Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-05
A SENATE SCENE
A Lively Colloquy Between Messrs.
Harris and Mitchell.
BOTH EXHIBITED MUCH FEELING
The Administration Currency Bill
Up in the House.
T II E D E B A T e B E G q n

A sensational episode occurred in the
Senate as soon as the session opened to-
! day. Mr.. Mitchell (Oreg) rose to make
report on certain sugar bounty claims, on
which, he said. he desired to make brief
| explanation.
There will have to be explanation
| when the subject comes up interposed
Mr. Harris Tenn.), 80 that it will be a
waste of time to have an explanation now.
| l therefore object"
| Mr.. Mitchell urged that the explanation
would not take three minutes, but Mr.. Har-
| ris shook his head.
Then" said Mr.. Mitchell. with growing
| impatience, Il will not make the report. l
will withdraw it, 1t is most extraordinary
| that Senators cannot submit brief expla-
| nation if they desire. 1t is remark
| able
Mr.. Mitchelrs words were snapped out
| vehemently.
1T is needless for the Senator to pro-
| test said Mr.. Harris. Il object; and
| emphasize it; 1 object"
Then / withdraw the report" declared
| Mr. Mitchell
Withdraw it, then" exclaimed Mr.. Har-
| riS, defantly.
| Some Sharp Words.
Mr.. Mitchell showed intense irritation at
| the defiance and, raising his voice. he
said to Mr.. Harris: The action OF the
Senator is unusual, most unusual"
Il want the Senator to understand re-
terted Mr. Harris, measuring each word,
that 1 am capable of doing unusual
things. and am responsible for doing un-
usual things.
Yes" answered Mr.. Mitchell his flushed
| face showing intense indignation, Il ap-
preciate that the Senator is capable OF do
| ing unusual things" and then Mr.. Mitchell
added. 'and he is capable of doing un-
| gentIemanly things.
Mr.. harris stepped forward from his
! Gesk and for a moment it seemed that he
was about to resent the statement in an
| uI usual and emphatic way. He paused,
however, ard then, with a gesture toward
Mr.. Mitchell, and addressing him directly,
said: Let me tell you, sir. that your con-
duct is contemptible-contem
The presiding officer had been rapping
vigorously as the controversy proceeded.
"The Senators must proceed in order"
he repeated. The colleagues of the two
angry Senators gathered about them, ana
their indignant expostulatlons continued
in subdued tones. The presiding officer di-
reCted the clerk to proceed with other
business and the incident was summarily
closed Mr.. Mitchell moved about the rear
of the chamber reiteratnS his protests,
while Mr.. Harris sat at his desk apparent
ly unmoved by the sharp exchange of per-
sonalities.
Senator Perkins Sworn In.
The credentials of Mr.. Perkins (Cal) for
the uneXpired term of the late Leland
Stanford were presented to the Senate and
the Senator was sworn in. He has previ-
ously served on the appointment Of the
governor pending a choice of the legisla-
ture.
After considering minor routine subjects
the Senate again took up the District Of
Columbia appropriation bill.
THE HOUSE.
The House met at II o'clock today to take
I'D the consideration of the new currency
bill Several bills were passed by unani-
nous consent, among them one to pension
! the widow Of Commodore Frank Avery az
| the rate of $50 per month, and one for the
relief of Kate Eberle, an Indian woman.
In accordance with the terms of the spe-
| cial order adopted yesterday, the House
then resolved itse,f into committee of the
| whole to consider the bill Ito authorize the
Secretary of the Treasury to issue bonds
| to maintain sufficient gold reserve. and
to redeem and retire United States notes.
and for other purposes"
MIR. Springer Opens the Debate.
Mr.. Springer Ull), chairman of the COM.
mittee on banking and currency, opened
the debate with a long statement con-
| cerrirg tn, condition of the treasury. He
| pre- duced figures to show that there would
| lie an estimated surplus of s26O0O,O00 in
| the revenues at the end of the present
| calendar year, but deficiency at the end
| OF the fiscal year June 30 of S200OO,OOO.
| The deficiency now $34,OOO0OO, but
| this would be reduced $14,00OG0O in the
| &C ming five months. On June 30, 1895, he
| said there would be in the treasury sS5-
| 0UGOOO of surplus revenues. This surplus
had been derived from the sale of bonds.
Mr. Springer while discussing the dwin-
|
standing gold obligations of the govern
ment. was interrupted by Mr.. Simpson
(kanD, who asked if the Secretary of the
Treasury was compelled to redeem the
| legal tenders in gold. He replied that the
| Secretary was compelled by the prece-
dents of former secretaries, or in bad faith
| repudiate the established policy of the gov
erpment. There was, Mr.. Springer said. a
broad distinc ton between the obligations
| of citizen to citizen and those of the gov
| ernment to citizen.
| the legal tenders and furnish the relief
| which the treasury reeded. In conclusion
he eppealed to members to lay aside party
| prejudice and as patriots stop the drain OF
the gold and save the cOuntry'S credit.
| Mr.. Cox's Opposition.
Mr.. Cox CTenn), in opposition to the bill,
| taunted Mr.. Springer with his agility in
| getting on every side of every question.
| The fundamental principle of the original
| Dill introduced ny MI springer OH DeIidIl
| of the administration was that all the
| legal tenders presented for redemption
| should be paid in geld and TO secure the
! gold issue gold bonds. The country's
! credit, he said, had never been dcspaired
| CT because it's bonds were payable in coin,
! and he protested against making every OBJ
| legation of the government gold obliSa-
| ton.
That would be the effect of this bill.
He made vigorous argument in favor
| of the substitute he should offer, which
| was based on the principle of the Carlisle
| bill Uhe issue of circulation by banks on
| deposit of legal tenders), contending that
| this would get the greenbacks out of the
| way without increasing the interest-bear-
| ing debt of the country and without throw
| ing the country upon an absolute gold
| basis.
| Mr. Hall CMo.) followed in the same strain
| in support of the substitute.
He deprecated the further washing OF
| dirty linen on the floor of the House.
| The Administration Criticized.
Mr. Swanson Ua) bitterly criticised the
| administration. The present trouble was
due to two causes-deficiency of revenue
and the gold raid on the treasury. Con-
| gress passed the bill for the coming the
| The President vetoed it, That