The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-08
SNRMISHINe IN THE SENATE.
PEPPERS RESOLUTION ADOPTED
AFTER A DEBATE.

Tors Take n Hand in the DISCUS
sion by InterrOgating Hr. Palmer
Mr.. Hill Warns His Democratic
Colleagues.
Washington. May I'm the Senate to-
day "a resolution. directing the commits
sioner Of agriculture 10 report TO the SEN
ate Immediately the reason for the delay
in distributing seeds. was offered by Mr-
GalIinger and agreed TO-
The resolution for an inquiry as 20 bond
sales in ISgl-e5-95 was taken up. and Mr.
Palmer. dem. or Illinois. addressed the
Senate. He felt that the animus of the res
olution was 10 affect the public mind with
reference TO the silver question He did
not suppose that any senator except per-
hans the senator from South Dakota, Mr..
Petugrew), questioned the integrity Of the
Secretary Of the Treasury. The secreta-
rvs judgment perhaps, might possibly be
disputed. and the correctness of his acts
might be ques toned. He Ont. Palmer had
opposed the resolution because he believed
that its purpose was to procure material
10 affect uufavorably the public mind on
the silver question.
Much of Mr.. Palmers argument was adj
dressed to the question: How much the
commercial value Of the silver dollar would
be affected under free and unlimited coin
age.
The answer given by Mr.. Cockren was
that the commercial value of the gold dol
lar. and Of the silver dollar would be
equal-that the silver dollar would APP
preciate some, and the gold dollar depre-
ciate some.
Then" said Mr.. Palmer, "the point
where they unite would be the standard
of values. instead of gold, the present
standard of value"
He read an editorial from a Philadelphia
paper discussing Mr.. McKinley's position
on the silver question. Mckinley he
added 'Is to be the republican candidate
for the presidency. understood that the
opposition to him has practically failed.
] only protest that there should be IN this
contest distinct clear, precise platforms
adopted by the political parties. and have
sought this morning TO endeaVOr to clear
away something of the confusion which
attends this discussion. We have this hope
this va3n this illusOry hope-that we can
bring up a 6S cent ounce of silver to 81 %
ounce-which covers the comparative diff
ference between the values of the two me-
tails"
ure of value" Mr.. Carter, rep, Of Mon
tana, broke in, Il ask the senator from
Illinois TO state whether or not he agrees
the purchasing power OF gold has con-
stantly appreciated since 1873
No do not agree with It," Mr.. Palmer
Does the senator from Illinois," Mr.
Carter asked, agree with the further pre-
position that the prices Of the products of
human toll and the toll itself. as meas
ured in gold, have deprecated in value
since 1872"
''Yes, / agree to that" said Mr.. Palmer.
Mr.. Carter was proceeding to put further
questions, but Mr. Palmer declined to be
catechised until his own question was an
swered
81 believe will ask the senator from III
inois a question" Mr.. Harris broke in If
the senator was the owner Of silver bullion
and had the right TO have IL coined at
4l2l3 grains TO the dollar-a full legal ten
der dollar-would he sell that silver bullion
al less than AA to the ounce2"
i have got every sort of answer" Mr..
Palmer replied from my friends who are
in favor of free currency except direct
answer"
my answer is" Mr.. Harris exclaimed.
that free coinage would bring silver up
to par"
meant by an alluslon in his speech TO
snap conventions" and was Informed
that il refererd to conventions last year in
Missouri and Illinois.
Mr.. Vest reverted to the question of snap
conventions, and after an allusion TO the
recent extension of the civil service re-
form to the dismissal of District Attorney
Benton in Missouri in 1888 for speaking at
a democratic convention, and TO the fact
that members of the present democratic
administration had been allowed to make
speeches in their own and other states in
opposition to free silver, he wound up his
speech with the words: Il serve notice
now, that II this convention at Chicago is
TO be made up of federal office holders
brought there TO OVeraWe and OVerrule the
wishes of the honest majority of the dem
ocralc party throughout the United States
II is no democratic convention with me. /
will abide the viii of the majority of the
party honestly assembled. i make no
threats. But I want no misunderstanding
ings. The democratic party is the partv
OF honest expression and not of federal
Hr. Hill remarked that the discussion
seemed to be a sort of prelude to the DEM
ocratic national convention at Chicago.
Inc date Of that convention had been
fixed for July Z and he did not propose to
anticipate any of the difficulties which
would confront the democracy at that
time. On the question of snap conven-
tons, he suggested, good humoredly, that
he might be allowed to speak upon il as
an expert. CLaughter) In order to avoid
any snap convention in the state of New
York this year the democracy proposed to
have the latest convention of all the
states. Mr.. Hlll then went on to discuss
the bond resolution and he questioned Mr..
PetugreW as to the authenticity of a let
ter which that senator had read in his
speech last Tuesday, remarking that the
treasury department knew nothing about
Mr.. Pettigrew's response was that that
was one Of the questions to be invesu-
rs that all the answer the senator can
serious tones. mo, Mr.. President, that
will not do. 1t viii not do. / pass it,
Yes; that will be one of the phases of the
proposed Investigation. l VIII await, and
/ ask the Senate TO await, with much in
terest, as to whether that allegation Of
the senator from South Dakota will be
sustained, and there 1 leave it."
Mr.. Hin contended that Mr.. Carlisle
should be treated courteously as Mr..
Sherman and Mr.. Boutwell,, while Secre-
taries Of the Treasury, had been treated
in like circumstances. The finance COM
mittee, if it desired, information as to
recent bond issues, might have sent for
Mr.. Carlisle, who would have gladly fur
nished it. There was, therefore, no neces-
sity for the resolution, and he was oD-
posed TO it, although its most offensive
feature "a select committee, had been elm
mated.
Addressing the senator's of his own
party, Mr.. Hill said: Democrats, be not
deceived This is a useless, an unneces-
sary proceeding. Il is an attack on your
Secretary of the Treasury. Ii is putting
him TO annoyance and trouble You are
playing into the hands of your opponents
republicans and populists. I do not
think 1t is wise proceeding I do not
think Il IS polite proceeding. 1t is now
IN the hands Of the Senate. / shall vote
against it, if l am the only man to do so. d