The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-19
How Shall the Bill be Passed.
Proposition to Pass Without Debate
Some Difference of Opinion AbOu'
the Senate Bill.
Butler Points Out the Loop Holes.

/
Mr.. Eden offered the following:
ResOlped, That tomorrow, Immediately
after the morning hour, motion be made
by Mr.. Buckner TO proceed with the bust.
ness on the Speaker table, and on reach.
ing the bill 10 remonetize silver, the pre-
vious question shall be called on concur
ring in the Senate amendments, and that
there be no debate.
Mr.. Bright thought there were serious
objections to the bill as 1t was returned
from the Senate. One was as to the lin
itation OF coinage, and another the sirik-
ing out OF the feature OF free coinage from
the House bill. He wanted 10 make some
protest against It, for this was discrim-
ination against both persons and metal.
The holders OF gold were privileged TO
have their gold bullion coined free Of
charge, and citizens and foreigners could
benefit alike in this respect. Discrimi.
nation against silver should not be made,
as the silver TO be coined under the bill
was to be a full legal tender in the pay.
ment Of all debts. What reason was there
for discriminating against il in the mat
ter Of coinage. He stated several other
objections against the bill.
Mr. Wright offered resolution, as fol-
lows:
"ReSolred, That the bill should be re-
ported asit came from theSenate.n
He said that they had been here three
months, and it was evident that they had
made decided movement 10 carry q
silver bill. When It passed he thought,
as matter OF course, the President would
veto il; he had no doubt Of that, but the
House could pass the bill over the veto
by majority Of two.thirds. By accept.
|jng the Senate bill they made the meas
ure certain and sure. The free coinage
YVES email matter; II secures silver
currency, and 1t would hsve a good effect
on the country. II the bill should pass
as It came from the Senate II would be q
great victory. When we are certain Of
a good thing why should we hesitate?
Mr. Hanna said that while he was in
favor OF free coinage yet itseemed tohim
as question Of policy that II would be
best for them "a body TO take up and
pass the bill. He did not believe the
President would veto the bill. The Pres.
ident dared not do 1t. Mr.. Hanna made
this declaration as radical Republican.
II the President should veto the bill two.
thirds Of both Houses would pass tito the
contrary notwithstanding. Now was the
time to drive the last nail. While he
did not approve Of the Senate amend.
ments he thought the passage OF the bill
would do very much to strengthen the
confidence Of the country.
Mr.. Ewing said the people Of the coun.
try were In intense business distress and
looking for relief to the demonstration
OF silver. Under this bill they would re-
ceiye none, and he yentured the assertion
that not Sl00, 1000 would be put into cir.
circulation by Il. The Secretary OF the
Treasury had The power to sell the bonds
to buy bullion in order to revive specie
payments. This bill remonetizes silver
and every dollar OF the 100000 author.
lied to be coined per month will be
bought up By Secretary Sherman for the
purpose Of boarding it for the prosecu-
lion OF his resumption scheme and when
TITS bill. was passed the advocates OF re.
sumption would say you strengthened
our cause by giving us 24OO0,O0O OF coin
dollars a year.
Mr.. Haskell said he was no admirer Of
Secretary Sherman and his financial pol.
icy, but Tor two years past the Secretary
and the Director Of the Mint have said
that II the people want dollar Of 4l2i
grains they should have as many as they
wanted. So far as these gentlemen could
control, they would put four millions in
circulation every month.
Mr.. Ewing said he did not want a
chest palmed of on the country. This
bill gave 10 Secretary Sherman power to
coin either two or four millions Of silver
dollars month, but with such resttic..
ton it was adhering In effect 10 a gold
standard. He would not vote for II.
Mr.. Batter said although he did not
like this bill, be would take it II he could
get nothing better. The silver men had a
giants strength, and should exercise Il.
They conld do what they pleased. He
thought II would be unwise TO pass the
bill without affording some time for de-
bate. This would strengthen the meas.
ure. II the bill should be passed without
debate, the President might send 1t back
without HE approval, saying he did SO
because he never had heard Of any reason
being given in the House why II should
become law. Therefore Mr.. Butler
would have debate 60 as to take away
all excuses for the executive TO say he
had right to send II back because there
had been no debate on it.
Mr.. Butler then criticized that part OF
the bill wherein Il Is said the silver dol
lar shall be legal tender, at It's nominal
value for all debts and dues, public and
private, except where otherwise express.
" stipulated Ia contract. According 10
this every banker or broker or other per.
son may say he will not take silver, but
only gold. He held that such exclusion
could not be made, and referred TO the
decision OF the French Court Of Cessation
in the case Of contract that refusal Of
the money OF the country was against
public policy, and ought not, therefore to
be permitted.
Mr. Butler said his proposition was
this: Let this bill be treated "a all pub.
lie measures ought to be. With due re.
spect to the nation do not remonetize
silver with haste or by trick. Let the
bill be referred 10 the Committee on
Banking and Currency, and they will
come TO a conclusion as TO what should
be done. II they conclude that the bill
should be passed in It's present shape,
friends OF remonetiEation could vote for
Il In q body. II they should conclude
that Il ought to be amended, they could
vote for the amendment accordingly. By
this the bill will gain strength.
Mr.. Southard moved that the bill be
referred to the Committee on Banking
and Currency.
Mr.. Phillips called attention 10 the fact
that the bill remonetiEed silver and de-
clared II to be an unlimited legal tender.
He thought the true course 70 pursue
was 10 take the two points gained. While
he was not in favor Of the amendments Of
the Senate, be would take Il II he could
obtain nothing better. He said there
we're bills pending in the Committee on
Banking and Currency 10 further carry
out the purposes Of this bill.
Mr.. Fort said, In his judgment, The
Bland bill was better one than that re.
turned by the Senate. BE thought they
could safely act like men and take this
bill and send Il TO the committee, and