Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-28
TELLER TALKED VERY PLAIN
Senator Hill Resents Some Of His Remarks
as Being Too Personal.
BOND RESOLUTION CAUSED THE TROUBLE

BOND RESOLUTION CAUSED THE TROUBLE
~
auny and Burrows Announce Amend
mcnts to the Tariff dill when
IL Comes over from the
House.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 27.-The senate was
enlivened today by a spirited and somewhat
personal debate in which MIR. Hill OF New
York and Mr.. Teller Of Colorado were the
principal figures. The New York senator
precipitated consideration of the bond ques-
ton by Offering a resolution directing that
future bond issues to renew the gold reserve
should bear a provision that they would be
payable in gold or silver at the option Of the
holder. In support Of this Mr.. Hill read a
speech setting forth the difficulties of negoti-
ating bonds under the uncertainties of the
present law.
Mi. Teller's reply to Mr.. Hill was cutting.
sarcastic and personal. He repudiated and
protested against the efforts Of the president
and all his tide WATERS to defame the
credit of the United States. He spoke of the
recent visit to Washington of a great New
York banker as one of those who had par
| t1Clpateu In the ulSnO0OTdDlS OF lmDeClle
bond transaction of last year. The galleries
were crowded during the debate and the sem
ators as well as spectators enjoyed the
caustic tilt.
Mr.. Allen, populist of Nebraska, added his
protest to that of Mr.. Teller against the
defamation Of our national credit.
No final action on the Hill resolution was
taken. Two tariff amendments made their
appearance, one by Mr.. Burrows and another
by Mr.. Quay. A resolution was agreed to
accepting the ram Katahdin, which recently
failed to meet the speed requirements. Also
a resolution for the formal transfer of the
Utah administration from the territorial to
the new state authorities.
Senators Burrows and Quay today gave
notes Of amendments which they propose
to offer to the house tariff bill when it
shall reach the senate for consideration.
Senator Quay's amendment provides for an
increase Of the duty on wrapper tobacco,
making the duty on stemmed tobacco i'm
ported in bulk 81 pr pound, and on stemmel
tobacco $3.50 per pound. Senator Burrows
amendment provides for a duty equal TO
so per cent of the Mckinley law duties on
a large number of articles of schedule A,
concerning chemicals, oils and paints; on
manufactured burr stone and grindstonss; on
iron ores, cotton ties and copper and manu-
features of; on a large number of agri-
cultural products, including fresh milk, yolks
of eggs, plants, fresh fish and salt; on lemon
ade, soda water and other similar waters;
on fax, hemp, straw end binding Irvine and
or feathers, paintings. statuary, hatters'
plush, coffee and hides.
Mr.. Sherman, republican of Ohio, sug-
gested that 1t was contrary to presidents
for a revenue bill to originate in the senate.
1t could be considered only as an amendment,
not as a bill. I""!
Mr.. Burroughs accordingly offered the
measure as an amendment and 1t was re-
ferred to the finance COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Hale, republican of Maine, offered a
resolution directing the secretary Of the navy
to accept the ram Kptahdin anu place her on
the naval rolls. 40
Mr.. Pettigrew, republican of South Dakota.
urged that this proposition tended toward a
bad precedent. Thess ships were given
every advantage en- speed trials. and If they
failed to come UP to requirements 1t was but
just, they should be rejected. After sons
discussion as to the merits of warships Mr..
Pettigrew withdrew; the objection, but Mr..
Allen, populist Of Nebraska. renewed it,
whereupon the measure went over. Later
in the day the objection was withdrawn and
the resolution adopted.
Mr.. Quay, republican Of Pennsylvania, ex-
planned briefly a bill he would introduce in
creasing the duty on leaf tobacco.
The bill making Palm Beach, Fla, a sub
port of entry and delivery was passed.
The fatality at Chicago. when something
ton wagon exploded in the street, was re-
called by a bill offered by Mr.. Cullom of |
Illinois, compensating the families Of those
killed.
The bond question made It's appearance
when Mr.. Hill of New York introduced the
following resolution:
Resolved, That any bonds hereafter is
sued under the laws now in force may in
ury be made payable in United States gold
coin of the present standard weight and
the Hne" optio1 or of n the s.f holder Of f'i such d%bS oinlddrsss ba at
no bond containing such option shall bear
annum payable quarterly.
Mr.. Hill spoke at some length in favor of
his resolution. He detailed the serious con- |
dition Of the treasury, which could only be
relieved by another bond issue. The secre- |
tary of the treasury was hampered under
the present law and should be given the OPP
ton of issuing gold or silver bonds. An
to the present law he believed
imperative. Mr.. Hill considered a popular
bond issue under the present statute impos-
sible, but his resolution would take away
this obstacle. No tariff law, he said, would
remedy the trouble.
The executive authorities, he claimed, had
clearly shown that the tremendous expansion
of our paper circulation was the cause Of
our critical condition. His resolution was
a temporary remedy.
Mr.. Teller, republican Of Colorado, pro-
tested against the assertion, first made by
the president Of the United States and now
repeated In the senate, that the United
was bankrupt. He protested against
the repeated assertion that United States
bonds could not be sold at a low rate of in
He specified the sales Of bonds last
year to show that coin bonds were readily
sold.
I'm that transaction, which was an ever
lasting disgrace, showing the dishonesty or
of this administration. our bonds
were eagerly sought" said Mr.. Teller.
There was a sharp colloquy between Mr..
Hill and Mr.: Teller as to the purpose of the
Mr.. Hill said it simply sought to
specify payments in gold as good fnanclers
doubted our ability to float bonds at less than
4 per cent.
"Who doubts itT" asked Mr.. Teller, pas
sionately. Eve are told that a great banker
from New York has recently been invited to
Washington to tell Us how to get out of this