, 1890-06-19
TUESDAY,.
The Senate Votes In Favor Of Free
Coinage.

The senate Votes In Favor OF free
Coinage.
WAsHfsoros, June FIN the senate
to-day, the house silver bill was taken
up, and Mr.. Wolcott addressed the SEN
ate. He said that when the senators
who lived in the silver producing states
were accused OF holding sordid, un-
worthy and unpatriotic opinions, and
when II was said that those who were
demanding that silver be restored to its
own place with its sister metal were
speculntors and Adventures and were in
different to the welfare OF the country,
then he would havo to be pardoned for
feeling that lie had the right to claim
the attention OF tho senate long enough
to protest against such intimations and
against such methods. IL IL were true,
ns IL was not, that the people OF
the silver producing states were governed
In the matter by the desire to
protect the industry on which their
prosperity depended, large warrant
was given TO them for such q course by
some OF the Eastern states. The
country, particularly the Northern
states, seemed to have fallen on the day
when the politics were rated at COM
mensurate value alone, and when politi-
cal fealty was made to depend upon
whether the prosperity of the locality
where the voter resided was to be better
fostered by comparison by competition
with other countries or by large and
pronibitory duties, which practically
excluded foreign competition.
The prosperity of the people of the
mountain states of the West had ever
To rest chiefly on the products of their
mines, yet, while they were less bone
fitted than any other region of the
country by high protective tariff, they
were asked at every session to stand by
the duties which the East formulated,
and when they asked that silver should
also be protected they were told that
they were sordid and unpatrlotic, and
that these ideas were those of dissatis-
He'd and visionary people.
Mr. Wolcott went on TO criticisc the
uniriendly attitude of the aaministra-
ton toward the silver question, and
said that when Mr.. Harrison was nom
mated his record was searched in vain
for any noteworthy act or saying, and
that the republican leaders of the West
made great efforts among the farmers
and miners, and secured the success of
the ticket. Tho president had not ex-
actly materialized on the silver question.
aud the awakening had been rather
rude. lie yentured the opinion that
" the presidents opinion had beer an
nounced before the last election not a
single state west of the Missouri river
would have given republican major
ity, not because the majority of the
people Of those states were not true and
staunch and earnest republicans, but
because they would have wished to
rcbuke Overwhelmingly the selection
as their STANDARD bearer OF ono
who was unmindful Of the interests Of
the country and disregardiul OF the will
of the great majority OF the members of
the party. An open foe was to be pre-.
ferred TO secret eremy. The recon-
mendatlon of the secretary OF the treas
ury struck yiciously at tie interests Of
silver. The act OF 1878 was infinitely
preferable to the act recommended by
the secretary. The whole purpose of the
house bill seemed to he TO degrade and
debase silver, to make IL commodity, TO
reduce II to one ofth baser metals, and
prevent 1t from again taking its place as
u standard OF value. In conclusion, MIR.
Wolcott said that the silver bill was of
far greater Importance than the election
bill, the anti-gerrymandering bill, or the
tariff bill.
The conclusion OF Mr.. wolcotrs maid.
en- speech In the senate was attended
with great applause and compliments
from the senators.
The senate then voted on the amend
mcnt reported By the finance committee
striking out of the house silver bill the
provision that treasury notes issued for
silver shall be legal tender In the pay
mont OF all debts, both public and
private. The amendment was rejected,
ayes IL, noes 5Oi and the provision re-
mains in the bill.
The second amendment striking out
the bullion redemption clausa was agrrcd
to--ayes 81. noes I.
The third amendment reported by the
finance commute, striking out the sixth
section for the iree coinage of silver
when the market price Is $40 for 37lL.
grains OF pure silver was rejected; ayes
10, noes iji and the pro vision remains In
the bill.
The amendment fixing the Limitation
Of the act 10 two years was rejected
ayes L. noes "a.
On motion Of Mr. Plumb the following
was substituted Tor the first section OF
the house bill--ayes a. noes ~. That
lrom ana after the date OF the passage of