Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-02-23
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %.
SENATE.

y
terday's journal Mr.. Wolcott gave no.
tice of an amendment to the sundry
civil appropriation bill, providing that
whenever the Pre- sident of the United
States, on the invitation of the
government of Germany, or Great
Britain, or any of the govern
ments of Europe, shall determine that
the government of the United States
shall be represented at any information
al or other conference to be held with
view to secure internationally and to
fix the relative value between gold
and silver as money, by means OF
common ratio between those
metals, with free coinage at such ratio,
he shall be authorized to require the
attendance of nine commissioners to
be appointed as follows: Three by the
President, by and with the advice of
the Senate; three members of the
House of Representatives, and three
Senators of the next Congress, and APP
propriating 100000 for the pay and
expenses of the commissioners and for
the share of the United States in the
expenses of the conference. 1t was
with much hesitation, MIR. Wolcott
said, and after consultation with others
that the amendment was offered. The
chief embarrassment had arisen from
the fact that it might have been con-
strued abroad as indicating an undue
desire on the part of the United States
that other countries should enter into
some agreement fol-. international BIZ
-metallism. But, iDasmuch as nine
months had to elapse between
the adjournment of this Congress
and the meeting of the next, and
inasmuch as the President ofthe United
States should be called upon to act
with other nations in some conference
looking to international agreement
regarding gold and silver and would
be powerless TO act, except by
the appointment of commissioners
and would be- unable to clothe
them with the proper authority or to
have funds for the representation ofthe
United States or for its share of the ex-
penses of the conference, it seemed wise
to offer the amendment now. The pro-
position, Mr.. Wolcott added, would be
satisfactory, he thought, to the bimetal-
lists who voted for bimetallism and it
should be equally satisfactory to those
bimetallists who professed adhesion TO
bmetallism, but voted against it.
Naughter.) The president would
naturally, Mr.. Wolcott added, select
for the three commissioners whom he
would appoint men outside of public
life. The two houses would select men
best fitted to act in the matter. All
Senators had knowledge of men among
them who could well represent them in
any international conference-men who
had spent much of their lives in the
study of the general financial questions
of the country, and who had illumined
the subject through years of thought
and through utterances. For those
reasons it seemed better that Congress
should name its membership of the
proposed commission. The Senate had
the other day, by large majority, de.
clared its conviction that bimetallism
through the United States should at
once be inaugurated. There had been
q disinclination to interfere with the
business of the session, and a know
ledge that nothing in the way of legis-
lation could be practically accomplish
ed at this time and under existing cir
cumstances. But the Senate had de-
clared its opinion-amid the suffering
and the poverty, and the paralysis OF
business, which had overtaken the
land-that the way out was, not by
waiting for the uncertain action of
European countries, not by the aban-
donment of silver and the adoption of
gold monometallism, but by return to
the principles laid down by the con-
stitution and by the financial policy
which had brought prosperity to the
country for more than a century.
We are, he concluded. for bi-metallism
by the United States alone. If other
countries will join US, so much the bet
ter. The adoption of this amendment
will give this country an opportunity
to act in concert with other nations if
that cooperation shall be rendered US.
The amendment was referred to the
committee on finance.
The motion to reconsider the vote
by which resolution was passed for a
commission of army officers to inspect
the new bridge over the Delaware
river at Philadelphia, and, in the
meantime, to suspend construction of
the bridge, was, after debate, laid on
the table, and the resolution now goes
to the House.
The consideration of the Indian ap.
preparation bill was then resumed.
During the consideration of the bill
message was received from the Presi-
dent; and, as the sheet of yellow tissue
paper on which lists of nominations ap
pear was handed round among Senators
nearest the principal entrance door, it
was known that it contained the nomi
nation of Senator Ransom, of North
Carolina. as United States Minister to
Mexico.
Senator Blackburn, as soon as he had
looked at the list moved that the Sen
ate proceed to executive business and
remarked that no Senator would object
ifhe knew the purpose of the motion.
There was no objection; the galleries
were cleared, and the doors closed; and
within five minutes the public was
again admitted, the nomination of Mr..
Ransom having been in the meantime,
instantly and unanimously approved |
and confirmed.
HOUSE.
A conference was ordered on the bill |
recognizing the steamboat inspection
oorx,ioa-Mesara Wise Mallorr ord