The herald., 1896-03-14
The Cuban Question Yields to
Financial Debate
SENATOR COCKRELL TALKS
Supporting the Silver Amendmeni to
the Tariff Bill
The House Seats . Republican Contestant
from Alabama and Modifles the narine
Laws-Bills introduced

Associated Press special Wire.
WASHINGTON, March 13.-The excite
ment of the Cuban debate gave way to Mr..
Cockrell today, his elaborate speech occu-
pying four hours on the financial question.
There was spirited reference to Cuba
early in the day, when it developed during
an explanation by Mr.. Lodge that the COM
mittee on foreign relations had received
from Secretary Olney statement by
Senior Dupuy de LONE. the Spanish minis
ter, giving the Spanish view of the case.
This brought out very animated sugges-
tions from Mr.. Hoar and Mr.. Wolcott that
the senate be put in possession of this inn
portant testimony.
Mr.. Cockrell's speech was an elaborate
presentation of the financial question from
the silver standpoint. so much so that Mr..
Hoar, in the course of an inquiry stated,
that it was the ablest silver speech he had
ever listened to. Mr.. Cockrell occasionally
left his argument for very sharp personal
criticisms of Secretary Carlisle. BY CO.
incidence. also, Sir Julian Pauncefote was
in the gallery when Mr.. Cockrell closed
were to be subservient to the English mon
ey interests we should 'haul down Old
Glory, raise the gold standard and cry
aloud, Long live the queen of Great Brit
ain and the empress OF lndia.'"
AT THE OPENING OF THE SESSION
Mr.. Lodge of Massachusetts stated that
Mr.. Sherman had made an inadvertent
error in saying yesterday that he (Lodge)
had seen Secretary Olney and secured
from him private papers and information
as to Cuba. The papers came to the com.
mittee on foreign relations from the state
department, and included full statement
from the Spanish minister, Dupuy de LONE.
These and other papers were of such a
confidential character that they could not
be quoted or made public. Mr.. Sherman
assented to Mr.. Lodges statement, saying
he recalled that the papers came from the
state department at the request of the
committee, and the statement of the Span
ish minister had been read aloud to the
committee by Mr.. Frye. This brought Mr..
Hoar to his feet with a surprised inquiry
whether the senate should not have the
benefit Of this statement of the Spanish
case. ut would be proper to lay it be-
fore the senate in executive session.
responded Sherman. Hoar suggested such
a session. Wolcott added in a decisive
tone that the explanations just given
placed the senate in most unusual di-
lemma.
"Senators are asked,' said WoIcot, ''to
vote on a question of fact. on testimony
reposing in the breast of members of the
committee on foreign relations, on testi-
mony that cannot be disclosed to the pub
lie. or to us except in executive session !;
and these resolutions are to 90 to another
chamber which has no executive session
and cannot have possession of this testi-
mony. l would be glad to ask whether we
are to yield our judgment and our con-
science to the committee on foreign rela-
tions.'
HawIey of Connecticut rose to state
briefly that he hoped some declaration on
Cuba could be offered on which all would
agree. He added that at proper time he
would insist on further conference on this
particular declaration.
Cockrell was recognized for a speech in
support of the silver amendment to the
tariff bill, which measure has been in
abeyance since the refusal of the senate to
adopt Morrill's motion to reconsider it.
Mr.. Cockrell called attention to the bal
ances in the treasury including over $123,-
100000 gold coin and bullion, over 1924 =
OOO,eO0 standard silver dollars, $177,-
100000 of silver bullion (coinage value)
on which the profit of seigniorage had been
S53.O0O,O00: $14,OOO,OO0 subsidiary sill
yer coin, 100000. 900 OF greenbacks and
10000, 900 of treasury notes of 1890.
Our bonds, the senator maintained, can
be paid as we'll in silver as in gold, and he
called attention IN tho foot thot Soo-ot a ~,