Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-02-19
SILVER TO THE FRONT.
Western Men Get a Free Coin-
 age Bill Before the Senate.
IT IS TO BE FORCED TO A VOTE.
Senator Gray DiscIoses the Fact That the Bond Contract Was Signed at a Moment When the Treasury Could No Longer Meet the Demands Made Upon It For Gold.

Senator Gray DiscloSes the Fact That the
 Bond Contract Was Signed at a Moment
 When the Treasury Could No Longer Meet
 the Demands Made Upon It For Gold.
 wAsHINGToN, Feb. 19-By a bold par liamentary move the silver men of the sen. ate, under the leadership of Senator Jones of Arkansas, forced aside all other pend. ing business, including appropriation bills, and by a vote of 80 to 27 made tho bill fol the unrestricted coinage of silver the un- finished business before the senate.
 Having succeeded in this, MT Jones gave notice that the silver bill would be kept before the senate until u final vote was secured before adjournment today. From the strength shown by the silver men on the votes there was little doubt of MT. Jones ability to secure the vote today unless obstructive tactics and a test of physical endurance are inauguratcd.
 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 session there was a renewal of the attack and de- fense, the charge and Countcrchargc, con cerning the course of the president and the secretary of the treasury in negotiating the recent bond contract with foreign bank CTS.
 
 were made by Mir Gray of Delaware, whose relations with the administration are such that his utteranccs in defense of the prcsi- dent and secretary were regarded as re- hecting the attitude of the executive branch, and by MT. Sherman of Ohio, whose financial views are always received with marked attention.
 Gray BIames Congress.
 .I. the bond contract on congress- asserting that the president had fully warned con greSs of the inevitable result if the present financial laws were not revised. The sen ator declared that the drain of gold had become so tremendous that the subtreas- ury at New York might not hold out an- other 24 hours, In this crisis the president had acted quickly in order to maintain the parity of the metals and thus uphold the honor of the country. Mir Gray as serted that the people of the country would not forget that the American congress had deserted the president in the hour of trial
 MT. Sherman's criticisms of the bond contract were none the less severe because Of the calm and dispassionate manner in which he set forth what he termed tits hard and impolitic" features, and the tex cesSive" rate of interest allowed on 30 year bonds <Mr. 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 Ameri- cans to furnish all the gold necessary. The Ohio senator did not, however question the president position in favor of gold payments, but presented the facts nf all bond issues since 1869. showing that the government had always received gold for its bonds ana was bound by common hon. esty to pay ill gold.
 The agricultural appropriation bil! was finally passed
 In the house the day, under the rules, was suspension day Four bills Were in this manner considercd-to promote the efficiency of the revenue cutter service, to equaliZe the pensions of Mexican veterans by making them all $l! per month under the general law, to equalize the duties and pay of steamboat inspection service, and to authorize the Altamoate Water com pany to construct dams across the St Louis and Cloauct rivers
 The first and last bills failed to secure the necessary tNVot thirds. The bill to equal ize the pay of Mexican veterans will bene- fit about l7,o00 pensioners by increasing their pensions an aggregate of $l, GOO, 900 A bill was passed to grant to the state of Alabama for public uses the Mount Yer non military reservation. The last hour was devoted to discussion of point of order raised by Mir. Savers against an item in the naval appropriation bill.