Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-28
A SILVER HEARING.
Discussions Ut the Meeting a the House Com
mitt0e ON Coinage.

OoAA~8Us
Immediately after the coinage COMMITTEES
yas called to order this morning the question
when vote on the bill should be had in com
mittse WIS raised. delegation appointed BY
the Boston mass meeting was present, desiring
| TO be heard.
Mr.. Bland (Mo.) asked unanimous consen,
that vote be taken on the bill next Wcdnes
day. The Boston delegation could be heard
and he would be willing to come here every day
for . week If necessary, but there should then
be o vote.
Mr.. Walker CMass.) objected on the ground
that it Was not proper now to fix time for
closing hearings. This was the first time these
persons had appeared and he moved that they
be heard ut once.
Mr.. Bland moved as an amendment that a
vote be taken next Wednesday. and said that il
these hearings we're to 70 on without limit ae
to a time for voting the session would end
without any opportunity for action in the
House.
IMPORTANT TO HAVE HEARINGS.
Mr.. Walker insisted that it was important "a
have hearings on this subject. He could not
come here every day. Tho members Of the
delegation now, for the first time, fclt tina,
He disclaimed any inteNtion TO smother the
bill, and was interrupted by Mr.. Bland with the
declaration that he might as we'll smother it az
to give unlimited hearings.
Mr.. Walker said there could not be any great
harm even If hearings on the subject were had
for in a few months there would be another
Congress, fresh from the people.
Mr.. Bartine of Nevada called attention to
the fact that the committee last session had Is
sucd standing invitation to all persons to APP
pear and that this delegation had not asked a
hearing. There was no disposition to shut
them out. but there should be some agreement
to bring the measure into the House.
MIR. Walker insisted that the situation was
different last year, as there was not then the
same apprehension of free coinage as at present.
MIR. Williams OF Illinois denied this state
ment and said that the Senate had passed O
free coinage bill last year. just as it had this
year. There was a spirited discussion between
Mr.. Walker and Mr.. Taylor of Illinois, who OPP
posed any limitation Oh hearings, and Messrs.
Bland, Bartine and Williams, who favored Civ
ing the House speedy opportunity for action.
1t ended in the adoption by unanimous con-
sent of motion made by Mr.. Bland that the
committee proceed with the hearing today and
meet again tomorrow.
EFFECT OF THE SILVER BILL.
II. L. Higsinson, banker, of Boston then
took the stand. He said that since the passage
of the silver bill of last session there had been
q great and increasing timidity on the part of
capitalists and small investors. That feeling
had reached an acute point The merchants
were frightened because they feared the effect
OF free coinage. There was q general shrink
age In business. The bankers, moreover. had
seen for months that Europe did not care 70
send money here.
Mr.. Carter wanted to know if this fear on the
Part OF moneyed men did not result from the
startling news that the Barring Brothers were
crippled and that South American affairs were
in a bad state.
Mr.. Higginson said that undoubtedly the