The record-union., 1891-02-05
A SLIGHT COMM0TlON.
THE SENATE RUFFLED BY SOME
REMARKS BY PLUME.
Free Coinage Advocates Incensed at
Edward Atkinson and Other
Gold Bugs.
Special to the REconD-USros.

- 49,
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The dignity of
the Senate was ruffled to-day by Plumb,
who, in presenting several petitions
against the Conger land bill, remarked
that they were evidently the work of a
central agency, and all emanated from
the same organization. This evoked a
lively discussion, and it was intimated by
more than one Senator that good many
OF these petitions in favor or against
measures pending before Congress pur-
porting to come from farmers We're in fact
the work Of interested parties who were
not ruralites.
Cockrell sent to the clerks desk and
had read the following dispatch from
a paper published in Milwaukee called
The ,Se1pent's Irail:
WASHINGTON, d. G.. Jan. 27.
70 Bfd1lk, 4niteoaukee: 1t is claimed here
that the West is all for the free coinage of
silver. The same action is needed as that
taken on initiation which brought Grants
veto Send day by day protests signed by a
few leading men, addressed to the Coinage
Committee of the House of Representatives.
EDWARD ATKINSON.
Senator Cockrell observed that this Ed
ward Atkinson was the identical man
who, while at the Centennial at Philadel-
phla, noticed piece of silver which had
apparently been melted. He inquired of
the attendant in charge where it came
from, and received reply that it came
from Mexico; that mountain had been
discovered in that country which was
pure silver, and the piece of silver on ex-
hlbitlon had been produced by building
hre against the side of the mountain and
melting it off; that any quantity of silver
winch might be desired could be obtained
It.x- -,rrf,r, Al
and lighting it, which would cause the
silver TO flow down the mountain in large
quantities. In an argument sometime af-
terwards against the use ofsilver as money
Atkinson cited the fact that there was
q mountain of silver in Mexico, and that
the quantity that could be obtained there
from was unlimited, and all that was
necessary TO pe done was to pile wood
against 1t, set il atire and melt it off.
Senator Stewart inquired if this was
the same Atkinson who had been testify
ing before the House Committee on
Weights and Measures, and was informed
that he was the same fellow.
Other Senators said he was the same
one who was sent to Europe by President
Cleveland on money appropriated by the
Government to promote the cause of BIZ
metaliism, and afterwards wrote as
strong an article as he was capable OF in
favor OF mononetalliSm as a result of his
Investigation.
Dawes defended his Massachusetts
friend.
Cockrell replied in a very lively style.
The excitement in the Senate over the
controversy was intense for fully half an
hour.
Cockrell answered Dawes, eulopy on
Atkinson and his contention that the
latter had been slandered by reaffirmino
what he had already stated, and declaring
that every word Of it was substantiated
by record; that the story with regard to
the mountain of silver was taken from
the sworn testimony of Atkinson him
self
Among the silver men tonight there is
intense indignation against Atkinson and
the gold bugs generally for circulating
petitions purporting to emanate from the
people, declaring against the free coinage
ofsilver.
Senator Stewart has tackled on as a
rider" to the pension appropriation bill
an amendment which is, in effect. the
free coinage bill as passed by the Senate.
he believes that it viii be adopted by the
Senate, but of course can't say what sue
cess it viii have in the House. but he
feels pretty sure it will go through there
also.