The herald., 1896-02-27
THE F|FTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
A Day of Stormy Debate Among
Senators
FREE SILVER DISCUSSION
Follows the Attempt to Consider the
Tariff Question
ZEE SILVER DISCUSSION
Contest But Arrives At No Conclusion
Land Grant Matters
Associated Press Special w.rc.

bate and of stormy personal colloquy. The
speech of Senator Carter, Of Montana, one
of the five Republican senators who voted
against proceeding with the tariff bill, was
the main formal event of the day. There
was added interest in the speech, owing to
Mr.. Carter's position as chairman of the
national Republican committee. The sem
ator used very plain words in denouncing
what he termed the movement to drive
him and his silver associates out of the Re-
publican party. This however, was but
the preluds to more stirring events. Mr..
Hoar questioned Mr.. Carter as to whether
he intended to defeat any protective tariff
bill unless the senators surrendered their
convictions to him. and whether his con-
struction of the Minneapolis platform
agreed with the construction given to 1t by
President Harrison. Mr.. Carter responded
with great vigor that Mr.. Harrison's course
had not been all that was desired, but it
was at least beacon of hope for the fu-
ture. But it was not the construction ap-
plicable to the situation in the senate
today. Mr.. Gear of Iowa sharply
questioned Mr.. Carter upon the circum-
stances of framing the financial plank of
the Minneapolis platform, bringing out
that Senators Jones of Nevada and Teller
of Colorado had taken part in shaping the
document. Mr.. Carter asserted that while
this was true, the men who framed that
plank never dreamed that the English Ian
Ruage would permit such misconstruction
of it's terms. Thereupon Mr.. Gear, refer
ring to Mr.. Carter's conduct of the national
campaign in 1892, asked If that plank was
not the one by which he (Carter) and the
senator from Colorado (Teller) sought to
carry the state of Colorado for the Rspub-
lican party.
Mr.. Carter replied that the plank was so
accepted because the Republican party
had always kept its promises, and it was
now incumbent on that party again to re-
deem it's promises.
The reference to Mr.. Teller's part in
framing the platform brought him to his
feet with an explanation of what had been
intended. and fiery denunciation of the
in turn, arraigned the dishonesty of the
policy OF free silver, which would pay the
laboring man in 50-cent dollar.
Mr.. Sherman prophesied that even Col
orado would reject the free silver idea and
except true bimetallism. To this MT.
rejoined, with intense feeling, that Colorado
would never follow the course suggested
by the Ohio senator. and if she did he
(Teller) would cease to represent that
state. He predicted that free silver was
not dead, as Mr.. Sherman had asserted,
but that 1t was lively corpse which would
rise in the senate to rerpleX Mr.. Sherman.
Mr.. Teller closed with the impassioned
utterance that the glorious past of the Re-
publican party would be obliterated if it
committed the infamy of following the
financial leadership of Mr. Sherman.
The latter part of the day was given to
the Cuban resolutions, Mr.. White of Cali
fornia arguing that the executive was the
proper branch to grant recognition of
belligerency.
Senator quay reported the army appro-
priation bill to the senate and gave notice
he would call it up tomorrow.
Allen lNebraske) returned to the tariff
question by referring to the statements of
Mr.. Morrill,, Sherman and Platt during the
exciting debate yesterday. Allen said he
had believed it was the honest purpose of
the Republican party to enact a law plac-
ing gold and silver on equal terms. But
the debate yesterday developed that the
Republican leaders under no crcum.
stances would enact free coinage act.
Under the circumstances, he would submit
n distinct proposition to the chairman of
the finance committee, namely, he (Allen)
would assure sufficient Populist votes to
give majority in the senate if the passage
of the tariff bill was accompanied by the
adoption of free silver amendment
Hoar made the point that the discussion
was out of order Unanimous consent was
given, however, to Allen to proceed
He criticised the financial record of Sher.
man. The Republican party could not
escape from the attitude of declining to re.
monetize silver. "The Populist senators
are ready to swallow your nauseating and
unjust tariff measure" said Mr.. Allen, "it
you will place silver on equal terms with
gold, but you will not do it,
Allen had read from the desk speech
said to have been delivered by Mckinley,
containing severe criticism against the de.
monetization of silver. In conclusion
Allen held up the bill, exclaiming: "Now,
to test your integrity and good faith offer
this bill. 1t is your tariff bill, and say to
you if you are ready to show the good faith
of your assertions for silver and link il
with the tariff bill we pledge you six Popu.
list votes" The bill was read, it being the
tariff and free silver bill combined.
Baker of Kansas asked if Allen would
agree to deliver six Poprllst votes for the
tariff bill with the amendment for the re-
striction OF the coinage to silver produced
from American mines.
~ have not consulted my colleagues on
that.n responded Allen. "PersonalIy, |
would not agree to it," Aliens compro-
mise bill went to the table temporarily,
Lindsay of Kentucky offered an amend
meut to the tariff resolution of Carter di-
recting the finance committee TO report
back the repeal of one.eighth differential
duty on sugar.
carter OF Montana took the floor for a
speech, defining his attitude on the tariff
bill. he spoke with great earnestness and
deliberateness. His statement at the out
set that he had mo apologies to offer'' was
given with explosive force.
Mr.. Carter began by referring to the sem
ate's action on February 18th, when the
motion to take up the tariff bill was de-
feated. He said the two houses, before the
motion to consider the tariff bill was made,
were endeavoring to bring about a confer
ence which might result in satisfactory
adjustment OF the differences on the Re-
publican side of the chamber. The motion
OF Morrill, was unexpected and he. with
other Republicans voted no, and under the
same circumstances he would cast SINH
lar vote. The proposition indicated moth
ing more than that there was a proposition
to take up the matter at that time. He
said he would say no more were it not for
the fact that charges of disloyalty to his
party had been made by many Republican
papers in the east. Four members of the
party, including himself, had been pro-
nounced guilty OF treason without heari nc
or trial.
He then paid some attention to the house
tariff Dill. 1t was admitted everywhere
that the house bill was not Republican
measure, but, he said, it was a measure to
meet an alleged emergency which the chief
executive stoutly asserted did not exist at
all.
"Recently certain self-constituted cen.
sors of party notion" Mr.. Carter contin.
ued, shave been pleased to denominate
the Republicans who voted against the biII
~ conspirators against the public veal
0thara bava Onna far f, sv,,v;t. a. -