Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-03
PRESIDENT-ELECT'O REPRESENTATIVES
What They Are Alleged to Have
Said Commented On.
THE TON BILL
Finally Referred to the House
Committee on Agriculture.
SENATE.

the hour of meeting for the remainder Of the
present session.
Mr.. Mitchell (Oreg. reported from the judi
ciary committee bill to pay the awards of the
Court Of Claims in French spoliation cases,
and it was placed on the calendar. He said that
the bill provided for the same awards that were
Incorporated by the Senate in the deficiency
bill last session, but which failed in conference
| House bill to ratify and confirm an agree
| ment with the Kickapoo Indians in Oklahoma
! territory and appropriating S64, $50 for that
| purpose taken from the calendar and
passed with amendments) and q conference
| was asked.
House bill to protect settlement rights when
| two or more pc rsons settle upon the same sub
| division of agricultural lands before survey
| thereof was taken from the calendar and passed,
with an amendment, and conference asked.
MR.. TELLER ON SILVER.
| Mr.. Teller, in presenting a couple of petit
tions on the silver question, addressed the Sem
ate on the subject. He would have hesitated to
occupy the time of the Senate now had not the
newspapers announced with some appearance of
| authority that there was to be an extra session,
so that if any appropriation bill should failx
this session the remedy could soon be applied.
They had been told in the public press that
gentleman closely connected with the
incoming administration had announced
as certain thing that if the
Sherman bill were not repealed at this session
an extra session would be called He (Nlr
Teller had recently received great number of
letters from various sections of the country,
and there seemed to be good deal of appre-
hension in the minds of the people that the
Sherman act might be repealed, and that the
area OF contraction would then be entered on
He thought it no more than right, considering
the discussions of the question in the public
press, and considering the Misrepresentation
that had been made in the public press as to the
probability or possibility of the repeal of the
Sherman act at this session. to express his opin-
ion on the subject. In his judgment there was
n decided majority of the Senate opposed at
this time to the repeal of the Sherman act:
and there decided majority against is
repeal on both sides Of the chamber. 1t was
not and never had been political question,
and In his own opinion 1t would not be politi-
cal question at this session Of Congress or at
| the next. He did not believe that the incom-
ing administration (whatever might be its in
clination) could make distinctive features of
its policy. He quoted from an article in yes-
terdays New York Herald to the effect that %
| distinguished gentleman, closely allied to the
incoming administration. had stated authorita-
lively that the incoming President had de-
termined that the Sherman act should be re-
pealed at this session.
AN INDECENT PUBLICATION.
In the course Of his experience and observa-
ton he had never seen anything more indecent
in any publication il it should be traced any,
where near to the President-elect He did not
intend to assert that the Presdent-elect was in
the slightest degree responsible for the Herald
article, and he had only cited itfor the purpose of
| showing the indecent methods employed bv the
newspaper press and by the boards of trade in
| certain sections Of the country to bring about
a repeal of the Sherman act
Mr.. Teller also quoted from statements made
by Mr.. Henry Willard. who, he said, was per-
Al. -.
law to the effect that foreigners would not buy
American securities long rs that law was
in force. He denied that assertion and said
that American securities were the gilt-edge
securities of the world. Anything to the con-
trary could be said only by such men as Mr.
Willard and subordinate official of the Treas-
ury Department, usually denominated director
of the mint.
THE EXPLOITATION OF GOLD.
Mr.. Teller then diverged into a discussion of
the expectation of gold and of the relative use
of gold and silver. The s416,0 600 of silver
money were doing. he said. more efficient serv-
ice than the 5000 100000 of gold. 1t had never
been discredited among the people, despite the
efforts of the government itself. of chambers of
commerce, of national banks and of men high
in public position, to cast discredit upon II.
t9lr. Teller said in conclusion: l want to say
to the business interests OF the country that at
thls session OF congress IL Ii not among the
possibilities that the Sherman act will be re-
pealed. They may have that assurance and
govern themselves accordingly in their enter
prises. / cannot speak for the mex; Congress- 1
know nothing of what will occur then.
We shall have new men. neT questions. new
influences. Bat. il r1y judgment, tee act of
1880 will not be repealed until so.rsshing bet
ter Is offered. or. a. eaJt, if it be repealed we
will live 20 -sgret i. 1t is not in nv judg-
ment. possible to repeal it without
bringing disaster on the country. 1t would be
practical contraction CT 50. 900. coo year. and
l do not believe thar tSe American people are
ready to permit such contraction Of the cur
rency. There must be expansion and growth
OF currency to core md with the
growth Of the population Of the United States.
and there is no other way by which it can take
place except through the use Of silver, unless
We go to fiat paper money, and that, in my
judgment, will never be done.
MR.. VEST MAKES REPLY
Mr.. Vest ono. said that he had no disposition
to silver. but he felt compelled as a democratic
Senator to notice some of his remarks. He
(Mr. Vest) had no more right to
speak for the President-elect than any other
democrat in the country, nor was he author
lied to do 80. But it seemed to him that Mr..
Cleveland was entitled to fair treatment. He
had never agreed with Mr. Cleveland in respect
slant suspected any indirection on his part
in relation to the oliver question any other
public question. The Senator from Colorado
had read newsDs per statements and interviews
to tho effecs ttat Mr.. Cleveland proposed to
use his patronage n order to coerce members
Of Congress into his views as to the
repeal of the Sherman act. He (dr. Vest)
submitted that the character Of no public
man was safe if he was to be held RESPONSE
BILE for the .utterances of newspapers 1t
was cafe to assume that Cif he were)
both character and position would be
sacrificed in very short time. All of them
had had experience in that direction and knew
how utterly unsafe it was to give the smallest
amount of credit to the statement made
in the newspapers in reference to their
opinions and actions. In his judgment no
one was authorized to say what Mr.. Cleveland
would do. There was nothing in Mr.. Cleve-
lands career-ss his most malignant enemies
! had to concede-which made him amen
able to the charge of using indirect
me asures or of taking any but the
Mr.. Sherman said that whenever he was assured
that there was a majority Of the Senate in
favor OF the bill reported by him to suspend
, the purchase of silver bullion, he would move
| to take it up.
Mr.. Gray inquired what better evidence there
ccS;d be OF the disposition Of the Senate than a
I, -op call.
Mr.. Sherman repeated virtually what he had
already said, and added that it was the right