Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-16
THE DUPONT CASE SETTLED
But Not Exactly to Suit Mr.
Dupont.
DEMOCRATS AND POPULISTS
Allied Themselves Against the Republicans on
the Final Vote.
POPULlST HOWARD AGAIN HEARD FROM
After an Absence OF Several Months he Ad-
dressed the House on the Subject of
the Charges of Intoxication
Made Against Him.
DEMOCRATS AND P0PULISTS
POPULlsT HOWARD AGAIN HEARD FROM

Washington, May 15.-Mr. Morgan,
democrat, of Alabama, offered a resolu-
tion, which went over until tomorrow,
instructing the committee on foreign re-
lations to inquire as to the rights of the
United States under treaties with Spain
in respect to the treatment of American
citizens arrested in Cuba and under sem
tence of death by the Spanish military
tribunals and also directing the secre-
taryapf state to send to the senate literal
copies of the original text of the Gushing
Protocol of July IL, 1877, and copies of
correspondence on such protocol and on
its bearing towards persons captured on
the Competitor
Mr.. Gallinger offered a resolution de-
claring that the widespread business de-
preston and rapid increase of the public
debt demonstrates that the existing tariff
law does not produce sufficient revenue
and that a revision of the law is impera-
lively demanded in the interests of the
people of the United States. He asked
that it be laid on the table subject to his
CALL as he desired to address the senate
either on the resolution or on some bill
that may be before the senate before the
adjournment of the present session.
A resolution heretofore offered by Mr..
Aldrich republican, of Rhode Island, di-
recting the finance committee to inquire
whether American labor and Industries
are suffering from or are threatened with
injurious competition through importa-
tions of oriental products, and if so, to
investigate the causes which have made
such competition possible, was taken up
and agreed to, with an amendment Of
fered by Mr. Mills instructing the COM
mttee to report also the labor cost of
products by the unit of quantity in both
countries.
In pursuance of previous notice, Mr..
Bacon, democrat, of Georgia, addressed
the senate in favor of the bill to prohibit
the Issuance of bonds or other interest
bearing obligations of the government by
the secretary of the treasury or other off,
GERS of the government without the au-
tbority>of congress. He argued that con-
gress, either by action or non-action
issued under the law by which 1862 900, 900
of bonds had been sold within the past
three years. If the session closed with
that law unrepealed congress would be
saying to the people that it approved of
the law and also that 1t approved of what
the secretary of the treasury had done
under 1t in the past and would approve of
what he might do in the future. He ar
gued that delegation of the powers of
congress over the finances of the country
was a violation of the letter and of the
spirit of the constitution. Under the ex-
dsing law that autocratic power over the
finances was exercised not only in the
absence of popular consent but in oppo-
sition to the wishes of the people and of
their chosen representatives. From the
foundation Of the government every issue
of bonds had been made under authority
given by congress, and the act of 1875,
under which 1852, 900 of bonds was is
sued, was no exception to that rule, be-
cause it was only intended to exchange
one form of indebtedness for another
form-that was, to issue bonds in order to
cancel greenbacks. 1t was never intend
ed to clothe the secretary of the treasury
with the unlimited power to issue bonds
al his discretion.
Mr. Bacon spoke of the outflow of gold
which had begun, 900 being already
gone, $S,000,000 of which went the past
week.
Was there a senator, he asked, who
doubted that the drain of gold would con-
tinue and that within few months the
treasury gold would be all gone? And
then, under existing law and under the
established practice of the treasury de-
partment, another 500, 1000, 900 of bonds
would be soon issued and 500, 900 of
greenbacks locked up. There was a most
powerful and active element at work, he
said, under the lead Of the chief execu-
tive, openly advocating the retirement
and cancellation of greenbacks and treas
ury notes, and this issue of bonds was
the most active means of promoting that
policy. 1t would effect that purpose as
thoroughly as would De accomplished Dy
law for their cancellation.
Mr.. Bacon declared that If. the day af-
ter the senate shall have adjourned and
after senators had hurried away to at
tend political conventions. 1t was an
nounced that the executive department
had without special authority from
congress, determined to issue one, two
or three hundred millions of bonds there
was no power to say 1t nay so long as the
law remained unrepealed.
Was it, he asked, to be recognized as
the permanent policy of the government
that the executive department was to ex-
ercise, in it's discretion the power to con-
tract debt and to issue bonds without
limit? If not there was no time like the
present for the repeal of that law. The
responsibility was on senators and could
not be escaped. Speeches on all subjects
were made in the senate, and should SEN
ators be silent now, either In speech or
in VOTE when this great issue was pre-
sented? Should any one man be invested
for the future with more than royal pow
er In his discretion and without limit
to burden the people with debt to the
amount of untold millions? And should
the executive department be clothed with
the most important legislative functions
conferred by the constitution on con-
gress? That was the great question.
Let the Record" Mr.. Bacon said in.
conclusion, show how senators and rep
resentatives, and how the political par
ties whom they represent stand upon
this great issue"
Mr.. Butler, populist, of North Carolina.
commended Mr. Bacon's speech and
called attention to bill which he (But-
ler) had introduced early in the session
prohibiting the issue of bonds without
the consent of congress. He gave notice
that he would on some future day ask
the senate to take up that bill for con-
sideration.
Mr.. Hill objected to having the time
farmed out in advance.
The Dupont election case from the
state Of Delaware was taken up and de-
bated until o'clock.
The result of all the legal and constittl-