The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-06
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
BOurI<e Cochran Makes Vigorous
Speech AEainst the Bill.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-Another day in
the House was consumed by debates over the
Carlisle currency plan in which Representa-
tive Cochran, OF New York, was the most
conspicuous figure. Mr.. Cochran held the
floor for more than an hour, spoke with
his accustomed vigor and eloquence, pro-
voked many questions from the opposition
and held the attention of members and gal
leries closely. He opposed the bill through
out and declared himself in favor of the
Baltimore plan. Mr.. Lacey also spoke in
opposition, while Mr.. Boatner and Mr..
Catchings exhorted their party to unite in
support Of tho measure. 8
The only business done by the House in
the morning hour was concurrence in the
Senate amendments to a bill for the relief
of Zimri Elliott, of Kansas, and resolu-
ton to pay the funeral expenses of Col.
VIM. T. Fitch, for twenty-one years
doorkeeper in the House, and who died
Christmas day.
The debate on the currency bill be-
gun by Mr.. Boatner, who expressed sur
prise at the opposition to the measure
which had developed on the Democratic
side of the House. He paid tribute TO
the abilities of Secretary Carlisle and dwelt
on the duty of supporting him, which, ne
said. rested on Democrats.
In the course of the speech Mr.. Bland put
several questions to show that the admin
istration had adopted gold policy and
finally declared that its financial platform
was a fraud if there was no intention to
carry it out, asserting that the platforms
should mean something.
Mr. Boatner asked IL Mr.. Bland had not
been supporter of the President in the
last campaign, whereupon Mr.. Bland re-
sponded that, he had supported the plat,
that the party had gone down in igno-
minious defeat for it's treachery and fraud.
Mr. Pence brought up Secretary Carlisles
2lV0CacV "A
House in supporting the Matthews resolu-
ton and asked II soon after accepting, the
treasury portfolio he had not announced his
intention of paying some of the government
obligations in silver.
revive free silver as q factor of the currency
question.
Democratic party on Republican lines and
no mugwump can change it's policy"
Mr. Boatner continued that 1t was the mis-
take of the century when the administration
refused to pay obligations in silver as we'll
as gold. I'VE should no longer keep our
selves on exhibition Mr.. Boatner conclud-
ed ''as unable to agree on a single measure
that promises relief to the people"
Mr.. Lacey followed in opposition to the
bill
There was the usual filling of seats and
galleries when Mr.. Cochran arose in the
first aisle of the Democratic side and de-
plored that the tendency to treat the meas
ure as party one was likely to wreck it
on the rocks of political expediency. The
vote of confidence in the Democratic party
in 1892 had been reversed, he said, and he
did not think the constitutional pro-
vision which allowed the party to
retain power until March war
ranted it in passing party acts
.AG agitation without result which would
ruff1e restored business tranquility had bet
ter be dropped he said. If this House
succeeds in establishing a monetary sys-
tenn based on human reason and experience
of experts its last days will not be without
profit or devoid of honor" he declared
There were, In his opinion. questions on
which legislatures could divide along party
fnes with advantage, but this was not one
OF them. He said there were many qlfes-
tions on which mankind had differed from
the beginning of civilization. and the ques4
tions connected with the finances and po-
litical economy We're among those over
which there had been most dispute Never
theless he ccntended that laws controlling
these questions we're immutable, and to
obey them was to bring blessings, to ignore
them. the reverse. We can. he declared
no more affect the economic laws by our
legislation than we can by the same means
affect the laws governing the seasons
Mr.. Cochran asked that the question now
a. issue he cQqsi3fred m the basis cg these
a