The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-02-14
IN THE HOUSE.
The Bland Bill Discussed After Some
Reference to Hawaii.

The Bland Bill Discussed After Some
Reference to Hawaii.
Washington, February 13.-Immediate-
ly after the journal was read and APP
proved today, the Hawaiian correspond
ence sent to the House yesterday after
noon was read. The Presidents note of
transmittal accompanying the documents
was referred to the committee on foreign
affairs. Mr.. Hit, Republican of Illinois,
asked if the clerk had not omitted to
read the letter from President Dole to
Mr.. Willis, referred to in the correspond
ence.
The clerk stated he had read all the
papers submitted.
Mr.. Reed, Republican of Maine, re-
marked that they had no special delivery
stamps in Hawaii President Dole's let
ter had probably been delayed Ell route.
The seigniorage bill was taken. up and
Mr.. Bland, Democrat of Missouri, asked
unanimous consent that general debate
close tomorrow afternoon at one. A
general objection was made on the Re
publican side and demand for the regular
order. Accordingly the seigniorage bill
was taken unGer consideration and MIR.
Kilgore, Democrat of Texas, resumed his
remarks begun Friday. He favored the
bill. After several other mem ers had
spoken, Mr.. Bland called tention to the
fact that all the speakers d asked per-
mission to continue their remarks in the
record. He hoped no further requests
would be made.
Chairman Hatch informed him that
the list of speakers at present embraced
more than forty names.
rtot 1,ofh o yEyn
secure an agreement.by which general
debate would close at three tomorrow
afternoon. Mr.. Culberson, Democrat of
Texas, favored the bill. He said the
money power of this country now had
the people by the throat, and unless
Congress came to their relief, the con-
ditions would steadily grow worse. I'm
power to issue bonds could be limited,
the public debt would be increased to a
point far beyond that which might be
imagined.
| Mr.. Bland asked unanimous consent
that general debate close at three tomor-
row afternoon, but objection was made.
Mr.. Warner, Democrat of New York,
opposed the bill. He. said the Democratic
party was not responsible tor the present
distressing financial condition of the
government. 1t was Republican extrava-
gance, which had left bankrupted
treasury. 1t was proposed to increase the
enormous volume of paper currency by
the addition of S5.000,000. In New York
and Boston there was a plethora of
currency, and the banks were trying in
vain to loan it. This condition of affairs
was due to the unfortunate law at
present in operation. Gold was now being
exported and with the issuance of more
paper money the demands upon the
treasury for gold would be greater than
could be met. The government should
leave the issue of fiat money and confine
itself. to it's governmental functions of
coming gold and silver. Green backs
should be redeemed and cancelled and a
substitute rovided by the banking in
situations OF the country. Every dol
lars worth of silver bullion in the
treasury should be coined into money. 1t
should never have been stored as bullion.
Mr.. Bland offered an amendment to
section two of the bill changing the
phraseology to provide that as fast as
the bullion is coined for the redemption
of the said notes, the notes shall not be
reissued, but cancelled and destroyed in
amounts equal to the coin held at any
time in the treasury derived from the
coinage herein provided for"
This change does not interfere with
the redemption of Sherman notes. The
House adjourned.