Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-03-25
NO Vote WAS REACHED
And the Silver Bill Goes Back to Its
Place on the Calendar.
EXCITING SCENES IN THE HOUSE
Vhsn Chairman Bland, ths Father Of the Bill,
Moved % Consider the Previous QlsStOn-A
Very Close Vote on the Motion to Lay
the Bill on the Table.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 24.-Ihe
last legislative day Of the silver debate
opened with crowded galleries and a
full attendance OF members Of the
House. Immediately after the reading
of the journal the period Of general de-
bate was extended three hours by the
announcement Of Mr.. Bland that he
would postpone the motion for the pre-
viOus question until o'clock, in order
20 give opportunity for greater debate.
Representative Williams, Of Illinois,
a Democratic member OF the Committee
on Coinage, opened the debate In favor
Of the bill.
II min favor Of sound currency, but Of
sufficient volume 20 conduct with ease all
the exchanges desired by the people. be
lieve that the volume Of our money should
Increase as tue volume OF exchange ble
products increases. The unit Of value IS a
creature of law and the power or declaring
what shall constitute the unit OF value IN
the United States is vested in Congress
alone. TApplause.l Gentlemen talk about
thirty cents tat in the present silver dollar.
] reply that we are increasing our currency
today with paper dollars that have 100
cents Of fiat III France was able for over
sixty years to maintain the parity between
gold and silver, / say the United States,
with her 65,OOO,OO0 Of people, with
her vast resources, IS aOle 10
restore TO the silver coin that confidence OF
the people which existed before this gov
ernment itself destroyed 10. II we are 10
use gold and silver as money should nave
fixed ratio But that can never oe done
while one is used as money and the other
as a commodity. The only fixed value gold
has is its coin value. Its relative value
changes lust as often as an Over-prOducuOn
or MISREPRESENTATION OF commodities
changes its purchasing value
Mr. Cochran followed. He desired to
state in oDening that he did not believe IN
mono metallic system. he DID not oe-
leve a corporal guard could be found IN
the House in favor OF mono metallic stan
dard in this country. But history had al
ways shown when two metals were IN cir
cuIatiOu at different values gOOc metals
we're lwavs driven out Of circulation by the
bad. He recited the history OF coinage IN
England and Europe 70 show that this had
oeen the case. Strangers always brought
In the cheaper metal exchanged IL for the
iearer metal and carried the gold away TO
foreign climes. He did not believe that
! if we had a silver standard this
country would at once 80 into ruin, but ne
+ aid believe that if we had silver standard
and these two metals, come not at once 10
marty the man who receives his pay IN the
inferior metal for a pre-existing deot will
be swindled by the operation Just IN the
ratio OF the depreciation OF the value or
tne coin which the law COmpelS him 70 re-
reive. The law would be 70 create dis
trust OF the commercial honor OF the ma
ton which pays debts with 0ludgeon.
-Applause.l
What do you say, interrupted Mr.. Bland,
Of the law OF 1878, that from that day 70
49, -. fha anhfnrc and the no0nLe
of this country Of the difference between
Cold and silver. Applause
That is a question which should De an
swered. said Mr. Cochran. But II the gen
tleman cannot provide for an extension OF
NV time l cannot stop 70 answer II.
Laughter But / want TO ask the gentle
man from Missouri whether he calls the
pending bill a free coinage measure.
The gentleman may design IL what ne
chooses. said Mr.. Bland. But | say 1t IS
the free coinage measure for gold and sill
yer that we always had until 1875" lAp-
plause.
With all respect 20 the gentleman from
Missouri. said Mr. Cochran, desire TO say
that this oil does not provide for the COIN
ace of gold and silver as 10 existed prior
10 1873. More than that, / say that II flies
into the face Of the constitutional provis-
ions which are the basis Of platform and
faith OF the Democratic party. 1t provides
for the launching of this country into
banking business and making OF the treas,
urv an influence which can upset trade ana
commerce at the pleasure Of the officials IN
/ charge OF IT, Applause
liz provides for the deposit Of bullion and
the issue Of Treasury notes Wnlch VIII
themselves be debased and degraded below
the value Of green nbacks. Applause
Nr. Cummings, OF New York, spoke
briefly, saying that his constituents
were opposed to the pending bill, and
f be was not one who felt al liberty 70
cross the desires OF his constituents.
He would, therefore, as the representa-
tive OF the people OF his district, east
. his vote against the bill.
Mr.. Dlngley, of Maine, also spoke in
Opposition 70 the bill, saying that It's
effect would be to give to the silver mine
owners OF this nation S2l,OO0,OO0 annu-
ally more than they are now receiving
for their product. In addition, too, our
Imints would be flooded by silver im-
ported from abroad.
Mr.. Butler, OF North Carolina, was in
favor of the bill as being a response to
4 the demands OF the people. Mr.. Loud,
. OF California, spoke against the bill.
Representative Bartine, Of Nevada,
the leader OF the Republican free coin
age men, made an able and comprehen-
sive sDeech in which he reviewed the
I fiscal policy Of this country and Eu-
i rope on the silver question during the
. past century, showed the benefits TO be
derived from free coinage aud COM
. batted the arguments made against lt.
Mr.. Hatch. of Missouri, believed that
this question was a national one, ana there-
fore Of necessity a party one. he was IN
hearty accord with the position taken oy
bis State on this question since 1870.
| Every man who held his seat here by the
0tes Of the Missouri Democracy came
. here pledged by the action Of the last
i Democratic convention 70 support the OIL
for the free and unlimited coinage OF silver.
The gentleman from Massachusetts (Wll-
liams) attempted 70 read him ont OF the
Democratic party Qaughter). The gentle
man. with an egCtism he had never heard
equalled in the house, had declared SUD
. .stantially that only those who agreed with
him on this question were Democrats.
Can YOU refer me to a Democratic plat
form that ever declared for free silveri
asked Mr.. Williams Applause
When YOU want a Democratic platform,
replied Mr., Hatch, you will get it from
Democrats and not from men whose Swad-
dling clothes have not been of for week,
or month, or a year. Laughter.
You want 70 read me out OF the party,
Sald Mr. Williams.
No SIR. said Mr.. Hatch, but you stated
that time was coming when the Demo
cratic party must choose between Demo
cratic New England and the Alliance
Z a.. Iaef II i'm rsaQn ~