Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-20
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY,
A HOUSE SESSION FOB DEBATE,
Speeches in Opposition to Free Coinage


opeecneS III Vpp0sluon TO Free tonnage
House Of Representatives.
The House was called to order by the clerk,
and on motion Of Mr.. Morrison Qll.) Mr.. Crisp
tGa.) was elected as Speaker pro tempore dur
Ing the temporary absence of the Speaker.
OPPOSITION TO FREE COINAGE.
Under the special order made on Tuesday
last, the limited debate on the adverse report
on the free coinage bill was begun, and the floor
was taken by Mr. James (N.Y.) in opposition to
the bill. He promised his speech with what
ne stated were few words Of personal explana-
tion. People were wont to look to the lawyers
ana professors and political leaders for legisla-
ton on financial questions instead of to busi-
ness man such as he was. The result OF this
| leaders was that now the country was in
q slough. The car of state was very nearly
d1tched: This was not question of doing
out OF something bad. 1t was not a question OF
making good time; it was question of getting
the wheels out OF the slough. It was question
which the business men ought to solve If the
business men had dealt with the silver Ques-
ton, the team of state would not have been
have spoken out and insisted that their advice
should be followed. Thy should join their forces
TSe Of the great
from the start q great business blunder Of the
| nations as whole. No one nation could af-
on it. The evil of demonstration was
chargeable to the action of Germany
for the impetus given by Germany was passed
along the line and one after another the minis
OF the different nations have been closed to Sill
YER The history of Europe for the last ten
previously unexampled. The silver men held
that the anti-silver craze had been a conspiracy
OF the criditor class and the bond-holders of the
OF the various nations: Such was not the truth.
The professors Of political economy who had
been the leaders Of thought for a generation
were not the servile hirelings of the hlOated
OOu0-hOl0prS They Car ro.
formers and they had meant well, but their
foresight had been q mistake: The coinage Of
the effort to secure bi-metaliie coinage
IN and the silver
no-metallists. The silver question was more
than local issue. It was an International one
The coinage of silver under the Bland act had
been from the beginning, and was now, a colos-
sal business blunder, and he believed that had
1t not been for the passage of that bill silver
both in the United States and Europe, and the
two metals would have been at q parity one
With the other at e fixed ratio Until an inter
under the Bland act should be suspended, for
the continuance Of that coinage was but organ
the regret that New York should be attacked
as being antagonistfc to the views of the great
west on this question, and he asserted that
new YORK, as state, was pronouncedly
in favor of International bimettallism
The free coinage Of silver was what the country
complished through the medium OF suspension
and negotiation. He went on to argue that
Germany, France and England were In a con-
pension of coinage in this country would force
them into adopting international bi-metallisn.
the Of to day for the
national concurrence before that time, was a
summons which European statesmen could not
ignore.
Mr.. Seymour (Conn.) followed the same line
OF argument and characterized as unwarranted
the assumption OF the extreme silver men that
those gentlemen who We're opposed to free COIN
age were monOmetallists.
District I'm Congress.
MR.. MATTHEWS NOMINATION.
The nomination of Mr.. Matthews for recorder
OF deeds of the District was mentioned at the
meeting of the Senate District committee yes
terday, but, as the chairman was not present
at the time, and owing to the absence of several
other members, the matter went over. 1t will
be taken up next Friday, and the indications
are that upon a formal vote the nomination
will be ordered to be adversely reported.
THE PROPOSED MILITIA LAWS.
The District militia bill introduced in the
Senate yesterday, in addition to what was pub
lished in THE STAR, makes every able-bodied
citizen of the District between the ages of Is
and 40 subject TO enrolment, except persons
exempted by section mentioned below and
idiots, lunatlcS, common drunkards, vaga-
bonds, paupers and persons convicted of any
Infamous crime. Persons SO convicted after en-
u,
cases OF doubt respecting the age of a person en-
rolled, the burden of proof shall be upon him.
Section Sc t;d above referred to, reads: I'm ad-
ment In the militia by the general laws Of the
United States, the following persons shall also
be exempted from enrolment in the militia of
the District Of Columbia, viz: Officers of the
government OF the District of Columbia, judges
and officers OF the courts of the District of Co
lumbia, officers who have held or may hold
commissions in the regular or volunteer army
or navy of the United States, officers who have
the militia OF the District of Columbia or of anV
state of the United States, ministers of the
gospel, practicing. physicians. conductors and
the paid fire department." The last section
qO1) provides: ut shall not be lawful for any
body Of men whatsoever. other than the regu-
themselves together as a military company or
organization, or to parade in public with arms,
such unauthorized body OF men with arms
shall be punished by fine not exceeding the
sum Of $40, or by imprisonment for term not
exceeding six months, or BOTH"
PETITIONS OFFERED IN THE HOUSE YEsrER-
DAY.
Petitions were offered in the House yesterday
from the officers of the Society tor Protection OF
Young Girls, asking for the legal protection of
young girls in the District of Columbia: from
the people of Chester county, Pa, praying for a
law prohibiting the sale or manufacture of
alcoholic beverages in the District of Columbia;
and from the ALLIANCE of ladies organized for
passage Of the Senate bill to punish the crime
OF rape, and protect young girls in the District
of Columbia.
THE SPA SPRING AT BLADENSBURG PRESENTED
TO THE GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. James Crutchett, who owns the Spa
spring at Badensburg, has donated it and sew
eral acres of ground adjacent to the govern
ment. He has made a formal deed transferring
the property to the United States for the benefit
of the people. No condition is attached, but
the donor expresses the hope that the govern
people. Mr.. Sherman will present the deed of
gift to the Senate next Monday.
THE CLAIM OF GEORGE c. ELLISON.
The House committee on claims has decided
in the case of Mr.. George {. Ellison, who, when
chief engineer of the House In the Forty-fourth
Congress, killed David Smalls with Ratchet in
the engine room, to recommend the passage of
a bill to reimburse him for the money expended
in his defense in his trial for murder He
claimed salary and allowance for his defense,
amounting to $4,000, upon the grounds that
the killing of Smalls occurred in the line of his
duty. The amount recommended to be allowed
is $5,317.
Capitol Topics.
A PROPOSED BUREAU OF PUBLIC HEALTH
The committee on commerce has instructed
Representative Davis to report favorably bill
to establish a bureau ofpublic health in the In
terror department., to be presided over by q
commissioner of health at an annual salary OF
$4,000. The bill abolishes the national board
of health. transfers the dOtieS Orena RING 70.