The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-07
Advocates Reopening the MINIS
of the United States to
Silver.
ADVANTAGES TO BE DERIVED.
The Debate Continues During an Even
ing Session, but No Conclusion
Is Reached.


session of the House was devoted exclu-
sively to the further consideration of the
bond bill and the Senates free-coinage
substitute therefor.
The debate in favor of the Senate substi-
tute was opened by Wheeler of Alabama,
member of the Committee on Ways and
Means, who replied to Dingley's speech of
yesterday. He asserted that every allie
CATION of Dingley upon which he based
his argument for the gold standard was
fallacious and unsupported by facts. He
took each statement of DingIey in de-
tail and made plausible argument in IA
yor of silver coinage. He was followed by
Johnson of North Dakota against free
coinage. Johnson said:
''The Republican party was defeated in
November, 1892, when we were harvesting
and marketing the crop of that year, and
the shadow of free trade settled down on
the country. Measured by any standard,
l assert that never since Moses slew the
Egyptian and hid his body in the sand
has there been a time when the farmer
could have paid his debts so easily and
cheaply as in 1891, the elimination of
thirty years of Republican rule and policy
in controlling the administration of the
Government" Applause
In regard to the effect of free coinage of
silver on debt paying Johnson said:
Official statistics show that insurance
companies, savings and National banks
have over $l0,000,000,00 600 on deposit for
which they are debtors to the people. Free
coinage of silver would enable them to
shave this Indebtedness in two by paying il
in deprecated silver dollars. This would
make, were the money equally divided,
5000 millionaires. AT present there are
but 1000 in the country and to do this you
would rob the widow and orphan of aif
OF their living"
In the course of his remarks several gen.
tlemen endeavored to interrupt Johnson
with questions, to all of whom he said
that he would take them in turn when he
had concluded, which he did, after which
c. w Stone Or. } of Pennsylvania and Nc
Rae CD of Arkansas continued the discus
sion, the latter insisting the free silver
should be secured by the Democratic or
ganization. 1t must be main tanned be-
cause, he said, it is the only organization
that can check the paternal tendencies in
the government of the Republicans.
The next speaker was johnson (R.) of
California, who spoke in favor of free coin
age OF silver. He said that the duty of the
House demanded that something be done
for silver. What the silver men asked
was that the country be put back to the
days of 1873, when silver and gold alike.
were coined in Its minis, and that Con-
gress quit trying the Kelley gold cure on
the Government. He criticized Dingley
for Offering nothing as an alternative to
free coinage, and urged that American
silver at least be coined.
Johnsons time expired before he had
concluded. and the colloquy that followed
over an attempt to secure an extension re-
vealed something of the bitterness of feel
ing between the silver and anti-sllver fac
tions. An extension would crowd Settle
(R.) of North Carolina out of The list for
the afternoon, and he objected. An ar
rangement was finally made by which,
through Walker (R.) of Massachusetts, and
McLaurin 3D. of South Carolina, Johnson
secured the desired time. Resuming his
remarks, johnson said:
81 thank the gentleman from Massachu-
sets for his courtesy. As for the other
gentleman, | want to say that never for
get a favor or overlook an injury. If that
means war, speaking for one, want to say
that the silver Republicans are ready to
set the lance in rest now or at any time
upon this question"
The debate was continued by Settle, who
devoted some time to Johnson's speech.
He opposed the Senate substitute, but said
that he would like to see some legislation
that would lead to freer use of silver.
After Brewster (R.) of New York had
made brief speech in opposition to the
Senate substitute the committee rose.
At the suggestion of Dingley at o'clock
recess was taken until 1880 P. NJ, the
session to continue until 10: 80 clock to-
morrow morning, both sessions to be de-
voted to debate only.
The session of the House tonight
dragged along slowly and without interest.
Although the session was to last until
1890 o'clock the list of speakers gave out
at 10 O'Clock, and the chairman, Hepburn
(R.) of Iowa, was forced to declare the
House in recess until 1880 tomorrow.
Hardly score of members were present
and several times during the evening there
were long pauses, awaiting the appearance
of persons who desired to speak.
Those who addressed the House were:
Arnold (R.) of Pennsylvania, Allen (R.) of
Pennsylvania, Danford (R.) of Ohio, Tur-
ner CD of Georgia, Kirkpatrick (R,) of
Kansas, Dewitt (R.) of Ohio, Wilson CD
OF South Carolina, StolI ID. } of South Caro-
lima, Hyde (R.) of Washington and Neal
y - ALL