The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-14
A LONG TALK ON SILVER.
AN EXTENSION OF TIE DEBATE
AGREED TO.

Senator Morgan Opens the Speech
Making by Advocating Free Coin
age-Senator Aldrich Defends the
Amendments Reported by the
Finance Committee-Senator Daniel
Makes Strong Speech.
WASHINGTON, June 13-In the Senate
to-day Mr.. Morrill, presented remonstrance
from two counties in Vermont against
the imposition of duty on tin. The pro-
test was referred 70 the finance committee.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
Edmunds appointing Edward K. Valentine
sergeant-at-arms Of the Senate was taken
up and agreed to, anamendment offered by
Mr.. Harris substituting the name of Henry
W. Hall of Tennessee having first been
voted down.
MORE TIME WANTED.
The Senate silver bill was then taken up
and MIR. Morgan resumed the floor, but
suggested that the time of the senators in
discussing the amendments latter the close
of the general discussion) should be extended
from five minutes to ten or fifteen minutes
Mr.. Jones of Nevada, who is in charge of
the bill, thought it might be better, as
several senators still desired to speak on the
subject, to extend the time for. the general
debate till 3 o'clock on Monday next, and
he asked unanimous consent for that
proposition.
Mr.. Hoar said he had no objection, but
thought there should be a larger attend
ance Of senators before unanimous consent
was asked.
Mr.. Morgan, therefore, went on with his
remarks. He said that the major PROPOSE
tion to which he would address himself
principally was the free coinage of
silver. He believed that congress
was obliged, under the constitution, in
good faith, and in the execution of a great
public trust, to make coins of gold and coins
Of silver. He complained that the finance
committees amendment to the house bill
did not require the coinage of silver bullion
to be purchased by the treasury, except at
the discretion Of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury. 1t did say that the secretary
should coin enough of it to
pay the cost of the bullion
at its market price when purchased, but it
does not say in what denomination it should
be coined, whether in dollars or subsidiary
coin.
MEANS Decentralization.
What, he asked, did that mean2 1t
meant really characterization of silver.
What other purpose was there
in SO framing the bill as to leave it
entirely optional with the secretary
of the treasury whether he would
coin silver money or not coin itl He OBJ
jected to the general purpose of that legisla-
tion. The purpose was too open and patent
to be concealed. 1t was to treat by law dis
elimination between gold and silver. He
also objected to the provision limiting con-
tinuance of the act to ten years. The pur-
pose of that limitation, he said, was to keep
up the agitation which had so long
distressed the country-the conflict be-
nQnnlo nf
the United States wanted a staple and
permanent financial policy. but under
the proposed limitation there would be
pickering and strife and contention and
uncertainty that would affect every class Of
business. If congress was not competent to
ciple of financial policy it should lay the
bill on the table and be done
with it-confessing its inability to
handle the subject. Congress should
not try the mere, miserable tentative ex-
pertinent of such a character; nor should it
make itself party to continued strife and
controversy between the two metals.
entirely indefensible. He could see
no good ground of public pol
icy on which to rest it.
If congress expected to gain the favor of
Germany or Great Britain by such legisla-
tion it would be great mistake. The policy
of Great Britain on any question was
not measured by decades. but by half CEN
turles and centuries; and the wisdom of its
craftsmanship had been found equal to pro-
viding not merely for the present, but for
the future. By all means that provision
should be struck out Of the bill. The bill
should either be laid on the table or made
satisfactory to the people.
ALDRICH Defends THE AMENDMENTS.
Mr.. Aldrich addressed the Senate. He
defended the amendments reported by the
finance committee to the House silver bill,
and asserted that instead of demonetizing
silver the system proposed by the finance
committee would more effectually monetize
1t than the system now in force under the
law of 1878. He was willing that the ex-
pertinent should be tried. He used the word
advlsedly, for 1t was an experiment,
whether the senators thought 50 or not.
congress could not pass an act that would
be fnality on great question. 1t had to
De tentative and experimental. 1t had to
modification in much wider
sense than usual. Its final object
was to establish legal equality between
gold and silver. Gold was to-day the uni
Versal international money. Silver was
not. Congress could not make it an inter
national money. That had to be done by
tne concurrent action of all the great coun-
tries. Until that action took place there
could be no equality between the two
metals. That was the fact of all facts, and
It was useless for the senators to endeavor
to pursuade themselves or others to the con-
trary.
DIsTRUsT FEARED.
1t was important, he said, that the peo-
pie should understand the exact character
and effect of the legislation proposed by the
silver extremists Unlimited purchase of
silver would inevitably increase the distrust
and alarm of the conservative busi-
ness men of the country. The
imitation sure to follow would raise prices
and induce an era of wild speculation;
while business would be all the time suffer-
ing from doubt as to the ultimate
consequences. Another effect of it would
oe that the country would be overwhelmed
With an inflow of silver from every part of
the world, and the result of that would be
70 drive out gold and put the country on a
permanent silver basis. Silver would flow
tnto the United States by law as irresisti-
Die as the law of gravitation.
it was now close to 3 o'clock, the time
axed for the general debate TO terminate
various propositions were made, and
nInally it was agreed by unanimous consent
tnat the Senate bill should be laid ON the
liable, the House bill substituted for it, and
1S9e general debate extended until o'clock
Dionday, the session tomorrow being for