The herald., 1893-09-02
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL,
Senator Vance Argues for
Free Coinage.
VOORHEES, Springs a Surprise
on the Senate.
An Attempt to Force His Finance
Bill to a Vote.
The House Still Considering the New
DvrI-
The House Still Considering the New
Rules-The Presidents Return
to ashington-Treasury
etatements.

WASHINGTON. Sept. l. THE senate TO.
day took up the house bill to repeal the
silver-purchase clauses of the Sherman
act, with the Voorhees, bill as substi-
tute.
Vance of North Carolina, one of the
minority members of the finance COM
mittee. spoke in opposition to the bill
and in favor of free coinage. A large
part of his speech was devoted to show
ing the Inconsistencies of the friends of
repeal of both parties in view of the BIZ
metallic declarations of both national
platforms. He quoted from those, be-
ginning in an ironical strain with the
way in which the pledges are being full
filled. He said they seem to think the
only way to maintain parity between
gold and silver is to first strike silver
death blow. Unconditional repeal would
be death blow, for it was we'll known
that Cleveland would veto any silver
coinage bill. The effect on the condi-
tion of mankind following tho destruc-
tion of half the currency, aggregating
81, 800, 900, 900, it would be impossible to
accurately describe. He gave the his-
tory of the demonetization of silver, and
declared every government which de-
monetized the white metal did so when
it was at q premium. When coinage
was stopped in India. an effort to have
it stopped in the United States be-
gan, aided by the influence of the
money power of all the world
and our government. If coinage were
stopped here, silver would cease to live
throughout the commercial nations of
the earth. The fall in price would be
greater than that following the stoppage
of coinage in India. Repeal without
substitute meant the end of silver
money for this generation, unless q
revolution of the people should restore
it as after the fraudulent demonetiza-
tion OF 1873. Let no man doubt that
the proposed repeal was the result of a
conspiracy among the money holders of
the world. He declared the Sherman
law did not drive out gold, else why
did gold return with it still in force.
The Democratic platform, he said, de-
nounced the Sherman act as "a COW.
ardly makeshift," yet this bill for it's
repeal, striking silver harder blow,
was more cowardly and more of make
shift. He closed with declaration for
bu0 lIeo COluago Oh EllV6rs
During VaDce's remarks Cockrell of
Missouri interiected statement of the
production and coinage of gold and sill
yer from 1873 to 1892, which showed q
production of gold amounting to 80, 210,-
$2,787. .7l4,679. OF silver the production
was $2.400. .960,5 ,533, and the coinage
81. 1925, 500, 1851.
AT the conclusion OF Vance's speech
Voorhees, eprung surprise by asking
for q vote on the substitute reported by
the finance committee to the house re.
peal bill. He said no further
debate was proposed at this time,
although notices had been given
of speeches intended next week. He
desired every senator who in good faith
wished to occupy the time of the senate
to have an opportunity, but could not
take the responsibility of being party
to more delay, end when vacancy in
talk had been reached, he wanted it
filed by vote.
A discussion followed as to the parlia.
mentary procedure to be observed in
consideration of the subject, and Voor.
hees asked that the finance committee
bill be substituted for the house bill.
Cockrell objected. Until there was an
opportunity for full discussion, he pre-
ferred the house bill. providing that the
repeal shall not impair the legal tender
quality of the standard silver dollars
heretofore coined, to the senate substi-
tute.
Allison of Iowa said the repeal clause
in no sense affected or impaired the
value of the silver dollars coined, but by
inserting the house proviso it would
leave.a question of doubt as to whether
that portion of the Sherman law stands
which required the secretary of the
treasury to coin bullion into dollars.
The discussion continued and at 3 rs
was interrupted by motion for an ex-
ecutive session, after which the senate
adjourned.
In the morning hour Teller submitted
q resolution similar to the one recently
adopted as to the month of July for q
statement regarding the silver purchases,
etc., in August and it was agreed to.
White of California gave notice that
on the 18th inst. he would present reso
lutions touching the death of the late
Senator Stanford.