The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-07

Debate ON Silver C0inage-The Stuffed
Prophet Changing His Views.


WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. 6.-Buf seven senator's
were present at 10 o'clock when the Senate was
called to order. and resolution was adopted
requesting the sergeant-at-arms 10 invite absent
members to appear mt their own convenience.
After the lapse of three-quarters Of an hour
quorum appeared.
Consideration OF the financial bin was 70
sumed, and Teller addressed the Senate regard
ing it. For weeks, he said, bill had been pend
ing before the Senate, the importance Of which
he did not underrafe, and tho benevolent pllr.
poses OF which he did not question. Yesterday
ton would bring, but with fun consciousness
that he was in the discharge Of his duty q ~
saw 1t, he had voted to lay that bill aside snd
that had been perpetrated for the last eight or
ten months would be renewed, at least
outside OF this chamber, to the effeot that the
friends Of free coinage OF silver had entered into
an alliance with the opponents OF the elcctiCns
bill for its defeat, in return for their votes In
unfounded slander pubIshed than this. Teller
proceeded to criticise shermans speech, which
he declared consisted Of nothing but an asser-
pending bill. The senator from Ohio had de-
clared that the country was on gold basis. The
senator had attempted to put the country on
senator had awonderful faculty Of being on I'll
sides of all financial questions.
Referring to the condition OF American farm.
ers, and showing II to be less prosperous than
that of the farmers OF France, Teller said that
the farmers Of America made themselyee heard
last November. To his regret, and to the regre1
they had been found voting almost unanimously
with the Democratic party. They had No
changed their politics, but they had been dia-
cisl affairs, and for one he did not wonder e n
He had tried last year TO have the seuate llgfen
70 their voice. He knew they wanted frcs coin
Proceeding to discuss the section Of the bill
providing for the purchase Of l200oDo0
hands Of any % responsbility for that Ia He % hsd m -
interest or sympathy with men who spccuiated
in silver. He denied any knowledge Of any sil-
ward In the interest of the silver st ststes % Il che
12,0000O0 ounces of silver were in the hands Of
the miners of Colorado there would mot hare
hands OF political and financial circles il New
York, and that was the reason why there was 70
much anxiety about IL in certain quarterss He
and not from the silver states. They were In
different about 1t, and they were Indifferent ~
TO the price OF silver. They had some interest,
other commodity % which h they .s produced, n bsss
their great interest in the question was that sii
yer should be used as money.
He opposed the fourth section Of the bill,
which provides for the issue of $2000o0n00 ina
per cent. bonds. Ii was, Teller asserted IN "a
Interest of two classes only-the silver specu-
lators of New York and the bankers OF tho
country. II absolutely ignored the people Of tho
United States and their demands for more
money. He alluded 70 the silver legislafion of
last session q mere makeshift, aud said taao
there was but one sure method and that was
the free coinage OF silver.
sherman said he could at some future time rc.
ply to some Of Tellers observations, but he did
not care to do so now.
Morrill, then addressed the Senate. In view
of the late financial panic IN New York, and tbs
rather popular demand for some increase OF tho
currency, he had been willing TO stretch point
in order TO keep step with the senators from
Colorado and Nevada, but the appetite grew BY
what IL fed upon. 1t had not been enough to
assent without whimper to the purchase ck
L, 1000 ounces OF foreign silver supposed 20 BE-
in the hands of speculat0rs, nor TO assent TO
provision OF the issue of treasury notes to the
extent of $50 COO 10 purchase silver buiitons
but il was proposed whenever the market price
37li4 grains Of pure silver that the purchase ok
silver should cease, and that free coinage of
silver should take place; and yet all thH4e
propositions, tipped with silver. promised,
Morrill, said, no iinality, but were TO ssstreteh
ont TO the crack of DOOM" He was, and ever
had been, sincerely snd heartily disposed 70
support any fair and reasonable measure tend.
ing to anyanee the market value OF silver but -
appeared to him that his silver friends were ask.
Ing too much, and he had TO halt before plung.
ing into shoreless and bottomess guit Ore
Of the most potent MISUNDERSTANDING In tho
march OF civilization was an honest and unaltcr-
able standard of money.
Vest argued in favor of the free coinage Of siI.
ver He replied to Morrill,, and In the course of
his remarks alluded 10 the statement that be nn4
received letter from ex-President Cleveland
recautiug some OF his views on the silver queA.
ton, a. not having the slightest i0undalion.
All that he tvest1 had ever said was tnaa ne naa
reason TO believe that Cleveland had, alter ftir-
ther examination, modified, 10 some exfsnf his
opinion in regard 10 the free coinage Oi siIvcrs
As 70 an alleged combination between tne Dcins
ocratic senators aud the silver senatorss no ae-
At the close OF Vests remarks the Senate went
into an executive session and soon aoJourned.