Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-07
Teller Makes a Telling Free
Coinage Speech.
He Scores John Sherman for His
Straddling PrOclivities.
Senator Vest Declares That Grover Cleve-
land Has Revised His Views on
the Silver Question.
Associated Press Dispatches.

luton was adopted requesting the SER
geant-at-arms to invite the absent mem
bers to appear at their own convenience.
After lapse of three-quarters OF an
hour, quorum appeared.
The presiding officer laid before the
senate communication from the secre-
tary of the treasury, asking an appropri-
alton of $4,000 for the repair of the
government building at Chicago. Re-
ferred.
Consideration of the financial bill was
resumed. Teller addressed the senate
in regard to it. For weeks, he said,
bill was pending before the senate, the
Importance of which he did not under
rate; the benevolent purpose OF which
he did not question. Yesterday, with
full knowledge of all the criticism his
action would bring; with full con-
sciousness, however, that he was in dis
charge of his duty, as he saw it, he had
voted to Law that bill aside and take up
the present measure.
Teller said he supposed the ISLANDERS
that had been perpetrated Tor the last
eight or ten months would be renewed
lat least outside of this chamber) to the
effect that the friends of free coinage of
silver had entered into an alliance with
the opponents of the elections bill for
its defeat, in return for their votes in
favor of free coinage. There was never
a more unfounded slander published
than this.
TELLER TAKES SHERMAN TO TASK.
Teller proceeded to criticise Sherman's
speech. which he declared consisted of
nothing but an assertion as to what
would follow the passage of the 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 that basis,
but had been unable to do so.
The senator had wonderful facility OF
being Oh all sides of all financial ques-
tiOns.
THE VOICE OF THE FARMER.
Referring to the condition of the
American farmers, and showing it to be
less prosperous than that of the farmers
of France, Teller said the farmers of
America made themselves heard last
November to his regret, and the regret
of the senators on his side of the cham
ber. They had been voting almost unan-
imously with the Democratic party.
Why? They had not changed their pol
itics, but thev had been dissatisfied with
the Republican management OF tinan-
cial affairs, and for one, he did not
wonder at it. He had tried last year to
have the senate listen to their voice.
He knew they wanted the free coinage
of silver.
WHAT THE SILVER MEN WANT.
Proceeding to discuss the section OF
the bill providing for the purchase OF
10000, 900 ounces OF silver, Teller said he
washed his hands of any responsibility
for that. He had no interest or sympa-
thy with men who speculeted in silver.
He denied any knowledge OF the alleged
silver pool. The pending bill was not
brought forward in the interest OF the
silver states. If the 12,000,O 900 ounces OF
silver were in the hands of the miners
of Colorado, there would not have been
any anxiety to buy it up, but it
was in the hands of the political
and financial circles in New York, and
that was the reason why there was so
much anxiety about it in certain quar-
ters. The proposition had come from
New York and not from the silver states.
They were Indifferent about it, and they
were Indifferent to the price OF silver as
a single question. They had some in
terest, of course, in putting up the price
of gold or anv other commodity which
they produced, but their great interest
used as money.
TIE POND SECTION OPPOSED.
lie opposed the fourth section OF the
bill which provides for the issue of 5000,
100000, 2 per cent. bonds. 1t was,
Teller asserted, in the interest OF two
classes only-the silver spectators OF
New York and the bankers OF the coun-
try. 1t absolutely ignored the people OF
the United States and their demands for
more money. He alluded to the silver
act of the last session as a mere make
shift, and said there was but one sure
method, and that was the free coinage
of silver.
Sherman said he would at some future
time reply to some of Teller's observa-
tiOns. but he did not care to do so now.
MORRILL, sHIvERING ON THE BRINK.
Morrill, then addressed the senate. In
view of the late financial panic in New
York, and of the rather popular de-
mand for the increase of the currency,
he had been willing to stretch point
in order to keep step with the senators
from Colorado and Nevada, but the ap-
petite grew by what it fed upon. 1t
had not been enough to assent without
whimper to the purchase of $l2 ,000, ,000
worth of foreign silver supposed to be
in the hands of spectators, nor to as
sent to the provision for the issue OF
treasury notes to the extent of $780,
100000 to purchase silver bullion; but
it was proposed whenever the
market price Of silver bullion
should be dollar or over fol
37lL grains of pure silver that the
purchase OF silver should cease, and
that the free coinage OF silver should
take place; and yet all these PROPOSE
tions tipped with silver promised nc
fnality, but were to "stretch out to the
crack OF DOOM" He was, and ever had
been, sincerely and heartily disposed to
support any fair and reasonable meas
ure tending to advance the market value
of silver, but it appeared to him that
his silver friends were asking too much
and he had to halt before plunging into
a shoreless and bottomless sea. One Of
the most potent instrumentalities ir
the march OF civilization was an honest
and unalterable standard of money.