The Indianapolis journal., 1896-01-28

opinion Of the Attorney-general which is
inconsistent with the prior work of the de-
Mr. Hansbrough proceeded 10 show that
the Secretary advertised for seeds in a
technical way and, receiving no bids, re-
fused 10 readvertlse. The Senator con-
tinued: 1T was the pain duty of the Sec
retary If he were faithful in the perform
anee an; Of that duty ana deslred to execute ns
10 have earnestly endeavored TO aid bid
ders in Offering seeds of the kind and char
acter that the law demanded and the Sec
rotary required Instead OF this he re-
jectei al OF the bids on technical grounds.
forthwith abolished the seed division OF his
department and announced that there
would be no seeds purchased and distributed
under the appropriation bill for the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1S96. In his stii~.I,~. ut
a few days ago, the Secretary said he
was not opposed on principle 10 the pur-
chase and distribution OF seeds. Later In
the proceedings he admitted that from his
view of the case such purchase and dis
tri5ution was paternaiistic and in conflict
with his party creed. leave the Secretary
TO Justify these statements, one with the
Altogether the position OF the Secretary
In this matter is exceedingly lame. That he
deliberately set out TO d.scbey the manoate
of Congress there can be no doubt. That
he is personally opposed to the purchase
and distribution of seeds Of any character,
whether they be rare uncommon, or
otherwise, there is no question, ard so we
have here a case In which high execu-
tive Ofncer QellDerdtely sets aside the law
OF Congress, and ! say that 1t Is not SO
much the value OF the seeds or the good
results that come from their distribution
as Ii is the settlement OF the question as
to whether departmental official shall
disobey the legislative authority. He was
opposed to this appropriation at the outset
aod o IN II a 9 to carly Gq out
that law he has placed every obstacle in
the way of its execution and has finally
discuss the prcpriety OF the government
distribution of seeds IS when the act for the
appropriation of money comes up before the
proper committee OF Congress. The great
question above all others is the contumac-
ious conduct of the secretary. Can an off,
Ger OF the executive branch Of the govern
ment, who is in effect high salaried clerk,
defiantly and stubbornly refuse to carry
into effect the. acts Of Congress OF the
United States"
tiles OF the Secretary OF Agriculture, but
added that the Secretary did not always
confine himself TO mis- proper sphere. He
was apt to discuss finance. usurping to
some extent the functions of the Secretary
Mr.. George said the Senate could not
act rs a court and issue its mandamus 10
the Secretary of Agriculture. Mr.. Hans
brough. he said was acting as a prosecut-
ing attorney and was arraigning the Secre-
tary of Agriculture as though impeach-
ment proceedings were contemplated.
NELSON AGAINST FREE SILVER.
At o'clock the Hansbrough resolution
went over until tomorrow and the silver
bond bill was taken up. Mr.. Nelson ad-
dressed the Senate for the first time since
he entered the Senate. He read from man.
uscript and spoke in a clear, strong voice.
Mr.. Nelson said the free and unlimited
coinage OF silver at the ratio of 16 to 1
by the United States alone at this time
and under existing conditions would de-
stroy the last vestige and the last hope Of
genuine bimetallism, and would reduce us
to a state of silver monometallism with
metallic money associates. metal may
be freely coined. he argued, and yet be
powerless to maintain itself in circulation.
1t is the principle of interconvertibility in
law and practice that has kept and is keep
ing cur large volume of silver currency in
circulation on a parity with gold. The
American people are in favor of ample and
complete bitmetallic circulation; Ii is be-
cause they have good ground to fear that
free and unlimited silver coinage would de-
stroy such bimetallism that they are op-
posed to such coinage. When every other
argument fails the advocates of free silver
appeal to our prejudices and say that by
aiming to keep our money up TO the gold
standard we are merely knuck.ing down TO
England, putting ourselves in her grasp,
and placing ourselves at her mercy. Eng
land. said Mr.. Nelson, occupies the vantage
ground because her exchanges are made in
the universal money of the world. The
United States should stand at the head of
the Industrial and commercial world. If
We would win that high place we must ad-
here to the universal money standard of the
world.
Mr.. Bacon followed, It being also his first
speech since he entered the Senate He
spoke deliberately and with earnestness.
The Senator said that the irrepressble con-
fiict over the restoration of silver, which
had been waged for twenty years, must
speedily be settled. Mr.. Bacon compared
gold mOnometaEism with the true bimetal-
lism-namely, silver and gold as primary
money. The evidences were abundant that
gold alone was not sufficient for all redemp-
tion purposes. The United States continued
paying gold only by continual borrowing
at a ruinous cost. OF the seven great pow
ers, only Great Britain and Germany had
sufficient god to maintain gold payments
At the present time the United States stood
begging the world for gold. Although the
richest nation on the globe, We are rapidly
becoming the vassals of England, said Mr.
Bacon. Bonds are being issued for the sole
purpose OF maintaining the single gold
standard. The Senator compared the coun-
trys approval of the Presidents attitude on
Venezuela with its disapproval of his finan-
cial subserviency TO England. The people
should know that these vast bond issues
were the price or maintaining the single
gold standard. Mr.. Bacon expressed his
belief that there was no law warranting
the issue of bonds and said If there was
There was sharp colloquy between Mr.
Bacon, Mr.. Hill. Mr. Lindsay and Mr.. Stew
art as to whether the demand for gold was
caused by the desire to maintain gold pay
ments or the redemption of greenbacks II
developed the new Senator from Georgia to
be an active and skillful debater Mr. Ba-
con showed a cost of S40O0.0O0 annually to
the State of Georgia in meeting its share
of bond obligations incurred by the gov
ernment
Mr.. Lodge then offered his amendment to
the pending bond silver bill He said the
amendment had no bearing on the main
financial issue involved, but was merely
practical plan to build necessary coast de-
fenses.
AT 4:50 o'clock the Senate went into exec
utive session and at 5:06 D. m. adjourned un-
til tomorrow.
Willy POPULIST