The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-19
THE HOUSE.
Animated Debate Between Harter and
Bland on tho Silver RiII

Animated Debate Between Harter and
Bland on the Silver Bill.
Speaker Crisp called the House to order
this morning, but resigned the gaYel to
Richardson Of Tennessee.
The Presidents message relative to the
Choctaw and ChickasaW claims was aid
before the House and read The message
was then ordered printed and laid Oh the
table for the present.
A protest Of the Philadelphia Board Of
Trade against the free-coinage bill was pre-
sented and referred.
The Speaker pro TEN. laid before the
House the response Of the Secretary of the
Treasury TO the House resolution asking for
information as 10 the authority by which the
1 p per cent loan was extended
1t was ordered that when the House ad-
jOurned Friday il shall be to meet Tuesday.
This order was taken 10 enable members to
accept the invitation TO visit Chicago,
Geary of California, from the Committee
on Foreign Affairs. reported a bill fer the
exclusion OF the Chinese. Placed on the
calendar
The house then went into committee of
the whole OIL the Indian appropriation bill.
Under cover Of the general debate on the
bill Bland of Missouri secured consent to
have read from the clerks desk circular
that had been sent by Representative Har-
ter of Ohio to the Grand Army of the Re
public posts concerning the free-cOinage
bill, and which circular Bland declared to
be intimidating and bulldOzng, and the
work Of millionaire gold-bug. Then en-
sued a wOrdy duel between the two cham
plons OF opposite views on the silver Ques-
tiOn. The scene was all the more interest
ing from the fact that these two are both
Democrats and sit side by side in the hall Of
the House.
When Bland was through with his per-
sonal TRADE against Harter there were cries
n thrgnnhnnt ho at,I
Harter arose by BANDS side to reply, as
Yislbly agltated as Bland was himself. The
members Immediately crowded around Har-
ter to hear his reply. The latter began by
declaring that he was not a millionaire and
not national banker, but was as much of
farmer as any member of the House, not
excepting the Chairman of the Agricultural
Committee. Mr.. Harter then went on to
state his views on the silver question until
his allotted time had expired. HaTter ad-
mitted the authorship of the letter and as
serted the passage of the silver bill by the
Democratic House would elect President
Harrison and cost the pensioners a loss of
so cents on every dollar they received.
Bland then gained additional time to re-
ply to some of Harters statements, and
sent to the clerks desk a Congressional
Directory giving Harters biography. writ
ten by himself presumably, and stating
that he was banker and manufacturer aud
Democrat. Bland asserted st0utly that
Harter was no Democrat at all.
Harter then arose to reply, saying that he
was more of Democrat than Bland was,
and said he would not read Bland's record,
which may have been honorable enough,
but he was credibly informed that the gen.
teman either was now or had been inter-
ested in gold or silver mines. As to his be-
ing a gold-bug. Harter declared this to be
false, and said he at the present time had
not piece of gold in his pocket, with the
exception of his watch "a big gold one),
which he exhibited to the House amid
laughter.
At this point Bland arose beside his fell
low-member, and held aloft an old-fash-
iOned silver timepece, huge affair. He
dangled it over his head amid the cheers of
the silver men OF the House and great
laughter from the galleries. At the close
of this interesting wordy duel the two
champions shook hands amid laughter and
cheers, and the House resumed its cOnsid-
Grafton of the Indian appropriation bill
Smith OF Arizona criticized some OF its
features, especially the appropriation for the
Carlisle School. The bill was generally dis
cuSsed until adjournment.