Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-02-02
HE said so himself" answered MIR.


Stewart.
ITO whom?" asked Mr.. Gray.
Mr. Stewart did not Immediately an
swer. but Mr.. Voorhees, renewed the con-
troveisy by asking Mr.. Stewart what
authority he had for stating that MIR.
Harrison, who was president in 1880.
would have vetoed u free coinage
amendment.
He did not tell me-" answered Mr..
Stewart. II was not in communication
with him."
Mr.. Teller added that he had per-
sonal knowledge of Mr.. Harrison's pur-
pose to veto free coinage.
When Mr.. Allen had made final
plea for his amendment the vote was
taken and the Allen amendment was
defeated, Senator Mills voting for and
Senator Chiffon against II.
Senator Morrill, offered an amendment
providing that the seignorage on coin
OF silver be retained by the United
States to the extent of the difference
between the coinage value and the
commercial value of the bullion.
At O'Clock Mr.. German began speak
ing. He spoke of the fruitlessness of
the effort to secure the final passage
OF free coinage bill. 1t was reported
by finance committee hostile to the
administration. 1t was well known
that II would be impossible for such
measure to become law prior TO
March 4. 1897.
WHY" interjected Mr.. Morgan.
because" replied Mr.. German, the
declarations of the president Of the
United States convince every man that
such provision cannot receive his as
sent"
MIR. Morgan asked II congress should
not proceed on its course without ref
erence to the executive branch.
Mr.. GoNman replied that he fully rec
ogniZed the need of complete indie
pendence from executive influence. He
regretted that there had not been more
of this independence in the past. Mr..
German closed by moving to lay the
silver substitute as reported by the
finance committee on the table. the
motion was rejected by vote OF ~ TO
43. both Mills and Chiffon voting nay.
The amendment of Mr.. Morrill, as TO
the seigniorage was then defeated, 50
to A.
At this point complication arose as
to the nature of the unanimous consent
agreement for a vote at two.
Mr.. Harris contended that any
amendment referred after two was a
violation of agreement. His entire
purpose was to get final vote at two
o'clock.
Mr.. Chandler and Mr.. Lodge urged
that all debate was to be closed at two
o'clock. but that 1t had not been under
stood that all amendments should be
cut off at two o'clock.
Mr.. Harris said he would not ask the
presiding officer to pass on the ques-
ton. Unanimous consent was binding
on senators only as they desired to
recognize II.
The presiding officer said Unanimous
consent was In the hands of the sem
ators and II was not for him TO deter
mine. He would recognize amendments
as offered.
Mr.. Cockrell urged senators to "abide
by the agreement" He declared that
never in the history of the senate had
such an agreement been broken. This
would be a dangerous precedent, said
Mr.. Cockrell and senators may find
1t rising up hereafter to give them
serious trouble Mr.. Chandler said
the senators from Missouri (cockrelD
and from Tennessee CHarriD were In
dulging in threats because their in
depreciation Of an agreement was not
accepted.
"When / have threatened" asked
Mr., Harris with characteristic sharp
ness. rising and crossing the chamber
toward the Republican side. Il have
made no threats"
"It was the senator's threatening
manner" said Mr.. Chandler. as the
Tennessee senator paced across the
chamber.
The galleries enjoyed laugh at the
episode.
~ ask unanimous consent" said Mr..
German, that amendments be re-
ceiyed."
and object" said Mr.. Harris.
with explosive effect, which again
amused the galleries.
Mr.. Sherman arose with the con-
gressional Record In his hand He I'D
he had never known a violation Of the
unanimous consent. He felt from read
ing the Record that the final vote WAS
to be taken at o'clock. But. Mr..
sherman asked. In the cause OF har-
monizing a Misunderstanding. that a
half hour be allowed for amend
ments.
"No more extensions SO long as I