The daily gazette., 1878-02-22
THE SILVER BILL,
ITS FINAL PASSAGE


The Senate amendments to the Bland
Silver Bill We're concurred in by the
House of Representatives yesterday, and
passed the House by very large majori-
ty-about three to one. The amer
ments were not satisfactory to the most
extreme silver men. Mr.. Springer and
MT. Ewing, Democrats, and Gen. B. f
Butler, Rep, opposed concurrence in the
amendments.
Mr.. Bland said that the bill had come
back from the Senate in mutilated con-
dition. The question was whether to
take the bill as 1t now was or by non-
concurrence probably defeat all legisla-
ton on the subject, and he was therefore
in favor of concurrence. UIi} e
Messrs. Sayler and Southard would
take the bill as it now was as choice of
evils, instead of imperiling the bill by a
non-concurrence.
| Mr.. Stephens closed the debate, having
| three minutes of his hour left for that
purpose, and said: prefer the Senate
| amendments in some respects TO the
original bill, / did not like the free coin
age feature In the original bill. The
amendment in that respect / approve
Other amendments made by the Senate
do not like. But not single one of
them Is of such a character that / would
forfeit the bill on account of 1t. The
great object which / had In view land
which / think the majority of the House
had in view Is accomplished by this bill
| BY it the double standard of value is re-
established In the currency /; by it "the
dollar of the fathers" is restored 4; by il
silver is again made money. That was
the great object which have aimed al
from the BEGINNING. The object was
not to make 90 cents dollar, but to
make 4l2t grains of silver equivalent to
one hundred cents, which was the dollar
of the fathers. If majority of the
House hereafter thinks 1t wise to modify
the Senate amendments 1t can easily be
done. The bill can be supplemented in
the way which may be thought right. i
wish to save what we have got, and not
to hazard that great principle established
in the bill. / shall vote for all the Sen
ate amendments lest we hazard the great
and important principle established in
the bill 1 now ask the previous ques-
| ton.
Mr.. Hewitt moved to lay the bill and
amendments on the table. The motion
was rejected-yeas ~, nays 204.
The main question having been order
ed Q81 to 49, the House proceeded to vote
upon the Senate amendments, the first
amendment providing that silver expressly
stipulated IN The contract, was concurred
in, 176 10 52, .....
The second amendment was that which
strikes out the free coinage feature OF
the House bill, and inserts the provision
limiting the coinage of the silver dollar
and providing that any gain arising from
that coinage shall be paid into the trea-
sury. 1t was concurred in-yeas 203
nays 72. Mr.. Williams voted nay. ..
4 The next vote was on the third Senate
amendment, proposing an internationa
silver conference. 1t was agreed to, yeas
1876, nays II.
The next vote was on the fourth Sen
ate amendment, authorizing the issue o
Certificates in exchange for silver coin
1t was agreed TO without division.
The other amendments were simply
formal, and were concurred in without .
ldivision.
The bill now goes to the President fol
his approval.