Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-01
1T WAS A MISTAKE
So Senator German Regards the Repeal of
the Silver Law.
A Lively Debate-Secretary Carlisle
Defended by Mr.. yOOrhees-The
Bond Issue Discussed.

At last the friends CT the administration
in the Senate have lifted up their voices
in defense of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, who has been numerically belabor-
ed by the popullsts and the republicans of
late. In the Senate yesterday afternoon,
alter The Star had gone to press. Mr.. Cor
man talked for over an hour in reply to
the attack that was made on the democrat
&c policy by Senator Sherman on Tuesday.
1t was the general opinion when Mr.. Cor
man finished that he had not done the
treasury any good by his defense. In fact,
he seemed TO be more anxious to set the
party square with the world, far as Mr..
Shermans attack was concerned, than to
uphold the policy that had recently been
begun by Mr.. Carlisle. Then, too, he APP
peared to have deep dark purpose in
mind.
AS his speech was developed he was found
to be telling some very interesting tales out
OF school, and before the astonished Sem
ate could recover its breath Mr. German
was saying what mistake the repeal of
the Sherman law had been. In fact one
OF the leaders Of the great repeal fight of the
autumn was declaring in his most emphatic
terms that the movement toward repeal
was mistake, and had been supported
py majority of those on the democratic
SANS Vi aHc only III the DellSf Chat
repeal meant better times. He said that
all or them on that side had hoped FOR bet
ter times as a result of repeal. At this
there was storm of protests from his
democratic colleagues, who raised their
voices to say: Not all of u.s." Mr.
GEORGE was particularly vociferous and
continued to call Not all Of u.s." while MIR
Fugh raised a laugh by remarking, loud
| enough to be heard all over the chamber:
1t was mighty small party that thought
there would be better times
Allusion to the President.
Mr.. German went en- to say that he had
never thought that repeal was wise, and
that he had gone into the matter against
his judgment. There had been a remark
able pressure for the enactment of the re-
peal bill and there had been unusual urg-
ing from sources that We're authoritative
unquestionably meaning the President-and
80 repeal had been accomplished.
Another significant Part Of Mr. German
speech, which did not escape attention On
the republican side OF the chamber, was a
sentence in which he alluded to cloture as
an improbability in the Senate. He had
been spurred on by Mr.. Hoars question of
what the democrats were going to do to re-
heve the treasury in its embarrassment,
and why they had not already done some
thing, and he said earnestly. that nothing
would be done in a hurry. There was no
chance, he went on, that there would ever
NC q SdB rune III the CeLalS, ana there " as
no real need of haste. An important reve-
nue. bill could not, or should not be hur-
ried through.
Most of his speech, however was directed
at the structures laid upon the democratic
party by Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Hoar Mr..
German said that the treasury had been
made bankrupt by the republicans, who
were now trying TO mold the democrats re-
sponsibie for Its condition. The debate
ran hot at this point, and Mr.. German was
assailed with questions by Senators Hoar.
Sherman, Hale and Aldrich, who sought to
pin him down to an answer to their ques-
ton why the democrats are not stirring
themselves to bring in a revenue measure,
instead of passing through the House a
bill that is admittedly drawn SO that it will
reduce revenues.
Republicans Not Responsible.
Mr.. Sherman took the floor after Mr..
German had concluded and denied that
during the Harrison administration there
was any bankruptcy in the treasury So
far from that being the case, he stated
that, in addition to all the expenditures of
the government. the Harrison. adminstra-
ton had paid s257 900, 600 of the public debt.
And what, he asked, was the condition of
the treasury now? The deficiency had been
caused lin his judgmenD by the fear and
dread, on the part OF business men, of the
effect of tampering with the tariff.
Senator voorhees, then addressed the
ochdtc Of Soiitt ttiiStA 10 ueISnQ the posi-
ton taken by Mr. Carlisle. He caused to
be read the statement of Secretary Carlisle
as to his Interpretation of the law on the
bond question. He said there was no ques-
ton OF the Secretarys power to issue
bonds and any question as to the expen5i-
ture of the money was a subject for later
consideration.
rs there any proposition now to issue
bonds for redeeming greenbacks?' INQUIRED
Senator Daniel of Virginia
Inc proposition to issue bonds" replied
Senator voorhees,, contains nothing but
the authority in the law, neither affirming
nofsdenylng what use Is to be made of the
money, and L take 1t that we cannot in
quire into that until after the money has
been secured by the issue of the bonds
The Senator means in court ?'' ino,,;raa
Senator Daniel.
Il mean in court" replied Senator voor-
hees, and the people will respect the
court l hold that whatever the courts de-
termIne TO be the law the American people
VIII respect and observe. / do not believe
there Is any considerable class of people
who VIII hold the courts in contemnt arS
refuse them their obedience. 1 say here to-
day with what small reputation 7 may
have as a lawyer, that the courts in the
country will hold that the Secretary of the
treasury had the absolute, unquestioned
power to issue these bonds"
tor Daniel. w Seia
There is no purpose proclaimed" an
swered Senator Voorhees,
Cmhmited by the purpose defined in the
law again queried Senator Daniel.
Has the Secretary of the Urea sury the
right TO issue bonds for any other purnoss
thah tnat oenned in the law, or TO use the
money LOT different purpose than that pro-
Niued by law for the issuing of the bonds ~,
. w heneVe-, said Senator Voorhees, the
secretary Of the Treasury is going TO usa
TINS money after he gets it, contrary tn the
view OF the Senator from Virginia, it will
pc time Tor him to go into court and re-
strain him. In the first place | hold with
the Secretary of the Treasury, and contrary
10 the Senator from Ohio (Sherman) that
the secretary can use this money in any
way that seems to him properly conducivc
TO the general purpose contemplated by the
act or lSs'-to redeem the greenbacks and
carry on the government"
Faith in Secretary Carlisle.
Continuing, Senator Voorhees, said: II he
lieve that JohnG. Carlisle is right in believing.
that he can take care of this government
by these funds or any other that come in to
his hands. John c. Carlisle Is fit to sit
where John Marshal sat. He is a LAWYER
among lawyers, at whose feet Senators here
who are criticising him can sit and take
instruction and learning and wisdom by the
day and by the hour"
After a general reply to the statements NJ,
Senator Sherman and other republican Sem
ators, Senator Voorhees, said: AT the prom
er time and in the proper way we will take
care of the credit of the government"
referring to the tariff question Senator
voorhees, said: Il will say now that | am
a-iff h 10 trixr