The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-08
HANsBRoUGH ON POLITICS.
He Thinks Congress VIII Pass Free
Coinage BilI Which Will Fail.

He Thinks Congress VIII Pass u Free
Coinage BilI Which Will Fail.
WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. Especial. i
The PosT-INTELLIGENCER correspondent
had an interesting interview with Senator
Hansbrough, of North Dakota, today. He
was asked this question:
What, in your opinion, will be the nature OF
the financial legislation by the present congress?
While was in Chicago last winter an inter-
viewer belonging to one of the journals of that
city asked me the same question. Ny reply to
him was that, in my opinion, the Fifty-second
congress would pass an unlimited free coinage
silver bill: that the president would, of course,
veto it, and that it would fail to pass over his
veto in the Senate. also said in that interview
that the president might recommend in a mes
sage the enactment OF law providing for the
free coinage of the American product OF silver,
and that the Senate would probably pass such
measure, but that 1t would be defeated in the
House for political reasons. / have no reason
for changing my views as then expressed.
/ still believe that tie House will pass q
free coinage bill that it will come to
the Senate to go through that body by very
small majority, and that it will be vetoed by the
president, and upon its return will fail 10 re-
ceive the necessary two-thirds vote TO pass IL
over the veto in the Senate, but that il may re-
ceive the necessary two-thirds in the House, Tor
political reasons, which must be apparent 10 all.
The probability, however, that the president
will send a message to congress recommending
a law providing for the free coinage OF the
American product of silver is not now 80 great,
in my opinion, as it was six or eight months
ago, because it is quite evident that such law
would not place silver on parity with gold,
but would leave it, as it is now, commercial
commodity. Silver cannot be placed upon q
parity with gold, in my humble judgment, until
ali the great nations agree upon q financial
policy that will affect silver alike in
every part of the world. In that
event the Republican party would be unani-
nous for free coinage. My reason now
for believing that no such message as / have
suggested will be sent to congress this session,
chase of four and one-half million ounces per
month and the issuance thereon of silver
certificates, good the world over for their face
value, comes much nearer being a wiser piece
OF financial legislation than anything that has
yet been suggested by either gold bugs or silver
bugs, and think that the conservative masses
of the country are inclined toward the accept
ance OF this law as being the best thing that
can be done under present conditions and ex-
listing circumstances. To repeal the present
law would depreciate the price of silver, while
ii is doubtful If the enactment of measure
providing for the free coinage of the American
product would do more than temporarily en-
nance the price.
What do you think of the proposition to put
more silver into the silver dollar, SO as to COM
pensate for the low price of bullion?
do not remember of having heard that any
one who knows anything about financial ques-
lions has advanced such a proposition. l once
heard a leading free silver advocate, in mo-
ment of excitement, say that he believed silver
dollar ought 10 contain a dollar worth ofsilver,
even though it weighed a ton. Itwould be very
Il 1inNvt
into a silver dollar today an amount of bullion
that would be worth a dollar at tomorrow's
prices II bullion should decline, or that would
not be worth more than a dollar If bullion
should increase in price IL we should go into
such financial tomfoolery as this, to be consist
ent we must carry the process through all our
coins, and put five cents worth OF metal In a
nickel fve-cent piece, which now, In reality,
contains less than cent and a quarters worth
of nickel and silver. We must also carry the
process to our copper pennies, which, at the
present price OF copper, are worth about one
mill, and If we put a cents worth of commercial
copper in them they will be almost the size of a
silver half dollar
What will be the drift of tariff legislation, in
your opinion, by this congress?
Well, IL seems 20 me that the outcome of the
speakership fight, in which Mr. Mills. the ae.
eepted apostle OF so-called tariff REFORM" was
not only defeated for the high position which he
sought, but was also set aside with reference ia
membership on the committee on WAYS and
means, would indicate that the Democracy ha.
concluded that the Mckinley bill is a pretty
good measure after all, and that they will not
present a substitute for it, 1t is stated that Mr.
Springer, chairman OF the ways ana means com.
mittee, will present several bills to provide fol-
the repeal of certain schedules of the present
tariff law. If this is the policy of the Democ
racy, every schedule OF the present tariff law
which they do not repeal VIII stand Endorsed BY
them. In abandoning the so-caled "tarif re
form policy, which hitherto has been supposed
10 be the Likelihood Of the Democratic party Mr.
Springer will make the tariff question purely !
local issue. Instead of the broad free policy
heretofore advocated by his party, and by mean,
OF which Grover Cleveland was made president
hr. Springer intends to pursue guerrilla policy
| You know that the duty on wool i,
OF greater benefit 70 the farmers of Ohio Illinois
Iowa, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana. Wash
ington and Oregon, than it is to the manufact
urers OF the New England states, who are now
buying the raw wool produced by Western WOO
raisers. All the states that l have mentionet
have been in the habit OF giving a Republican
! majority; there is no reason why they will no
! give Republican majority next year There
lore the repeal OF the wool schedule in orlr tarff
! law would not politically affect the Democrat,
! party in those states, for they have nothfnp >,
Is vi
! enough 10 observe that it may affect ana eyer
! change the politics o. a few selfish mauufsct
/ CTers IN New England who are reaching ont r.
| Tree raw material, while they stilI hone IN "a
tain the home market for their manuIacture,
! products, although willing to sacrifice tho wei
| fare OF our home producers OF raw wool There
| fore Mr.. Springer will introduce hin 10 ranea
the duty on wool, ami the Demoersti,
| party, being so thoroughly committed n
| free trade in the past, viii 60 with him
| Nr. Springer will also introduce bill 10 renaa
! the duty on iron and steel because tba state,
! thar are interested most largely in r,r,aneing
/ the raw article a.e Republican states while ,
fe" manufacturers Of iron and steel products II
New England. who have become Strangely in
! iHtuated with the idea that they must hav
lice raw material, would possibly approve snel
| measure. And so on with the several sehe,i
| ules OF the present law, the repeal of whic,
| wound not effect the vote in the Dernoera,f
states. Nj Springer is just the man to make Al
tS'li legislation IN the House sQbseryiert no
! 70 'he commercial interests of the country a.
"ho'e' cut 10 political interests and the desrsr
ate necessities OF the Democratic marty in m
next campSga OF course the hills ~ mi
Character which Mr.. Springer win f,+roa,,I
and which viii pass the House. wonId a. :.
wei KNOWS be defeated in the senate, ~ !
any OF them should pass that BODY tb..v ~
receive veto at the White Bonse
AAsA the tn plSte liar and iack
AaiIs iaislneC would grid his loins ard O., -
among the people 10 tell how the nensso -
! hoaSe tried 10 "Fciorm the iarIH. but th. -.
Republicans in the Senate would not -,
| them 10 DO So This Is the deceptive s,sris rps
| MI Springer VIII engage in with his ,.ssnT,
t2rid bills. lie Democratic Insnsgsns4 j., -