

Mr. HEMPHILL. I desire now1 before the reading begins, to state that the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. W AR...'iER] wished to offer an amendment, namely, to strike out the words ''of his own accord," in line 14 of the first section, which I think ought to be adopted.

The SPEAKER p1·o tempore. The Chair will recognize the gentleman from Mis ouri [1\Ix. W AR:NER] l:tter for that purpose. The Clerk will report the fii·st amendment.

The first amendment, offered by Mr. TAULBEE, was read~ as follows: Amend by striking out all of section 1 after the word "lwweu1·," iu line 13,

and iusert, ''That such deceased persons shall h:tve consented to such disposition of his or her remains."

1\fr. BREWER. lr. Speaker, I think we shall not accomplish anythin~ by proceeding in this way.

Th e SPEAKER pro tempore. These amendments arc being read now for the information of the House and. to enable the gentlemen who have offered them to withdraw t,hem or to insi<>t upon them n.s they mn.y elect..

Mr. BREWER. Then let us di!'tpose of t.hls amendment DO\V.

Mr. TAULBEE. Let us go on with the regular order, Mr. Speaker. I of course will insist on that amendment at the proper time, but I now demand the regular order.

Tbe SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the ne.·t amendment.

The nextmncndmeut, offered by Mr. STO.""E, of Missouri, was read, as follows:

::itr:l;o out all after the enacting cl:mse down to and including the word "cxpcm~P," in the cleyenth line of the fh·st section, and insert:

"That the l>octies of all doctors and medical students dying in the D istrict. of Colu mbia shall be d elivered to the duly-authorized agent of any medical college orcoll.eges in the said DLtrict of Columbia and."

The neA-t amendment, offered by Mr. GROSVENOR, was read, as follows:

.An·l pl"Ol;idetl further, 'rhat if such deceased person was n.n honorably discharged soldier or member of the 1\Ia.rine Corps of the United States, and such fact is known b~·. or is brought to the knowled,o-e of. the officer or person having charge of the institution in w h ich such person died, then such fu>dy shall not uo deliverecl to any medical college until due notice of the death of s uch person has been given to some Grauel A.rroy post. in the District of Columbia, and reasonable time bo giYen sm·h vost to claim such remains for buri:tl by such post. ·

Tl1e next amendment, offered by l\lr. CUTCHEON, was read, as follows:

After the word'' lwweve1·," in the thirteenth line f section 1, insert the following:

''That such body shall not be so delivered in less than sixty hours from the time of death."

Mr. CUTCHEON. I wish to modify that amendment so as to make the time forty-eight hours instead of sixty.

The SPEAKER. The modification will be made. :Mr. TAULBEE. Mr. Speaker, I wish to reserve the point of order

against that amendment. Tho next amendment, offered by Mr. McADoo, was read, as follows:

Strike out all in the first section :.Ulet· the word "that" down to the words '' dereased persans," i u line 10, so that it will read that " the bodies of deceased persons shall be distributed among the seyeral medical colleges equitably," etc.

The next amenc:.\men.t, offered by l\1r. ANDERSOY, of Kan...~, was read, as follows:

Strike out all after the enacting clause of the bill and runend it so that it will read:

"Be it enacted, elc., That whoever shall sell or bu~ the body or bodies of a decea ed person or persons, or in any way tra ffic in the same, or who shall disturb or remove bodies fco= graves in which they have been buried, shall be deemed guilty of a. misdemeanor, ::tnd s~on conviction, be imprisoned for a term of not less than two nor more than three years at hard labor in the jail of said District."

Tile next amendment, offered by lli. SOWDEN, was read, as foilows: After the word "students," in line 13, section 1, insert: " Provided, TliaL no one of the said officers in charge of tho institutions herein be

fore cnumel"ated , nor the institutioll3 they represent, shall be at any expense by r eason of the delive1-y or di tribution of the said bodies to any of the medical colleges in the District of Columbia, but all the expenses attending the delivery and distribution shall be paid by the college receiving them, in such manner as may be speci cd by the party making tbe delivery; and in no event shall the officer or offic<:-rs, whellicrdirectorl', trustees. superintendents, wardens, keepers, or man:tgers. having ln.wful custody of said bodies make any charge or receive any pay on nccoun t of or by reason oft he delive1·y and distribution thereof, except the act· ua.l expenses attending the distribution of the satne. And any violation hereof shill be pUDished as is provided for any violation of this enactment in section 2.11

Also, strike out the words "Provided, howeverz" in line 13 of section 1, and insert after the preceding amendment th~ words 'And provided further."

The next amendment (offered by Mr. LYNCH) was read, as follows: Amend the 1hst section by adding the follo-wing: "Pro~:id.ed further, That public notice of the death and n. brief description of

~he deceased be given in two newspapers published daily in the city of Wash· mgton for two consecnti\e days before the body is delivered ns aforesaid."

The next amendment (offered by Ur. WAnl\~) was read, as follows:

In section 1, lines 10 and 11, strike out the following words: "As aro requirett to be buried at the public expense."

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair now recognizes the gentlemt\n from l\Iissouri [Ur. O'~EILL] to offer his amendment.

Mr. O'NEILL, of Uissouri. I move to amend by striking out, in line 14 ofser.tion 1, the words "of his own accord."

Ur. HEUPHILL. The gentleman from ])1aine [Mr. Mr.LLI.KEN] desires to submit an amendment.

1\Ir. MILLIKEN. I offer the amendment which I send to the desk. The Clerk read as follows:

Amend by stl"iking out all after the word "that.," in line 3,and before the word" the," in line 7 of the first section, and insert after tho word "expense" and before the word "said," in line 11, tlte words "anti the bodies of ull other deceased persons;" -so as to read:

"That tbo health officer of said D" !rid deliver to the duly authorized age9t or any medical college or colleges in the said District of Columbia the bodies of sue~ deceased persons as are required to be buried at the public expense, and the bod1es of all other deceased persons, said bodies to be diatributed," etc.

Mr. HEMPHILL. I now move the previous question upon the bill and amendments.

Mr. TAULBEE. Areali these ::un(mdments considered as pending? The SPEAKER pro te-mp01·e. ATI of them are regarded as pending,

to be -voted on in their order. The genil man from South Carolina moves the previous question on tile bill and umendments.

Mr. '.rAULBEE. I move to lay that motion on the table. l\h. HEl'IIPHILL. Tilat motion is not in order. The SPEAKER 111·o tempore. 'J'lle ' Irair holds that tile motion of the

gentleman from Kentucky is not in order. A motion to lay on the table the bill antl amendments bas just been Yoted on by the House. The ~entlem:m fl"om Sooth Carolina now moves the previous question upon the bill and :1.mendments.

l\Ir. TAULBEE. And I move to lay that motion for the previous question on the table.

The SPEAKER pm tempore. And tho Chair holds thn.t the motion of the gentleman from Kentucky is not in order.

Mr. TAULBEE. I defer to the opinion of the Chair. T11e pre·dous question was ordered, theTe being-ayes 133, noes lG. The SPEAKER p1·o tempore. The question is first on the amend-

ment submitted b.f tbe gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. TAULBEE], which the Clerk will read.

The Clerk read as follows: Strike out all of section 1 after the word "howe...-er," in line 13, and insert

" that such deceased person shall havo con ented to such disposition of his or her remains."

Ur, TAULBEE. I ask that the Clerk read the context, so as to show the effect of the amendment.

The SPEAKEl~ pro tempore. The Clerk will report the first clause of the bill, with the amendment of the gentleman from Kentucky.

The Clerk read as follows: That ::tUY public officers or officers, whether directors, tlmstees, Wll.l"dens,

keepers , or m nagers, ha\ing lawful charge of, or control over, any hospital, prison, almshouse. ja.il, morgue, or asylum within the District of Columbia., may, with the approval of the health officer of said Distl·ict, deliver to the duly authorized agent of any medical college or colleges in the said District of Columbia the bodies of such deceased per ons as arc required to be buried at the public expense, said bodies to be distributed among the several colleges equita· bly, the number assigned to each being proportioned to U1.at of its students: Provided, howeve1·, That such deceased person shall have consented to such disposition of his or her remains.

The question being taken on agreeing to the amendment of Mr. TAULBEE, there were- ayes 44, nays 100.

1\ir. TAULBEE. I m::t.ke the point that no quorum bas voted;. and pending that point I ask the yeas and nays on the anumdment, as I think this is a Yery proper question on which to test the sense of the Honse.

The question being taken on ordering the yens and nays, there were-ayes 28, noes 151.

Mr. TAULBEE. Let us have tellers on ordering the yeas and nays. Tellers were not ordered. So the yeas and nays were refused. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question now l"ecurs upon the

amendment of the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. TAULBEE], on which no quorum voted. The Chair appoints n.s tellers the gentleman from Kentucky [Ur. TAULBEE] and the gentleman from SouthCamlina [Mr. HEIIIPHILL].

lVIr. HEMPHILL. Can thepointof ''no quorum'' be reserved while all these other questions are being put?

The SPEAKER 11ro te?npm·e. Tbe gentleman from Kentucky made the point of "no quorum," and pending that demanded a vote by yeas and nays, which was refused. The tellers will bke their places.

The Honse divided; and the"re were-ayes 46, noes 120. So the amendment was disagreed to.

'

.~ .... ~~----~-~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------· I

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 2423 The question next recurred on the amendment of 1tir. STONE, of .1\Iis- Lands ought also to be excepted, and I think I shall have to insist on

souri, which wa~ read, as follows: that exception. Strike out all after the enacting clause down to and including the word "ex- Mr. HATCH. The Committee on Commerce has· ttlready been ac-

pense," in the eleveJ?.th line of the fi!st ~ection, ~d .insert: "Tha~ the bodies of cord eel two days, to-morrow and the next day, fur the consideration of 9:ll doctors and medical st';ldentsdymg m the D1s~nctof Columbm shall ~e de- its bills; and the gentleman from Indiana knows why that order can hvered to the duly authonzed ngent of any medical college or colleges m the t b f: . , d f ll t d. I h h fi h '11 t b' t srud District of Columbia; and." no e rur1y an u y execn e ope t ere ore e Wl no o ~ec .

The House divided; and there were-ayes 11, noes 95, Ur. HOLMAN., The question is as to o~e day. . Mr. TAULBEE. No quorum has voted. :Mr. HA!CH. The gentleman fr?~ Indi~a propo~e~ to rmpose on The SPEAKER appointed as tellers Mr. TAULDEE and Ur. HEMP- the Comm1ttee on Commerce a c~nd_1h~n not ~ the ongmal order.

HILL. I Mr. HOLMAN. I would not ms1st if the t1me had been postponed The Honse again divided; and the tellers reported-ayes 35, noes 129. to a later day. . . So the amendment was rejected. Mr. CANNON_. The~e arc so many spee1al orders _undisposed of I The question next recurred on the following amendment, submitted shall have to obJect. Gentlemen say, why do you obJect ; and ~thers

by Mr. GROSVENOR: say,_ oh, _don't! . Now, there ar_e other memh~rs a.nd other ~ommlttees Add to the first section: havmg JUSt as Important busmess, and unhl th1s matter IS settled I ''And p1·o'L"ided jurthe1·, TlJat if such deceased person was an honorably dis- say no.

charged soldier or sailor or member of the Marine Corps of the United States, Mr. WEAVER. I insist on mv motion to adjourn. and. such fact is know~ or _is b_rou~ht to .the knowledge of .tho officer or pe;-son The House divided . and there were-ayes 72 noes 56. haVJng charg-e of the mst1tutwn 1u wh1ch such person d1ed, then such body . ' . ' ( 1 shall not be delivered to any medirol college until due notice of the death of So the motion was ngr.eed to; and accordmgly at 4 o clock and 40 such person has been giyen to some Grand Army post in the District of Co- minutes p. · m.) the House adjourned. lumbia, and reasonable time giYen to such post to claim such rcmo.ins for burial by such post."

The amendment was agreed to. MESSAGE FROM TilE SENATE.

A message from the Senate, by hlr. PLATT, one of its clerks, announced that the S'enate insisted on its amendments disagreed to by the Honse to the bill (H. R. 3300) to amend au ad to enable the city of Denver to purchase certain ]and for cemetery purposes, and asked for a conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses, and had appointed as conferees on its parthlr. PLUliiB, Mr. TELLER, ::md 1\lr. CocKRELL.

Al\IEXD:\IEST OF REVISED STATUTES.

M:r. THOMPSON, of California: by unanimous consent: introduced a bill (H. R. 8944) to extend the repeal of section 4716 of tho Revised Statutes in cei·tn.in ca es; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.

FIRST BATTAUON OF CALIFORXIA MOUNTAINEERS.

Mr. THOMPSON, of California, also, by unanimous consent., introduced a bill (H. R 8945) for the relief of the First Battalion of Californ ia Monntaineei'Sj which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military .A:ffuirs, and ordered to be printed ..

WAR CLAIMS.

The SPEAKER. The chairman of the Committee on War Claims [Mr. STONE J asks that the Committee of the Whole be discharged from the considcra tion of the bill (H. R. 8188) for the relief of Anthony L. Woodson, and that. the bill (H. R. 4665) for the relief of Anthony .L. Woodson be taken from the table, and that the said bills be recommitted to the Committee on War Claims.

Mr. SPRINGER. Not to be brought baek by a motion to reconsider. The SPEAKER. They can not be brought back by a motion to re

consider. If ther~ be no objection, it will be ordered accordingly. There was no objection, and it was so ordered.

ENROLLED BILLS SIGNED.

1\fr. KILGORE, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled bills of the following titles; when the Speaker signed the same:

.A bill (H. R. 6437) to provide for certain of the most urgent deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, and for other purposes;

A bill (H. R. 5723) to amend section 461 of the Revised Statutes, regulating fees for exemplifications of land patents, and for other purposes;

A bill (H. R. 1528) to reward the Esquimaux natives of the Asiatic coast of the .Arctic Ocean for acts of humanity to shipwrecked seamen;

A bill (H. R. 1589) to provide Jor holding terms of the United States courts at M.ississippi City; and

A bill (H. R. 5373) to change the location of a certain alley in the city of Washington.

:P.Ir. ENLOE, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee bad examined and found truly enrolled a bill (H. R. 2494) to provide for payment of ilie funeral expenses of the late ChiefJustice of the Supreme Court; when the Speaker signed the same.

· ORDER OF DUSINESS.

Mr. WEAVER. I move that the House do now adjourn. Mr. CLARDY. I ask, by unanimous consent, that Thursday, the

5th of April, and Saturday, the 7th of April, be set apart for the consideration of bills reported from the Committee on Commerce in lieu of the days provided by a preceding order.

Mr. WEAVER. I hope that request will be agreed to. The SPEAKER. The request· of the gentleman from Missouri is

that Thursday, the 5th, and Saturday, the 7th, day of April be set apart for the consideration of bills reported from the Committee on Commerce, not to interfere with revenue or appropriation bills.

Mr. HOLl'tiAN. Bills coming from the Committee on the Public

PRIVATE BILLS AXD JOIST RESOLUTIONS INTROD UCED AND REFERl~ED.

Under the ru1e private bills and joint resolutions of the following titles were introduced and relerred as indicated below:

By 1-Ir. C. H . ALLE~ (by request) : A bill (H. R. 8830) for the relief of L. A. Noyes-to the Committee on Claims.

By JHr. E. P. ALLEN: A bill (H. R. 8881) granting a pension to Margaret Smith-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. J. A. ANDERSO~ : A hill (H. R 8882) for the relief of William Walker- to the Committee on Claims.

Also, a bill (H. R 8883) for the relief of W. H. L . Peppcrill-to the Committee on Claims.

By l\Ir. C. S. B4t\..KER: A bill (H. R . 8.S84) granting a pension to Emily 1\fcClure-to the Committee on Inv~lid Pensions.

By Mr. BUTLER: A bill (H. R. 8835) granting a pension to Eliza A. Woods-to the Committee on Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 81386) p:ranting a pension to Sarah Borners-t.o the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. COWLE~ : A bill (H. R. 8887) to place the name of Jonas Price on the pension-roll-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. CUl\HIINGS: A bill (H. R. 8888) granting a pension to the widow of G. K . Warren-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. DARLINGTON: A bill (H. R. 8889) granting a pension to Charles Uolseecl-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also,_ a bill (H. R. 8 90) granting a pension to William Hammondto the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. ENLOE (by request): A bill (H. R. 8891) for the relief of Silas A. Richmau- to the Committee on Pensions.

By Mr. FAR_QUHAR: A bill ({f. R. 889'2) granting a pension to Eudelia. S. Harmon-to the Committee on Pensions.

By :M:r. FUNSTON: A bill {H. R. 8893) to place the name of Sarah E . Zaring on the pension-roll-to the Committee on Iu-va1id Pensions.

By Mr. HOUK: A bill (H. R. 889i) for the relief of Benjamine Prater-to the Commjttee on Wa-.:- Claims.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8895) for ~he relief of Robert H. Alexander-to the Committee on War Claims.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8896) for the relief of Thomas Lowe-to the Committee on War Claims.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8897) for the relief of Elizabeth B. Baker-to the Committee on War Claims.

Also, a. bill (H. R. 8898) for the relief of E. Dawson-t-o the Committee on War Claims.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8899) for the relief of 1\Irs. Sarah Bailey-to the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. HUDD: A bill (H. R. 8900) for the relief of Eva. Bruid-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. LAFFOON: A bill (H. R. 8901) for the relief of Andrew Hildebrand-to the Committee on War Claims.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8902) to remove the charge of desertion against Alexander Malone-to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. :MARTIN: A bill (H. R. 8903) for the relief of Henry W . Sw~-to the Committee ou Claims.

By Mr. McCORMICK: A bill (H. R. 8904) extending the benefits ofthe act approved June 16, 1880, to Edson Hyde-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Ucl\IILLIN : A bill (H. R. 8905) for the relief of Joseph C. Anthonv-to the Committee on War Ciaims.

Also, va bill (H. R. 8906) for the relief of G. W. Catron-to the Committee on War Claims.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8907) for the relief of J. E. Copeland-to the Com-mittee on War Claims. .

Also, a bill (H. R. 8908) for the reliefofS. R. Doxey, administrator of J. L. Doxey, deceased-to the Committee on War Claims.

Also, a. bill (H. R. 8909) for the relief of Nancy Bowman- to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

2424 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. MARCH 26,

By Mr. McSHANE: A bill {H. R. 8910) for the removal of the charge of desertion from Patrick Cline-to the Committee on :Military Affairs.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8911) granting a pension to LemuelA. Wheelerto the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By lli. PERKINS: A bill (H~ R. 8912) granting an increase of ptnsion to Almeron J. Patchin-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8913) granting a pension to Jame~ H. Jeffriesto the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By .Mr. PETERS: A bill (H. R. 8914) for the relief of Daniel Jacobsto the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. ROBERTSON: A bill (H. R. 8915) to confirm to the heirs of Mrs. Courtney A. Claiborne the title to a·certain tractoflandin the State of Louisianar-to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

By :M:r. STOCKDALE: A bill {H. R. 8916) for the relief of J. D. Ryan & Co.-to the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. TOWNSHEND: A bill (H. R. 8917) for the relief of William Weaver.-to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8918) for the relief of Joseph C. Williams-to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Al o, a bill (H. R. 8919) for the relief of Daniel Ward-to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8920) for the relief of W. H. McCabe-to the Committee on Milita1·y Affairs.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8921) for the relief of Joseph N. Pierce-to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8922)•for tlle relief of Michael John McClain-to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8923) for the relief of Benjamin Henderson-to the Committee on Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8924) for the Telief of Hebecca Franklin-to the Committee on Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8925) for the relief of Mary Maulding-to the Committee on Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8926) for the relief of Catharine N. Harvey-to the Committee on Pensions. ·

Also, a bill {H. R. 8927) for the relief of Allen Morris-to the Committee on Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8928) for the relief of America A. McMahon-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8929) for the relief of Samuel E. Wilson-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8930) for the relief of J. H. Corn-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8931) for the relief of Samuel E. Wilson-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8932) for the relief of Hannah Coale-to the Com· mittee on Invalid PeQ.Sions.

.Also, a bill (H. R. 8933) for the relief of Sarah Allen-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8934) for the relief of Malissey E. Smothers-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8935) for the relief of James C. Finn-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8936) for the relief of Catharine Arnold-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8937) for the relief of Mary A. Harper-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8938) grantintz a pension to Nancy Hartley-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8939) granting a pension to John A. Bull-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8940) granting a pension to William A. Plumbto the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, a bill (H. R. 8941) granting a pension to John Gant-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. PERRY: A bill (H. R. 8942) for the relief of John L. Youngto the Committee on Claims.

By Mr. WHEELER: A bill (H. R. 8943) for the relief of the heirs of the late Dr. Nathan Fletcher:-to the Committee on War Claims.

Change in the reference of a bill iniproperly referred wa.s . made in the following case, namely:

A bill (H. R. 6931) granting a pension to Jonathan Hayes-from the Committee on Invnlid Pensions to the Committee on Pensions.

PETITIONS, ETC.

The following petitions and papers were laid on the Clerk's desk, under the rule, and referred as follows:

By l\Ir. ADAMS: Petitionfortherepealofthe duty on German mirror plates-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. C. H. ALLEN: Protest of William Reid and 18 others, dresseTs of flax, against the admission of hackled flax free of duty-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. G. A.. ANDERSON: Petition of George W. Long and 94

others, citizens of Calhoun County, Iilinois, for removal ot bar nea.r Clarksville, Mo.-to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors.

Ry Mr. J. A. ANDERSON: Petition of E. J. Sankey-, of Leon, Decatur County, Iowa, with affidavits, asking for a pension-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. JEHU BAKER: Petition of green-glass bottle blowers, of Alton, Ill., against Teduction of duty on green and colored glass bottles as proposed in the Mills bill-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Ur. BANKHEAD: Petition of:JIIiilla Bart-on, heir of Henry Ferguson, of Walker County, Alabama, for reference of her claim to the Court of Claims-to the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. BAYNE: Petition of James B. Murray and 888 others, disabled veterans of the National Soldiers Home at Leavenworth Kans., in favor of the Furlough bill (H. R. 7765)-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, papers relating to the claim of John Ru...c;sell-to the Committee on Claims.

Also, petition of Wash Deen Granger, of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, for reduction of postage on seeds, bulbs, etc.-to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads.

By Mr. BOWDEN: Petition of Robert G. Griffin and others, heirs of Robert Anderson, of York County, Virginia, for reference of their claim to the Court of Claims-to the Committee on War Claims.

Also, protest of J. E. Butler and others against the repeal of the internal-revenue tax on cigars-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By M:r. C. R. BRECKINRIDGE: Petition of citizens of Rondo, Ark .. for the passage of House bill 7389-to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads.

By Mr. BREWER:· Remonstrance of D. S. Waldron and 10-! others, citizens of Iona, Mich., against any reduction of the duty upon imported wool-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. COLLINS: Petition of the Boston Forge Company and others, for an appropriation for the improvement of Boston Harbor by extending· a channel from the main ship-channel at the southeast line of the Grand Junction wharves extended, to the southeast line of Lamson street extended-to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors.

Also, petition of employes of the Boston post-office, in favor of the passage of House bill No. 5664-to the Committee on tho Post-Office and Post-Roads.

By 1\Ir. CO l\IPTON: Petition of masters of' vessels, captains, and citizens of l\Iaryland, for the esta.blishment of a light at White Rock, on the south side of the Potapsco River-to the Committee on Commerce.

Also, petition of estate of Thomas Talbert, and of estate of Mary H. Tolson, for reference of their claims to the Court of Claims-to the Committee on War Claims.

.Also, petition from bottle-blowers of the United States, against reduction of tariff on green or colored glass bottles-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Ur. COOPER: Petition of C. J. Uann and 82 others, members of the Waterford Grange in Knox County, Ohio, for increase of the wool tariff-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By 1\Ir. COWLES: Petition of Isaac Price, for an invalid pensionto the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By 1Ir. CRISP: Affidavits, etc., in support of bill for tho relief ot J. \V. Belvin, of Georgia-to the Committee on Claims.

By Mr. CUMMINGS: Petition in behalf of the bill to prevent the seining of menhaden within three miles from shore-to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.

By Mr. DARLINGTON: Memorial of citizens of Pennsylmnia <'ngaged in agriculture, against the adulteration of food, etc.-to the Committee on ..Agriculture.

Also, memorial of citizens of Pennsylvania enga~ed in agriculture, for the eradication of pleuro-pneumonia-to the Committee on Agriculture.

By Mr. R. H. M. DAVIDSON: Petition of citizens of Florida, for an appropriation for the improvement of the Chi pola River, including t be cut-off-to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors.

Also, petition of Farmer's Alliance, Pioneer Lodge, of Citm, 11:1 rion County Florida, for reduction of postage on certain matter-to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads.

By Mr. ENLOE: Petition of Thomas Dinwiddie, of Carroll County , Tennessee, for reference of his claim to the Court of Claims-to the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. FULLER: Petition of Hnntting & Co. and 50 others, citizens of McGregor, Iowa, that no change be made in the tariff on flaxseed and linseed oil-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. FUNSTON: Petition of citizens of Moran, Kans., to place the name of Sarah E. Zaring on the pension-rolls-to the Committee on Invalid Pensiens.

By Mr. GALLINGER: Petition of John Mason, of Plymouth, of Foote, Brown & Co., of Penacook, and of L. J. Uppenheimer. of Con· cord, N.H., for quick mail transit between New York and the Wet and the New England States-to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads. ·

By Mr. GIFFORD: Petition of John C. Hall and 44 others of

1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD~HOUSE. 2425 Brown County, Dakota, for retention of duty on certain farm products, wool, and tobacco-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. GLASS: Petition of B. A. Smith, administrator of H. $. Simmons, of Gibson County, Tennessee, for payment of his war claimto the Committee on War C1aims.

By Mr. GROUT: Memorial of Edwards & Lillis, of Brattleborough, Vt., in behalf of better mail facilities between New England and the West-to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads.

By Mr. HAYES: Petition of citizens of La Motte, Jackson County, Iowa, to place tin-plate on free-list-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. HOUK: Petition of Ellis J. Riggs, late private Company A, Tenth Tennessee Cavalry, of Jefferson County, Tennessee, for restoration to the pension-rolls-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, petition of John A. Sellers, and of William L. Mann, administrator of William Mann, of Jefferson County, Tennessee, for reference of their claims to the Cou:vt of Claims-to the Committee on War Claims.

Also, resolution of Assembly No. 4885, Knights of Labor, of Knoxville, Tenn., in favor of t.he pas5age of tonnage bill-to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.

By l\1r. J A.CKSON: Petition of E. Sankey and 14 others, male citizens of Lawrence, Pa., for the better legal protection for women and girls-to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. JOSEPH: Protest of A. Mandell and 55 others, citizens of the Public Land Strip, against annexation to Kansas for judicial and townsite purposes only, and asking for immediate local government-to the Committee on the Public Lands.

By 1\Ir. KELLEY: Petition of64 green-glass blowers, protesting against reduction of import duties on green and othe·r colored glass-to the Committee on ·ways and Means.

By Mr. KERR: Remonstrance of 100 citizens of Marshall County, Iowa, ~ainst any change of the present tariff on :flax-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By l\lT. LAFFOON: Petition of Isam Johnson, to accompany House bill 5581-to the Committee on War Claims.

Also, petition to remove the charge of desertion against Alexander MnJone-to the Ca.nmittee on Military Affairs.

Also, petition for the relief of Andrew Hildebrand-to the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. LANE: Petition of Local ·.Assembly No. 2504, Knights of Labor, of Girard, Ill., in favor of the tonnage bill-to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. ·

By Ur. LODGE: Petition of William Reid and others, a~ainst a reduction of duties on hackled flax-to the Committee on Ways and 1\Ieans.

By Mr. LONG: Petition of William Stewart and 19 others, dTessers of :flax in Jamaica Plain, Mass., for maintenance of duty on hackled flax-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. McMILLIN: Petition of committee of Howard Lodge of Odd Fellows, of Gallatin, Tenn., for payment of their war claim-to the Committee on War Claims.

Also, petition of James Austin, and of the county of Sumner, Tennessee, for reference of their claims to the Court of Claims~ to the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. McRAE: Petition of W. S. Finch and others, cit-izens of Warren, ATk., in favor of House bill 7389-to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post -lloads. .

By Mr. McSHANE: Petition of L. M. Davis, late postmaster at Tecumseh, Nebr., for relief-to the Committee on the Post-Office and PostRoads.

By Mr. MORGAN: Petition of W. S~ Bunch, of La Fayette County, Mississippi, for reference of his claim to the Court of Claims-to the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. MORROW: Petition of Point of Timber Grange, No. 14, Patrons of Husbandry, of Brentwood, Cal., relating to certain tariff du-ties-to the Committee 01;1 Ways and Means. ·

By Mr. NEAL: Petition of L..~c Rust, by J. C. Rust, adlpinistrator, of Grundy County, Tennessee, for reference of his claim to the Court of Claims-to the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. NEWTON: Petition of Luke Madden, heir of Patrick Madden, of Madison Parish, Louisiana~ for reference of his claim to the Court of Claims-to the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. NORWOOD: Papers in the cla.im of Daniel Verdere, and of Mary Loyd, of Chatham County, Georgia-to the Committee on War Claims.

By lli. PATTON: Petition of Grange No." 788, of Clearfield, Pa., for the eradica,tiou of pleuro-pneumonia-to the Committee on Agriculture.

Also, petition of the same against adulteration cf ln.rd and other food products-to the Committee on Agriculture.

By ~1r. PEEL: Petition of Samuel J. Smith, for a pension-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By U~:. PETERS: Resolutions of Local Assembly No. 2733, Kni~hts of Labor, of Latned, Kans., favoring the passage of the tonnage billto the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.

By Mr. RAYNER: Petition of Samuel H. Travers, for the payment of his claim-to the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. RICHARDSON: Petition of heirs of Charles Anderson, of Rutherford County, and of Jordan Rucker, colored, of Rutherford County, Tennessee, for reference of their claims to the Court of Claimsto the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. ROCKWELL: Petition of J. S. Murphy and numerous other citizens of Indianapolis, Ind., in favor of Mr. RoCKWELL's bill to adjust the accounts of laborers, workmen, and mechanics under the eighthour law-to the Committee on Labor.

..By Mr. RYAN: Petition of H. A. Thompson, of H. A. Thompson & Co., praying that this declaration of claim may be referred to the Court of Claims under the Bowman act-to the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. SAWYER: PetitionofcitizensofGeneseeCounty, New York, against the repeal of the duty on wool-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Also, petition of 31 citizens of Bethany, Genesee County, New York, for protection against pleuro-pneumonia-to the Committee on Agriculture.

Ry Mr. SCULL: Memorial of the Osten burg (Pa.) Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, for the reduction of postage on seeds, bulbs, etc.-to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads. ·

Also, memorial of the same in favor of the reissue of fractional currency-to the Committee on Banking and Currency.

By Mr. SEYMOUR: Petition of R. Stepan and 25 others, miners and laborers, of Hurley, Wis., against reduction of duty on iron ore-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Ur. HENRY SMITH: Memorial of the Tnrnve1·ein of Milwaukee, Wis., relating to foreign emigration-to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. _

By Mr. STEELE: Petition of James V. Sweetser and 400 others, ot Marion, Ind., against any change in the tariff on flaxseed and linseed oil-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. TOOLE: Petition of citizens of Montana, relative to mineral lands in that Territory-to the Committe on the Public Lands.

By Mr. TOWNSHEND: Petition of numerous citizens of Franklin County, Illinois, to have the charge of desertion removed from the record of M. J. McClain-to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Also, petition of William A. Plumb, for a special-act pension-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, papers in the claim of Daniel Ward, and in .the claim for relief of W. H. McCabe-to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Also, evidence in the claim of Nancy Hartley for a pension and in the claim of Rebecca Franklin-to the Committee on Pensions.

Also, papers in the pension claim of Malissey E. Smathers and also papers to accompany bill for the relief of Samuel E. Wilson-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, petition of Hannah Coole for relief--to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. WEBER: Petition of farmers of Erie County, New York, for protection on farm products-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Also, petition of citizens of Niagara County, New York, for retention of duties on wood-pulp-to the Committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. WHEELER: Petition of \Y. H. Boothe, guardian of heir ot v..r. W. ~fitchell, of Colbert County, Alabama, for reference of his claim to the Court of Claims-to the Committee on War Claims.

Also, petition of Minerva T. Harris, widow of James D. Harris, of Jackson County, Alabama, for reference of her claim to the Court of Claims-to th~ Committee on War Claims.

Also, petition of Mary Arnold, formerly Gance; of James J. Holsen- _ back, of William P. James, of Amanda M. Wade, of A. J. Hannah, of Margaret Milligan, widowofMartinMilligan; of Joseph H. Livingston, and of Robert W. \Voody, of Alabama, for reference of their claims to the Court of Claims-to the Committee on War Claims.

By Mr. W. L. WILSON: Petition of George F. Anderson, of Jefferson County, West Virginia, for reference of his claim totheCourtofClaims-to the Committee on War Claims. .

By Mr. WOODBURN: Memodnl praying; that the State of Nevada be reimbursed in the sum of $11,840, expended and incurred for enrolling 1,184 men for the military service of the United States-to the Committeeon War Claims.

The following petitions for an increase of compensation of fourth-class postmasters were severally referred to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads: .

By Mr.· J. S. HENDERSON: OfElia.s Hunley and 56 others, of\V. M. Smith and 57 others, of Angus Mcinnis and 29 others, of C. E. Hearper and 50 others, of R. E. Reynolds and 53 others, of G. W. Montgomery and 13 others, of A. J. Cocillau and 28 others, of Rev. J. M. Bennett and 55 others, of G. M. Lammonds and 28 others, and of S. C. Sanders ancl44 others, of Montgomery County, North Carolina.

The follo\'{ing petitions, indorsing the per diem rated service-pension bill, based on the principle of paying all soldiers, sa.ilors, and marines of the late war a monthly pension of 1 cent a day for each day they were in the service, were severally referred to the Committee ou Invalid Pensions: .

By ~'[r. J. A. ANDERSON: Of 35 ex-soldiers of Hope, Dickinson County, Kansas.

2426 CONGRESSIONAL REOORD-SENATE. MARoH 27,

Also, of James Bridges and 116 ot.hers, of Decatur County, Iowa. By Mr. C. S. BAKEl{: Of David B. Grey and others, citizens and vet

erans of Scottsville, Monroe County, New York. . By 1\fr. BELDEN: Of Edward H. Brooks and 33 others, citizens, sol-

diers, and sailors of Geddes, N. Y". . · By ?tlr. BREWER: Of J. J. Bowen, E. Walker, and 50 others! citi

zens and soldiers of Michigan. By Mr. GIFFORD: Of C. E. Smith and 65 others, ex-Union soldiers,

of Miller, Dak. By Mr. GOFF: Of G. A. Jones and others, of Marshall County, West

Virginia. By Mr. HOVEY: Of William Jenkins and others, soldiers, of Indiana. By Mr. KETCHAM : Of R. D. Lathrop Post, No.138,· Grand Army

of the Republic, of New York. By Mr. McCORMICK: Of E. P. Murdock and others, and of Adel

bert Rice and others, citizens and ex-soldiers, of Tioga County, Pennsylvania.

Dy .Mr. NUTTING: Of Dr. Frank S. Low and 125 others, citizens and soldiers, of Oswego County; 2.nd of Henry H. Walker and 34 othe~, ex-soldiers, of Oswego County, New York.

By Ur. OSBORNE: Of John Kelley and 20 other citizens, ex-soldiers and sailors, of Carbondale, Pa.

By Mr. PUGSLEY: Of 57 citizens, of 16 citizens, and ·of 9 citizens of Pike County, Ohio.

By 1\fr. SAWYER: Of 20 soldiers of Elba, Genesee County, New York.

By Mr. E. B. TAYLOR: Of ex-soldiers of West Mecca, of Claridon, and of Russell, Ohio.

By Mr. J. R. WHITING: Of Wallace W. Huntley and 152 others, citizens of Lapeer County; of Samuel T. ·cantelon and 420 others, citizens of Huron County, and of Ed ward .McKenzie and 15 others, citizens of Sanilac County, Michigan.

The following petit.ions, praying for the enactment of a law providing temporary aid for common schools, to be disbursed on the basis of illiteracy, were severally referred to the Committee on Education:

By Mr. CAINE: Of 181 citizens of Salt Lake City, and of 117 citi-zens of Tooele County, Utah.

By Mr. CASWELL: Of 75 citizens of Rock County, Wisconsin. By Mr. CO~GE.R: Of 89 citizens of Dallas County, Iowa. By l\Ir. JACKSON: Of 174citize.ns of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. By Mr. PETERS: Of ~1atilda Compton and 6 others of .Alden, Kans. By 1\!r. SHAW: Of 44 citizens of Cecil County, Maryland. By Mr. STONE, of Missouri: Of 146 citizens of Dade County, Mis

souri. Dy Mr. WILLIAM WHITING: Of 133 citizens of Hampden County,

Massachusetts.

The following petitions, asking for the passage of the bill prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and importation of all alcoholic beverages in the District of Columbia, were severally referred to the Select Committee on the Alcoholic Liquor Traffic:

By .Mr. HOGG: Of 88 citizens of the Fourth district of Virginia, , By Mr. TOOLE: Of 13 citizens of Anaconda, Mont.

SENATE. TUESDAY, Ma1·ch 27, 1888.

Prayer by the Chn.plain, Rev. J. G. BUTLER, D. D. The 'Journ~l of yesterday's proceeding.3 was read and approved.

FUNERAL OF CHIEF-JUSTICE WAITE.

The PRESIDENT pro tempo1'e laid before the Senate the following communication from the Supreme Court of the United States; which was read:

SUPREliE COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, Wa.shington, March 26, 1888.

S.m: I am directed by the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States to invite the Senate to attend the funeral ceremonies of the late Chief-Justice Waite, in the Hall of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, March 28, at 12m. -

Very respectfully, J. 1\l. WRIGHT, Marshal.

The PRESIDEST of the Senate.

Mr. HOAR. I ask unanimous consent for the adoption of the following resolution:

Ircsolved, That the Senate accept the invit~tion of. the Justic~ of the Supreme Court to attend the funeral of the late Ch1ef-Just1ce, and will proceed to the Hall of the House of Representatives for that purpose at the time fixed for the ceremonial. ·

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection to th~ present consideration of the resolution? The Chair hears none. The question is on its adoption.

The resolution was agreed to. Mr. HOAR. I move thatwhen theSenatea.djournsto-dayit adjourn

to meet at a. quarter before twelve to-morrow.

I The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Massachusetts

moves that when the Senate adjourns to-day it be·to meet at a quarter before twelve to-morrow.

The motion was agreed to. EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION.

The PRESIDENT pro tmnJJOre laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, transmitting, in response to a resolution of the 14th instant, a report from the Qommissioner of the General Land Office, stating the number of acres embraced in the appraisement and sale of the remainder of the reservation of the confederated Otoe and .Missouria tribe of Indians in the States of Nebraska and Kansas; which, on motion of 1\Ir. PADDOCK, was, with the accompanying papers, ordered to lie on the table, am~ be printed.

PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.

Mr. CAMERON presented a petition of ex-Union oldiers and sailors, citizens of Shamokin, Pa., praying for the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which was referr.ed to the Committee on Pensions.

He also presented ·a memorial of citizens of Chester County, Permsylvania, remonstrating against the· admission of the Territory of Utah as a State with polygamy; which was referred to the Committee on Territories.

Mr. HALE. I present the petition of M . L. Morse and other citizens of Athens, Somerset County, Maine, praying that the work for the eradication of pleuro-pneumonia sh~ll be continued under the Bureau of Animal Industry as at present organiZed, and that the law establishing that bureau be strengthened without changing the plan of work now in operation. As the bill covering this subject has been reported, I move that the petition lie on the t::\.ble.

The motion was agreed to. 1\fr. REAGAN. I present the petition of D. G. Gregory and other

citizens and >oters in the town of Alleyton, Colorado County, Texas, praying that the work for the eradication of pleuro-pneumonia may be continued under the Bureau of Animal Industry as at present organized; that the law establi bing that bureau be strengthened without changing the plan of work now in operation; that the Bureau of Animal Industry shall be allowed to remain iu ~o Department of Agriculture, with a chief who shall be a competent veterinary surgeon, aud who shall report to the Commissioner of Agriculture, ancl that no board or commission shall be given any authority or control over that bureau or the work which it is now performing. I move that the petition lie on the t..11ble.

The motion was agreed to. !!Ir. VEST. I present a petition similar to that just p resented by

the Senator from Texas, from citizens of Columbia., Boone County, l\!is ouri. I move that it lie on the table.

The motion was agreed to. Mr. GORMAN presented the petition of Julio Stirzel, widow of Al

bion Stirzel, late private in Company G, One hundred and third New ork Volunteers, praying that sho be allowed a pension; which was

referred to the Committee on Pensions. l\!r: BATE presented the petition of George W. Morton and citizens

and voters in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, praying that the work for the eradication of pleuro-pneumonia may be continued under the Bureau of Animal Industry as at present organized, etc. ; which was ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. PAYNE presented seven petitions of 144 citizens of Ohio, praying thatthe work of the eradiention of pleuro-pneumonia be continued under the Bureau of Animal Industry as at present organized ; which were ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. 1t1cPHERSON. I present several memorials in re pect to the pleuro-pneumonia bill, remonstrating against any further legislation on that subject and praying that the work shall be continued under the Bureau of Animal Industry as at present organized. One memorial is from the county of Hudson, New Jersey, one from the county of Middlesex, and one from the county of Monmouth, and various other localities in the ~tate of New Jersey. I move that the memorials lie on the table.

The motion was agreed to. Mr. C ULLO U presented a petition of the Peoria (Ill.) Board of Trade,

praying that Congress provide for an international marine conference; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign !\'elations.

He also presented a petition·of Albert Rude and other citizens of illinois, praying for the passage of the per diem rated service-pension bill; which was referrfd ~ tp.e Committee on Pensions.

:Mr. P ALMEWpr~ented. the petition of R. D. Cnddeback and 80 other citizens of Wexford County, Michigan, praying that the work of extirpating pleuro-pneumonia. be continued under the Bureau of Animal Industry aspt present organized; which was ordered to lie on the table.

He alsotpresented the petition of Typographical Union No. 3D, in fn.vor of tlie passage of ani ternn.tional copyright law; which was ordered to lie on the ta.b1e.

He also presented the etition of Edward McKenzie and 15 other Union soldiers, citizens of Michigan; the petition of George ,V, Saxton and 422 other Union soldiers, citizens of .Michigan; the petition of August Ludwig and 16 other Union soldiers. citizens of .Michigan; and the

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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE.

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