Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-02-06
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. G
SENATE.

had been concluded Mr. Hill presented
petition of the business men O.
Rochester, n. Y, irrespective of party
in favor of the repeal of the Sherman
act, and said that in connection with
the presentation of the petition he de,
sired to submit to the consideration Of
the Senate some remarks on what was
known as the silver question.
The Vice President asked whether
there was any objection.
Mr.. Sherman-''I suggest to the Sen
ator from New York to allow the ordi-
nary formal business to be concluded
first. hat would probably be better AMI
would be more in accordance with the
usage of the Senate"
Mr.. Hill-"There is no objection 10
that"
The routine business was resumed
and concluded.
Mr. Hill again took the floor; but
before beginning his remarks Mr.. Hoar
inquired as to the status of the bill to
repeal the Sherman act. Mr.. Hill said
he had stated last week that during the
morning hour to-day he would make a
motion to take up the bill and he
contemplated making such a motion
1t was true, however, that he had been
informed that other Senators desired
to speak on the subject, and he thought
he ought not to submit speech and
then to press the question to a vote
He should make the motion which he
had contemplated, but he should ask
to have the bill laid on the table for a
few days and then made a special or
der, so that other Senators who desired
to speak might have an opportunity to
do so.
Mr.. Hoar remarked that making the
bill q special order would not give the
measure any special advantage.
Mr.. Allison did not want to interfere
with the regular proceedings, but he
hoped that the Senator from New York
would make such motion, at the con-
clusion of his speech, as would give
other Senators an opportunity of briefly
expressing their views on the import
ant question.
Mr.. Frye-"What becomes of the
rule? The rule is that any motion
made in the morning hour to proceed
to the consideration of a bill shall be
acted on without debate"
The Vice President-"The Senator
from New York has not made any mo-
ton"
Mr. Hill took the floor and began his
speech. He said that when the Sher
man act was passed, two and hal
years ago, he had been exceedingly
shocked and alarmed; and that four
months before his election to the Sen
ate he had gone to the city of New
York and there publicly taken issue
against the principle of the policy en-
bodied in that law, endeavoring to
arouse public sentiment that would de-
mand its repeal. So that instead of 81
lence and apaty there was now in New
York an entire unanimity in favor Of
the repeal of the Sherman act. Mr..
Hill quoted from the platforms of the
two great national parties, both o.
which demanded the use of both gold
and silver as standard money. 1t was
his duty to the city and State of New
York to ask in their behalf the imme-
date repeal of the Sherman law, which
repeal would bring season of financial
calm instead of widespread fear of a
monetary panic. 1t was his higher
duty to advance and substantiate one
controlling reason for the repeal of the
Sherman act-and that was that Its re-
peal was necessary, safe and (for the
day. sufficient step toward free bi-me-
tallic coinage. Four years ago the
Treasury had S21S, 100000 in gold; new
that sum had dwindled to 100000, 000.
In closing his speech, Mr.. Hill said
that in compliance with the numerous
requests made to him he desired to
have the bill made a special order for
some day that might suit the convent
ence of the Senate.
Mr.. Hoar-'Let the bill be taken up
first.n
Mr.. Vest gave notice of an amend
ment providing that silver dollars 412l
grains in weight shall be minted in the
several minis of the United States as
provided in the act of 1887; and it au-
thorizes and directs the Secretary of
the Treasury to purchase, from time to
time, silver bullion (not less than two
nor more than four million ounces a
month) and cause it to be coined
monthly as fast as purchased.
After good deal of confusion and
parliamentary wrangling the question
was brought to direct vote on Mr..
Hills motion to take up the bill to re-
peal the Sherman act; and the motion
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