The Delta independent., 1893-09-13
The GREAT DEBATE In CONGRESS-
SILVER SENATORS STAND FIRM
B.ateA fu the House the Cause OF Silver
Id now Transferred to the
Senate
Friday, September 1st.

Teller IGolorado) submitted u res olution
calling upon the secretary Of the treasury
for a statement giving the aggregate amount
OF silver bullion purchased under the act Of
July IA, 1886, during the month of August,
together with the cost. the amount, price and
date of each purchase and the name Of the
vender; also the amount of silver bullion Of
fered for sale during the month, date of each
offer and the name Of the person making
such oilers
At the suggestion OF Mr.. Turpie the words
land have pad for were added, and In this
form the resolution was agreed to. The effect
of this amendment is to show the money in
which the bullion was paid for.
On motion of Mr.. Voorhees, the House bill
for the repeal Of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman act Mas taken up prior TO It's be-
coming the Regular business AT . clock, and
Mr.. Vance took the floor thereon and deliv-
cred a telling speech in favor of free coinage.
He was listened ts with the closest attention.
Mr. Voorhees, naw sprung II surprised by ask
ing for a vote on the substitute reported by
the finance committee to the House repeal
bill No further dehEie was proposed at the
time. Mr. VOORHEES, said that while be did
not wish to shut oil debate he could moi be 4
party to mere delay. Messrs. Teller and
Cockrell objected strongly. Mr.. Coekrell
read the provisions of the two bills, compar-
Ing the phraseology OF the House bill, that
repeal shall noe impair the legal tender
quality of the standard silver dollars hereto
fore coined, with that in the Senate suhstL
tuLe, declaring it TO be the policy OF the
country to continue the use of god and silver
as standard money. The difference between
the two provisions was as great between
the darkness of midnight and the light Of the
MONDAY sun. He declared that the provision
of the House bill was preferable.
Mr. Allison observed the repeal clause In
no sense affected or impaired the value of the
silver dollar coined, but by inserting the
House proviso 1t would leave n question of
doubt whether that portion Of the Sherman
law stands which requires the secretary of
the treasury to coin this bullion into dollars
After further discussion the matter was laid
over.
HoUsE.-The whole day was occupied IN
discussing aud voting upon the new rules.
The Republicans, led by Mr.. Reed, sought to
defeat the rules that would prevent flibuster-
ing, but they were outvotcd.
Saturday. September Fad.
SEsATE-Mr. voorhees, gave notice that on
Monday he would ask the Senate to agree to
meet at IL o'clock hereafter instead Of II, In
order that the repeal bill might be considered
more quickly Mr.. Cockrell chairman OF the
Committee on Appropriations, reported from
that committee and IL was passed with amend
ments the House bill TO provide for certain urg-
ent deficiencies in the appropriations OF the
government for the fiscal year. The repeal
bill was laid aside informally and Mr.. Dolph
addressed the Senate In advocacy of the bill
introduced by him appropriating 5000 TO
enable the secretary OF the treasury 10 enforce
the Chinese exclusion act. He was followed
by Mr.. Keller, who upheld the constitution
ality Of the exclusion law Several other
senators participated in the debate and at its
conclusion the bill went to the committee on
foreign affairs.
HousE-Thc debate on the rules was con-
tihued. A minority OF the Democrats headed
by McMill!n offered the adoption of rules cal
culated to expedite business.
Monday, September 4th.
SESATE.-Idr. Allen moved an adjourn
ment out of respect to Labor Day, but Mr..
Voorhees, objected, and the motion wY de-
feated by 4 vote Jf Al tos. A resolution was
adopted making September is holiday In
Washington 1t will be the centennial an.
niversary Of the laying Of the cornerstone Of
the capitol. Mr.. Allen offered a resolution
calling upon the Secretary Of the Treasury
for information to whether he had re-
deemed any silver certificates In silver, and II
he had coined all the bullion in the treasury,
as empowered by law. Mr.. Kyle offered n
free-conage amendment to the repeal bill |
which was referred to the Finance Commit |
tee The Senate was addressed by Mr.. Cul- |
lom In favor OF the repeal bill. In favoring |
the repeal Of the Sherman law he said: ~
81 am not a monometalllst. do not believe
In the disuse of either of the two metals |
named In the constitution, but the close COM
mercial relations which mark the advance /
Of civilization makes international concur- |
renee IN the free and unlimited use of both |
metals as money more desirable, II not ALSO
lutely necessary. favor the free use of siI. |
yer, which comes from International coinage
upon a common basis or agreed ratio Gold
has no money function Inherent in itself, any
more than has sllyer.n
Mr.. Coke OF Texas then spoke In favor OF
free coinage. After an executive session Mr..
Jones moved an R1 1journmcnt, but 1t was de-
feated by vote of 10 to 81. At $50 the SEN
ate resumed its Legislative session, and Mr..
Petfer's amendment to the repeal bill, pro-
viding for free coinage, being the pending
question, was read preparatory to Mr.. PETER
addressing the Senate. He had not finished
his speech when the Senate adjourned.
Tuesday, September 9th.
sENATE.-Among bills introduced was one
by Mr. PETER to appropriate $2S 900, 600 for
a national scientific college. Mr.. Morgan,
offered concurrent resolution creating n
Joint select committee on finance, consisting
of seven senators and seven representatives.
This committee shall examine Into the fnan-
cial and monetary condition OF the govern
ment and the people OF the United States, with
view Of revising the currency laws and re-
none tization Of silver, Mr.. Aliens resolution
nsking the secretary OF the treasury II he
had redeemed any silver certificates In silver
was adopted.
Al the conclusion Of the morning business
Mr.. PETER took the floor and concluded the
remarks commenced by him yesterday In sup
port of his free coinage amendment to the re-
peal bill.
He was followed by Mr.. Stewart who recited
the events that led up to decentralization.
Mr.. Sherman, he said, had introduced bill
prepared by clique In the treasury depart
ment, headed by John Jay Knox, professedlv
to revise and codfy the mint laws, but which
in reality omitted the standard dollar from
the list OF coins. After two days debate the
bill, which had been reported by Mr.. Sherman
from the finance committee, was passed, Mr.
Sherman, he said voting In the negative. Mr.
Sherman very well knew, said Mr.. Stewart,
before his name was reached in the calling Of
the roll, that the bill would pass by an over
wheimng majority. The history Of the bill
in the house OF representatives was the same
After 1t was developed that the bill demonctlz-
ed silver Mr.. Hooper OF Massachusetts,, in
charge of the bill, affected TO abandon It,
Some days afterwards, in the absence OF Re-
preventative Potter OF New York, who had
discovered the fact that the bill demonetized
silver, Mr.. Hooper presented n substitute for
the bill, which he falsely claimed contained
none of the Objectionable features of the orig