New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-13
A VERY TORRENT OF WORDS
CONGRESSMEN IN DEBATE.
SEVERAL GOOD SPEECHES AND PLENTY or
EMPTY SEATS.
TWELVE DAYS OF TALK YET TO COME-NoBoDY
EXPECTS TO BE CONVERTED, AND IT'S
TosS-UP WHETHER THE DEBATE WILL
HURT Or HELP THE REPEAL BILL

EXPECTS TO BE CONVERTED, AND IT'S
TossUP WHETHER THE DEBATE WILL
HURT or HELP THE REPEAL BILL.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1
Washington, Aug. a." General debate in the
House Of Representatives seldom or never amounts
to anything, so far affecting sentiment in re-
gard to measure is concerned, and during all
the years of my experience here do not remem-
ber TO have seen ii change half dozen votes
said the venerable William ID. Kelley short time
before his death, in conversation with Tribune
correspondent. Years before that General Gar
field just after the Ohio Legislature had elected
him TO the Senate, remarked:
d" If it were not that | would he considered mean
spirited and lacking in ambition | would rather
remain in the House of Representatives.
On being asked why, he replied We'll.
do not think that arguments or eloquence ever
changed II vote in the Senate, whereas in the House
a hot, exciting debate, under the fve-minute
rule, frequently convinces, or at least affects
them long enough to influence their votes. l do
not refer TO long speeches in what is miscalled
general debate, but the short, crisp speeches, none
more than five minutes long, of a brisk debate.
when every intellect is on the alert and sensitive
to the impressions of the moment
GENERAL DEBATE UNPROFITABLE.
in regard TO the dnprohtablencss of what is called
general debate, especially when it is protracted be-
yond four or five days, must be shared by every
intelligent and experienced observer of Congress
proceedings. 1t sometimes happens that the delay
Occasoncd by a general debate of a fOrtnights
duration helps or hurts the prospects of meas
urc, and that extent, and that only, does speech
making Of the sort now in progress in the House
influence legislation Opinions differ to
whether the delay in this case will improve or i'm
pair the prospects of the Wilson bill for the uncon-
ditlona repeal of the bullion purchase provision
of the existing silver law. The silver men be-
leve that 1t Will benefit them, and one OF thems
in conversation with Tribune correspondent to-
day. gave OF the reasons why he thought so.
lie said
Il know several Democrats who had about
decided to vote for unconditional repeal, and who
during the last few years have been preaching the
doctrine of free coinage in their respective dis
tricts untIl The people have become convinced
that their prosperity depends upon it. They have
been educated and they cannot he uneducatee In
a day and my friends have begun to hear from
them The res lit of the delay Will almost cef-
tainly be- TO bring my friends back into the free
coinage ranks before vote is taken
There are probably good many free-silver men
in the House who will vote for free coinage hop
ing that it may be defeated in order that they
may then vote for the unconditional repeal OF tho
silver purchase provision and thus satlsfy tho
Administration without offending their free-silver
| constituents. There is no doubt whatever tnat
if a vote can be reached repeal will be carried In
the House by a good majority. at least one-half
of which will be composed of Republicans. Inc
danger is that free coinage. at ratio say OF 20
to l. may bc carried the provisions OF tne
Bland act be revived before vote on repeal can
be had under the truce agreed TO by the Demo-
Gratis in the House yesterday.
Mr.. HARTER GETS INTO TROUBLE.
The marked falling off in the attendance OF
members of the House to-day was pretty cieir
indication that comparatively few of them feel
the need of enlightenment on the subject OF silver
or take an interest in the general debate whicn
is 20 continue until week from next Thursday.
The REPRESENTATIVES. who did attend to-day heard
eeveral good speeches in favor of unconditional
reveal and one or two against IT. Mr.. harter'
of Ohio, occupied more time than any o'her
sneaker and made more trouble for himself. lie
is a sound money" Democrat and possesses
large fund and great variety OF lnlormatoh rr
lating 10 the silver question-so much ana so
great. indeed. that he sometimes ventures TO chal-
lcngc the supposed ignorance, or comparative ig-
norancc of his opponents by vcnturing upon un-
safe ground BY so doing to-day he drew upon
himself n yoIley of questions from Democrats as
we'll as Rcpublicans some of which he found ~
exceedingly difficult 10 answer, while others ne
was unable TO answer except at the expense OF the
political party to which he belongs. These qies-
tions he was therefore to be excused for leaving
unanswered.
lie made some assertions in regard to cX-fresl-
dent Harrison which astounded we-lnf0rmeu Ke-
pubicans who knew better, and he amazed nearly
everybody bv asserting that the condition or
thr English laborng man to-day, as compared
with the condition Of the labormc man Of the
State of Ohio. is as much better, largely owing
TO this silver matter. however, as perth IN
Heaven is better than cot in purgatory. ie
then went on 10 declare that the RepuDllcan
party is responsible for the present condition OF
affairs but SHE'D and refused TO answer when
General Henderson, CT Iowa. demanded TO know
what was the attitude of the Democratic party
in Congress when the existing law was cnactco'
Mr. Iartcr evidently realized that he had pu'
his foot in it" and lie refused point blank ~
drawn into "a partisan discussion or 10 a'''"1'
questions which had "a partisan bearing. srnh
might better have rcfrained from proVok,ns ;ntnr
a discussion Mr.. llar:er's speech was ;%nresson q"
csting one, but it made no apparent a.. MP tp whom
Whatever upon the fro.-silyer Democrats W "
his arguments were addressed
SPEECHES on BOTH SIDES
Mr.. Morse. of Massachusetts, IN snoi' NV
vigorous speech. advocated the uhcon"''''n.' %
peal of the bullion purchase proVieion' pu .h.
minded the Democratic friends u rep '"a.
a.is.;,,. husress depression and financial distress
in the country are more largely que 10 i'ee low
,hroats th,u to the operation of the silver law
'l, n~e Of M the best speeches that have been made
,'', ';de Of repeal thus far was that Of Mr.
On On ',S of S' RrookIyn, which commanded the
liendrN, os 'porv member present. His state
attention oi oase was by fur the best that has
% ben made that side , Of 'S %b "ti'n he SUBJECT SHs 'S
manner III r,tios was exceedingly effective. In
faGt, " "di"posed of the proposition to revive the
und law by declaring that II would aggravate
i,anu snnt - situation. 1t was Mr.. Hendricks
maiden rns speech and he used good many express