Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-01
A MASTERLY EFFORT [ In Behalf of the Honor of the
 Government
MADE BY SENATOR G0RMAN
An Appeal to the Patriotism of His Colleagues, Which Was
 Not Without Avail.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-Ioday' session of the house was sgnalized by the appear ance of Speaker Crisp in the presiding off, cer's chair and by the service of MT. Ever cit, democrat, of Massachusetts, in the chaplain's stead. MT. Crisp was greeted with applause by the score of members pres ent when he called the house to order at Il o'clock.
 Before proceeding with the discussion of the Pacific railroad reiunding bill house bill was passed establishing a code of regu- lation, governing the navigation of the great lakes and connecting waters.
 Saturday, February 23, was set apart for the delivery of eulogies upon the late Sena- tor Vance of North Carolina.
 Several private bills were passed and at 12 o'clock the house went into committee of the whole, MT. Cookery, democrat, ot Missouri, in the chair, to further discuss the Reilly Pacific railroad debt refunding bill. The passage of the refunding bill was opposed by MT. Harris, populist, of Kan sas Mir. Boatnor, democrat, of Louislanai Mir. SnodgIass, democrat, of Tennessee, and Mir. Cooper, republican, of Wisconsin, and advoca ted by MT. Powers, republican, of Vermont, and MT. Lockwood, demo- crat, of New York.
 The committee rose at 5:50 o'clock and a0lOQrneQ until tomorrow db Il U CiOCk ds ID. the first hour of the session to be de- voted to general debate on the pending bill.
 IN THE SENATE.
 Everything of interest that took place in the senate today circled around the finance situation.
 During the morning hour there was a discussion upon resolution offered some days ago by Mir. Allen, populist, or Ne braska, as to the reason why the United States notes were not paid in silver coin, as the secretary of the treasury has the dis cretionary power under the law to pay them. The resolution went over until to- morrow without action.
 Then the District of Columbia appro< priation bill was brought up by MT. 0or- man with the purpose, as he alter wards avowed, of shutting out the financial topici but the purpose failed, because the bill led to a discussion late in the afternoon in which very important statements were made by MT. Allison and Mir. Gorman, the latter declaring bis belief-he might say his knowledge-that if financial relief were provided in no other way the senate would, before midday on the Sd ot Marchs place on an appropriation bill provision that would save the country from impend-t ing disaster, so that the honor and credit of the government should be maintained, and that the country would stand before the world the foremost nation in the mat ter of observing obligations.
 MT. German said that in the last days of Mir. Harrison's 8 admin istration the appro- priations exceeded by Sl00, ,oOO, ,OOO the fnnds in the treasury, and that bankruptcy had only been warded off by postponing from time to time appropriations for pensions, for the navy, for public buildings and Tor rivers and harbors. President Harrison and his secretary of the treasury had not hesitated to say frankly to senators on both sides of the chamber: i've are reaching a point of distress. We have reached a point where we cannot meet our obligations without the aid of congress.
 And they had come to the senate to get that aid. But it was in the midst of the presidential election and nobody on either side thought it wise, proper or polite to bring the question up except to state the facts. He (Gorman) had then given the warning to the senate and to the country that no matter whether the democratic party came into power or not there were but two things to be done'-either to ln- crease taxation or to borrow money by the issue of bonds. The presidential election had passed over and the democratic party had been swept into power. Then 1t was that, with greater frankness than ever, the republican president and secretary of the treasury suggested to the democratic seu- ators to authorize the issue of $50, ,000, 900 in bonds to keep the gold reserve intact. And there was put in provision for the issue of $50, ,OCO GOO in 8 per cent bonds.
 MT. Aldrich-Why did not that provision stay there? ', uo. ,.,.os ,o .,,o where.
 MT. Aldrich-Why was it not agreed to elsewhere?
 MT. Gorman-Another body was imbued with the idea that the government could be run by reducing taxation. The fact is that the authority to issue bonds was refused. A majority of congress refused to recognize the fact that the treasury was in bad cou dition, and Legislation providing for reve- nue was made, which will be amply suffi- cient after 1896. But no provision has been made by congress for this condition of affairs, which existed when we came into power. We inherited it. It was an awful load. That we have not met it frankly by m aking temporary provision for taxes for this year was misfortune. It has been met in part by the sale of S10O, COG, 1000 of bonds, producing SIS ,000 ,000. Every dollar of that has been used to pay the current expenditures of the govern ment, save what small amount is now in the treasury. Aud the treasury stands to- day with appropriations made by congress (which are demands upon it) to the amount of over S100, ,000, ,000 more than there is money in the treasury to meet. It is crisis. It is one that will appeal to every patriotic heart It must be met. This government is able to pay every dollar of it's debts in the soundest money in the world. All that is necessary is to face the question as patriots and as American sena- tors and before we leave here make pro- visions for the treasury.
 believe that this senate, which has met every crisis in the history of the govern ment, this senate which doesVot take &C., count of storms brewing outside, this sen ate which has never yet bowed to a ~demagogue, this senate which will main- tain. the credit of the government, no mat ter what it costs, will, before this ngress adjourns--if<i it does not come from else- where, as it ought to do-place upon an appropriation bfA~ provision enough to pay every honest obligation of the government that has been contracted and to keep the administration (no natter which party it may be) in position soNthat the honor of the government and the NeTedit of the government shall be maintained, and we will continue to stand before the eWorld the foremost nation in the matter of observing
 MT. German delivered these rapid hen- tences with great force aud earnestnehs and his>words were listened to with tho greatest attention aud interest.
 Continuing he said: 1 care nothing about these little details. call it details. though I ought not to use that word. But, in the present emergency, it is a matter of Il t.. ,,t,