Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-03-24
THE SILVER BILL.
II Occupied the Attention OF the
House Yesterday.
SEVERAL SPEECHES PRO and CON.
Mr.. Bland Opened the Debate In Favor Of
the Measure, while Mr.. Williams, of
Massachusetts, Replied - At
tracted Unusual Attention.

mhssaohusetts, Replied - At
tracted Unusual Attention
debate In the Fifty second congress
has been opened In the house OF repre-
sentatives and from every indication 1t
is 10 be a battle of giants Chairman
Bland Of the committee OF coinage,
weights and measures whose name Ia
familiar TO every commercial nation on
the globe as the author OF the bill upon
which the silver battle Ia 10 be
waged, opened the discussion In
behalf Of the free coinage people,
and Representative Williams, Of Massa-
chusetts, an anti.free coinage demo-
crat, made the opening speech In oppo-
sition 10 the bill For three days the
air has been full of rumors OF hlibuster.
ing designs on tho part OF the anti-free
coinage people TO oppose vote on the
bill, but IL such designs exist they are
evidently not TO DO carried into execu-
tion until after the three days debate
and when the hour for final vote ar
riveA.
The galleries were crowded when, at
1920, the free coinage bill was called
up, under the resolution OF the commit
tee on rules, and its reading requested
by Chairman Bland. Even the foreign
diplomats, who are usually the last TO
display an interest In the proceedings
OF congress, were on hand In consider
able numbers, and their presence in
the diplomatic gallery attested that the
silver question Is indeed one Of world
wide interest
Mr.. Watson, Of the peoples party,
wanted TO know something about the
allotment of time to the peoples
party.
you ALL" said Mr.. Bland.
"Yes, but we would like q specific
agreement as TO time" persisted Mr..
Watson. I'VE represent great party
here. We stand as an independent
party"
1--WE are all independent on this
question:" retorted Mr.. Bland. lGreat
laughter
Mr.. Watson finally desisted on the
assurance that the peoples party would
be afforded ample opportunity to be
heard.
This bill" said Mr.. Bland, In OPEN
ing the discussion, proposes TO go
back hundred years in the matter Of
coinage. II was just hundred years
ago that the wise founders OF this gov
eminent adopted what we call the
double standard They provided for
the coinage Of gold and silver without
limit at the minis of the United States;
that silver should be coined the same
as gold and should have the same adj
vantages and the same recognition.
The silver dollar should consist of
37l 400 grains OF silver, precisely the
dollar OF silver that is called for in this
bill This bill provides that gold and
silver shall be coined at the ratio fixed
by the act Of 1887, which was called
the ratio OF 10 to l. or, more exactly,
IL is 10. Os to !. This bill provides that
gold and silver shall DO equal at the
minis IApplausel
"In order that this equality should
be preserved, II is necessary that silver
should be put on the same plane, in re-
gard TO the issue of certificates of the
mint, us gold. To-day the law provides
that gold bullion may be taken TO the
mint Of the United States and certif-
Gates issued TO the owner. or that he
may be paid for 1t In money. 1t is not
required for its coinage"
Mr. Bland said that he had agreed
to, and would propose later, an amend
ment to that portion Of the bill pro-
viding that coin notes shall be issued
as rapidly as bullion is deposited. lie
would move, ut the proper time, to
amend by providing that tho coin notes
shall be issued as rapidly as the minis
found II practicable to coin the bullion.
In arguing for greater volume of
money, Mr.. Bland said that he would
! admit that the re fined system Of credits
which 49,. grown up In the country
does TO certain exJen. -"onomize the
use OF money but in the end the 49,
Of payment OF these obligations always
comes and we must have money. In
1881, when we had passed bill for re-
funding the national debt, the national
banks OF the United States sur
rendered SIS, 900, 900 into the nation
al treasury, for the purpose Of
inducing a veto from the president-a
threat which effected its purpose-and
tnt ItnulN VI Nhin VI NA1h
900, 900 from circulation put interest up
In New York at the rate of one cent n
day. Notes and bonds are not money
they are conveniences The whole
fight over this issue is between the
capitalists, who demand interest, and
the people, who demand money instead
OF interest Great applause
At the conclusion OF Mr.. BANDS
speech Mr., Taylor, Of Illinois, Of the
republican side, objected TO Mr.. Will
liams, the democratic opponent of free
coinage, opening the discussion in OPP
opsition 10 the bill "The majority OF
the minority of the coinage commit.
tee" said he, desire me TO open the
discussion for the only party that is OPP
posed TO this measure
[Derisive laughter from the republi.
can side.
The speaker held that the views of
the minority and the substitute OF the
minority having been presented by Mr..
williams, all presidents gave that gem
tlauAp the uEHilbgN Of Qpeuha thu