Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-06-09
The Silver Bill Disposed OF by The
House.

House.
Before the beginning Of the debate on
the Silver bill in the House, today, at the
Iowa, in charge Of the bill. modified his
substitute 90 as to provide that the treasury
notes issued in pursuance of the bill shall
be legal tender in the payment OF all
debts, public and private, striking
out the following words: "Ex,
cept where otherwise expressly stipulated
in the contract" Psyson said that he real
lied that the substitute would in substance
pass this body, and it would be done in
| obedience to public sentiment, which he
believed to be universal in favor of larger
use Of silver ~ q money metal and of a
further increase Of the currency of the
country. He always believed that the doc
trine Of the Republican party was that ev-
cry piece of paper which should be issued
by the general government having momen-
tary functions at all, should be legal tender
for all debts, private as well Is public.
This was not provided for in the treasury
bill. The feature of the bullion redemp-
ton was An argument that was conclusive
that the bill and the substitute were treat
ing silver bullion as comodity and moth
ing else. On this principle the same thing
could be done with as great pf0priety with
copper. with tin aud with nickle a. was
proposed to be done with silver. If the
government used silver at all, 1t should be
used as money metal. and not As comodi-
ty. lie was opposed to the substitute be-
because of that; but he expected to give it
his support in this contingency. He hoped
that an opportunity would be given to strike
out the bullion redemption feature, but.
even if it were not possible to get it out of
the bill, he would give the bill lis support.
He was confidently advised that il this
bill should pass in its present form the mat
ter to which he had alluded would be cor
rected elsewhere. This bill was bound to
be considered at the other end of the Capi-
tol it would be amended there, and the
House would have an opportunity to vote
on the amendments.
Bynum of Indiana Suppose it is not
amended?
Payson-From assurances | have from
another place, have no more doubt of that
than that am standing here. Payson then
proceeded to criticize the silver policy of
the Hayes. Arthur. Cleveland and Harrison
administrations. He referred to the denun-
citation of the Cleveland administration by
the republican party, and said that he had
endorsed that denunciation all over Illinois.
Williams Of Illinois inquired whether the
present Law, if fairly executed. was not
better than the pending bill.
Payson replied that. if the discretion
vested in the secretary of the treasury had
been fairly used for the past sig months,
let alone for seven or eight years, no such
legislation A. this would be under discussion
today. [Applause. The treasury officials
were the friends of gold and gold alone.
No miser ever went clutching for gold with
greater avarice and greed than every secre-
tary of the treasury.
Multchler of Pennsylvania was opposed
to both propositions pending before the
House.
Hatch of Missouri reiterated and indorsed
everything the gentleman from Illinois had
said relative to the hostile attitude of the
treasury department toward silver, and de-
nOuBced the method in which the measure
had been brought before the House. Be-
fore tie sun sank today behind the western
front of the Capitol, more representatives
would have betrayed their constituents and
violated their consciences than ever before.
Applause. If gentlemen on the other
side, who on the floor declared themselves
in favor of free and unlimited coinage,
would throw off the caucus shackles, be-
fore the sun went down today silver would
be restored to a perfect equality with gold.
The House had yesterday the grand climax
in the exhibition of Massachusetts on the
floor. Laughter. Today the IIou.e
was witnessing the triumph of the republic
can machine, which was running as it never
run before, with man in control of it with
more brain, more nerve and more reckless
ness than any man who had ever had con-
troll of it before. Applause and laughter.
Gentlemen on the other side had got up,
and, with apolosetic lips, said that they
were in favor Of free coinage, but my
Christian friends" this was not the time to
vote for it," Laughter II the silver
men on the other side joined with those on
the democratic side, they would roll up
such majority for the demands of the
people on the silver question, that even the
man the republicans had put in the White
House wonld not dare to disapprove it.
Applause.
Tracy of New York. said that since the
opening of the 5lst Congress it had been a
constant surprise to him that the admins
tratiop, knowing the widely different views
held by people in the United States had
not avalled of the power under existing law
to increase the purchase of silver bullion
instead Of pressing q new measure upon
Congress.
Connor of Illinois. said there were not
20 men on the floor who d d,red TO vote for
free coinage if they believed the bill would
become law. Why? Because they knew
that people in New York-Isaac and Abra-
h.r .c1 h..x A.
lion of the world ard, rushing with it to
the mints. take out Sl.26 in money for bull
lion costing them ST.
The debate was continued by Perkins
and Funston of Kansas, Conpell of Ne
braaka. Alien of Missii ippi, Grosvenor aad
Mckinley Of Ohio anf many others, in
GLIDING Dingley of Maine. The latter said
that the pending proposition was all the
legislation that could be had in the pending
situation. 1t would secure larger volume
of currency. and it would draw the two
metals nearer together 50 as ultmstely to
give free coinage. IL wss said that the
bill made silver q commodity. 1t did moth
ing Of the kind. 1t made silver money It
remonetized 1t to an extent never before
kno IN in this county
| The voting on the bill began At 3 O'Clock.
Bland of Missouri moved to recommit,
with instructions to report q free coinage
bill. This was defeated-Yeas, I19; nays,
| 40.
The vote vas taken Immediately upon
the adoption of the substitute bill. and it
was passed-Yeas, 1856: nays. Ilo. On
the motion to commit, Is Republicans
voted yea with the Democrats. But one
D=mocrst-Wilson of Montana-voted with
the Republicans for the passage Of the
bill.