The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-06
CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.
The Elections Bill Laid Aside and the Finan-
cial Measure Taken Up.

AAC GlCCtlUus Dill LdlQ dSlQe ana U1e ElQaQ-
cial Measure Taken Up.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The Senate met
at noon, with the Vice-President in the
chair.
Scores of petitions for and against the
Conger Lard Bill and the Torrey Bankrupt
cy Bill were presented.
The Census Committee reported back,
without amendment, a bill, which was placed
on the calendar.
The Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tons reported back the credentials of Fred
erick l. Dubois as Senator-elect from Idaho
for the term OF six years beginning on the
4th of March next, with a statement that it
is the usage of the Senate TO consider any
question that may arise on the credentials
of Senator at the session held during the
term for which the Senator claims to be
elected, and not before. The committee
therefore recommended that Dubois Gre
dentiaIs be placed on file, and it was so
ordered.
The credentials of Shoup and Mcconnell.
Senators-elect from Idaho, were reported
back, with the recommendation that Nc
CoDnell be sworn in, ShOup having al
ready taken his seat. The oath of Office was
thereupon administered to Mcconnell.
:. Stanford introduced bill to increase the
limit Of the cost of a site for a public build
Ing at San Francisco to $1,000, 600.
Allen introduced bill making an agpro-
priatiOn OF 500, 600 for the construction of a
dry-dock at Port Orchard, Wash, the point
selected by the commission appointed by the
President for that purpose. The bill also
site.
The Senate at 1880 o'clock went into
executive session on motion of Sherman,
who said it was important to have such a
session Immediately.
| When the doors were reopened, the Elec-
tions Bill was taken up, George resuming
the floor to continue his speech, which he
commenced last Wednesday.
Stewart moved to take up the Senate bill
TO provide against the contraction OF cur
rency.
George said he would yield for that motion.
Hoar appeared surprised, and asked
George whether he abandoned the floor.
George said he merely yielded to have the
Hoar tried to say something more, but
debatabe.
Hoar persisted, but German seemed re-
solved to allow no discussion of the subject
and insisted on his poin. of order, that on a
motion TO proceed with the consideration of
Bill, debate is not in order.
Hoar-Do understand that the Senator
from Mississippi considers himself at liberty
to yield to this motion after the arrange
ment between him and me?
George-What was that?
The Presiding Officer [Alr. Harrisl ruled
that the point was well taken.
GEORGE ask unanimous consent to make
inquiry OF the Senator from Massachusetts,
Several Democratic Senators objected.
The Presiding Officer-The Chair will en-
tertain no proposition that amounts to or
tends to debate. The question is: Will the
Senate proceed to the consideration of
the bill to provide against the cont racton of
currency?
4ol-a h.. !,
the motion agreed to. Yeas 81, nays 20.
Jones CT Nevada, Mcconnell. Shoup, Stan
ford, Stewart, Teller, Washburn and VOL
cott voted yea with the Democrats.
The announcement of the result was re-
ceived with inli atons of surprise and dis
| appointment Oh the Republican side OF the
chamber
The Elections Bill having been thus dis
placed and the Financial Bill taken up, the
latter was read by the Clerk, and Stewart
moved to amend it by adding his free coin
age provision. He argued in support of his
amendment, which, he said, y ould remon-
etlze silver and place it back where it had
been before 1t was excluded from the mints
OF the United States and Europe.
Sherman said the sudden and unexpected
change OF scene and introduction of a new
topic of debate should not allow the revo-
lutlonary measure now proposed (Stewart's
amendmenD to pass without the serious and
sober attention of every Senator. The fact
tlstb tHclC Idu Uttu uutApbCItu ueISC-
tion in the Republican party would not re-
lieve the minority of this body from its re-
spoDSlbllIty II 1t supported that measure.
he appealed to the sober seuse of RESPONSE
blllty on the Democratic side of the chamber
against the measure, which he regarded as
revolutionary and dangerous, and the effect
of which, III it should become a law, would
be more destructive than that of any meas
ure proposed for years." If the friends of
silver had only patience and would wait un-
iftan had IL, -.
last session, the policy of the United States
Government and OF the French Government
together, with the use of silver in the South
American States, would lift up silver again
to gold standard, and that would give them
gold value for their silver. Sherman went on
| to say that the silver act of the last session,
suspending the coinage of silver dollars,
tended constantly to advance the
| price Of silver bullion, aud he had
no doubt that if spectators had
| not entered the arena, and If the ordinary
| course of business had been allowed to deal
with the mass of silver and to have 4,500, ,00C
| ounces OF silver purchased monthly the price
| would have been slowly enhanced until, in
a few years, it might have reached gold, but
| speculation entered and an undue advance
| in the price of silver had been forced by q
| combination until 1t had gone up to 12O, ana
then, as more and more silver came upon tne
! market suddenly, the price had fallen 10 ioo,
| showing that the rise and fall had not takMeh Ken
| place in the natural course OF business, put
| as the effect of the struggle between the
bulls and bears. He sympathized with the
| views of the President and of the Secretary
of the Treasury and the general feeling OF
| Republican Senators that the best measure
of relief would be the purchase of the
Il, ,OOO, 600 ounces of silver now on the mar
ket, aud the first section of the bill had
made provision for that The Finance Com
mittee proposed to take off that load from
the silver market ana put it up at its market
| price, and then let the law of the last session
| take its course.
Stewart replied to Sherman's argument
and insisted that it was not the silver men, bu
the gold ring that had tampered with thu
standard in demonetizing silver
Reagan also advocated StewaIts amend
ment, after which the Senate adjourned.