Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-03-24
THE SILVER BILL.
It Occupied the Attention of tho
House Yesterday.
SEVERAL SPEECHES PRO AND con.
mfr. bland opened the Debate In Favor OF
the Measure, While Mr. Williams. Of
Massachusetts, Replied = At
tracted Unusual Attention.

Massachusetts, Replied = At
tracted Unusual Attention.
WASHINGTON, March % The silver
debate in the Fifty second congress
has been opened in the house OF repre-
sentatfves and from every Indication II
is 70 be battle Of giants Chairman
Bland Of the committee of coinage,
weights and measures, whose name is
familiar TO every commercial nation on
the globe as the author OF the bill upon
which the silver battle is TO be
waged, opened The discussion in
behalf OF the free coinage people,
and Representative Williams, OF Massa-
chusetts, an anti.free coinage demo-
crat. made the opening speech in oppo-
sition to the bill For three days the
air has been full of rumors OF filibuster-
ing designs on the part OF the anti-free
coinage people TO oppose vote on the
bill but II such designs oxist they are
evidently not to be carried into execu-
tion until after the three days debate
and when the hour for a final vote ar
rives.
The galleries were crowded when, at
1920, the free coinage bill was called
up, under the resolution OF the commit
tee on rules, and its reading requested
by Chairman Bland. Even the foreign
diplomats, who are usually the last 10
display an interest In the proceedings
OF congress, were on hant in consider
able numbers, and their presence in
tie diplomatic gallery attes'ed that the
silver question is indeed one OF world
wide interest
MIR Watson, of the peoples party,
wanted 10 know something about the
allotment OF time to the peoples
party.
"We win cndeavor TO accommodate
You all. said Mr., Bland.
"Yes, but we would like a specific
agreement as 10 time" persisted Mr..
Watson. 1--WE represent great party
here We stand as an independent
party"
I'VE are all independent on this
question. retorted Mr. Il and. IGreat
laughter.
Mr. Watson finally desisted on the
assurance that the peoples party would
be afforded ample opportunity to be
heard.
This bill, !" said Mr.. Bland, in open
ing the discussion, proposes to go
back hundred years in the mntter Of
coinage. 1t was just a hundred years
ago that the wise founders of this gov
ernment adopted what we call tn
1..,l1a ssanda~I THAI ,,rnv;da1 To-.
the coinage of god and silver without
limit at the mints of the United States;
that silver should be coined the same
as gold and should have the same ad-
vantages and the same recognition.
The silver dollar should consist of
37l 4-100 grains Of silver. precisely tho
dollar of silver that Is called for in this
blu This bill provides that gold and
silver shall bs coined at the ratio fixed
by the act OF 1887, which was called !
the ratio OF 10 to L or, more exactly, |
IL is IS 9s to /. This bill provides that /
gold I'd silver shall be equal at the
m.nts. lApplausel !.
"ln order that this equality should
be preserved, it is necessary that silver |
should be put oa the same plane, in re-
gard to the issue of certificates of the /
mint MS gold. To-day the law provides |
that gold bullion may be taken to the |
mint of the United States ani ceriif-
Gates issued to tho owner. or that he |
may be paid for il in money. II is not
for its coinage"
Mr. Bland said that he had agreed /
TO, and would propose later. an amend
ment to that portion Of the bill pro-
viding that coin notes shall be issued |
as rapidly as bulli n is deposited. lie |
would move, at the proper time, 10 |
amend by providing that the coin notes
shall be issued as rapidly as the mints
found it practicable to coin the bullion.
In arguing for a greater volume of
money, Mr.. Bland said that he would
admit that the efined system Of credits
which has grown up in the country
docs to a certain extent economize the
use OF money, but in the end the day
Of payment Of these Obligations always
comes and we must have money. In
1851, when we had passed bill for re-
funding the national debt, the national
banks OF the United States sur
rendered SIS, o0O. 600 into the nation
Al treasury, for the purpose OF
n veto from the president-a
threat which effected its purpose-and
he result Of this witRdrawal of SIS,
100, 600 from circulatio put interest up
n New York at the rate of one cent a
lay. Notes ani bonds are not money
they are convenienceS The whole
SIGHT over this issue is between the
capitalists, who demand interest and
he pee pie, who demand money instead
IF interest [Great applause
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Bland's
speech Mr. Taylor, Of Illinois, of the
republican side, objected t, Mr. Will
iams the democratic opponent of free
coinage, opening the discussion in OPP
,psition TO the bill THE majority OF
.he minority of the coinage commit
tee" said he, desire me TO open the
discussion for the only party tat is OPP
posed TO this measure
lDer's've laughter from the republi-