Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31

SOulefS favored Dl-nletallSm but would
vote for unconditional repeal. Mr..
Johnson spoke for silver Mr. Picker
criticized President Cleveland as being
under English influence. Lucas and
Hartman spoke for free coinage and
Barthold declared for repeal. Houk
favored unconditional repeal and Heard
spoke against the Wilson bill. Others
continued the debate.
WaShingtn, August 23.- Among the
bills introduced in the senate was one
by Mr.. Pasco of Florida as a substitute
for the minority bill of the finance
committee proposing silver coinage at
20 to L. The substitute proposes a
commission of three citizens of the
United States to ascertain and report
before January, 1894, the intrinsic
relative value of gold and silver, and
that on such report the secretary of
the treasury shall fix and determine
the ratio.
A resolution offered yesterday by Mr.
PETER pOp.) Of Kansas as to the viola
ton of law by national banks in de-
cling to pay depOsitOrs' checks in cur
rency was taken up and motion to
refer it to the committee on finance
made by Mr.. HOar) gave rise to a long
and somewhat excited discussion in
which Senators Voorhees, (dem.) of In
diana, German (dem.) of Maryland and
MCPHERSON (dem.) of New Jersey fav-
Ored the reference. Senators Mander-
son (rep.) of Nebraska, Kyle pop) Of
South Dakota and Hill (dem.) of New
York opposed it, and insisted on the
adoption Of the resolution Mr. Cor
man pointed out that the adoption of
the resolution would be a notice to the
comptroller of the currency, who would
Immediately proceed to execute the law
and thereby necessitate the closing Of
the banks and cause the utter ruin of
the country. He thought it well to
wait a week or ten days before ''pOk-
ing into that. question too much" He
had once heard General Grant say that
the worst subordinate whom mill
tary officer could have was the one who
always obeyed orders.
Mr. Voorhees, (dem.) of Indiana, chair
man of the finance committee, favored
the reference of the resolution, and
promised that it would not be buried in
the committee.
Mr.. Kyle (pop.) Of South Dakota ar
gued against the reference, which he
said would only mean the burying of
the resolution. In the course of his re-
resolution. In the course Of his re-
marks he spoke of the secretary of the
treasury sending information ''gratuit-
ously'' to senator's referring to Mr..
Carlisle's letter as to the cost of a
change of a silver coinage.
This insinua ton was taken UP by Mr.
White (dem) of Louisiana, who asked
Mr.. Kyle whether he knew that the
secretary had not been addressed in
writing on the subject.
Mr. Kyle had no knowledge on the
subject.
Mr. Vest, however, quoted from the
letter to show that it was written after
a conversation with Mr.. VOORHEES,. The
senator explained that as chairman of
the finance committee he had called
upon the Secretary Of the treasury to
ask him as to the feasibility of silver
coinage at the ratio of 20 to 1, and
after converse ton he had requested
him to put his objections in writing.
Mr. Hill favored the immediate pas
sage Of the resolution, and said that
this was not a question of patriotism
but of business and if the banks We're
violating the laws are people had
right to know it, He said he was as
jealous in seeking the legislation neces-
seary to avert calamity as the senator
from Maryland, but he did not see
what harm could come from the pas
sage of a resolution asking for infOrma-
ton to which they were entitled in
order that the- might legislate intel
ligently.
Mr.. Mcpherson was proceeding to
oppose the resolution, the yeas and
nays having been demanded upon it's
passage, when the hour of 2 O'Clock
arrived and Mr. Hoar called up the
national bank bill.
Silver debate was opened at once by
c. W. Stone Tep.) of Pennsylvania,
who spoke fer repeal, and abdjured
members to disregard partisan feeling
in dealing with the subject.
Mr. Dalzell (rep) of Pennsylvania
IA H., of m