The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-20
| HERULES BEAT THEM.
Silver Men Couldn't Maintain a
Quorum.
A Quorum Present but it
Wouldn't Vote.
JONES GIVES TT UP.
The Fight is Abandoned for
This Session.
JONES GIVES IT UP

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2o.-At o'clock
last night the senate adjourned after
a determined but fruitless effort on
the part of the silver men. led by Mr..
Jones of Arkansas, to pass bill for
the unrestricted coinage of silver.
Mr.. Jones himself made the motion
to adjourn, after it had been made
evident that voting quorum of SEN
ators could not be held in the senate
chamber for an all might struggle.
One of the surprises Immediately
preceding the adjournment was res
olution submitted by Mr.. Wolcott of
Colorado, one of the most active sill
yer leaders, declaring that while the
welfare of the country required the
ultimate coinage of silver at 10 to 1,
yet in view of the near adjournment
of congress and the pressing demand
of appropriation bills, it was inexped-
lent to enter upon the consideration
of the silver bill at the present ses-
sion of congress. No action was
taken on the resolution.
The silver forces asserted their
strength at the outset of the pro-
ceedings and by vote of SO to 81 dis
placed the morning business and took
up the silver bill before the regular
order had been reached. Mr.. Villas
of Wisconsin then took the floor for
four hours in a carefully prepared
speech defending the administration
for the recent bond contract. When
he concluded at $50 p. N. active steps
were taken by the silver men to force
a final vote. It was evident how
ever, that the opposition was ready to
talk against time, and thus carry the
debate through the night, if neces-
sary to cut off vote.
Mr.. Platt then took the floor and
made an argument against the bill,
being frequently interrupted by
points of no quorum and roll calls
and suggestions for closing debate.
Mr.. Jones appealed to the opposi-
ton to fix a time for the vote to- day,
but no agreement could be reached.
At 8 o'clock the senate business
was brought to a complete standsti1
by the failure to secure a quorum on
Mr.. Aldrich's motion to go into exc
cutive session. From that time until
adjournment vain efforts were made
to secure voting quorum, although
quorum was present most of the
time, many senators refusing to vote.
This tedious process continued until
eao'elOck, when Mr.. Jones reluctantly
yielded, and the long session closed.
A report from the secretary of the
treasury was read in response to the
resolution concerning the need of
legislation to meet the deficiencies.
This stated that an available balance
of 500, s75, 600 exclusive of over $685.
600, 900 of the gold reserve was on
hand and expressed the opinion that
it would be desirable for the secre-
tary of the treasury to have the au-
thorlty to issue and sell short time
bonds to meet deficiencies. The sec
rotary added however. that no such
deficiency now existed or was likely,
and he was of the opinion that there
would be ample revenue for the COM
ing fiscal year.
The house spent the day in the
further consideration of the naval
appropriation bill The points of or
der made by Mr.. Sayers against the
items for the increased enlis ted force
Of the navy were overruled and his
amendments looking to their elimina-
ton were defeated.