, 1890-06-11
In the Senate.

WASHINGTON. June lO.-Among the
petitions presented and referred was one
from the New Orleans Chamber of Com
merce asking for an appropriation OF
$500, 900 for the establishment of a steam
ship line between New Orleans and the
west coast of Africa.
The house silver bill was referred to the
finance committee.
Blair introduced (by request) a bill to
prohibit Intoxicating liquors on the
grounds OF n exposition for which APP
preparations are expended by the United
States. Referred.
The silver bill was then taken up.
Unanimous consent was given lat the re-
quest OF Jones of Nevada) that after 3
o'clock Friday next the debate be limited
to five minutes by any senator on any
question. The question being on Plumb's
amendment that no funds available for
the payment of the public debt, including
such as are kept for the redemption of
United States notes, shall be retained in
the treasury in excess of 500, 000. 900.
On motion of Harris this amendment was
amended by adding the words, provided,
the gold and silver coin and gold bullion
in the treasury, on which gold and silver
certificates have been issued, shall not be
considered available for any purpose ex-
cept the redemption OF such certificates"
Sherman expressed opposition TO
Plumb's amendment, as the effect of it
would be really to leave only a working
balance of $40, 00o, 900 in the treasury.
Besides, he thought the silver question
,n,ort-t ana,uE 10 he aonct1ara1 hu
itself without Juggling in other complica-
tioLs as to the balances in the treasury
and such matters. Sometimes on quar-
ter days the secretary had to pay over
forty millions and sometimes he had to
pay twenty millions for pensions.
Reagan was of the opinion that a re-
serve OF $50, 600. 900 would be all-sufh-
cient, and he intended to offer an amend
ment carrying out that idea. He thought
the policy of Furnishing the people for
the benefit of the monometallists and con
tractionists had been carried on long
enough. The retention of that 800, 900, :
900 in gold had already cost the govern
ment $40, 600, 900 in interest.
Teller said 1t had cost SAG, 900, 900. He
went on to question and deny the accur-
acy of some of the statements in Sher-
mans last speech on the bill. One OF the
points was that the gold dollar had al
ways been the unit of value. That is not
true, said Teller. whether it comes from
an ex secretary of the treasury or any
body else. Another point in Sherman s
speech which Teller disputed and denied
was that the increase of circulation had
kept pace with the increase of population.
Teller argued that il would require an
annual increase of s44, DOC, 900 of cur
rency to meet the annual increase of pop
ulation. As to the statement by Sher-
man and others that the supporters of
the bill wanted a cheap dollar, Teller said
it was a species of d~emagoguery which
was a disgrace to the senate.
They wanted the honest dol
lar restored the dollar that
had been stricken down without
the will of the people and without their
knowledge. The man who stood before
the senate arguing for a single standard
was either dishonest or ignorant, and had
no right to represent the interests of the
American people. Teller went on to
speak of the silver plank in the Republi-
can national platform, and said II he had
supposed it mere clap-trap the RepublI-
can party would not have had such sup
port from him, and would not have got
the great majority it did in Colorado. He
said the bi metallic principle had had its
worst enemy, its most effective foe, in the
treasury department. 1t had been
within the power of the admins
tration to relieve the people, so that
what the people suffered wa at
the door OF the administration. But
there was no feeling favorable to BIZ
metallism in the high places, aud would
not be while Wall street could influence
the political parties. Each party had
been met by the declaration that congress
must leRislate SO as to gain the good will
OF the business interests of the country
That mean Wall street. He remember
ed the case of a president (Cleveland) ad-
dressing a crowd of people in Wall street
and saying he saw before him the repre-
sentatives of the great interests of the
country. But the fact was, Teller
said, that he did not zee be
fore him a single man who
had ever done an honest days work, ever
produced an article of commerce or ever
promoted the industrial pursuits of the
country. In conclusion. Teller declared
that no matter where the Republican
party or himself should be left, his vote
should be given for that measure which
would u%nloose the burden put upon the
debtors of the country and do it without
detriment to the creditors.
Call spoke in favor of tree coinage, and
then the silver bill went over till tomor-
row. After an executive session the SEN
ate adjourned.
Wa.hIagtan Notaa