Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-02-20
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.
SENATE.


SENATE.
In accordance with the order made
yesterday the Senate met to-day at II
o'clock, which is to be the regular
hour of meeting till the fourth of March
next. There was fair attendance Of
Senators 10 the chamber when the pro.
ceedings opened.
The Vice President having laid before
the Senate the resolution offered last
night by Mr.. Wolcott declaring it as the
sense of the Senate that consideration
of the silver bill should not be entered
upon at this session Of Congress. MIR.
Jones, who had charge of that bill, said:
II wish to say that the friends
of the regular order-the pending
silver bill-have no disposition to
incur the risk of an extra session.
We so stated at the beginning. De-
velopments have been shown that
while the friends of the measure have
majority in this body, it is imposii-
BILE to pass the bill at the present late
day of the session without mourning a
very grave danger to the appropriation
bills and an extra session. Under
these circumstances the friends of the
silver measure have authorized me to
say that they will not further proceed
at this session of Congress"
No comment was made on this an
nouncement by any Senator, and no
formal action was taken on the resolu-
ton.
Other business having interviewed,
the silver bill was made the text for
speech by Mr.. Higgins, who referred to
its status as legislation let alone, and
said that all that the bill amounted to
-inasmuch as it could not become
law-was declaration of policy and
that the resolution Of the Senator from
Colorado meant just the same thing.
Mr.. Higgins's speech was interrupt
ed at IL O'clock by the Vice President,
who announced the close of the morn
ing hour and the taking up of the un-
flushed business, being the silver bill.
"Let it be laid aside informally"
Mr.. Jones suggested, $50 as to allow
the Senator from Delaware to conclude
his remarks"
~ must appeal to the Senator from
Delaware" Mr.. German broke in, 'as
we'll as the Senator from Arkansas, to
cease this discussion at this time. All the
great appropris ion bills are pending in
the Senate or in committee; and it will
be almost impossible to have fair con-
sideration of them unless we begin now.
l must appeal to the Senator from Del
aware in the public interest, to give
way, and to permit me to make mo-
ton that the Senate proceed to the con-
sheraton of the Indian appropriation
bill.n
After further discussion Mr.. German
made his motion and Mr.. Butler, who
desired to go on with the pooling bill,
demanded the yeas and nays. The vote
was taken, and the motion was agreed
to-.yeas IS, nays -. The negative votes
were given by Senators Blanchard,
Butler, Camden, Cameron, Faulkner,
Hunton, Jones of Arkansas, Lindsay,
Martin, Mitchell of Wisconsin, Quay,
aud Wolcott. The effect of the vote
was to displace the silver bill-remit-
ting it to the calendar-and to bring
the Indian appropriation bill before the
Senate. On this bill Mr.. Higgins re-
sumed the floor and went on with the
delivery of his speech on the silver bill.
An amendment to Mr.. Wolcott's res
olution was presented by Mr.. Msnder-
son, to be offered when that resolution
comes up again, but as it has gone to
the calendar it can only be taken up by
vote of the Senate. The amendment
is to add to the first clause which de-
clared in favor of law for the free and
unlimited coinage of silver, these words:
Provided that efforts should be press
ed by the United States to induce in
ternational bi-metallism and any leg
islation for the free coinage of silver
should provide for the maintenance of
tho parity between both metals, to
which the faith of this country has been
repeatedly pledged"
Mr.. Chandler said that in Difference
to the prevailing opinion of New Eng
land and because it may be unwise to |
open our own minis to the unlimited |
coinage of silver, without concurrent
action upon the part of other great ma
tions, he would vote against the pending
resolution.
Mr.. Daniel replied to the speech of |
Mr.. Higgins, which was, he said, dis
NAL and pitiful picture of the distress
now pervading the civilized world. |
That Distress" Mr.. Daniel said, twas
widespread. He might say:
"From Greenlsnd's icy mountains
To midas coral strand"
While tina. Ssratcr had C lied attention |
to starving Manchester and to de- |
graded India he had told the Senator but |
little of the distress which pervaded his
own country in consequence of the ill.
conceived and ill-considered action of |
Congress in repeating the purchase
clause of the Sherman act. Not single |
of those which were made by
the friends of that repeal had been full
filled; but the prediction which he (Mr.
DanieD had then stated in his argu-
ment against the repeal had been
fulfilled. he had predicted that
the unconditional repeal of the
purchase clause of the Sherman
law would be followed by a de-
cline in the price of silver. by further
decline in the prices of property, bonds
and securities, and by an attempt to re.
tire the greenbacks; and all these pre-
dictions had been fulfilled. The demo
cratic party which had pledged itself to