The morning call., 1890-06-25
THE HOUSE.
Debate on the Coinage Committees Report on
the Silver Bill

WASHINGTON, June 24.-ln the House
this morning Springer of Illinois called at
tention to the fact that the Journal showed
that the Legislative Appropriation Bill. as
amended by the Senate, had been referred
to the Appropriations Committee without
reference to the House. He said that If
anything was decided in the case of the Sill
yer Bill. it was that reference should be
made in open House, that the bill should
have gone to the Committee of the Whole.
The Speaker said that the usual custom
had been followed, that the record duly
informed the House of references, and,
therefore. he declared tie Journal ap-
proved.
A conference was ordered on the bill to
reorganiZe the customs collection district
of Puget Sound.
Mckinley, from the Committee on Rules,
reported resolution that the House pro-
ceed at once to consider the Silver Bill with
the Senate amendments, aud at o'clock to-
morrow the previous question to be consid-
cred as ordered. He demanded the previ-
Gus question on the adoption OF The resolu-
tioD, which was ordered, and twenty mln-
utes debate was allowed on either side.
The Democrats denounced this applica-
tion of the rules.
Mckinley said the purpose of the reso-
luton was to secure definite and speedy ac-
ton upon the subject of silver. He was
surprised at the opposition from the other
side.
They charged that the Republicans would
smother the Silver Bill and prevent legisla-
ton. To-day has given direct refutation
to that statement The Republicans had
brought the bill back almost at once They
invited the House to concur or non-concur
In the Senate amendments. The order
gave an opportunity to the free-coinage
men to vote for their proposition. 1t was
results the Republican side was after, and
politics the Democratic side was after.
Springer said the Republicans had finally
been obliged to come over to the Demo-
cratic position.
The special rule was adopted without
division.
The Coinage Committee presented its re-
Iort 1t simply recommended that the
House nom concur in each and all the Sen
ate amendments to the Silver Bill.
Bland moved that the House concur in
them.
With these motions pending the debate
began.
Conger defended the action of his com
mittee, saying 1t had reported a wise and
conservative measure. II the bullion-re-
demptlon feature was stricken out then the
Government was placed in the position of
buying gold and silver bullion and paying
for 1t in silver coin, for that was the only
money provided for the purpose. Now,
Tree coinage meant profit of S13, ,000,0 600
year to the bullion-ownerS of the country.
II meant that we Should say to the world,
Bring us your silver, and we will give you
so per cent more for it than you can get
anywhere else." COnger held that under
the terms of the House bill silver and gold
would be equally within the reach of all,
while II the Senate bill passed the country
would be driven to silver basis. He hoped
that under the terms OF the House bill sill
yer would appreciate, while under the
terms of the Senate bill he believed it would
not. lie wished his colleagues could un-
derstand the pressure that had been
brought to bear by men interested in silver
speculation to secure silver legislation. Not
only have paid lobbyists been plying
their vocatlons here, but various other
means have been resorted TO by silver spec
ulators to procure legislation. Pool after
pool had been organized in this city to
speculate in silver; money had been de-
posted In banks i'll this country by hun
dredS aud hundreds of thousands ready to
purchase bullion as soon as this legislation
should pass. These people were opposed
to the House bill simply because if that bill
passed they woud have to trust to the
markets to make the value OF their prod
uct If the Free Coinage Bill passed
Congress the United States would fix the
value at 80 per cent above what silver was
WORTH He had been invited time and
again to join the silver pools, but as long
as he had q seat here his voice should be
raised in behalf of the people of this coun-
depositors, for the crippled and starved
soldiers of the country. In conclusion,
C0nger said if there was no silver legisla-
tion the responsibility would rest upon the
advocates of free coinage, because the de-
lay up to this time rested largely upon their
shoulders.
Bland said he knew nothing about any
lobby He had not seen it and had never
heard of it. If speculative pools had been
organized they might have been founded
upon the belief in the passage of the House
bill, because it opened the door to the
widest speculation. One day there might
be ten millions in the Treasury, and The
next not million. He criticized the House
bill in other respects He was for free
coinage, but if he could not get it, he would
vote for this bin if he could get two amend
ments-one providing that notes outstand-
ing should not be limited to the cost price
of bullion, and another that notes should
be redeemed In coin. This latter was inn
p0rtant in order that coinage should be
Treasury simply as a commodity.
Townsend of Colorado SAID that free
coinage was the only way to secure stable
financial system, but if he could not get
free coinage he would vote for this 4,500, 900
bill, as offering considerable improvement
on the present conditions.
Vandeyer presented petition from Santa
Cruz citizens, praying for perDetuati0n Of
the national banking system.
The question was further debated by
Kerr, Post, Hill, Kelly, Struble, Wheeler
and Bartine. the latter stating that he felt
it his duty to vote for any measure that
pointed in the direction of free silver. Ad-
jOurned.