The Portland daily press., 1892-05-27
SILVER TONED ORATORY.
Mr.. Stewart Finally Gets His Free
Coinage Bill Up,
BUT NO ONE CAN GET AN OPINION
FROM DAVID B. HILL.

Senator Teller Promptly on Hand with a
Yesterday Decided that Uncle Sans
Exhibit at Chicago Should Be Closed
Sundays-President Harrison Pro-
claims Reciprocity with Austria-Hun-
gary-Other Washington Happenings.
WASHINGTON, May 26-The Senate to-
day took up the Morgan silver resolution
and Mr.. Morgan concluded his argument.
Mr.. Sherman replied to Mr.. Morgan.
He defended the finance committee from
the charge of neglect or inaction. While
Mr.. Sherman was speaking, the morning
hour expired, and Mr.. Morgan's amend
ment went over without action.
Mr.. Stewart promptly rose, and re-
marking that he would give the Senators
an opportunity of having test vote on
the question, moved to take up the bill
introduced by him, and reported adverse
ly by the finance committee, to provide
for the free coinage of gold and silver
bullion and for other purposes.
The yeas and nays were called for by
Mr.. Morgan, and the vote resulted: yeas
28, nays 20 Mr.. Hale voted yea. Mr..
Hill was not in the chamber, and no pair
was announced for him. The bill was
then taken up. 1t reads:
From and after the date of the passage of this
be the dollar. The same may be coined Of
4121a grains of standard silver, or 23.S grains
OF standard gold; said coins to be legal tender
for all debts, public and private. Hereafter any
owner of silver or gold bullion may deposit the
same at any mint of the United States to be
formed into standard dollars for his benefit and
without charge, but it shall be lawful to refuse
any deposit of less value than $780, or any bull
hon so base as to be unsuitable for the opera
tionS of the mint.
Section 2-The provisions of Section 8 of the
act to authorize the coinage OF the standard
silver dollar and to restore its legal tender char
acter," which became law February %, 1878,
is hereby made applicable to the coinage in
this act provided for.
Section 3-The certificates provided for in the
second section of this act shall be of denomina-
tions OF not less than one or more than $4,000,
and such certificates shall be redeemable in
coin of standard value. A sufficient sum to
carry out the provisions of this actis hereby
appropriated out of any money in the treasury
not otherwise appropriated.
Section 1.-The certificates provided for in
this act, and all silver and gold certificates al
ready issued shall be receivable for all taxes
and dues to the United States, of every descrip-
OF all dues, public and private.
Section 5-The owners of bullion deposited
for coinage shall have the option to receive coin
or its equivalent in the certificates provided for
in this act, and such bullion shall be subse-
quently coined.
Debate on the bill was opened by Mr..
Stewart, who was followed by Mr.. Tel
Ter. The latter contradicted most posi-
lively the statement quoted by Mr.. Sher-
man to the effect that if silver went up
to $1.29 an ounce the production
of silver in this country would
be quintupled. Such a statement, he
said, was made in the grossest ignorance
or the most malicious mischief. The
United States delegates to the interna-
tional bi-metallic conference would be
met with that statement at the first meet
ing of the conference. He hoped the
Senator when he got the floor would ex-
plain to the listening world that he be-
Heved the statement an exaggeration.
Mr.. Teller also denied Mr.. Sherman's as
sertion that the free coinage of silver
meant single standard-silver-and that
gold would be demonetized by it. He
asserted it was practicable and desirable
that the two metals should circulate side
by side.
No senator took the floor to continue
the debate when MI. Teller concluded.
During the first part of Mr.. Teller
speech, Mr.. Hill came into the chamber
and conversed with Mr.. Stewart. He did
not seem interested in the speech and
left before it ended.