Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-25
A Resolution introduced in the Sen
ate by Mr.. Vest.
TIRE ANTICIPATION BILL DEBATE.
Mr.. George Makes an Extended
Speech on the Measure.
PENSION OFFICE INQUIRY.
The Investigating Committees
Report Discussed in the House.
THE SENATE.

Immediately after the reading Of the journal
Mr.. Vest introduced joint resolution provid-
ing ths. for the purpose of securing and main
tanning the uniform value of silver as q money
metal throughout the world the President OF
the United States shall institute and carry on
negotiations with the governments of Great
Britain, France and Germany looking to the es-
adjustment, by international agreement be-
tween those governments and the United
States Of a recognized ratio of fifteen and one
half or'sixteen ounces Of fine silver to one
ounce Of fine gold, and as an induce
ment for such agreement the President
IL authorized to propose reciprocal
arrangements to those governments whereby
in consideration of any two of them agreeing
to either Of those ratios the United States viii
make a reduction of not exceeding 25 per cent
on the import duties now imposed on the fol-
lowing articles, products of those countries
and imported into the United States: Manufac-
lures of wool; earthen, stone and china ware;
hardware guns and cutlery: glass and manu-
factures Of; manufactures Of silk and cotton.
And the President il requested TO make full
report TO Congress of his action in the matter,
with all details thereof and the result.
The resolution was. at Mr.. Vests request,
laid on the table.
THE ASII-oPTIoN BILL.
The anti-option bill was then taken up and
Mr.. George addressed the Senate. He said he
should confne himself almost exclusively to the
effect Of future dealings on the cotton indus
try, which was the main industry Of the state
which he, IN part, represented. This year cot
ton had reached the lowest point Of prices
reached by it in many years. It was, he said,
the system of futures and options that had pro-
duced this effect. The principal cotton mart of
the Cnited States was the cotton exchange of New
Orleans. That institution dealt solely in futures
and options. and was composed Of about 800
mar Or mo nr
only other cotton mart of the United States was
the New York cotton exchange No man who
was engaged either in producing cotton or in
consuming cotton-no man who was at either
end of the line production or consumption
WAS q member Of either Of these exchanges. So
that If the bill became law it would not be
much of a restriction on the natural right of
American citizens to deal in futures.
1t would only interfere with 800 gentlemen in
New Orleans and about the same number, he
supposed. in New York-men who never raised
cotton nor handled cotton IN any way. In the
year 1891 these two cotton exchanges had sold
IS, 600. 900 bales Of cotton while the actual crop
was little less than 100000. He had the fig
ures of daily sales in the New York cotton ex-
change. which showed. he said, that one day in
February. 1891. 1880 bales of mythical"
phantom or wind, was sold to the one bale
Of real cotton. Was that. he asked, real, gen.
uine commerce. or was 1t gaming?
GAMBLING CONTRACTS.
Having described the operation of futures
and 'options," he asked Senators whether they
would say that those were not gambling con-
tracts. The men who took part in them might
be. he said. privileged by their wealth, their
responsibility, their church and Sunday school
connections TO do gambling business without
being called gamblers, and SO he should not
call them gamblers
THE HOUSE.
The warmest day of the summer found a
goodly number Of members present when the
House was called to order at IL o'clock. There
was still no quorum present when that hour ar
rived. but during the PRAYER and the reading Of
the journal stragglers strolled in Ono one could
hurry in the torrid air. and a few more seats
were occupied when the business of the day was
entered upon Col Ike Hill, deputy sergeant
alarms, states, however, that there are 212
members in the city.
Mr.. Brookshire lind. from the committee
on post offices and post roads, reported back.
adversely, q memorial asking for an investiga-
tion relative to pneumatic postal service in
Philadelphia Laid on the table.
THE PENSION OFFICE CASE.
Mr.. Wheeler mich called up the special
order the report of the committee investigating
the workings of the pension Office.
MI Enloe Tenn suggested that the debate
be limited TO two hours on a side.
Mr.. Henderson (nl made the counter sug-
gestion that the discussion be permitted to pro-
coed without limitation for the present
Mr.. Enloe threw out the hint that the repub-
hcans could fhbuster after the discussion as
well as at the present time.
Mr.. Henderson repudiated the intimation
carried by this hint, but said that this Case had
been pressed with undue haste from the be-
ginning
Mr. LITTLE Oh THE MAJORITY REPORT.
So no Limitation was agreed upon and Mr.
Little (N.Y.) took the floor in advocacy of the
majority resolutions, which give it as the judg-
ment of the House that Commissioner Raum
should be removed from Office by the President.
Mr. LIND DEFENDS THE COMMISSIONER.
MIR. Lind (Minn- in opposing the resolution
referred TO the connection Of Mr.. Cooper
Qnd- with the investigation. He did not now,
never had and never would charge the gentle
man with doing anything that was improper
But the gentleman had permitted himself to do,
things which he now regretted that he had
done He had permitted himself TO do things
that no member of Congress should permit
himself to do-not corruptly, but through good
nature. In view Of the circumstances the COM
missioner had acted and acted justly.
Mr.. Enloe Tenn }. one of the authors OF the
investigating resolution, spoke In iaSor of the
report He said he had been referred TO as a
prosecutor He would always be prosecutor
when II WIS necessary to prosecute criminals
II was not position he desired to occupy but
Il was not one that he was ashamed TO occupy.