Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-10
That is What the Senate is Giving
the People,
ACCORDING TO SENATOR MCPHERSON.
The President Ably Defended by
New Jerseys Senator.
MR.. STEWART ON LECTURES.


from Richmond. Ind. for the exclusion
ports Of prize fights.
Mr.. Squire Wash.) gave notice Of an
amendment to the silver purchase bill. 1t
provides for the coinage of silver deposited
by the owner thereof. the product of United
States mints or refineries-the owner to re-
ceive coin to the amount Of the commercial
value of the bullion on the day of deposit.
The difference between such commercial
value and the coin value is to be retained
by the treasury as seigniorage. The amount
deposited for coinage is not to exceed ST.
0oO. 900 per month.
The number Of standard silver dollars
coined under this provision is not to ex-
ceed 500. 900. They are to be full legal
tender No certificates are to be issuei to
represent these silver dollars. The pur-
CHASING clause Of the Sherman act is to be
repealed. For the present the bonds to be
issued to the extent of $500, ,O00, C0O are re-
deemable after five years. and the proceeds
are to be used for the redemption Of United
States notes. National banks are to be
entitled to circulation to the par value Of
the bonds deposited by them.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Allen (Neb.)
last Saturday calling for informa ton as to
the borrowing of money by the government
since 1885 was laid before the Senate and
briefly explained by Mr.. Allen ani agreed
to.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr.
Dolph (Ore) calling on the State Depart
ment for Information as to whether the
Chinese government has requested an ex-
tension Of the time for the registration of
Chinese labcrers, under the Geary bill, was
laid before the Senate. and Mr.. Dolph set
out to make a speech upon 1t, but was cut
on by suggestion from Mr.. Sherman (Ohio)
that the resolution referred to executive
business and had to be considered in private
session. Mr.. Dolph attempted to argue that
th0 Ia
but he was again cut of by the ruling that
even a suggestion that a matter before the
Senate involved executive business required
the presiding officer to order the galleries
to be cleared and the doors closed. That
ruling did not at all suit Mr.. Dolph's plan.
which was to have his speech made in open
session and reported but he had to yield
The galleries were accordingly cleared and
the doors closed.
silver Again.
The doors were reopened at II 80 and
legislative business was proceeded with.
The silver purchase repeal bill was taken
up and Mr.. Mcpherson IN. J.) addressed
the Senate in support Of 1t. He denied
the assertion made by the opponents Of the
bill that the Sherman law had nothing
to do with the business troubles of the
country, and. on the contrary. declared
by two-thirds Of the people Of the United
States who had any opinion on the SUBJ
Ject-that the Sherman law was the main
cause, the true cause. in fact the only Wis
ible cause operating to produce the result.
After a resume Of the Bland-Allison act
and the Sherman act and OF the disastrous
COZ sequences which followed such legisla-
tion, Mr.. Mcpherson continued:
"Win Congress heed the voice Of the peo-
pie and stop the influx Of silver. or will 1t
not? This is the plain. simple question. 1t
needs no debate here. Congress was called
together in extraordinary session on the 7th
day Of August, and yet this deliberative
body speaks not yes or no. while an
outraged, indignant and suffering people
stand pleading at the doors. Debate, debate
goes on. Labor. which a short time ago
was happy and contented, having steady
employment and abundant reward, is today
tramping and seeking bread from door to
door. These poor, defenseless people are
the victims Of the vicious laws which this
Senate enacted, and which, with a stroke OF
the pen. 1t can blot from the statute books
forever. How long must trade languish,
workshops remain closed and laborers
starve, while the work of obstruction goes
on In this Senate to the only measure which
can restore confidence? Words! words!!
Nothing but words. is the answer we give
to the fierce demand of the people for
speedy repeal"
After a careful review Of all the amend
ments thus far presented, find that nothing
but surrender is offered to the friends of
repeal. Any increase Of the national debt,
except to meet temporary and pressing
emergency, is contrary to democratic princi-
pies and professions. Any proposition,
under existing conditions, which involves
the continued issue Of silver currency pay
able in gold by the government, even though
said issue be reduced in quantity, only
| serves to perpetuate the vicious system
which we hope to abandon.
Defending the President.
I'VE have listened here and elsewhere to
some severe criticisms upon the President;
not SO much. say his critics, for what he
did say in his late message to Congress, but
for some things left unsaid. which by the
terms of the platform 1t was his bounden
duty to say. BY the terms of the platform
1t was made the duty Of the President and
a democratic Congress to repeal the Sher-
man act In obedience to this Injunction,
the President had exhausted all his con-
stitutional power in calling Congress togeth-
er in extraordinary session and in recon-
mending its prompt repeal. In what re-
spect, then, has the President proved rec
| reant, either by act of omission or commits
sion, to any trust reposed in him by the
party or people? The President is entitled
to all commendation, not only for summon
ing Congress here, but for what he said to
Congress. If the injection Of q flood of
silver into our circulation was the primary
cause of the panic, 1t is not easy to discover
| how the President could recommend, as
seemed to be expected he would, a greater
| flood Of silver (or free silver, as q remedy
for the existing evil.
Repeal Promptly.
AFTER the repeal of the Sherman law the
| reformation Of the laws relating to coinage
1