The record-union., 1896-05-23
The Measure Leads to an Important and
Spirited Debate In the Senate.
Hill of New York Denounces It in
Very Severe Terms.
Says 1t is Bold Proposition for the
Repeal of the Resumption Act, for
the Repeal of the Only Provision of
Law That Exists for the Main
tenance or Redemption of the
Paper Currency of the Country.


WASHINGTON, May 22-An i'm
portant and spirited debate took place
In the Senate to-day on the bill in
troduced several months ago by But
Ter of North Carolina, prohibiting the
issue of Government bonds without the
consent of Congress. Hill spoke for
nearly three hours in condemnation OF
the measure as an act of reputation, and
1t was also denounced by Senator's Sher-
man of Ohio, Hawley of Connecticut,
Lodge of Massachusetts, and Baker of
Kansas, while it was defended and ad-
vccated by Senators Mills of Texas,
George of Mississippi, Clarke Of Wyo-
ming, Teller of Colorado, Allen of Ne
braska and Stewart of Nevada.
The test vote on taking it up again
in the first instance showed a major
ity Of fourteen in its favor, but when
is was displaced by the calendar after
two hours in discussion, and new
vote was required to take it up again,
the majority had dwindled down to
two. An effort was made to have a
time fixed for taking the vote next
Monday, but objection was made and
the bill went over until tomorrow.
The final conference report on the
river and harbor bill was presented and
agreed to, a satisfactory compromise
having been reached in the matter of
the deep-sea harbor in Southern Cal
ifornia-
In the Senate to-day, Immediately
after prayer, Butler (Pop) of North
Carolina moved to proceed to the con-
sideration of his bill prohibiting the
issue of United States bonds without
the consent of Congress, and the motion
was agreed to-yeas "a, nays 20.
Hill took the floor on the bond meas
ure, but yielded temporarily for other
business. Among such business was
the House bill to quiet title to lands of
persons who purchased the same in
good faith, with notice and for a valu-
able consideration, and to enable the
Government to issue patents on such
lands, and that combinations Of home
stead entries shall take effect from date
of settlement and not from date of en-
try, which was passed with amend
ments.
A second partial conference report on
the Indian appropriation bill was taken
up and agreed to. and a further con-
ference asked.
Hill tnen addressed the SeHdle
against the prohibitory bond bill Mr..
President" he said, the crime, the al
legged crime of 1873, is nothing COM
pared to the crime which this
Act perpetuates should it become
law. Stripped of all its verbi-
age, condensed as it is, it is a bold
proposition for the repeal Of the Re
sumption Act Of 1875, for the repeal of
- hat y5ctc-
for the maintenance or redemption of
the paper currency Of the country 1t
does not In so many words repeal the
law of 1875, but it is in effect repeal
of that law. 1t is a startling propo-
sition 1t will not solve the silver
question. 1t will simply embarrass the
Government 1t simply puts in peril
the finances of the country. 1t is a
measure in the wrong direction. 1t
was boldly avowed yesterday by its
author and sponsor as Populist meas
ure Let there be no misunderstand-
ing about it. 1t Is an avowed Populist
measure.
1T is not the silver question that Is
involved in this bill 1t is the integrity
of the Government that is involved; Ii
is the honor of the Government; it Is
the pI6Stl VI LAiI 5COA NS>-~--
the Government"
Sherman (Rep.) of Ohio here repeated
what he had said the other day, that d
Congress adjourned without making
some provision to meet the current ex-
penditures of the Government II wouit
be an outrage and shame. The Pres
i0ent of the United States had no power
TO borrow money except for single
L. ~
Senate had refused to give him tht
power to borrow money. Ii hao reIuseC
I'm the most ignominious way TO provide
any measure whatever TO supply the de
fciency by substituting a free coinage
OF silver bill for the temporary tarif
hin sent to il by the House. That wa:
the act of bankrupt, disgraceo pahk
,unt because the measure ought TO b'
passed.
The pending bill proposed to repea
the only provision by whlch lhe part.
o- gold and silver could be maintained
And that was its purpose. But thel'
was no danger of its becoming law
because the House OF represent *
would not pass it and therefore the Sen
ators were only wasting time ana eN
posing themselves rather badly befor'
wise for the Democrats to agree 10 tax
up the Dingley bill, which was INTENDED
to meet the very difficulty that was con
fronting the country. That might no
be a good bill. but the Democratic Sen
ators, Joined with Populists, had prac
tically laid II on the table by substi
ruting for 1t a coinage bill They coul'
not escape that responsibility.
seemed to him that the Senate or tn
United States went below the higf
standard which it had had so long il
the history of the country II 1t neglecte'
the duties which Senators were swor1
to perform. The President of the Unite
states would be justified in calling then
hack by the 1st of July next. II
fsherman) had no party feeling in tn
matter
GRAY Dem) of Delaware said h
.ereed with the Senator from Ohio Il
regarding this as a crisis in the histor
of the country and in the history of III
Senate. and he agreed with him that 70
the Senate to adjourn without som
remedial legislation for the threatene