The record-union., 1896-12-17

not care whether it was in the shape
Of import duties or internal revenue
taxes. He repeated that it was shame
and a disgrace that in a time of pro-
found peace the Government had on
account of insufficient revenue to issue
bonds. That was a reproaoh to Con-
gress; and the same thing would be
reproach to any government in Europe.
Therefore" he continued, Il do not
care in what form it comes, or on whose
motion. I am willing to take up the
Dingley bill The first thing to be done
is to provide an increase Of revenue, so
that the incoming administration may
not be compelled to go into debt every
year"
Vest remarked that the treasury
statement this month showed $126, O0O,-
900 in the treasury over and above the
gold reserve, and asked Sherman what
was to be done with all that money.
Sherman made a reply which was not
clearly responsive to the question, and
added that he was willing to have the
.Dingley bill taken up and passed, as
1T would provide enough revenue tenn
porarily. He commented upon the free
silver amendment put on that bill, and
said that 1t was a most cowardly eva
sion of a great and important duty.
That free silver amendment had been
introduced in order to defeat the Ding
ley bill. 1t had no place in the bill and
no connection with it. 1t had been put
there to prevent action in passing the
bill
Teller (Sil. R) of Colorado made his
way into the discussion, and declared
positively that it had been well known
that if every Republican Senator had
voted for the Dingley bill it would still
have lacked one of a majority, and it
was the mereSt pretense for anybody
to say that he had expected that bill
to become a law. 1t had not been in
troduced to be passed, and was not a
fit bill to pass. The Republican party,
he continued was about to come into
power. He would not be tempted now
to express an opinion as to how it had
secured that power Some other time
he would possibly do so. 1t was COM
ing into power with the promise and
pledge to the American people that the
distressed condition of affairs which
had existed for many years would dis
appear with the coming in Of the Re-
pub San party. If the era of conf
dence had struck the country he CTel-
ler) had failed 10 observe it. The Re-
publican party had a duty to do to the
American people, and it would not do it
by talking about the Dingley bill, I'M
less it said to the country that that was
the bill which it wanted He declared
emphatically that the Dingley bill
would never become a law, and that
there was not man on the floor who
did not know it. Why, therefore. he
asked, should the Senate spend time
over it.
Chaidler remarked with a point of
sarcasm that Republican Senators had
not begun the discussion, but that it
had been brought UP by the gentleman
from Nebraska, who had tried with the
Senator from Colorado to elect Mr.
Bryan.
And I am not sure" Teller broke in,
that we did not elect him." Haugh-
teri
Teller repeated his assertion that the
Dingley bill had not been introduced
to be passed. and that it was under
stood when it was introduced that it
could not be passed. 1t was introduced
for a political reason and to gain a
political advantage.
Hale R) of Maine said that 1T had
never occurred to him that the Dingley
bill was not to be passed In an honest
fashion and for an honest purpose, if
Republican Senators could do it,
Teller asserted that the Dingley bill
was political movement to distract
the attention of the American people
from the financial question.
German CD of Maryland agreed with
Teller in the last statement, and said
that the Dingley bill, even if it had be-
come law, would not have improved
the condition of the Treasury, and that
it was unjust and unequal. 1.-THE Pres
idential election" he added, "has
passed. The combinations of men and
interests made in that campaign are
now matters Of history. Republican
Senators have not the power to pass
such a monstrosity as the Dingley bill.
You have no time or inclination to re-
model it and make it a Republican
measure, and it is trifling with the bust
ness interests of the country to hold
out hope by continuous debate here
that some action will be taken on the
bill, when everybody knows that that
action is impossible"
Hale expressed the hope that the
Senate and country would take notice
of the statements Of Senators German
and Teller of the difficulties under
which the Republican party in the Sem
ate labored. There was no use in fight
ing for a bill, the passage of which was
clearly impossible. He agreed with
German in saying that it would be the
business of the Republicans at an early
session of Congressman the earlier the
bettea'-to take up the whole tariff
question and secure protective meas
ure moderate in its means. but suffi-
cient to give revenue to the Govern
ment and to properly protect Ameri-
can industries.
Gorman-You have succeeded. I will
not say how, in having the RESPONSE
oility. But you know that you cannot
accomplish anything substantial at this
session of Congress. You ought, there
fore, to stop this discussion and pre-
vent the upturning of the business in
terests of the country.
Platt (R) of Connecticut-Th SEN
ator from Maryland is quite right. We
never had chance to pass the Ding
ey bill in the Senate, and we have less
chance now than ever.
Sherman am inclined to think that
n view of the statements as to the
rnpossibility Of passing the Dingley
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