New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-08
u11J,s FIGHT COLLAPSES.
,v FIVE CUCKOO SENATORS STAND
BY HIM TO THE LAST.

,oyp-SALE INVESTIGATION RESOIsUTlON
RY VOTE OF 81 TO O.
inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
,,oshington, May THE holowness of the
MIN .tcring campaign made by Senator Hill
~a;rst the passage of the PETER bond-sale in
-.s,,eation resolution was fully disclosed to-day,
NV IN the final vote Mr.. Hill could muster only
s..a cuckoo Senators besides himself In opposi-
.,or 70 the proposed investigation. These six
s,os were the whole pitiable fruit Of the New
81 Senator'S sx-day oratory. The Cuckoos
..,o followed Mr. Hills leadership were Messrs.
rocerv Faulkner. Gray Mitchell of Wisconsin.
"a palmer Fffty-one votes were cast In favor
:, Tho resolution, the text of which, as amended
yesterday, is as follows:
pssolved That the Committee on Finance be
directed first. TO investigate ana report generally
al ,,h The sale of United States bonds by the Sec
I Isss'' 'D' ...,~.,. and ,sDort s0ec,,,,v wn,,
Se.t of available funds classified was in the
asl mvsd states Treasury and on deposit in other
ass subject to the order Of the Secretary Of the
RSry at the time the bonds were sold or offered
M sale: whether there was or was not coin enough
for sad 10 meet all coin obligations of the Govern
or OH, due at the time said bonds were soid or when
they that time and the amount of each. stated
o sunvsratey: what was the reason for any unusual
WIN were sold or offered for sale, If such unusual
bones ~rI were In fact made and by what per-
sons classes OF persons ana i1r VIVA. purpose Or
On mSh MAS the bonds, in what amounts and where
pTSsther in the United States or In foreign coun-
.oss or classes of persons the gold was procured
Vt, xs which to pay for the bonds; what the bonds
soa rUr bonds at the time and what effect the
IND sales had on the credit and business OF the
people investigate and report to the manner
=, aisposng of said bonds by what authority. and
Of u ..pcontracts advertisements or proposals were
VIVA. NV the Secretary Of the Treasury in relation
maa ~ what agreements contracts, and whether
writing dn into by the secpetay of the
Mas.rv and any syndicate or person or persons
with rssp Nrasts made or 10 be made by such syn
shs ,s any person persons connected with such
syndicate directly or indirectly whether s s1cn con- on
nrees offered for the bonds, what the efect was.
md who Il any person. profted by 1t, and TO what
extent
=, have still to be made by the Finance Committee.
those present membership is as follows: Re-
,uh,,cans-Messrs Morrill,. chairman; Sherman,
Au,son Aldrich Platt and wolcott. Democrats
-Messrs VOORHEES,, Harris. Vest, Jones, of Ar
Kansas. White and Walthall. Populist-Mr.
Jones, Of Nevada.
DEBATE ON THE RESOLUTION.
The debate which preceded the vote to-day
was envened by an attack by Mr.. Vest on the
methods employed by the Administration and Its
friends to capture the recent Democratic State
Convention in Michigan. Mr.. Vest limited that
he might follow Mr.. Tillman out OF the Demo-
cratic National Convention If similar methods
pursued In other States resulted in the adoption
of a gold-standard platform at Chicago. The in
timation was not taken very seriously, how
ever by the Missouri Senator's auditors.
coid
the resolution was to affect the public mind with
reference to the silver question He did not sup
pose that any Senator. except. perhaps. the Sen
ator from South Dakota (Mr. Pettgrew), ques-
toned the integrity Of the Secretary OF the
Treasury The Secretary's judgment, perhaps,
night possibly be disputed. and the correctness
II his acts might be questioned. He (Mr Pal
rr) had opposed the resolution because ne be-
lived that its purpose was to procure material
% affect unfavorably the public mind on the
silver question. He read editorial from a
paper discussing McKinley's posi-
tion on the silver question. MCKINLEY. ne
added, "is to be the Republican candidate Tor
the Presidency 1 understand that the opposi-
ton to him has practically failed. only protest
that there should be in this contest distinct,
clear precise platforms adopted by political
narties and I have sought this morning TO en-
deavor to clear away something Of the confu-
sion which attends this discussion. We have
this hope-this vain, Elusive hope-that we can
bring up a sixty eight-cent ounce OF silver 10 a
81 20 ounce-which covers the comparative dif-
ference between the values Of the two metals.
Desiring 20 have certainty In the measure OF
value" Mr. Carter (Rep., MONTH broke H. i 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 1873"
mo do not anree with It," Mr. Palmer replied
"Does the Senator from Illinois, Mr. Garter
asked. "agree with the further proposition that
prices of the products of human toll and the SOIL
itself as measured In golo, nave oepi ee'"eN 80
value since 1872"
YES / agree TO that" said Mr.. Palmer.
Mr. Carter was proceeding to put further 9ues,
lions but Mr.. Palmer declined to be catechlseu
until his own question was answered
Il believe will ask the Senator from ILLINOIS
question" Mr.. Harris Oem., TENN broke III.
'If the Senator was the owner OF silver Dulnon
and had the right to have 1t coined at 4i22 grams
to the dollar-a full legal-tender dollar-wouid
he sell that silver bullion at less than 81 ~ 10
the ounce?"
II have got every sort OF answer" Mr.. Palmer
replied from my friends who are In favor OF free
currency except direct answer" .,,..
MY answer is" Mr.. Harris exclaimed, '""'
free coinage would bring silver up to par
Mr. Vest asked Mr.. Palmer what he meant oy
an allusion in his speech to snap conventions,
and was informed that 1t referred to conventions
p last year In Missouri and Illinois.
Mr.. Vest reverted to the question OF snap con-
ventions, and after an alusion to the recent eN-
tension Of the Civil Service, TO the disnissai VI
Ostrict-Attorney Benton In Missouri In 1888 LOT
speaking at Democratic convention, ana 10 the
,aet mat members of the present ADMINISTRATOR
mao oeen allowed to make speeches In their own va
ana other States in opposition to free silver, ne
wouhd up his speech with these words: Il serve
notice now that II this convention at Chicago is
70 De made up OF Federal off1ceholders. brought
there to overawe and override the wishes or the
honest majority Of the Democratic party through
out the United States 1t Is no Democratic con-
>orty Of the party honestly assembled and hon
ssty expressed. / make no threats. But want
40 10 Misunderstanding. The Democratic party is
Meparty OF honest expression, and not OF Federal