The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-02-19
4 SILVER DEBATE
MeSSrS. Bland and Harter Iniulge in
a Lively Tilt.
HkRTER MAKES 4 PREDICTION.


Arizona. scores the .Nobie He'd
Man.
WAsHISGToN. Feb. I9. The silver
question was forced into the discussion
on the floor Of the house, and sharp
tilt occurred between AIr. Bland and
Mr. Harter on the subject.
While the Indian appropriation bill
was under discussion Mr.. Bland sent to
the clerks desk to have read circular
petition from u. A r. posts protesting
against free coinage, upon the ground
that pensioners would then be paid sew
enty cents ON the dollar. Mr.. Bland
charged that the circular had been sent
ont by Mr.. Harter to be sent back to
members Of the house, under the pre-
tense that it originated with the sol
diers, the purpose being to bulldoze
members and brighten them from sup
porting free coinage. He said Mr.. Har-
ter was q banker, q millionaire, working
In the interests Of the rich to Cypress
the poor.
Mr.. Harter Denies 'ss's'
Mr. Harter made reply that he was
not banker, nor millionaire. that he
did not propose to Cypress the poor. He
was opposed to class legislation in favor
of any one, silver miners among the rest.
He believed in honest money, and be-
heved that the people had right to
know what was going on ~ congress.
He had sent ont the circulars At his own
expense 70 inform the people Of the
danger the country was ID. Perhaps
Mr., Bland did not want them IS be IN
formed He was opposed - giving TO
the producer Of silver bullion the earn
ings and savings Of people BY 3egislation,
and he was equally opposed - giving ii
to the manufacturer. He favored an
abundance Of money Of the right kind,
but the money Mr.. Blatad proposed
would not furnish one dollar more
u2Gney for the circulation ct the country.
It would promptly, visibiy, radically
and dangerously contract the currency
a the country.
Il would REFLECT Harrison.
II free coinage bill was passed it
would be equivalent TO electing
done by the action Of TIE Democrats
under the leadership Of the;silyer ones
ition. OF course the Republicans wanted
the Democrats to pass Afree coinage
bill. It would elect their president. He
believed in consistency, but q free coin
age bill was not consistent. The circu-
lar he issued was TO informgthe pension
ers of the danger Of this silver bill. If
it were passed the pensioner would
lose thirty cents ON every dollar he re-
ceived for his pension. He would rather
pay off the members Of congress in
money worth seventy cents on the dol
lar.
Mr.. Bland then sent to the clerks
desk the congressional directory and had
Mr.. Harterss biography read amidst
great laughter. He was mentioned as
q member Of the Golden clnp, Of Lon
don, the Reform club, of New York, the
Young Mems Democratic club, of Gin
cinnati, and other organizations. Mr..
Bland denied that he was not a Demo-
crat. He had never voted any other
ticket in his life The gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Harter) still holds with John
Sherman on the silver question.
They Got Their Watches Out.
Mr.. Harter-No, sir; John Sherman
holds me Great laughter.) There is
no difference between the gold and
silver dollar, continued Mr.. Harter.
have no gold except this-puuing out
his gold watch and shaking il at Mr..
Bland, who whipped out Il large silver
watch and offered to exchange with
him. loud laughter and applause all
over the house.)
Mr.. Buchanan on. - inquired when
the gentlemen got their watches out?
Continued laughter.) He favored free
dom for every man, woman and child
In the country. Let them say whether
they wanted to take this silver money,
or whether they would let 1t alone.
The ..Noble Red Man. scored.
The regular order was then called for
and debate on the Indian bill proceeded.
Mr.. Smith (Arizona) made vigorous
speech against the Indian. he had per-
sonal knowledge of the Indian. He
knew his habits and spoke within bounds
when he said that the worst Indian was
the educated one. He would favor dis
arming the Indians. They should earn
their bread. Congress had no right to
place these Indians in Arizona. The
harmless Indian was not the one
the government had aided II was
the bloodthirsty, wicked Indian who
had been aided. They plundered, stole
and committed murder, and the best
way to deal with them is to disarm them
and put them to work, even If it took
all the money in the national treasury
Remarks were made by Messrs. Peel
(Ark.). Picker Is. d., Bowers Cal,
and Holman Qnd. under the five min
utes rule for debate, and at 5 o'clock the
house, without action on the bill, i'd
journed.
Mr.. Picker defended the Indian. The
government was responsible for his
present condition, and should amelio-
rate and not obstruct his advancement;
he should be educated. Members said
make him work. How could he work.
How could he work when surrounded
by governmental restrictions What
could he do? The government should
bear the burden of the Indians support
and his education. He commended the
Indian services and the Indian agents,
and said that this administration had
made excellent appointments in this
service. He quoted from the report Of
Indian Agent Mclaughlin, at Standing
Rock agency, showing the good condi-
tion Of affairs there.