Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-03-23
THE SILVER ISSUE
BANDS Free Coinage Bill
Now Being Debated.
BIG ATTENDANCE THE F1RsTDAY
Mr.. Harter Got Excited During His Speech
and Choksd Mr.. McKaig.

Fire in Ihe Folding Room OF the House
Enlivensd the Evening PPOOeedings-A
Lighted Cigar Thrown Among Some
Papers the Cause.-The Damage Done
Will Amount to Over S1O.OOO-Repra-
sentatives Bowers and HOuk Create q
Little Amusement.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-The debate
on the Bland Free Coinage bill was begun
in the House yesterday morning. There
was large attendance. Mr.. Bland (Mo
opened the debate in favor'of the meas
ure. He was followed by MIR. Williams
(Mass.), Democrat, who represented the
Rnti-silver element of the Democratic
party. Both speeches were loudly ap-
plauded. Among the other speakers
were Harter Ohio, Rayner (Md.), Taylor
Qll.), Hopkins QIl), all anti-silver; Epes
Val Crawford N. c., for the bill, and
De Forest Comm. against it.
Mr.. Harter caused a sensation during
his speech. He is a man Of strong con-
victions and robust, vigorous speaker,
who hits straight out from the shoulder
and who doesn't mince his words. He
was speaking Of the silver barons who
come here and take you by the neck and
say it is gold and not silver which is
depressing the price of the white metal.
Mr.. Harter was standing in the center
aisle on the Democratic side. Mr.. Nc
kaig, with his back to him sat directly
in front. AS Mr.. Harter used the words,
''they take you by the neck, " he stretched
forth his hand and clasping Mr.. McKaig
tightly around the neck he shook the
/ Maryland Representative so vehemeutly
that the House, which appreciated the
5s1tuat1on, broke into screams of merri-
ment
1t was not unit. then that Mr.. Harter
Irealized- his contretemps. When Mr..
i McKaig recovered from his confusion he
twas furious with anger. He said some
thing in an undertOne that was not au.
1dible to the galleries, and Harter. who
sis one of the most amicable and agree
liable men in public life, Immediately
Stopped in his remarks and began to
apologize. Mr.. McKaig at first was so
angry that he refused to accept the apol-
I ogy, but he finally became Modified and
soon Joined as heartily in the laughter as
those who surrounded him.
When the House convened last evening
the hall was filed with smoke from q
fire in the folding room, caused by a
lighted cigar among the documents. This
is the third fire this session. The fire
was extinguished at 8 o'clock. Several
hundred books were destroyed and a few
engravings. The damage will probably
reach $40, 900. - - - -
ODonnell GMichigan), the first speaker
of the evening, opposed the Free Coinage
bill. Weadock, Democrat (Michigan),
favored the bill, and said that interna-
tional monetary conferences had had
their day on this question. Bowers, Re-
publican California; favored the bill,
and said he was willing to go with the
Democrats when they were right.
He created laugh by offering $11 in
greenbacks for SO gold piece co any
believer in the silver standard. Mr.
Houk (Michigan) turned the laugh on
Mr.. Bowers by accepting the tender, and
said that the page who made the trans
fer could keep the odd dollar. VIM
Democrat, Georgia), also favored the
measure.
Covert Dem, N. W spoke against the
bill. Lewis Dem, Miss and Post rep,
ILL., favored it. At 1890 the House ad-
jOurned