The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-07-31
The GREET DEBaTE.
Silver and Gold Face
to Face.
A Historical Discussion
Read Both Sides.
Harvey "Proves His Case" by Cit.
ing the Actual Debate as 1t
Occurred in Congress.
REPORT FOR SATURDAY, JULY 20.

The following is complete report of
the HorrHarvey debate of Saturday af-
ternoon:
Copyright, 1895, by Azel F. Hatch)
Mr.. Harvey-The debate so far is Of
value In this: 1t shows first that gold
and silver is the money of the const;tu-
ton. 2. That the silver dollar of 371A
grains of pure silver was the unit of val
lie IN our monetary system and regulated
the other coins in our coinage system
from 1892 to 1873. 3. That silver and
gold in concurrent coinage was until 1873
the standard and measure of values of all
other property and the basic principal of
our monetary system 4. That prior to
1873 when one metal increased in ex-
change value over the other the debtor
had right to pay in the cheaper met
al (See question on second by Mr.. Mot
singer, Of Indiana, and answer of Mr..
Horr). 5. That silver was not demone
tiZed by the act of 1873 on account of the
over production of silver (see question by
Mr.. Sibley, of Pennsylvania, and answer
by Mr.. Horn on the third day of the de-
BATE. 6. That $143, 100000 of silver
was coined by our minis prior to 1873
This debate is of great value in removing
these points of doubt, that are now more
or less subjects of general discussion, and
brings us nearer to the issue in the con-
trOversy.
l wish in the way of summary to say
that l have made no charge in this de-
bate rejecting upon the general integri-
ty of the American people, and l do not
intend that those corrupt in official life
shall throw around themselves the cloak
of the integrity of the American people
for their protection (applause) Nor did
l say, as it was attempted to be con-
strued, that every man has his price.
said that that saying had it's origin in the
corrupt English parliament at time
when history tells us that bribery was
common, and nearly all, or a large por-
ton, of the members of that parliament
were subject to the accusation of bribery
Were it true that the integrity of the
American people as whole could be i'm
peached, remedy for what we are now
discussing would be fruitleSs in the at
tempt 1t is on that integrity that we
rely and to that integrity that we appeal
(applause).
KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
Mr.. Horn in his closing speech at the last
session, refers to what Mr.. Potter says as
to the last support of the bill before the
house, and accuses me of unfairness in
not reading the whole of Mr.. Potter's
speech | called your attention to Mr.
Potter's speech to show you that the in
PRODUCTION of this mint bill at the time it
was before the house, excited his suspi-
cion, showing that it was inappropriate to
be considered at that period. Mr.. Potter
was suspicious. 1t was a congress in
which it was natural to be suspicious
Mr.. Potter was satisfied that something
was wrong back Of the bill, and by follow
ing his speech through you see that Mr.
Potter thought that it was speculation
in nickel; that the bill provided for the
recoining of the cent pieces the way
Hooper had it then before the house, by
making these cent pieces largely of nickel,
and Potter, from the experience of that
congress and the numerous investigating
committees there were in session, sup
posed that that was where there was
something wrong or corrupt. Mr. Pot
ter was not a bimetallist in the sense of
understanding bimetalliSm, or he would
have seen what was behind the bill, and
later in this discussion l asked Mr. Horn
to explain the inconsistency between Mr.
Hooper's assertion as to the bill being fair
and Mr.. Potter's suggestion that it made
a change in the coinage system That
was on April 8. Mr.. Potter and Mr..
Brooks, both suspicious of the BILL de-
feated its being taken up on that day, and
the bill went over, and on May q it again
comes before the house, not in the form of
the bill which Mr.. Hooper had been
pressing, but in the form of new bill.
This time Mr.. Hooper presented it in the
form of a substitute. Mr.. Hooper called
up the bill offered as substitute and
closed with this propositions: 81 move
that the rules be suspended and that the
substitute be put on it's passage"
Whether the change of the unit from sill
yer to gold was in the bill up to that mo-
ment is not certain. We have only Mr..
Hooper's manuscript speech; it may have
been in the substitute. At any rate this
remarkable debate followed (Vol. ILL.,.
page 3S) May q, 1872:
"Mr. Brooks-I ask the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Hooper, to POSTPONE
this motion until his colleague in the COM
mittee, my colleague from Ney York (Mr.
Potter, is in his seat. 1t is my impress
sion that he does not concur in the sub
stitute.
This is the suspicious Potter.
''Mr. Hooper, of Massachusetts-It is
so late in the session that must decline
waiting any longer.
"Mr. Brooks-I would again suggest to
the gentleman that he should wait un-
til my colleague comes in.
'Mr. Hooper, cannot do so.
"Mr. Holman--I suppose it is intended to
have the bill read before it is put upon it's
passage.
'The Speaker-The substitute will be
read.
"Mr Hooper, hope not It is a long
bill and they who are interested in it
are perfectly familiar with it's provisions.
"Mr. Kerr want the house to UNDER
pended so as to dispense with the reading
Of the bill.
"The Speaker-They can be.
"Mr. Kerr want the house to under
stand that it is attempted to put through
this bill without being read.
1.-The Speaker-Does the gentleman
from Massachusetts,, Mr.. Hooper, move
that the reading of the bill be dispensed
with?
"Mr. Hooper, of Mass-I will will so
frame my motion that it will dispense
with the reading of the BILL
Here was an attempt to pass a bill, a
bill to regulate the life blood of the ma
ton, without being read. (Applause)
THE DEBASEMENT OF SILER.
/ now come to the most important part
of the bill, which omits the coinage of the
silver dollar and afirms the debased sill
yer coinage Of half dollars and below I'M
der the tender limit of five dollars. ]
am aware, of course, that through the
amendment Of 1853 the same debased
coinage was already established, but al
: though the absolute coinage of the silver
dollar had actually ceased, still that was
not abolished by law.
Now listen: Here is the man that they
said came over to buy up the American
congress in favor Of demonetizing silver
GAS this 10 a new bill and presumably
L repeats all previous enactments. I sup