The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-21
take THE
LAST SHIRT
Of the Peoples Back, Would
John Sherman,
Rather Than seVfolate the Ma
toms Credit
BUT THRIFTY JOHN
Wouldn't Take the Last Shirt
Off His Own Back
And You Can Bet Your Sweet
Life.
BUT THRIFTY JOHN

the defeat of another proposition by
Mr.. PETER for the issue of greenbacks
to meet the appropriations made by
the fortifications bill Both PROPOSE
lions were offered as amendments to
the Qualifications bill, which was passed,
thus leaving but one Of the appropria-
ton bills to be acted upon. Mr.. Cor
mans amendment developed an ami
mated financial debate with Mr. Sher-
man and Mr.. German as the main par
ticipants.
The Notifications bill as passed car
ried So 1853. 8SS, or S4,918,05l more than
the house appropriated
Mr. Germans amendment IN delai
provided that in order to PROVIDE
moneys not supplied from current rev
enues for the expenditure OF the gov
eminent, the secretary or the treasury
with the approval of the president, be
authorized to issue 3 per cent treasury
certificates of Indebtedness to the
amount Of 500. 600 600, redeemable at
the pleasure Of the government after
three years.
Many senators were on their feet
with objections and points of order, but
before these were considered Mr. Cor
man spoke briefly on the need OF the
amendments He said he had already
shown that if the executive made the
expenditures called for by the appro-
priatiOns there would be a shortage be-
fore next January
Mr. Mills Dem, Tex responded in
a few words urging LnaL LnGEe We're
wen defined means of raising revenue
Congress was here and should remain
here to enact such proper ana Wen
matured measures of relief, instead OF
resorting to any emergency plan as
that proposed by Mr.. German.
Mr.. Sherman called attention to the
Importance of the amendment ana
asked a call Of the senate, as the at
tendance was neager- When quorum
was secured the presiding ofhcelN Mr.
| Chandler of New Hampshire. ruled on
a point of order raised against the COR
man amendment that it was in order
Mr. Mills appealed from the ruling
of the chair. Before the vote was taken
on the appeal Mr. Sherman addressed
the senate against the amendment He
said it was uneXampled IN the history
of the country that such q prOpOsltiOn
should be made in q time of peace to
keen the treasury from bankruptcy 1t
came at time when the country was
amply able to provide revenue for the
government. He could name the items on
which revenue could readily be raised
1t was time he said. LhaJ senators
should lay aside all party feeling and
make provision to carry on the govern
ment. Under the present tariff law
there had been deficiencies every year
and every hour 1t had led to q political
revolution and the election Of a house
of repres entatives opposed to the pres
ent law. That house had sought TO
remedy the condition by passing an
emergency tariff bill, which was sent
to the senate and here incumbered with
a free silver amendment. MT Sher-
man said he was willing TO accept InaI
house bill after the withdrawal Of the
silver amendment as the best aNa1laDle
remedy for the treasury IL 1t dld not
aid enough. then let other items be add
ed-tea, coffee, rice, everything es,
exclaimed Mr.. Sherman, 81 would take
the last shirt off the people rather than
violate our national credit
He declared that an agreement could
be reached in two to four hours II Sena-
tors would put aside their partlsanshlp
If congress did not act, then MT Sher-
man said he had faith that President
Cleveland with whom he did not affil-
late in politics, would not spend 81 on
appropriations beyond the revenues he
had on hand
The voice of the country, said he, de-
manded that we pay as we go.
Unless this was done our country
would be bankrupt and in position as
degrading as that of any of the feeb-
lest countries Of the world II would
tear up every one Of these apprOpria-
ton bills" said the senator in closing,
rather than issue Sl00,OOU,OvO IN treas
ury certificates in a single year"
Mr.. German followed in answer to
Mr. Sherman. He said the remark from
the senator of Ohio was most remarka-
BILE in view of the fact that he (Sher-
MANI had himself proposed a similar
measure four years ago to meet pros
pective deficiency in the last year Of the
Harrison administration.
Mr.. Sherman interrupted to deny that
his measure was intended to meet q de-
nClEnC9r as there na4 NOT DGGA 4 0e-
hCiency under the Harrison admins
tratiOn-
Mr.. German read the treasury fig
ures Of four years ago cOntending that
q deficiency was impending He pro-
ceeded to show that the failure of the
income tax feature, of the tariff act
and the too liberal extension of the free
list had led to the present lack of rev
enue. The direct appropriations as con
tracts authorized this year would reach
almost $500. Geo. COO " lille the revenue
would be far short of that amount.
What was to be done to meet this
defcency2" asked MIR. German. WAS it
intended to spend the money raised on
bonds. or would the executive branch
spending what congress had ordered
spent2''
Referring to the Dfngley emergency
tariff bill. Mr. German asserted that it
had never been intended to pass. and
that if lit passed it would not have
/ yielded revenue sufficient to meet the
requirements Of the government.
81 suggest to the senator from Ohio.
/ proceeded Mr. German that if he is in
4 earnest i'm reaching an unpartfsanship
I remedy, let us agree on three things
I the repeal of that error which crept in
+ the arts, which repeal viii save SIS
/ 900 coo; then a tax on tea, and then a
duty on coffee which would be SO small
that no one would feel it,
Mr. German said these three remedies
would yield IS to so millions besides the
/ saving of $4,000 600.
4 Mr. PETER followed with an amend
+ ment providing that all appropriations
] under the pending bill be paid in treas
+ ury notes or greenbacks, to be issued as
I required
j The amendment was defeated. yeas.