The record-union., 1892-03-25


Against Free Coinage Except Cam
inetti and Bowers-Loud's Speech
In Opposition to the BiIl-Remarls
by Hatch Creates Sensation.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, March 24.-To-day has
been one of the most interesting of the
legislative days of this session of Con-
gress. The fate of BANDS silver bill has
been trembling III the balance. Demo-
Gratis here appreciate the fact that the
crisis in its affairs is at hand, and party
leaders are apparently very much dis
tresSed and anXiously awaiting results.
Brice, German, Hill and others were on
hand early, awaiting each scrap of news
from the House of Representatives. The
Democratic party lies in sore extremity,
and the issue is awaited anXiouSly by
thousands. This episode suggests pop
ular story wherein the population of
Red Dog" sat outside Of Cherokee
SAILS" cabin, in which an interesting
event was looked for and awaited the
issue, expectantly making wagers as to
whether the principal would live through
it all, and side bets as to the complexion
of the coming stranger.
The question OF great moment at this
hour is what will be the issue Of to-day's
labor, and Will the Democratic party live
through it?
Representative Loud distinguished
himself again today by another short
talk III favor of honest money. Messrs.
Mckenna, Cutting, Loud and Geary have
voted constantly against the moves of
BANDS people, but Representatives Bow
ers and Caminetti have supported every
proposition made by the free coinage
men. There has been tie vote on two
motions to table Bands bill, and Can't
netti or Bowers could have decided the
contest either time by voting with their
colleagues from California, but they
stubbornly refused to do so. Mr.. Bow
ers has been paired with an antl-tree
coinage Representative.
The galleries were again packed when
the silver debate was resumed, and there
was very full attendance on tile part of
the members.
Bland announced that be would post
pone the motion for the previous ques-
ton till O'Clock, TO give an opportunity
for greater debate.
Williams OF Illinois, a Democratic
member of the Coinage Committee,
opened the debate in favor of the bill.
Williams elected applause when he ex-
claimed: 1.-The unit OF value is d creature
of the law, and the power of declaring
what shall constitute the unit Of value in
the United States is vested in Congress
alone" He criticised the Administra-
ton for working against the bill, and pre-
dicted that if the measure passed the
House the Administration would exert
all its mighty influence to force gold to a
premium, creating trepidation, to pre-
vent like action by the Senate.
In sharp passage alarms which now
ensued between Wike of Illinois and
Williams, the latter maintained that the
silver coin in Europe is already at par
with gold, and that the United States is
capabable of taking care Of the bullion
yet uncolned.
Cochran OF New York, the well-known
Tammany. leader, opened for the oppO-
sition to the bill, which he vigorously
attacked. He nevertheless complimented
Chairman BANDS report, and declared
he had no patience with Mr.. Harter, who
had said: Il credit him (Bland) with
gross ignorance as the only excuse for his
attitude" Cochran said that while dis
putting the conclusions of Mr.. Bland he
desired also to dispute the statement of
Mr.. Harter. If there had been ignor-
ance displayed upon the floor it had not
been by the gentleman from Missouri.
The thrust at Harter was greeted by APP
plause, and Cochran continued his speech
at length.
Cochran was followed by Cummings
of New York, who said his constituents
were opposed to the bill, and he would
therefore vote against it.
Dingley of Maine also spoke in opposi-
ton to the bill saying that its effect
would be to give 70 the silver mine own
ers of this Nation twenty zone million an
nually more than they are now receiving
for their product. In addition to this
our minis would be flooded by silver inn
ported from abroad.
Hatch of Missouri made a strong party
speech in favor of the bill, announcing
that he was in favor of making the bill a
matter of party fealty. He told Will
Jams of Massachusetts that he did not
know the first principles of Democracy,
and when Williams asked him if he was
reading him out of the party Hatch re-
torted that Williams said the time was
coming when the Democratic party
would have to choose between the Dem
ocrats OF New York and the Alliance Of
the South. He (Hatch) was willing to
make the choice if necessary and would
swap the barefooted statesman from Kan
sas Simpson for the gentleman from
Massachusetts, and if another swap were
wanted he would take in the errinp
young Democrat from Georgia (Watsonj
and throw over another Massachusetts
Mugwump. The speech created almost a
sensation.
Loud of California said the first and
most potent reason why he should vote
against the bill was that in the platform
OF the Republican party there was en-
grated plank against the free coinage
OF silver; furthermore in the laws of his
State, IN Obligations OF almost every
country and in all notes and contracts
were provisions making them payable in
gold. To assume that the people of Cali
fornia were in favor of tree coinage OF
silver, would be to assert that they were
a living lie. He remembered when. as
mechanic, he had t2 take his Sl00
month in silver aud exchange It at q loss
of S. before paying the butcher and baker.
Bartine of Nevada, leader OF the Repub-
lican free coinage men, made All able and
comprehensive speech, reviewing the fis-
cal policy of this country and Europe on
the silver question during the past CEN
tury, and combating the arguments
against Tree silver. He did not pretend
to believe that everything abnormal in
the social and industrial conditions Of the
day had resulted from silver demonetiZa-
ton. Neither did he claim that its re-
monetization would convert the Ameri-
can continent into terrestrial paradise
and I'LL the land with ethiopian bliss, but
he did believe its general result would be
all in the line of beneficence: that it
would encourage enterprise and lead 10 q
more even distribution of wealth.
Butler Of Iowa closed the debate by
saying that when the Act of 1873 had
brought the farmers into condition OF
suffering, the gentleman from Illinois
Taylor. a millionaire, arose and with q
comical substitute added insult TO in
jury. and Knocked the farmers in their
suffering.
Bland then demanded the previous