Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-31

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the bill sought 10 give.
The wEIGHTIxR REASON FOR OPPOSITION.
But there was another and weightier rea-
son why. in ais opinion. the bill should BIO
! defeated. For quarter of century. out
from poverty and despair, the South had
tcen reaching forth In an effort TO plant its
foot on the solid rock of material PROSPERITY,
and in view Of the marvellous growth and
transformation now taking place in the
southern States, II would be. he believed.
unwisc and unpatriotic for Congress TO in
terfere in the conduct Of its internal affairs.
He had no hope for the immediate politi-
cal regeneration Of that sections but that
| did not affect the question. The people OF
the southern States were not only regain
Ing Their old prosperity, but are leaving IT
far behind
1HH souTH's WONDERFUL NATURALIZATION.
Under changed conditions. unused TO eff
fective labor handicapped with countless
Disadvantages, they had come out and up
| into the light. They had won the conf
dence OF northern capital and enlisted the
aid OF northern enterprise, and there was
no section Of the country that blossomed
to-day with brighter promise than the
| South. The history of mankind had
shown no such wonderful growth and
awakening.
Rejoicing in the prosperity Of every sec
| ton of the common country he (Wolcott)
was unwilling 70 iDtrude with his vote on
that people at this time a measure which
| seemed TO them but a renewal OF the strife
and bitterness which was foreign 10 the
spirit and dangerous 20 the freedom OF re-
publican institutions. General applause
IN the galleries and on the Democratic side
of the chamber.I
srFwIBT on TIE FINANCIAL BILL
At tho close Of Mr.. Wocott's speech the
elections bill was laid aside informally,
aud the bill reported from the Finance
Committee was taken up. on which Mr..
Stewart proceeded TO address the Senate.
The purpose Of the BILL he said, was TO
purchase 10000 600 ounces Of silver now
held by spectators and issue $500 600 900
Of bonds TO be held rs basis of national
bank circulation. Its provisions were for
the relief Of gamblers, silver spectators,
and the national banks. There was nothing
in the measure looking 10 the free coinage
of silver. For one said Mr.. Stewart, ] Will
not vote for such proposition. 90 not
/ fear that anybody will accuse me OF per-
sOnal interest.
TIE TRANSACTION IMMORAL.
The transaction is improper and immoral
and will be severely criticised. / shall not
| place myself whore an explanation will DO
required. Such o purchase Of silver would
| Temporarily increase its price and thereby
! 60 some extent benefit some of my con-
stltuents. But they are not asking Tor
/ benefit at any such price. They prefer 10
| bide their time and wait until there are
! votes enough in Congress 10 enact into law
the free aud unlimited coinage Of silver.
THE foRcE BILL AND CLOSURE.
Mr.. Reagan spoke in favor Of the free
| coinage of silver and then discussed the
| elections bill and the closure proposition.
! Upon the two latter subjects he became
involved in dialogue with Mr. Spooner as
90 the length Of time a minority ought 10
! be permitted TO talk against m asurc
which the majority desired 10 pass. No
satisfactory understanding was reached.
TELLER CALLS @. TRIsBIE 70 ACCOUNT.
Mr.. Teller called the attention Of the
| Senator from Massachusetts, (Mr. Hoar)
10 the present status Of the elections OIL.
/ Up TO this hour no attempt bad been made
/ TO bring the bill 10 % vote There had been
/ discussion on both sidcs-irelevant dis
| cussion on both sides. The Senator from
Massachusetts had occupied C1nsldera-
/ bic portion of two days with speech
mainly devoted TO historical reininls-
+ cences and hardly touching upon the
merits of the bill Other senators
| on the Republican side had oontented
| Themselves with the declaration that this
I "a
/ purpose. and had left 10 the senators on
/ The other side to touch upon the details of
I the bill. The'Senate had been told, when
/ criticisms were mado upon the bill, that
amendments would be offered. Up to this
/ hour there had been no suggestion AS to
| the manner In which those amendments
were 10 be made. vote taken on tins or
/ any other question would demonstrate the
fact that there was not quorum OF Re
publican senators present.
TIE MAJORITY SHARPLY CRITICISED.
There had been no attempt made on the
part Of the friends of the bill to bring II 20
a vote. Now the Senate was TO be met
with now rule which was to reverse the
traditions Of the body and to overthrow q
practice which had been in vogue eighty
four years.
THE POPULAR IDEA.
Mr.. Teller referred TO the impression
which has gone abroad that this bill was
kept before the Senate tor the purpose or
STAYING of much needed and much de
handed financial legislation and SAID that
II the Senator did not wish the bill TO
stand in the way Of legislation he should
put the Senate in position 10 vote on
amendments before he offered or allowed
to be offered rule which would cut or
debate and amendments.
AGAINST Gag" LAW.
He was in sympathy with the declared
object OF the bill. but whether he voted
for n depended upon its shape when 1t
came TO "A vote lie first wished an OPP
portunity 10 vote upon the, amendment Is.
He did not believe that the people OF tho
United States were prepared for tins pro-
ceeding, and for one he was prepared To
resist by all proper methods the adoption
Of the rule until the Senate had an oppor-
D Ill I'm NM Ft lffng an -
! 20 repeat. whether he would vote for tho
bill or not depended on the result OF tho
voteon the several amendments, and hewas
/ not TO bp deferred from his object because
I of the delay, because nobody was more re-
| snousible for that delay than the senators
| who favored the bill.
Mr.. HoAR IN HOLE"
Mr. Hoar defended himself from the I'M
| IMITATION of lack of diligence, and distrlbu-
| Ted the blame for delay between the Demo-
! cratic senator's for their opposition ana
| his Republican colleagues Tor their tallure
IN attend the sessions of the Senate, ana
| he especially disclaimed any part in per-
hitting the elections bill TO be used TO OBJ
| struct financial legislation.
TIE FULL NIoUITY OF THE RULE.
Mr. Teller said ne had not appreciated
until tins afternoon the effect OF the pro-
/ pOsod rule, when, no uhutietVou' was ~
| come up for action on Tuesday next. III
/ had not occurred 10 him that the Senate
would be in the position of having to vote
/ mon the bill without an opportunity to
yote upon the amendments. The Senator
indicated that the rule did not mean this
/ INT the legislative condition Of the Senate
| would be one of inability TO vote upon
amendments.
THE RULE UNNECESSARY.
If the friends of the bill were in earnest
they could pass II without the rule.
! Ihev could pass il as bills had been pass
! ed-as bills had been passed IN the days
of reconstruction: as they had been pass;
ed before and during the war. He had
/ never shown any indication TO abandon
| tLe senators who believed in this measure
bv absenting himself, even though ne
mlghtnot be willing TO support the bill 10y
! his vote.
THE SITUATION ISToLERABLE.
Mr.. Hale said the situation had become
| 10 some Republican senators who expect
ed 10 support the bill and vote tor 1t II an
opportunity were given them almost in-
| tolerable. The Senate was not without ex-
nerience in dealing with important mea;
1 L