Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-02-06

party never known in the days of
democratic Justice, charged with wild,
fantastic theories of social disorder and
wilder schemes of remedy, threatening,
should it grow apace, no one can fore
tell what violence of social tempest
AS Mr.. Villas proceeded there were oc-
casional sharp exchanges between him
and other senators. Mr. Mitchell inter-
jected question as to the bond trans
action of last year. Mr.. Villas justified
the course taken under the exigencies
of the time, while Mr.. Mitchell de-
nominated the course of the bond pur-
chasers in buying on the theory of
silver payments and yet demanding
and expecting gold payments as a
"bunco game"
Mr. Bate (dem.) of Tennessee ad-
dressed the senate in support of the
silver amendment. He said he was
unable to support either of the fiscal
measures sent to the senate from the
house, as an emergency tariff bill in
creases taxes not necessary to the sup
port of the government and the gold
bond bill imposes heavy burden, both
present and future. Trade and business
desired rest from tariff agitation for
at least two years With an existing
surplus Of $175,000,000 in the treasury,
there was no justification for another
tariff agitation. Mr.. Bate quoted the
assurances of the president and secre-
tary of the treasury that the present
financial embarraSSmentS were not due
to a deficiency of revenue Mr.. Bate
combatted what he termed the fiction
of a gold reserve. 1t had created
danger signal" until private corpora
lions now placed gold payments in
their bonds. The senator referred to a
recent loan by a Norfolk, Va, corpor-
alton of S1,000,000 per cent forty-year
bonds, payable II gold" In cOnclu-
sion, Mr.. Bate commended the pending
clouds of doubt and restoring silver to
its sovereign rights.
Mr.. Pasco (dem.) of Florida followed
Mr.. Bate in support of the silver
amendment. He said the great body
of the American people are bimetallists
and referred to the platform OF all
parties to show that party professions
were for both metals. Mr.. PascO re-
sented the charge that silver legisla-
ton is in the interest of silver mine
owners. The people of Florida had no
such pecuniary interests. The profit
to mine owners is merely incidental,
he said, and expressed the belief that
bimetallism would bring in it's train
business activity and commercial pros
perity. Others took part in the debate.
Washington, Jan. 31.-The house
confined itself to routine business.
! Most of the session was devoted to the
! District of Columbia appropriation
bill. The district bill carries $5,417,-
| $50, $685., 423 less than the sum appro-
priated for the current fiscal year.
The house passed a bill granting
the Christian Endeavor society the use
of some of the government reserva-
! lions in Washington during their
meeting here next summer.
Mr.. Jenkins (rep) of Wisconsin
called up the elections committee re-
port on the contest of Rosenthal rep)
VS.. Crowley, from the tenth Texas
district. The unanimous report in
/ Crowley's favor was adopted without
! debate or division.
Mr.. Evans rep) Of Kentucky, VINO
was at one time commissioner Of in
! ternal revenue, reported from the
committee on ways and means bill
| to amend section 1886 of the revised
statutes, so as to extend the exemp-
tons therein allowed dealers in
brandies distilled from prunes, apples
and grapes to brandies distilled from
pears, pineapples, oranges and berries.
/ The bill had been recommended by the
commissioner of internal revenue, and
/ was passed.
The annual effort of Mr.. De Among
! (dem.) Of Missouri was made to COM
pei the district of Columbia to bear all
! the expense of the district govern
ment, but figures were adduced to
| prove that the value of the govern
ment's property in the district eX-
! ceeded that of private individuals by
over S7,00O,000. The chair finally
ruled the amendment out on a point Ct
/ order.
/ A bill to pension Susan B. Wright,
! who, prior to her marriage to Arte
mus Wright, had been the widow of
James w. Wells, Company l., tenth
regiment, New York volunteer corps,
met with opposition on both sides Ct
Tie house. General Curtis of New
York was in charge of the bill and re-
! fused to withdraw it. The result was
that it went to vote and Mr.. Miles
! (dem.) of Maryland made the point of
mo quorum" After some further
filibustering the house adjourned.
Washington, Feb. 1.-Free coinage
of silver is the answer which the SEN
ate Of the United States has made to
the appeal of the president and the
house OF representatives for whole
some financial legislation. 1t was
carried by a majority of 9, the roll call
standing 43 for the silver substitute TO
the house bond bill and 43 against,
On adoption of the bill as amended
the majority was Z, Senator Mills
changing his vote to the sound money
side, his position being that he pre-
ferred free silver to bonds, but after
defeating the bonds did not want tree
silver.
These figures emphasize most Strik-
ingly the power which the silver men
WELD in the senate. They are able to
summon 8 majority for a measure