The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-09-14

session of the house today lasted but
half an hour. Mr.. Paynter, from the
committee on elections, submitted
report permitting Representative
Belkrap of the Fifth Michigan district
to make contest for the seat held by
Richardson and giving him 60 days in
which to take testimony. The reso-
luton was adopted and the house ad.
journed until Monday.
SENATE.
The resolution offered by Senator
Pfeffer (Ksn.) calling for information
as to whether national banks main.
tanned the lawful reserve and whether
they paid checks in currency, was
laid before the senate this morning
and Senator Feffer took the floor in
support CT it. The debate continued
until 2 o'clock when the repeal bill
was laid before the senate. The res
olution therefore went over.
Senator Teller proceeded to address
the senate in opposition to the repeal
of the Sherman act. The first hour of
his speech was devoted to the denun-
citation of the course pursued by the
press in attempting to coerce the sem
ate into passing the lepeal bill. He
said there were no longer great news
papers which directed public senti-
ment; they were now run, as we're
manufacturing industries, to make
money. He personally had no inter-
est in any silver mining property and
should not be deferred from doing his
duty as he saw it by any newspaper
attacks or by any appeals of chambers
of commerce. He denied emphatically
that there was any attempt on the
part of representatives of the silver
states to have the government pur-
chase the output of the mines. He
also denied most positively that the
public had expressed any opinion
upon the subject and in favor of re-
peal. The great metropolitan papers
had spoken. the industrial classes
had not. They are not in favor of re-
peal. Tide industrial interests have
been throttled from an eX.
preston of opinion by threats
that money necessary to carry on bus
mess would be withheld. That
threats had been made with effrontry
that would shame the devil. Heread
from the New York Daily American
today that late last night President
Exactly how, and by whom, and the
exact TERMS" said Senator Teller sar-
eastically, twill be revealed to us in
due time" The article went on to
say that Senator Vest (Dem., Mo- was
the bitterest man toward the admin.
istration that could be found in the
country. Senator Teller said he would
yield to that senator for any statement
he desired to make. Laughter.
Senator Vest said that if any ulti-
matum had come from the president
it was unknown to him, and he under
took to say, as to any of his associates,
however much they might differ with
the president, none of them had ever
come to the degrading conclusion
that he would send an ultimatum to
any senator on matter requiring
senatorial action. AS to what was
stated in the article about his bitter
ness, Senator Vert characterized it as
Internationally false and the pro 1uct
of newspaper Imagination.
Senator Teller said the day OF great
newspapers, edited by great editors,
such as Horace Greedy and Henry j.
Raymond had passed away. News.
paper statements that the people de-
manded the repeal of the Sherman
act were as reliable as the statements
which the senator from Missouri had
Do, nj fol
There was no cause for difficulty de-
clared Teller. 1t was the course of
wisdom for senators to address them
selves to the cause and not to be car
ried off their feet by the public clam
Or, by newspapers, by gibes and
threats, and be compelled to do THAI
which they knew would not bring
people that which they deserved and
which they desired. To show the
fallacy of the opinion that the Sher-
man act was responsible for the
present distress, Senator Teller cited
trade reports to the effect that the
year 1892 was one of the most prosper
GUS in the history of the nation. The
Sherman act had then been on the
statute book two years. The prosper
ity of the country during 1890, 1891
and 1892, and until very recent time,
was an absolute refutstion of the
charge that the act brought disaster
to business enterprise in this country.
The present distress wac not confined
to the United States. 1t had been felt
in Great Britain, Germany and other
countries.
Senator Voorhees, moved executive
session. The motion was agreed to
and after brief executive session the
senate adjourned, Senator Teller hold
ing the floor for Monday.
The only bill of public importance
introduced today was one by Senator
Morgan, (Ala.), to repeal sections
and 2 of the act of June 0, 1879, con-
corning exchange of coins for lawful
money. The purpose of the bill is to
keep silver in circulation and prevent
it's return to the treasury vaults.