The record-union., 1895-02-19
Yesterday an Exciting Day in the
United States Senate.
UNRESTRICTED COINAGE ADVO.
GATES GAIN A VICTORY.
BY a Bold Parliamentary Move the
Silver Men, Under the Leadership
of Jones of Arkansas, Force Aside
Other Pending Business, and Make
the Silver Coinage Bill Unfinished

Speclal 10 Jte fSECOftD- y MON
WASHINGTON, Feb. lS-By bold par
iamentary move the silver men OF the
Senate under the leadership of Jones of
Arkansas, forced aside all other pending
business, including the appropriation
bills, and by vote of 80 to ~ made the
bill for the unrestricted coinage of silver
unfinished business before the Senate
Having succeeded in this move, Jones
gave notice that the silver bill would be
kept before the Senate until final ad-
iournment tomorrow.
From the strength shown to-day by the
silver men there was little doubt of Jones'
ability to secure the vote tomorrow, un-
less obstructive tactics or a test of ply
eical endurance are inaugurated, which is
regarded as unlikely.
The move OF the silver men came as the
climax of an exciting day in the Senate.
For two hours at the opening of the ses-
zion there was a renewal of the attack
and defense, the charge and counter
charge, concerning the course of the
President and Secretary of the Treasury
In negotiating the recent bond contract
with foreign bankers.
The two notable speeches of the day
Were made by Gray of Delaware, whose
relations with the Administration are
such that MS utterances in defense of the
President and Secretary were regarded
as rejecting the attitude of the eXecu-
tive branch, and Sherman Of Ohio, whose
financial views are always received with
marked attention.
Sherman's criticisms of the bond con-
tract were none the less severe because
of the calm and dispassionate way in
which he set forth what he termed sits
hard and impolitic' features and the ex-
SiXra rot a of n al on
year bonds. Sherman declared that no
bonds should be issued except to be taken
by the people of the United States, and
he asserted the abundant ability OF
Americans to furnish ali the gold neces-
sary.
The agricultural appropriation bill was
finally passed.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. lS.-The Senate
was the center of interest to-day, as the
result OF the warm discussion Of the
financial question and the personal criti-
cisms OF The President on Saturday.
Stewards resolution declaring that
the Government had no legal authority to
buy gold coin in preference to silver coin
Tor any cause whatever was called up.
Stewart spoke of the humiIiating posi-
tion OF the United States in being held by
the th' oat by a gold commission, which
had power 10 ''coerce and squeeze the
country up to next October, when The
contract expired.
Gray then took the floor. He expressed
surprise that the Senators from Massachu-
selts Lodge and Colorado (Wolcott) had
so far gone out of their way TO indulge IN
violent assaults upon the Executive.
The President had performed the duty
incumbent upon him by law. The law
was such that an evasion of IL would have
been plain derelictiOn OF duty. The
law made 1t necessary to maintain the
parity between the metals by redeeming
IN either. No sooner had Congress as
sembled than the President appealed to
Congress concerning financial conditions.
a bill was formed on the lines suggested
in that message, and the House tit to
reject it. Again the President applied 10
Congress.
cray then read from the Presidents
message, urging patriotic and bipartisan
action to meet the emergency.
docs the Senator think" interjected
Stewart, that the President has re-estab-
lished confidence in affairs by hiring the
assistance OF foreign syndlcate?"
Gray said he would fully consider that
point later.
Proceeding with the Presidents mes
sage. the Senator read the specific state
meut that the law did not provide for
bonds payable in gold. At that time
Lodge had not complained OF the coudi-
tions clearly SCI forth by the President.
but had waited until now 10 present a
scathing denuncation.
Having presented the situation to
both branches OF Congress in appeals al
most pathetic in their earnestuesS," >" said
Gray, ''the President was left alone to
struggle with the condition and meet it,"
The Senator told Of the tremendous
drains of gold from the treasury running
up to S7,OUO,OOO in one week shortly be-
fore the contract was made.
From December lst To the time of the
contract Sl7,00O,OUO was Withdrawn and
81 -FsarA
other half was boarded at home.
HAS the Senator lost sight OF the fact"
asked Wolcott, that the Secretary of the
Treasury has reported to us that he had
used Sl05, 100000 or more gold for current
expenses ?'
This did not divert Gray from his line
of argumsnt as TO the gold Withdrawals
for export and for boarding it at home.
Right here l want TO ASK said
PETER, sis there any law which compels
the Secretary OF the Treasury to pay de-
mand notes in gold instead or in sill
yer ?''
.'I have not said there was any such
law" replied Gray. II know of no such
law. But the obligation TO maintain the
parity between the metals makes it abso-
lutely incumbent to treat the metals
equally"
Sherman did not desire TO enter any
personal criticism of the President OF of
the Secretary OF the Treasury. They had
made bad bargain, that Is all, said he.
but, being a bargain, we must live up
to il.
The agricultural appropriation bill was
then passed, alter which there was an
effort TO get recognition from every side
OF the Chair. IL was clearly a fight be-
tween the silver bill, the appropriation
bills and the pooling bills. Jones of Ar
kansas, in charge OF the silver bill, sue
ceeded in getting first recognition, and
moved to take up the silver bill. The
effect OF this, II adopted, was to clsplace
the bankruptcy bill and ell other meas
ures. and bring the silver bill to the front
1or struggle and vote.
Hale OF Maine moved to adjourn. There
was an ave-and may vote. The friends Of
the silver bill voting against adjourn
nent The motion TO adjourn was de-
feated by II to 80, a signal victory for the
silver men.
German then made a move to get the
appropriation bills after the silver Bill
He urged that the Indian appropriation
bill be taken UP. Call having made u
motion TO that effect, German cited tho
rule that motion TO take up an appro-
Driation bill was specially privileged.
frue discussion was sharp anu exciting,
showing the intense interest felt by Sen
ators at the outcome.
The Vice President held the motion Of
Call to be In order. Then an aye-anu- nay
vote was taken on his motion to take up
the Indian bill, and thus cat oil the silver
hill. The motion was deieated-ayes %,