The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-13
WARM SILVER DEBATE ON.
The House Yesterday Given Over to
Discussion.

suggest variety or schemes as
Lurking Behind-No Exact Agree
greement Among the Speakers Yes
terday, Each Presenting Different
Theory of Tfeatment-Mr. Harter
Makes the Speech of the Day for the
Repealers, and Delegate Rawlins of
Utah, Silverite, Predicts the Bow
vows.
Washington, Aug. 12.-Whenever the
House of Representatives determines to
hold sessions for debate only, the attend
ance on the floor is very unsatisfactory,
and it was so to-day.
BEGGARLY ARRAY OF EMPTY SEATS.
The average number OF representatives
present did not, in the 6-hours' session of
the House, exceed 125.
The largest audience was present when
Mr.. Hendricks, of New York, was making
his maiden speech. He was attentively
listened to- and made strong impress
sion.
| MR.. HARTER's THE EFFORT OF THE DAY.
But the speech of the day was made by
Mr. Harter of Ohio, who, while denounc-
ing the Sherman act, eulogized the gentle
man whose name it bears, and while de-
claring that the Republican party was
primarily responsible for the present sit
uation, did not exempt the democrats
from blame.
Mr.. Bowers, of California, was the
principal republican spokesman, but he
spoke from a free coinage standpoint,
in opposition to the bulk of his
party associates. When, at 1850
o'clock the House adjourned until Mon
day at II o'clock, there were not more
than fifty representatives in the hall.
On motion of MIR. Richardson, demo-
crat, Tennessee, a resolution was adopted
for the printing of 10000 copies of the
Presidents message.
REsUM1NG THE DEBATE.
MIR. Wheeler, of Alabama, opened the
debate, continuing his speech begun yes
terday. He warned the House that re-
peal of the purchasing clause in the Sher-
man act would never be followed by any
silver legislation. The moment the pur-
chasing clause is repealed the power of
the millionaires will be strengthened, and
they will exercise their advantage with
relentless cruelty. Among other things
he said: "They say our change for the
worse since 1860 is owing to idleness. Our
people make three times as much cotton,
times as poor. Arguments are made
to me that my personal interests
are not for silver coinage. That
is not the question. The
interest of 80 per cent. of my people is for
free coinage, and my battle is for them. !"
QUOTING FROM ANTE-BELLUM PLATFORMS.
Gen. Wheeler read from Jackson's mes
sages and the democratic platforms of
lS4O, IA, '4S, '52, $50 and go, all of which
] no col dpnnl1npod n c
the perilous financial system which has
been fastened upon us by republican leg
, islation.
Mr.. Wheeler was followed by Mr. Morse,
Rep, Mass. He was heartily in favor
Of repeating the purchasing clause of the
Sherman act but the remainder of that
act, declaring parity between the two
metals, was fine craftsmanship, and
should stand. So much of the Presidents
message as related to the currency met
with his most unqualified approval. So
much of the message was good republican
doctrine.
Mr.. HARTER MAKES A COMPARISON.
Mr. Harter Of Ohio speaking in favor
of the repeal proposition, likened Uncle
Sam to man in the last stages of alcho-
holism. A drunken man taken to an
emergency hospital would receive treat
ment by the doctors, who would agree
upon their treatment; but Uncle Sans
doctors did not seem to agree in the dag
nosis.
Mr.. Grosvenor, Rep, Ohio, interrupted
to inquire what the gentleman would
think if the physician who, in the given
case, should simply stop the administra-
tion of liquor, but who prescribed nothing
for the future? Laughter.
SOMETHING OF DOCTOR HIMSELF.
Mr.. Harter replied that he was some
thing of homeopathist, and he believed
that sometimes mild remedies would cure
when radical treatment would kill. There
were gentlemen on the floor Of national
and international reputation, who would
fill Uncle Sam up with more silver.
THE RIGHT REMEDYgFoR THE PATIENT.
His view was to stop the purchase of
silver 1t had been said by the gentle
man from Missouri that every western
man who voted for the repeal of the pur-
chasing clause would be relegated to pri-
vate life. Let congress give the country
an honest currency, and he (Harter) was
willing to shake the dust of Washington
from his feet and never enter the House
of Representatives again, [Applause.l
LOCATING THE ORIGIN OF THE DISEASE.
Mr.. Harter was frequently interrupted
with questions, and to some his replies
were very pungent. In response to a
question by Mr.. Henderson, rep, Iowa,
Mr. Harter said that the Sherman act
had been passed by a republican House
and a republican Senate, and had been
approved by republican President
(6emonstrative applause). He asked
pardon for having made this reply. 1t
was not his intention to raise the issue of
partisanship The question was too grave,
the situation was too serious, for men sin
their right mind to permit the issue of
partisanship to be interjected. Under the
circumstances, God knew that he was
unwilling to introduce politics into this
discussion.
Mr.. HARTER MAPS OUT HIS PLAN.
He then proceeded to mark out his plan
of procedure He would have the con-
gress in its extraordinary session re-
peal the purchasing clause of the present
law, authorize banks to issue circulation
to the full extent of their bonds, and di-
rect the Secretary of the Treasury topro-
vide for the issue of gold bonds.
A ToUCH-THE-BoTToM METHOD.
Mr.. Hendrix of New York followed He
spoke at length, but he stated his plat
form in epigrammatic fashion. 1t was:
Let congress repeal the Sherman silver
law, adjourn and go home and let the peo-
pie do the rest. Applause.
DERoGATINs POLITICAL PLATFORMS.
Mr.. Rowers, rep, California,