The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-28
FoRTY.NINTH CONGRESS.
A DAY OF SAFEGUARDING IN
THE HOUSE.
The Silver Question Discussed at
Length-The Mexican Pen
sion ill.

/ MT. Ofsp OF Georgia IN the char, Tor
| general debate on the state of the
/ Union.
Mr. Chandler Ca submitted an
argument against the suspension of
I silver coinage, and contended that
/ there was no sound basis for the pre-
/ diction made by the gold bugs" that
/ the continued coinage Of silver would
have the effect Of driving gold out of
! the country.
Mr.. Lanham Tex spoke in sup
| port Of a bill previously introduced by
| him TO disappr0ye an act OF the Legis-
lature of New Mexico, preventing the
introduction of diseased cattle into the
territory, arguing that il was unconsti-
tutional in that itinteriered with inter
state commerce.
Mr.. Weaver Neb.l discussed the
silver question, and predicted that the
effort of the money oligarchy, assisted
by the executive officers of the nation,
TO double the peoples burdens and
cripple the business OF the country by
the suspensionol silver coinage, would
prove unsuccessful, now that the at
tentiOn of the people was attracted to
the question. He favored unlimited
coinage and asserted that if the whole
yield OF the mines wascoined annually
1t would be twenty years before the
per capita circulation OF the United
States would be equal tothat of France,
and this calculation, he said, had been
made without taking into account any
increase in population of the country.
Mr.. Clements Ga. thought the true
test of the value OF silver was not the
gold standard as established in coun-
tries where the value of gold had been
enhanced 10y the decentralization of
silver bat the purchasing capacity of
silver tested by its purchasing capaci-
~. SilveH was now worth as much as
1t ever had been, and there was no
ground for the assertion that the
standard dollar was a dishonest dollar.
Mr.. Jones Tex. advocated the free
coinage Of silver, and earnestly OPP
posed the proposition to suspend the
operation of the Bland act.
Mr.. Wolford XVI spoke in support
OF the Mexican pension bill introduced
by him, and thought that it should
not be antagonized because il would
include Jefferson Davis in its pro-
visions.
Mr.. Reagan TEX suggested that
Jefferson Davis had once written let
ter asking that his name be executed
from the provisions of Mexican pen
sion bill if its insertion would en-
danger the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Wolford replied that that noble |
sentiment OF jefferson Davis made |
him Mr.. Wolford only more de-
sirous of including him in the pro-
visions OF the bill
Mr. Perkins Kas ] opposed the sus-
pension OF silver coinage and de- !
nounced the decentralization of silver |
in 1873 as the dishonoring of Ameri-
cap silver, and as bringing i'm its train |
business disasters which had con
tinped until the passage of the Bland |
act in 1873. In the worlds history it |
would be found that it had become
necessary TO aid both gold and silver
in the system by the issue of
prper money, and this being so, what
he asked, was there in the
that from this time forth
gold alone would suffice. As TO the
he wished to turn
Pan-Electric light upon it. 1t had
broken its promises and violated the
requirements of the law. 1t had pro-
'essed desire TO have an honest pub
lie service and had appointed convicted
elons to places Of trust.
Mr.. Buchanan N. j. rose to a point
If order, and remarked that it was
lnly in order for the other side to crit
else the administration.
Mr.. Perkins said that if the House
Iskcd the names of some of these men
here were Democrats on the floor who
ould give them. There were vacan-
les in important diplomatic posts be-
ause odious persons had been APP
'ointed and rejected. 1t professed
Wish TO enforce the law, and vet it
ould be seen violating statutes and
to enforce its own ideas
t professed a desire to promote the
interests OF labor, yet it authorized
he employment of convict labor on
ational works, and broke down our :
lrgest institutions. II refused TO carry q
ut the laws of Congress for the pro 0
ection of the American Shipping.
t had taken the mails from
he most important line of l
american vessels, and had demanded !,
American ship-builders things never =
card of in naval warfare It refused /
take the Dolphin until she had en-
billiards and storms, so Z
evere that the naval officers could not
and up to manage the ship. The
atfonal banks, Standard oil and tele- II
homes would be found represented in
he Cabinet. 1t had protested desire Z
Ilessen the burdens on the growth y
nd development of sections, but it
adj no word forinternal improvement.
n the improvement of the great q
aterways Of the country-the cheap
of the people. In its
Ills enterprise was strangled, work
len discharged, and doubt cast on the
)ility Of American engineers and
llOgiums heaped upon John Bulls
lgineers. Its English, you know"
applause on Republican side. =,
Mr.. Evans Pa. said that for every y
.ver dollar in pocket the people paid 8
cents profit to the government. lO
he truth Of the claim that plenty of I,
oney would benefit the laboring Il
ass depended upon the kind of Il
oney. Cheap money benefited no 29I
e, and was hurtful, particularly to
G wage-workers. Honesty was es- M
ntial in public as in private con- NET
lets, and if the government under civ
ok to force deprecated silver on the Pr'
lders OF bonds, it would soon find 1 IN,
at it could borrow no more money adj
9 per cent. It was time, he thought.
ut the compulsory coinage of silver a,
ould cease and the delusion in ia
r OF a double standard should be or
aside.
The committee then rose and the an
,use adjourned. a. a.,