Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-19
LIVE WASHINGTON WAITS.
A Hot Time Over the Silver Bnl-One
Democrat Calling Down Another. for
Issuing q Circular to the G. A. R.-Harter
Still Irving to SheIve Silver

Democrat Calling Down Another. for
Issuing q Circular to the G. A. R.-Harter
Still Trying to Shclve Silver.
| WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 18.-Speaker
| Crisp called the House to order this morning,
| but Immediately after the delivery of the
/ prayer resigned the gavel to Mr.. Richard
| son of Tennessee. The Presidents message
relative to the Choctaw and Chickasaw
claims was laid before the House and read
by the clerk. On motion of MI. Holman, OF
Indiana, the message was ordered printed
| and laid on the table for the present.
Mr.. o'Neill, CT Pennsylvania, presented
protest of the Philadelphia Board of Trade
against the free coinage bill. Referred.
The Speaker laid before the House the re-
sponse of the Secretary of the Treasury to
the House resolution asking for Information
as to the authority by which the ~ per cent
loan was extended.
was ordered that when the House adjourn,
Friday, it shall be tomeet on Tuesday this
order is taken so as to enable members to
accept the invitation to visit Chicago).
Mr. Geary, OF California, from the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs reported bill for the
exclusion of the Chinese. House calendar.
The House then went into committee of the
whole, Mr.. Bynum, of Indiana. in the chair,
on the indian appropriation bill.
Bland Calls Down Mike Harter.
During the course of the general debate
Mr.. Bland sent to the clerks desk and had
read circular letter written by Mr. Harter,
of Ohio, to the various Grand Army posts,
in denunciation of the free silver bill, and
advising the members of the posts to urge
their Congressman to vote against it as it
would prove detrimental to the interests OF
the pensioners. This circular Mr.. Bland
characterized as bulldozing document. 1t
was an effort to intimidate members, and
was part of the bulldozing tactics of the
millionaire, the tactics which had always
been carried on in opposition to the meas
ures which would drive free silver to the
country. He denounced it as unfair and un-
becoming the dignity of a member. Mr.. Har-
ter admitted the authorship OF the circular
letter. The gen ntleman from Missouri Mr..
Bland) bad spoken Of it as bull doing cir
cular. To men who were afraid to have the
expression of their opinions made public,
such circular might seem to be bull doz-
ing. but to men who entertained opinions
which they were willing to maintain under
all circumstances, he could not see how the
epithet was applicable The people of the
country who were not familiar with the
legislation that was proposed by Congress
should receive information. The gentleman
from Missouri had referred to him as
millionaire. He was not millionaire, nor
was he the owner of any national bank. He
was more of a farmer than was the gentle
man from Missouri.
Harrison's Election Predicted.
Hewas as much opposed to giving the silver
bullion producers the earnings of the people
as he was to giving them to manufacturers.
If the free coinage bill were passed it would
elect Benjamin Harrison for a second term,
and this would be done by Democratic
House under the leadership of the gentle
man from Missouri. He would like to pay
members of Congress with the seventy-cent
dollar and see how they would like it. If
anything should be made a legal tender it
should be the corn of Kansas and not the
silver of Colorado. Mr.. Bland, in rising to
respond, sent to the clerks desk and had
read Nh. Harter's biography, as published
in the Congressional Directory, in order to
show that his business life had been spent
as banker and manufacturer. 1t
Bland Bias for Paepfb member Of 0nf the House to-
prompt Grand Army men to send kilograms
to their congressman in order to intimidate
them and induce them them to vote against
the free silver bill.
Mr. Harter, who was again granted few
moments, said he believed in good money
for the farmer. For his part he did not care
was % he pad i nor no choice Tbis 81 said he .s
all they have to possess" And with these
words he drew from him pocket large gold
watch. Mr.. Bland, who was seated beside
him. was not to be outdone, and dangled by
its chain his silver watch, offering an ex-
change. But MI. Harter preferred the gold
to the silver timepiece, and as the gentle
New Jersey, interiecting the query: "When
did you get them out?') the House thor
oughly enjoyed the scene and much laugh |
ter was indulged in. Silver was then laid
aside for the nonce, and the consideration of
the Indian bill was resumed, MI. Smith, of
Arizona, criticizing some of its features,
especially the appropriations for the Car
Isle School. The Indian appropriation bill
was generally discussed until adjournment.
Harter's Call for Caucus.
mi H. - g. I. i
demand for caucus to relegate the silver
question to the rear until after the Presi-
dental election. The following petition for
a caucus was to-day circulated in the House
by Representatives Harter, of Ohio; Hoar, of |
and other opponents of free |
coinage: |
ITO Hon. William s. Holman, Chairman.
Dear Strive ask you to call a meeting of !
The Democratic members of this House for |
Thursday evening, February %, at 7:30 4
o'clock. to consider two resolutions which |
will be presented. They are as follows: Re- |
solved, That we are in favor of the contin- |
ned use of both gold and silver as money, |
md that we are .unalterably opposed to any |
legislation which will drive either metal out |
,f general circulation. Resolved, That in
Justice to the Democratic party, and with
iue consideration for the general bust
1ess, industrial and financial interests
If the Democratic members of the
Fifth-second Congress to defer any
lefinite action ON the subject of free com
lge until the question of its wisdom and JUS
ice is distinctly made in the elections of
S92. We ask you further to invite the Dem
,cratic members of the Senate to this con-
erence. "The promoters OF the call express
he fullest confidence in securing the requi-
lite number of signatures to force a caucus.
n reference to the call, Mr.. Harter said to an
Associated Press reporter: "Many of our
Democratic members begin to see what
iOwling farce it is to declaim against the
aSCally class legislation of the McKinley |
Lct, and then legisate to give the same class
If ,fadvantages to silver kings, especially as
he consequences of the silver class legis-
alton are certain to be disastrous to the
elections come on every intelli-
ent voter in the United States would be
aughing at US, and instead of national
lection we should have a kind of Humpty-
he Democratic party in the very Important
haracter of clown. 1t is only natural that
he level-headed Democrats are not enam-
red by such an outlook, and it is easy to see
isgrace upon the party would live to regret
t to the end of their days. What the party
eeds now is an insurance policy. and if We |
own this free silver madness now it will
ad no trouble getting plenty of signatures
o the call for conference in the very short |
lme we devoted to it"
Secretary Foster to the House.
The Secretary of the Treasury has written
letter to the Speaker of the House in re-
ponse to the House resolution calling on
i'm for information whether, at any time |
nce the Az per cent bonds became due |
here has been sufficient funds in the Treas
ry to pay the same; and if SO, by what au-
lority he has assumed to continue any of /;
le same were not all paid at the time said | .
onds were due" The Secretary says that |