The record-union., 1896-02-14

enlarged use of silver.
Dingley replied that the Senator from
Colorado (Wolcott) had prepared an
amendment to the sundry civil appro-
priation bill for the current year looking
! to an international conference, the
United States, however, looking to an
other nation for initiative action. For
himself, Dingley stated, amid applause,
that he was in favor of the United
States taking primary action to bring
| about a conference on the subject
Corliss' amendment was rejected
without a division
Towne lRep.) of Minnesota offered an
amendment committing the United
States to the free coinage of silver at
the ratio of 1912 to 1, when the mints
| of Germany and France shall have
been opened for that purpose. He said
the bill was agreed upon by a confer
ence of economists in Europe last sum-
mer, and was to be offered in the Eng
| lish Parliament, the German Reichstag
and the French Chamber of Deputies
With the concurrent action of the
United States, with Germany and
France, he said he had no doubt that
the parity Of the two metals under free
and unlimited coinage could be main
/ tanned. and such joint action would
compel England-nothing else would
to come to their position.
Updegraff (Rep) of Ohio said that the
financial argument had proceeded upon
one of two assumptions: That the
American people were desirous of set
Ting their debts upon basis of fifty
cents on the dollar or that Congress
had the power to legislate into fifty
cents worth of silver one hundred
cents worth of value. No honest man
would stand a moment on the first and
no legislative body had the power to
do the latter The curse of Adam, the
force of which he first felt in his youth,
/ that in the sweat of his face must he
earn bread, stood in the way of accom-
plishing such an object by legislation.
Silver was demonetized, he said, upon
the same principle and for the same
reason and by the same conspiracy"
which effected the law of 1873, that de-
monetized Goldfish in Massachusetts and
whisky and tobacco in Virginia. Both
gave way for better material for cur
rency, and when the President found
something better than gold for money
they would adopt that
Owens (Dem) of Kentucky congrat-
ulated the country that the House was
not confined to the choice of either of
the two evils, the bond bill as it passed
the House or the free coinage substitute
sent by the Senate, but the defeat of
one would be speedily followed by the
demise of the other
At this point the proceedings were
interrupted by a personal controversy,
liamentary methods, between Hall and
Dearmond (Dems.) of Missouri. The
former reviewed the latters scarcely
yelled attack upon his speech on Sat
day against the free coinage of silver,
especially disclaiming any purpose to
take to himself any undue credit for
putting the income tax proposition into
the tariff bill, Dearmond and the entire
House gathering about the Democratic
seats as he spoke.
Dearmond-I felt, Mr.. Chairman, as
one Of the representatives of Missouri
that when the newest convert from that
State, of which l have the honor to be
a representative, to the so-called sound
money doctrine, saw proper, in making
his platform and declarations of prin-
pies upon this floor to talk about the
Chinese, people from the East Indies
and from the depths of Africa, and the
lower animals being in the category of
those who did not change opinions, that
perhaps it might not be inappropriate
to suggest that there might be changes
of opinion, and l think there are and
have been, that would evidence no tre-
mendous exaltation above some of
those classes referred to. I felt that the
gentlemans insinuation might be un-
derstood abroad, if allowed to go un-
challenged on this floor, as an insinu-
alton against the men who had honored
him and me, and / felt, as a true, loyal
Missorian, proud of my State and my
people, who have honored me, that I
ought not to allow to pass without no
tice these remarks.
"As to the income tax business,
say that the gentleman has allowed
himself to be paraded as the author of
the BILL when he knew he was not; he
has made the declaration here Che does
not refer to it now that he had been
informed and believed that as many as
eight Senators who voted for the pas
sage of the substitute now before US
had said that they believed they would
bring bankruptcy and ruin to the coun-
try He did not seek to identify them
He has not named one. He dare not do
it. He never viii do it. Let the gentle
man name a Senator. Let him name
one of them.
Il simply refer to this because I saw
in the papers of the State of Missouri
that this gentleman in his speech last
summer told the people how he had seen
the light and risen above the common
level upon which other people are act
ing; that he had come here as an advo-
cate of free silver, having been elected
on that platform, having pledged him
self to vote for and advocate it here;
that he would vote for it.
Il said in speaking of this matter
that the people whom the gentleman
represents and whom I represent are
not a besotted and ignorant people;
that they are not a people dependent
for guidance upon the politicians who
go around amongst them, especially
politicians of the gentleman's stamp
and kind. Gaughter.) My impression
as, and is now, and it has been greatly
strengthened, that when man changes
his opinions and departs from his old
associates upon some great question,
he ought hardly to prate at the first
opportunity about the courage which
led him to do it. or to talk about the
'ccwardice' (without Identification Of
specification that resides in those who
do not do likewise, or talk about the
Chinese and.th lower animals as being
typical Of those who do not change
when he does" (Laughter)
Hall-Mr. Chairman, I desire to reit-
crate that I do not wish at all to emu
late this gentleman in billingsgate; I
do not expect to equal him in it, but I