The herald., 1893-10-13

bon, Mills, Mitchell of Wisconsin, Muir
ply, Platt, Proctor, Quay, Ransom
Sherman, Smith. Squire, voorhees,
Washburn, White Of Louisiana--SS.
Nays-Bate. Berry, Blackburn, Butler
Call. Cameron, Coke, Daniel. George
Hunton, lrby, Martin, Morgan, Pasco
PETER. Veet, Walthail-I7.
So the PETER amendment was laid on
the table. Voorhees, said the PETER
amendment to the Voorhees, bill was the
only one pending. except that offered by
the committee on finance, which is the
Wilson or house bill. There were, how
ever, other amendments proposed by
senators, but not yet offered. These
would be in order when offered. He
said the finance committees amendment
was now before the senate and aeked
that Martin OF Kansas be recognized to
discuss the question.
MARTINS PLEA FOR FREE COINAGE.
1t was 9 O'Clock when Martin began
his plea for free coinage of silver. At
frequent intervals he was interrupted by
demands for roll cells when it became
evident that q quorum was not IN the
chamber. During cne OF the intervals
Stewart read letter warning him to
desist In Constructing legislation" or
ne might be blown up with dynamite.
The reading merely provoked laugh.
Martin kept on with frequent inter-
ruptions for roll call until 4 o'clock,
when be said he would close for the
present with the hope that he might
continue the discussion at some future
time, as there were several important
phases he had not touched upon.
Morgan gave notice of an amendment
TO the repeal bill, prepared by Repre-
sentative Turpie of his state, providing
for the coinage OF q silver doller of 4l21a
grains, which, together with all silver
dollars of like weight and fineness shall
be legal tender except where otherwise
expressly stipulated. The secretary of
the treasury is directed to purchase sil-
yer bullion at the market price, to be
paid for in silver dollars and have it
coined into silver dollars to an equal
amount with the gold dollars coined.
Teller then resumed his speech of last
week, continuing until 6:20, then ex-
cused himself on the plea of an i'm
portant engagement, and with the un-
derstanding that he could resume to-
morrow.
Stewart OF Nevada then resumed the
proceeded steadily, with the exception
of Interruptions for roll calls, being
aided by his clerk. who sat beside him
and frequently furnished the senator
with ammunition in the way of news
paper articles or books.
HELPLEssNEss OF THE SENATE.
The hours dragged wearily along until
3 p. m. when an incident occurred which
demonstrated the helplessness OF the
senate under the present system OF rules.
Voorhees, arose, chatting under the con-
tinued roll calls the silver men were
forcing to hold their tired adverssries
on the rack, and petuiantly demanded
of Frye of Maine. who was in the chair,
to what extent the privilege of calling
for quorum could be abused.
"In the terms of the rules, ;" said Frye,
'there is no limitation, and the chair
knows of no power in the presiding of.
ficer to place limitation"
Voorhees, sank back, and the roll call
brought A unwilling victims into the
chamber. As soon as the announce
ment was made. Quay of Pennsylvania
suggested the absence OF quorum. He
did it, be said, because the decision of
the chair put it absolutely in the power
of one senator to block legislation.
"The senate OF the United States"
said Fry, with q gravity that caused the
galleries to litter, ''is the most digniied
legislative body in the world. And"
he proceeded, ''the trainers of its rules
did mott suppose any senator would
violate the proprieties or dscencies of
the senate" asfrr.r ss
"The theory of the constitution, !" said
Quay. disgustedly, may be IS stated by
the chair. but our recent experienre has
shown the senate is very differently con-
Htituted."
He then withdrew his suggestion, but
Carey OF Wyoming, who evidently de-
sired to show the country exactly how
powerlees the senate was, repeated it.
At 8 :45 Dubois blandly suggested that
only IL senators were present. Forty
six senators appeared before Stewart
proceeded.
HARRIs's AMENDMENT.
Harris OF Tennessee presented an
amendment which, he said, he would
offer in due time. The amendment pro-
Sided:
First-For the coinage OF all the silver
bullion in the treasury, representing
8OVoIuueHt solBulOTaS6, lHtO Iull l6gal
tender at the rate of $4,000, 900 per
month.
Second - When the seigniorage ia
coined, the secretary OF the treasury
shall purchase each month bullion sutfi-
rient to coin (blsnk) dollars, and coin
the bullion into legal tender dollars.
Third-All paper notes or certificates
uf less denomination than $40 shall be
redeemed and not reissued, and national
bank notes of less denomination than
$40 shall be redeemed and national
banks required to substitutes notes of
that denomination.
Fourth--Two and half and five dol
lar gold pieces shall no longer be coined,
and when received at the treasury de-
partment shall be re-coined as eagles
and double eagles.
Fifth--Holders of standard silver
dollars shall be able to exchange such
dollars. on presentation, for notes of the
same legal tender quality as such silver
dollars. which shall be held for their
redemption.
FIRST SIGN OF WEAKENING.
The amendment created much inter-
est. it being assumed that it furnished
the first specific compromise PROPOSE