Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-01-16
THE SILVER DEBATE.
OPENED BY SENATOR JONES.
The ArkanSas Statesman Says the Issue
of Bonds Would Not Relieve tho situ-
atton-Frco Coinage Would Revive In
duatries and Increase Rcvcnue.

duatries and Increase Revenue.
Washington, Jan. 1O.-The debate
on the Senate free coinage substitute
for the House bond bill wns opened to-
day by Senator Jones OF Arkansas In
two-hours' speech, which was FOL
lowed with close attention by senators
from both sides of the chamber.
Mr.. Jones took strong ground for
the free and Independent coinage OF
silver, contending that that was the
only method by which the distress III
the country could be alleviated and
the Treasury department relieved from
Its present dependence upon the specu-
lntive holders of gold.
He said the amendment proposed by
the committee. If enacted into law, VIII
amply provide for the present deh'
cheney In the revenues, for the Issue
OF about s5O,OU0.OOO of silver certifi-
Gates against the scigniornge now held
in bars In the treasury Is one OF Its
features, while the deficiency esti-
mated by Mr.. Carlisle is far below that
sum. There must be something radi-
cally wrong II the richest and freest
nation on the globe Is In such condi-
ton of absolute hclplessness and de-
pendence rs the president seems to
consider us now.
The speaker then referred to the
conditions OF poverty and distress pre-
vailing among all the great nations or
the world, Including England, Ger
many and France, and declared that
there must be some general cause. He
asserted that this cause Of distress was
the prevailing gold standard, which
was resulting everywhere In rise In
the value Of money and n correspond
ing fall In the market value of the
products of the common people. He de-
clared that the causes which have op-
Grated to produce present results will
continue their operation, and that
prices. which have been In the last
twenty years reduced 80 per cent. will
In the next twenty years be reduced
80 per cent. more.
Referring to the repeated arguments
in favor of international bimetallism,
he said: But we are assured that
Great Britain will not consent to this.
When 1t is clear TINT England will not
consent to an international agreement,
and that France and Germany will not
move except In company with England,
then the question comes home to us,
what will the people of the United
States do? A tremendous responsible
ity In this emergency. in my opinion
rests upon us rs nation. If other ma
tions will not join us in this great
move in the interests of humanity, !,
Is our duty to undertake 1t alone.
believe that the unlimited coinage OF
silver would, by reviving commerce
Increase our revenues and do away
absolutely with any pretense of ne
cesity to issue bonds, and that under
that bill such n revival In business
would take place that no issue OF
bonds could be claimed to be necessary
There Is nothing for us to do but tc
present the system we believe in, tc
discuss 1t and appeal at last to the great
tribunal which must decide 1t. The
friends of bimctallism are ready and
anxious to have the people settle this
question. They hope and believe II
will be speedily and well done. Mr.
Jones spoke for about two hours.
When he had finished, Mr.. Teller
asked him what speed 1t was proposed
to make with the consideration of the
bill and when vote would be asked.
Mr.. Jones replied that as there were
quite number of senators who desired
to be heard, no move would be made to
ward bringing the bill to n vote fol
some days at least.
Mr.. White of California delivered 6
speech in favor of some practical modi
fications of the Senate rules. He die
not mince words in his characterization
of the rules and the ancient fictions'
they perpetuated.
The great evil which he especially en-
weighed against,was that which permit
ted interminable debate on any ques
tion, and placed 1t in the power of 4
single senator to hold the Senate at his
mercy so long us he could talk or have
read anything, no matter whether II
was relevant or not. He favored Sen
ator Hills proposition, put forward il
the last Congress. for cloture, whenever
the majority of the Senate was ready
to vote. He also favored n quorum
counting" device to do away with an
other parliamentary fiction.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Whites
spcecr. Mr. Morgan of Alabama in
troduced n resolution congratulatinE
the Republic of Transvaal on its stant
for independence. 1t was referred tt
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
The Senate adjourned to Monday.