The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-09
YESTERDAYS DOINGS IN WASHINGTON.
Senatorial EIoquence Once More on
the Silver Coinage Bill.
Mr. Sherman Refers to Rumors o,
Presidential Influence.
The House Passes the Bill to Pre-
vent Collisions at Sea.

WASHINGTON, July Sin the Senate to:
day the conference report on the silver bill
was taken up. Mr.. Sherman thought there
was no danger Of the Secretary of the Treas.
ury falling to buy four and a half million
ounces of silver month, If he could get 1t
at less than par, as provided in the act He
said: "The Senate cannot legislate on the
idea that officers Of the government will not
execute law. The suggestion has been
made that the President and Secretary Of the
Treasury are haunting the Capitol in regard
to this bill. have not seen either of them
and do not think single conferee has seen
either of them during the conference. The
President will do what he thinks it his
bounden duty to do under his obli-
cation. AS to his seeking to influence me, or
my seeking to influence him. that is rather
beyond the bounds of reason"
Mr.. voorhees, said the trouble about the
conference bill was not whether the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury would obey the law,
but that every single section of the bill gave
discretion to the Secretary Of the Treasury
his dread about the bill, and one of the
not vote for it. Every
single section of the bill, conferred and was
intended to confer. discretion on the Secre-
tary of the Treasury. by which he could de-
He would not say the conference bill was a
cheat or a fraud, but, under its malign infu-
ence, silver, instead of being the more po-
tent factor in the prosperity Of the people Of
miserable commodity, instead Of being
clothed with the dignity of money. 1t was a
day of shame and degradation when ma
Jority Of II in the Senate was wiped out by
the report OF conference committee, and
when the Senate was asked to recede, and
leave the whole question TO hostile treasu-
ry department.
Mr.. Teller said that as much as he disliked
the adoption of halfway measure, and a
measure that thwarted the will of the people
for free and unlimited coinage Of silver, he
was compelled to support the conference bill
as the only measure which could bring relief
to the people of the United States for the
next few months. Congress would assemble
in December next, and If the bill did not
work well it could be reformed at the next
session. He believed it impossible to secure
the free coinage Of silver at the present ses-
sion; not that he did not believe there was
majority in its favor in the House, but be-
cause, under the system which he could not
speak Of patiently, the voiceof that majority
was Stifled.
Mr.. Stewart said if tie conference bill was
executed in good faith, as the Senate was
bound to assume it would be, 1t would give
great relief. He was confident that it would
be an object lesson that would lead to free
coinage.
Discussion ended at three. The bill
went over without action, the Senate passing
to the memorial exercises in respect to the
memory Of the late Representative SIS. Cox
of New York. Mr.. Hiscock offered a reso-
luton declaring that the Senate received
with profound sorrow the announcement Of
the death of Mr.. Cox and rendering his fam
lily assurance of sympathy in its sad bereaye-
ment. He eulogized Mr.. Cox's charming
character and accomplishments. Eulogies
were delivered by Messrs. Voorhees,. Sher-
man, Vest and Evarts and the resolutions
were adopted. AS further mark of respect
the Senate adjourned until tomorrow.