Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-08
Mr.. PiCkler EIertS, Himself to No Pur-
pose In the Former Body.
MONEY QUESTION IN POLITICS.
Mckinley to he the Republican
Candidate for President-Nest on
the Democratic National Coh'e"-
tfOn-Free silver.


no quorum before the journal OF yes
terday's proceedings was read. F1fteen
minutes passed before 1i9 members APP
peared, and then Mr.. Picker insisted
upon having the journal read in ex-
tense" including the names OF the alb
sentees on roll-call. He also objected TO
the pro forma suggestion that the jour-
nal be considered as approved, requiring
vote upon the question. throughout
the session Mr.. Pickler demanded the
regular order at every opportunity, finally
explaining that he was moved thereto
by the hope that the House would thus
find time to consider private bills.
Mr. Payne Republican,. OF New York,
called Mr.. Pickler's attention to the fact
that his action tended only to defeat his
expressed purpose, inasmuch as those
bills could be taken up only by unanimous
consent. This, Mr.. Pickler interpreted TO
veil threat that unanimous consent
would not be given, and remarked that
he accepted service" The incident there
stopped, and after transacting some I'M
important business, the House. at $40
o'clock, adjourned till tomorrow.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
A resolution directing the Commissioner
| OF Agriculture to report to the Senate
Immediately the reason for the delay In
distributing seeds. was offered by Mr.
Gallinger and agreed to.
The resolution for an inquiry as to bond
sales I'm 1S9l'95. and '96 taken up,
and Mr.. Palmer DemocraD. OF Illinois,
addressed the Senate. He felt that the
animus Of the resolution was to affect
the public mind with reference 10 the sill
yer question. He did not suppose that
any senator Except. perhaps, the Sena-
tor from South Dakota, Mr.. Pettigrew),
questioned the integrity OF the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury. This senator's
judgment, perhaps, might possibly be dis
puted, and the correctness OF his acts
might be questioned. He OR. Palmer
had opposed the resolution because he
believed that its purpose was 10 procure
material to affect unfavoraby the public
mind on the silver question.
Much of Mr. Palmer's argument was
addressed to the question how much the
commercial value of a silver dollar would
be affected under free and unlimited
coinage. The answer given by Mr.. Cock
rell was that the commercial value Of the
gold dollar and Of the silver dollar
would be equal-that the silver dollar
would appreciate some, and the gold dol
lar depreciate some.
Then" said Mr.. Palmer, "the point
where they unite would be the standard
of value; instead Of gold, the present
standard OF value"
He read an editorial from a Philadel-
phia paper discussing Mr.. McKinley's po-
sition on the silver question.
Mckinley" he added, lis 10 be the
Republican candidate for the presidency.
I understand that the opposition to him
has practically failed. / only protest that
there should be in this contest distinct,
clear, precise platforms adopted by politi-
cal parties; and ] have sought this morn
ing TO endeavor to clear away something
Of the confusion which attends this dis
cussion. We have this hope. this vain,
this ilusory hope. that we can bring up a
6S-cents ounce of silver TO a 81 % ounce
which covers the comparative difference
between the values of the two metals"
MEASURE Of VALUE.
Desiring 10 have certainty in the
measure Of value" Mr.. Carter Republi-
cam, OF Montana. broke in, 81 ask the
Senator from Illinois to state whether
or not he agrees with the British Royal
Commission. that the purchasing power OF
gold has constantly appreciated since
1892"
mo. do not agree with it," Mr.. Pal
mer replied.
Does the Senator from Illinois," Mr.
Carter asked "agree with the further
proposition that the prices Of the pro-
ducts OF human toll and the soil itself
as measured in gold, have deprecated in
value since 1872
eyes, 1 agree to that" said Mr.. Palmer
Mr.. Carter was proceeding 10 put
| further questions. but Mr.. Palmer de-
| clined 10 be catechised until his own
/ question was answered.
II believe I will ask the Senator from
| Illinois a question" Mr. Harris broke I'm.
| IF the Senator was the owner of silver
bullion, and had the right to have It
| coined at Az 10 grains TO the dOllar-a
/ full legal-tender dollar-would he sell
that silver bullion at less than Sl29 TO
/ the ouEce?f
II have got every sort of answer" Mr..
| Palmer replied, from my friends who are
! in favor OF free currency, except di-
rect answer"
MY answer IS" Mr.. Harris exclaimed.
that free coinage would bring silver up
| to par"
Mr.. Vest asked Mr.. Palmer what he
meant by an allgson I'm his speech to
| SNAP conventions" and was informed
that It referred to conventions last year
| i'm Missouri and Illinois.
VEST ON CHICAGO CONVENTION.
| Mr.. Vest reverted to the question of
snap conventions. and after an aIlusion
TO the recent extension Of civii-service
reform TO the dismissal OF District-A
ney Benton in Missouri. In 1858, for speak
! ing at a Democratic convention, and TO
the fact that members OF the present
Democratic Administration had been al
| lowed 10 make speeches I'm their own and
| other States In opposition TO free silver
! he wound up his speech with these words:
II serve notice now that If this conven-
ton at Chicago is 10 be made up OF
Federal office-holders. brought there to
overawe and overrule the wishes of the
| honest majority OF the Democratic party
throughout tho United States, it is no
Democratic convention with me l will
abide the will OF the majority of the
party honestly assembled. l make no
threats, but / want no Observation-Disclosures
| The Democratic party is the party OF
honest expression. and not of Federal
| patronage"
Mr.. Hill remarked that the discussion
seemed to be a sort OF prelude 10 the
Democratic National Convention at Chi
| cago. The date of that convention had
been fixed for the 7th OF July, and ne
| did not propose TO anticipate any of the
difficulties which would confront the
| Democrats at that time. On the ques-
ton of snap conventions, he suggested.
good-humoredly. that he might be al
lowed to speak upon it as an expert.
Q-aughter.) In order to avoid any snap
convention in the State OF New York this
year the Democracy proposed to have
| the convention OF all the States.
BOND RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Hill then went on to discuss the