The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-09
Brains, belly and Brass
Congressman Sibley's Scathing Anal
ysis of the Administration.
TON JOHNSON ALSO SARCASTIC
Singing Arraignmcnt of Democracy and
Its Leaders Given by Pennsylvania
and Ohio Members During Currency
Dcbate-ScnsatiOn in the House.

By the United Press.
Washington, Jan. SIN the house to-
day on motion of Mr. Springer the dis
cussion of the currency bill was re-
sumed
Mr.. Sibley Dem., Pa) was the first
speaker in opposition to the bill. Re-
ferring to the published reports that
the executive department of the govern
ment, in the person of the secretary of
the treasury, was using its power to in
fluence votes in favor of the bill, Mr..
Sibley said:
Mr.. Chairman-If I have read the
constitution of the United States cor
rectly it defines the powers and duties
of the chief executive and the powers
and duties of the membership of the
house; and | tell you that If ever a re-
buke was needed to one who has
trampled down the prerogatives of the
people it Is to that man who has used
his influence, or attempted to use 1t, to
create in himself the sole governing
power of this nation. 1t has come to q
time when to be the government of this
people requires something more than q
combination of brains, belly and brass
(sensation and applause)
Mr.. Sibley continued at some length
to assail the administration for its at
titude toward and action upon financial
measures. The repeal of the purchas-
ing clause of the Sherman law, he as
serted, had been secured by the use OF
improper influences by the administra-
ton and that If the padlocks were taken
off the mouths of the representatives
four out of five would confirm his state
ments. The question of the length OF
time he was to speak having been sug-
gested, Mr.. Sibley said that every agent
of the big gold trust had spoken all he
had to say.
Merits of the Administration.
Recurring to the action of the ad-
ministration, Mr. Sibley said that the
merits of an administration might be
judged by the condition of the people
Look upon the condition of the people
of this country" he said, land you can
tell the merits of your administration"
Mr.. Slbley declared that by the stand
ards of the fathers he believed he was
a Democrat; he revered Jeffrson and
j
But If he was to be carried in con-
yeyance labelled Democracy" guided
by an obstinate driver, over an un-
known road, with precipices and chasms
yawning on all sides, he was going to
Jump out; and he was not particular
as to where he lit. Uaughter)
Mr.. Sibley's thrusts at the president
seemed to be enjoyed by quite num-
Der of representatives, and when ne
concluded there was round of ap'
plause. While he was speaking. Sena'
tors Cameron, Rep., Pa), and Stewart
Pop., Nev.) came into the house and
remained to hear him.
Tom JOhnsons Sarcasm.
Mr.. johnson, Dem., Ohio, a memb Ell
of the committee on banking and cur
rency, spoke in opposition to the bill
He said he felt he owed an apology tC
the house, for judging from what hao
been going on, believed that the bill
was so dead that it did not deserve tc
be spoken against. The issuing OF
money, Mr.. Johnson said, was such q
monopoly that it was a necessity fol
the government to take control OF 1t
Two things We're necessary to make
money go--the ability to issue 1t, anC
the ability to redeem it. All schemes
suggested which look to giving banks
monopoly of issuing paper money in
clude a government guaranty, because
their projectors know that without tha
the people will not take the notes. L
has proposed to allow banks, withou
inl hu nj ua
and to confer on them a right which
could only be conferred upon mono
poly.
They absolutely sacrificed the inter.
est of depositors. The per cent. safe.
ty fund was not safe, and the govern
ment in the end would have to pay fol
mistakes and blunders. The proposed
plan must either be monopoly or q
failure. The 1900 national banks, and
the wealthy and powerful men inter.
ested in them would have a complete
and perfect monopoly. 1t would give
them power that they were not asking
for, but they would not be slow in talk.
ing advantage of 1t, and would be slow
in relinquishing.
Fond Hopes Blasted.
Mr.. Johnson said that the bill would
never become n law and added that Mr.
Springer did not think it would.
Mr.. Springer responded that he hoped
1t would.
Mr.. Johnson-"Yes. we hoped to carry
the last election, but we did not"
Mr.. Johnson detailed the operation ot
the per cent. safety fund, which h,
declared to be myth. He said thai
he was willing to aid in the passage OF
some bill that would obviate the ne
cessity of maintaining a gold reserv,
and give the currency an elasticit,
which would not always operate to re
duce the volume of currency when Il
should expand. There was a plan b,
which this could be accomplished with
out law of congress or interference,
with the laws of trade, which congres!
could not In safety long antagonize
1t was to make the paper currency ant
bonds of the United States interchange
able, the latter to bear a rate of 2B O,
per cent. When currency was I'm de
mand bonds would be EXCHANGED for II
when there was a redundancy, the cur
rency would be retired. Such n pla,
would solve the problem, and in hi,
opinion was the only thing that would
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