The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-06-25
IN THE HOUSE.
The Silver Bill Gives Rise to Some
Interesting Remarks.

WASHINGTON, June 24-In the House, to-
day, Mr.. Mckinley of Ohio, from the com
mittee on rules. reported:a resolution, "that
Immediately after the passage of this resolu-
tion, the House proceed to consider the
silver bill, and at 2 o'clock Wednesday, the
previous question be considered as ordered. -
He demanded the previous question on the
adoption of the resolution which was or
dered.
Mr.. Milliken of Maine, asked whether an
that it was not.
Mr.. Bland Of Missouri, wanted to concur
in the Senate amendments.
Mr.. Blount of Georgia, deprecated the
practice of controlling legislation exercised
by the committee on rules. He said that
before the Speaker was Speaker he had al.
ways been in favor of full and fair debate.
Now he found it easier to do business with
out it. He feared that under this rule the
coinage committee would come in with cut
and dried programme which would prevent
the House from voting upon free coinage.
Mr.. Mckinley said the purpose Of the res
0lution was to secure definite and speedy ac-
tion upon the subject of silver. He was sur
priSed at the opposition from the other side.
They charged that the Republicans would
smother the silver bill and prevent legisla-
ton. Today he had given a direct refuta-
tion of that statement. The Republicans
had brought the bill back almost at once.
They invited theHouse to concur or non-con-
cur in the Senate amendments. The order
gave opportunity to the free coinage men to
vote for their proposition. 1t was the re-
suit the Republican side was after and poll
tics the Democratic side was after. The
House was face to face with the practical
question whether we were to have free and
unlimited coinage of the worlds silver pro-
duct; whether we would legislate to alb
sorb every ounce of silver produced in the
United States and make it part of our none
tary system.
Mr.. Springer of Illinois said the Republi-
cans had had their ears to the ground, and
had just had an awakening, and at last,
somewhat tardily it was true, the Republi-
can leaders had been obliged to come over
to the Democratic position.
On motion of Mr.. Mckinley, the special
rule was adopted without division.
Mr.. Conger, chairman of the coinage COM
mittee, presented the report of that commit
tee. 1t simply recommended that the House
non-concur in each and all the Senate amend
ments to the silver bill and request confer
ence on the same.
Mr.. Bland of Missouri moved that the
House concur in the Senate amendments.
With these motions pending, the debate be-
gan. Mr.. Conger said the committee report
ed a wise and conservative measure. Their
judgment had not been influenced by the ac-
tion of the Senate That body had not de-
had passed and sent back to the
House. If the bullion redemption
feature was stricken out, the government
was placed in a position of buying gold and
silver bullion and paying for it in silver coin
for that was the only money provided fol-
the purpose. Now free coinage meant that
man might take 500 worth Of silver to the
United States mint and take away $130. II
meant that we should say to the world
Bring on your silver. We will give you &c
per cent more for it than you can get any
where else" He would not impose sucn q
tax upon the people and the bill reported by
his committee meant that the government
should buy silver for just what it was
worth
Mr.. Conger said that pool after pool had
Ue nS tbesa m ss U 70 SI
hoping for the passage of free coinage bill
After long discussion the House ad-
iOurned