Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-08
PEFFER'S BOND RESOLUTION
Passed the Senate by a Vote of
81 to 6.
HILL FOUGHT IT TO THE END
Senator Vest Serves Notice on the Convention
s at Chicago
IF PA - WITH OfflCEHOL OERS
That 1t : Be No Democratic Convention
Wi im-The Senate Finance Com
ittee Will Investigate the
~ Recent Bond Sales.
HILL FOUGHT 1T TO THE END
Senator Vest Serves Notice on the Convention
WITH 0fFlCEH0LDeRS

| Washington, May IA resolution d.
recting 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 in 1S94-95 and 1896 was taken
up, and Mr.. Palmer, democrat of Illl-
nois, addressed the senate. He felt that
the animus of the resolution was to at.
feet the public mind with reference to
the silver question. He did not suppose
that any senator, except, perhaps the
senator from South Dakota, Mr.. Petit.
grew, questioned the integrity of the
secretary of the treasury The senator's
Judgment, perhaps, might possibly be
disputed and the correctness of his acts
might be questioned. He Palmer) had
opposed the resolution because he bel
lieved that It's purpose was to procure
material aid to affect the public mind on
the silver question.
Mr.. Cockrell said the commercial value
OF the gold and the silver dollar would
be equal; that the silver dollar would
appreciate some and the gold dollar de-
preciate some.
Then said Mr.. Palmer, "the point
where they unite would be the standard
or values, Instead of gold, the present.
standard of value" He read an editorial
from a Philadelphia paper discussing
Mr.. McKinleys position on the silver
question. Mckinley" he added, lis to
be the republican candidate for the pres
idency. l understand that the opposi-
ton to him has practically failed only
protest that there should be In this cop-
test distinct, clear, precise platforms
adopted by political parties; and l have
sought this morning n antaa 20 ala
away something of the confusion which
attends this discussion. We have this
hope, this vain, this llusory hope, that
we can bring up 6S cent ounce of sil-
yer to a $1.29 ounce, which covers the
comparative difference between the par
| tiles of the two metals"
Desiring to have certaintyin the meas
| ure OF value, Mr.. Carter, republican. of
| Montana, broke in: II 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, I do not agree with It," Mr. Pal
mer replied
Does the senator from Illinois," Mr.
Garter asked. "agree with the further
proposition that prices of the products
or human toll and the soil itself, as
measured in gold, have deprecated In
value since 1892"
Yes, agree to that" said Mr.. Palmer.
Mr.. Carter was proceeding to put fur
| ther questions, but Mr.. Palmer declined
to be catechised until his own question
| was answered.
II believe I will ask the sena tor from
| Illinois a question" Mr.. Harris demo-
erat, of Tennessee, broke in. IF the sem
ator was the owner of silver bullion, and
| had the right to have it coined at 4l2h
| grains to the dollar-a full legal tender
| dollar-would he sell that silver bullion
at less than $1.29 to the ounce?"
| Il have got every sort of answer" Mr..
Palmer replied from my friends who
are in favor of free coinage except a d.
| rect answer"
my answer is" Mr. Harris exclaimed,
that free coinage would bring silver up
| to par" i,
Mr.. Vest asked Mr.. Palmer what he
meant by an alluson in his speech to
SNAP conventions" and was Informed
that 1t referred to conventions last year
| i'm Missouri and illinois,
Mr.. Vest reverted to the question of
snap conventions, and after an allusion to
| the recent extension of the civil service
| reform, to the dismissal of District Attor-
| ney Benton In Missouri in 1888 for speak
| ing at a democratic convention and to the
| fact that members of the present demo-
cratic administra tion had been allowed
| 20 make speeches in their own and other
! states In opposition to free silver, he
| wound up his speech with the words: II
serve notice now that If the convention
| at Chicago Is to be made up of federal
| officeholders, brought there to overawe
| and overrule the wishes of the honest ma
| jority of the democratic party throughout
| the United States, II is no democratic
| convention with me. will abide by the
| VIII of the majority of the party honestly
as made; / make no threats, but l want
| no Observation-Disclosures. The democratic
party s the party of honest expression,
| and not of federal patronage"
Mr.. Hill remarked that the discussion
seemed to be sort of prelude to the dem
ocratic national convention al Chicago.
| The. date of that convention had been
| fixed for the 7th of July, and he did not
propose to anticipate any of the diff
| culties which would confront the democ-
| racy at that time. On the question pf
snap conventions he suggested, good hu-
| moredly that he might be allowed to
| speak upon ii as an expert Laughter)
| In order to avoid any snap convention in
| New York this year the democracy pro-
| posed to have the latest convention of all
| the states. Mr.. Hill then went on TO dis
| cuss the bond resolution, and he ques-
J toned Mr.. Pettigrew as to the authenr
| ticity of a letter which that senator had
| read In his speech last Thursday. remark
| ing that the treasury department. knew
| nothing about II.
Mr.. Pettigrew's response was that that
was one of the questions to be investii
| gated.
"Is that all the answer the senator can
make to an inquiry" Mr.. Hill asked.
| mo, Mr.. President, 1t will not do. Pass
| It? Yes; that will be one of the phases
\ Of the proposed investigation. 1 will
| await, and | ask the senate to await.
with much interest as 10 whether that al
| legation of The senator from South Da-
kota VIII be sustained, and there leave
| It,"
| Mr.. Hill conteuded that Mr. Carlisle
| should be treated courteously, as Mr..
| Sherman and Mr.. Boutwell,. while secre-
| taries of the treasury, had been treated
| In like circumstances. The finance COM
| mittee, IL 1T desired Information as to the
recent bond issues, might have sent for
/
| Continued IN Fourth Page.j