St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-04
Bitter Comment on the Re-
ported Position OF the
President-Eleet.
Mr.. Shepman'S Reasons Why
He Has Not Called the
Bill Up.
Senator Hill Gives Notice He
Will Call 1t Up on
Monday.

some appearance of authority, that
there was to be an extra 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 She
bill were not repealed at this session an
extra session would be called. He (Mr.
Teller had recently received great
number of letters from various sections
of the country, and there seemed to be
good deal of apprehension in the minds
of the people that the Sherman act
might be repealed and that the era of
contraction would then be entered upon. |
In his judgment there was decided
majority of the senate opposed at this
time to the repeal of the Sherman act
and there was decided
Majority Against Hts Repeal
on both sides of the chamber. 1t was
not, and never had been, political
question. and in his opinion it would not
be political question at this session of
congress or at the next. He did not be-
lieve that the incoming administration,
whatever might be its inclination. could
make it distinctive feature Of its pol
icy. He quoted from an article in New
York paper that distinguished gentle
man, closely allied to the incoming adj
ministration. had stated authOritatlVely
that the incoming president had deter
mined that the Sherman act should be
repealed at this session. just eX-
actly what the preSident-elect had
to do with the subject, he
(NIr. Teller was somewhat unable to de-
termine. In the course of his expert
ence and observation he mad never seen
anything more indiScreet in any public
utterance if it should be traced any
where near to the presl1ent-elect. lie
did not intend to assert that the preSl-
dent-elect was in the slightest degree
responsible for the article, and he had
only cited it for the purpose of showing
the indecent methods employed by the
newspaper press and by the boards Of
trade III certain sections Of the country
to bring about the repeal of the Sher-
man act.
Denied Wizards Assertion.
Mr.. Teller also quoted from state
ments made by Henry Willard, who, he
said, was personally interested in the
repeal of the Sherman law, that for
eignerS would not buy American secu-
rites so long as that law was in force.
He denied the assertion, and said that
American securities were the gilt-edged
securities of the world. Anything to
the contrary could be said only by such
men as MIR. Willard and subordinate
official of the treasury department uSu-
ally denomlnated director of the mint.
Mr Teller then diverged into discus
sion of the expectation of gold, and of
the relative use Of gold and silver. The
$4,000, 600 of silver money were doing,
he said, more efficient DUTY than the
$500, 900, 900 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 posi-
ton to cast diScredit upon 1t. Mr.. Teller
said in conclusions:
IL want to say to the business in
tereSts of the country that at this Ses-
sion of congress tits not among the pos
siDiIities that the Sherman act Will he
repealed. Thew may have that assur-
ance, and govern themselves according
ly in their enterprises. cannot speak
for the next session. | know nothing of
what will occur then. We will have
new men,
New Questions.
the act of 1890 will not be repealed until
something better is offered, or, at least,
if it be repealed. we will live to regret it.
1t is not,in my judgment, possible to re-
peal it without bringing disaster on the
country. 1t would be a practical con-
traction of S50,000,000 a year, and l
do not believe that the American
people are ready to permit such con
traction of currency. There must be
expansion and growth of currency to
correspond with the growth OF the pop
ulaton of the United States, and there
is DO other way by which it can take
place except through the use OF silver,
unless we get to fiat paper money. and
that, in my Judgment, VIII never be
DONE"
Mr.. Vest said that he had no DISPOSE
ton to controvert any Of Mr.. Teller's
positions as to silver, but he felt com
PEELED, as a Democratic senator, to no
tice some of his remarks. He (Mr.NesU
had no more right to speak for the pres
ident-elect than any other Democrat in
the country, nor was he authorized to
do so. But it seemed to him that Mir.
Cleveland was entitled to fair treat
ment. He had never agreed with Mr..
Cleveland i'll respect to silver, but he
had never for single instance suspect
yer or any
other Public Question
on his part. Mr. Teller's remarks were
to the effect that Mr.. Cleveland intended
to use his patronage in such manner
as to defeat the Sherman act. He sub
mitted that the character of no public
man was safe if he was to be held re-
sponsible for the utteranceS of newSpa-
fa n that
were both character and position would
be sacrificed in very short time. All
of them had had experience III that
direction and knew how utterly unsafe
it was to give the smallest amount of
credit to the statements made III the
newspapers in reference to their opln-
ions and actions. In his judgment 10
one was authorized to say what Mr..
Cleveland would do. There was nothing
in Mr.. Cleveland'S career-as his most
malignant enemies had conceded
which made him amenable to the
charge of using indirect measures or of
taking any but the plainest and most
direct road to his conclusions.
MIR. Teller reminded Mr. Vest that he
had specifically disclaimed holding Mr..
Cleveland responsible for the neWSpa-
per statements.
Mr.. Sherman spoke Of having report
ed from the committee on finance the
bill to suspend the purchase of silver
bullion, and said that he had often seen
the question
Discussed in the Newspapers
why he had not moved to take it up.
He had stated to senators over and over
again that he did not consider it his
duty to move to take it up until he was
satisfied that there was a majority of
senators to stand by him and pass it.
And he said now that whenever he was
sure there was such majority in favor
of it he would move to take it up. as it |
was his duty to do so. 1t was equally |
the right of any other senator to make
that motion, and it would not be dis |
courtesy to himself or the committee on |
finance.
Mr.. Gray Dem.], Delaware What |
better evidence can you have OF the dis