The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-28
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
The House Assemblies in Committee of the
Whole and Talks About Silver.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.--Immediately upon as
sembling the House. under previous order,
went into committee of the whole-Mr. Crisp, of
Georgia, in the chair-tor general debate on the
state of the Union.
Mr.. Chandler, of Georgia, submitted an argu-
ment sgainst the suspension of silver coinage,
and contended that there was no sound basis for
the prediction made by the ''gold bugs" that the
continued coinage of silver would have the effect
of driving gold out of the country.
Mr.. Lanham. of Texas. spoke in support of a
bill previously introduced by him, to disapprove
act of the Legislature of New Mexico pre-
venting the introduction of diseased cattle into
the Territory, arguing that it was unconstitu-
tional in that it interfered with interstate com
merce.
Mr.. Weaver. of Nebraska, discussed the silver
question, and predicted that the effort of the
money oligarchy assisted by the executive off,
GERS of the Nation, to double the peoples bur
dens, and cripple the business of the country by
the suspension of silver coinage. would prove I'M
successful, now that the attention of the people
was attracted to the question. He favored un-
limited coinage, and asserted that if the whole
yield of the mines was coined annually it would
be twenty~years before the per capita circula-
ton of the United States would be equal to that
of France, and this calculation, he said had been
made without taking into account any increase
in population of the country.
Mr. Clements, of Georgia, thought that the
true test of the value of silver was not the gold
standard, as established in countries where the
value of gold had been enhanced by the demone
tization of silver, but the purchasing capacity of
silver. Tested by its purchasing capacity, silver
was now worth as much as it ever had been, and
there was no ground for the assertion that the
standard dollar was dishonest dollar.
Mr.. Jones, of Texas advocated the free coin
age of silver, and earnestly opposed the PROPOSE
ton to suspend the operation of the Bland act.
Mr.. Wolford. of Kentucky, spoke in support of
the Mexican pension bill, introduced by him,
and thought that it should not be antagonized be-
cause it would include Jefferson Davis in its pro-
visions.
Mr. Reagan, of Texas, suggested that Jeffer-
son Davis had once written a letter asking that
his name be excepted from the provisions of a
Mexican pension 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 desrious of including him in the provis-
ions of the bill.
Mr. Perkins. of Kansas. opposed the suspension
or silver coinage, and denounced the demonetiza-
ton of silver in 1873 the dishonoring of Amer
lean silver, and as bringing in its train business
disasters which had continued 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 issue of paper
money. If the administration of this country
made an honest effort to promote the
usefulness of our silver dollar, it would
be worth gold dollar in six months,
Gold without the support of silver was more I'M
stable than any fiat money. If we would avoid
the dangers of fat; if we would restore conf
dence and revive our dropping industries; if we
would encourage commerce and open up new
avenues; If we would break the present conges-
ton and send the hot blood of business actively
into every hamlet in the land, let-us be done
with the effort to appreciate the price of gold and
add additional burdens to the debtors of our land
AS to the administration, he wished to turn q
Pan-electric light upon ii. 1t had broken Its
professions and violated the requirements of the
law. 1t had professed desire to have an honest
public service, and had appointed convicted fell
ons to places of trust.
Mr.. Buchanan. of New Jersey, rose to a point
of ORDER and remarked that it was only in order
for the other side to criticize other administra-
tons
Mr.. Perkins said that if the House asked the
names of some of these men, there were Demo
Gratis on the floor who could give them There
were vacancies in important diplomatic posts be-
cause odious persons had been appointed and re
jected. The administration professed wish to
enforce the law, and yet it could be seen vio-
lating statutes and organizing to defend its own
ideas. 1t refused to carry out the laws of Con-
gress for the protection of American shipping It
had taken the mails from the most important line
of American vessels. 1t refused to take the Dol
phin until she had encountered billiards. and
storms so severe that the naval officers could not
stand up to manage the ship. The national
banks, Standard oil and telephones would be
found represented in the Cabinet 1t had pro-
fessed desire to lessen the burdens on the de-
velopment of sections, but it had no word for in
ternal improvement for the improvement of
the great waterways of the country, the cheap
transportation of the people, In its coils enter
prise was strangled. workmen discharged, and
doubt cast on the ability of American engineers
and eulogums heaped upon John Bulls engi-
neers. tits English, you know" Applause on
the Republican side.
Mr.. Evans, of Pennsylvania, said that for
every silver dollar in pocket the people paid
twenty cents profit to the government. The
truth of the claim that plenty of money would
benefit the laboring class depended upon the
kind of money. Cheap money benefited no one,
and was hurtful particularly, to the wage-work-
ers. Honesty was as essential in public as in
private contracts. and if the government under
took to force deprecated silver upon the holders
of bonds, 1t would soon find that it could borrow
no more money at per cent 1t was time he
thought, that the compulsory coinage of silver
should cease. and the delusion in favor of a
double standard should be set aside.
The committee then rose and the House ad-
journed.
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