The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-26
IN THE HOUSE.


oHt bHS ot Aoe etib6E OfDAt0.
WasHIsGros CiIy, Aug. 25-The first
unpleasantness over the silver debate in
the house occurred this morning when
Burrows of Michigan asked for an extern
sion Of his time TO ten minutes. Bland of
Missouri objected TO this, but after some
debate the speaker acceded TO the re-
quest.
The speaker appointed q committee to
represent the house at the proceedings of
the hundredth anniversary of the laying
of the corner stone OF the capitol.
Pendleton of Texas and Bowers OF Cali
fornia spoke in favor of free coinage
Dockery of Missouri and Moon OF Michi-
gan for bi-metallism. aud Cobb of Ala
bama opposed unconditional repeal.
Barrows of Michigan advocated repeal and
opposed free coinage. He laid the blame
for the present financial distress at the
door of the Democratic party saying that
financial distrust was the result of the
fears of manufacturers regarding tariff
legislation. He contrasted the condition
of the country as shown in President
Harrison's last message and in President
Cieyeland's message to the extra session.
Marsh of Illinois opposed the Wilson bill
and favored free coinage. Compton of
Maryland spoke for unconditional repeal.
Money of Mississippi spoke against re-
peal. SickIes of New York spoke for ur~
conditional repeal.
The rules of the house were reported by
Catchings. aud without being read were
ordered printed.
Durborow of Illinois favored repeal He
was followed by Springer. who began with
- g. s.l
and set forth the duties which lay on
congress to apply the remedy. He de-
clared The three leading controlling causes
of the present conditions were tariff iegis-
lation since the war. demonstration Of
silver in 1873 and silver purchases under
authority Of the Sherman act. The treas
ury rulings In regard To silver certificates
issued for silver bullion purchased made
them redeemable in gold, as this was the
only way in which the government could
make good its pledge TO maintain the
parity OF gold and silver The fact that
silver bullion is held rs collateral for the
redemption of silver certificates added
nothing 10 their face value. That value
depended on the pledge of maintenance OF
parity with gold and the fact that certifi-
Gates are full legal tender The demone-
tixatlon of silver in 1878 did not destroy
silver as much as the Sherman act.
Sixteen years from its passage silver de-
p.eciated 244 per cent. in three years
since the passage of the Sherman act. il
had fallen 25 per cent. The speaker con-
tinued. stating that the president had
called congress in extra session
for the sole purpose of repeating
the purchasing clause of the Sherman
act. Would congress refuse to
comply with this universal demand Till an
agreement had been made TO do something
else on another matier9 It was just Is
reasonable 20 demand that the tariff bill
be included in the Dill for The repeal OF the
sherman act as the RECOMMENDATION OF sill
YER. demonstration Of silver in this
country at ratio of l6 % 1 would either
bring the nation down to q gold standard
or advance the price Of silver bullion 10 the
coinage value Of the silver dollar. lfthe
former. 1t would result in financial crisis
cornnarei with which the present depres-
sion would be as q xephyr 10 a cyclone.
Hundreds OF millions Of foreign capital in
vested In this country would be with
drawn. our credit destroyed and We would
.iuk 20 the condition Of Mexico, India,
China. We woaId be thrown out Of har-
mony with the great commercial powers.
which buy nearly 500 ooo 60 worth Of our
products. There Is no ground for the
declaration that unless free coinage is In
eorporased in this measure silver would be
deserted alike by congress and the presi-
dent. The presidents record Is not such
as 10 Justify the belief THAI be will prove
false 10 his pledges. The speaker believed
the president aud senate alike wcald join
In keeping their pledges to the people by
the passage Of such 5 measure for the use
OF silver as would justify the expectations
Of the American people.
Taylor Of Indiana spoke for hi-metail-
ism. BreckiaEidge Of Arkansas referred
10 the existing stringency and alarm IN
the country. he would vote for repeal OF
the purchasing clause Of the Sherman act
MeR.e believed parity Of gold and silver
could be maintained By jadieions iegssia-
tioa and attributed the present depression
10 the evils Of the Mckinley tariff Law.
polliver advocated the Wilson ball. Under
the present circumstance be Hozld not
dare vote for any expsrlraent such ~ Mas
proposed in the Bland amendments. bat
he did nes bslssvc the sherman oct the