Middletown transcript., 1893-08-26
wAsuiNeros LETTER.

=
ad apted by Secretary Hoke Smith
under Mr.. Cleveland's orders. SEN
atur Gallinger has introduced resolu-
tion directing the COMMITTEES on Pen
sions TO investigate and report to the
Senate, whether the wholesale suspen-
sion of pensioners, which has been
! going on for some time-at an average
of something more than 160 day, is in
accordance with law. and a resolution
/ of similar nature will be introduced in
/ the House as soon as the House is in
condition to allow iisordinary business
to proceed in the ordinary channels,
which will be after the silver 4nesl ien
has been disposed of, rules adopted and
committees appointed. As soon as the
Senate adopts Mr.. Gallinger's resolu-
iiun Secretary Hoke Smith and the
Commissioner Of Pensions will both be
summoned to testify before the Senate
Pension committee as to recent pro-
ceeding
1t is regarded as significant that the
bill reported BY the minority Of the
Senate Finance committee as sub.
s.i,ute for the Voorhees, bill, for the
unconditional repeal of the purchasing
clause of the Sherman silver law, pro-
Ivides for free coinage at ratio of 20
to l. This indicates that the silver
Senators have given up the idea of
insisting upon the free coinage of
silver at the resent ratio. Speeches
will from time to time be made on
both Of these bills, but it is not prob
able that the Senate will take them up
to the exclusion of other business un-
til after the House has voted upon the
silver question, which will be early
lin next week.
A more senseless opposition has
seldom been seen than that which cer-
tain Democrats and Popnlists are max
ing in The Senate to the bill which pro-
poses to allow national banks to issue
currency to the full amount of bonds
they have on deposit to secure circula-
ti0n. At three different sessions of
Congress the same identical bill has
pa sed thetSenate without opposition,
and if it we're now law it would add
$4,000 to the money in circulation
Immediately, and probably as much
more in three months. The only ar
gument presented against the bill is the
old one, that National banks enjoy
privileges denied to others, and mas
much as any persons having the re-
quisite capital are at all times free to
organize National bank and get their
share of the privileges, that isn't a
good one. After voting down some
silly amendments proposed by Senators
Allen and Cockrill, the Senate has now
to vote upon one for the rspeal of the
tax on State bank currency, which has
been offered by Butler, of S, c., and
there will probably be more of the
Same sort.
The speech Of Representative j. G.
Sibley, of Pa, was the most conspicu-
Gus for several reasons in the House
during the past week. Mr.. Sibley is
Democrat, Bible reader, a million
aire, and free silver man-the only
one in Congress from the East, and his
speech was at times highly sensational.
He was not quite as open in his attack
upon President Cleveland as Senator
Vest was. but the attack was there all
the same.
The unconditional repealers now
claim a slfe majority in both House
and Senate, but their claim of As vores
i'll the Senate includes several men
whose votes are very doubtful and who
are counted by the silver men in every
estimate they make. The trouble
about getting at what the result will |
be in the Senate arises largely from |
there being number of Senators who |
il they have made up their minds how |
thsy will vote have taken nobody into
their confidence.
Jerry Simpson dealt the Democrats
heavy blow below The belt when in a
silver sperch he fired this question at !
the House, in his rasping exasperating
voice: "Who ever heard Of The Demo-
cratic party ever repeating a law or
making law?" Receiving no answer,
Jerry glared at the administration
group in the House and added: ".There |
is no Democratic party any more; it is
President Cleveland.s party" F ON
which it will be seen that even man
OF Jerry's small calibre can sometimes
perceive the true inNardness of things
Democratic.
This is to be the last week of the
silver debate in the House, and, aside
from lhe earnest desire of almost
everybody to see the matter settled,
there are no regrets, for with few ex-
ceptions the speeches have been unin-
leresting and commonplace. Unless
all outward indications are at fault all
OF the silver amendments will be voted !
down and the bill for the unconditional
repeal of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman silver law passed by small
majority. The Republicans of the
House will really hold the balance of
power when the votes are taken. but
they will not allow that to influence
their votes.
The Century's Find.
The Century has inst come in posses.
Ion of one of the most unique and i'm