The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-16
WORK OF CONGRESS.
Senator Mills Opposed to Any
Increase of the Debt.
ALSO TO NATIONAL BANKS.
Senator PETER Agrees With Him-Re-
publlcans In Favor OF Liberal
Pension Policy.

Washington City, Jan. fisherman Sc
cured the floor shortly after the session or
the senate began today. and presented an
adverse report on the bill forbiddiag eth
zens OF the United States accepting titles,
decorations, etc. from foreign nations.
Sherman said there appeared 10 be no need
for the proposed legislation. Consideration
OF the bill was Indefinitely postponed.
Sherman reported fayorably the joint
resolution appropriaring $500 for the ex-
penses OF the commission engaged in liking
the boundary between Alaska and British
Columbia along the 1iist meridian, west
longitude. There was some objection TO
immediate consideration, but. on Sher-
mans statement that the commission now
al work would have 10 suspend operations
unless the appropriation was given. the
resolution was passed.
Mills of Texas took the floor In support
OF his resolution introduced yesterday con-
corning silver, bonds, etc. He spoke ex-
temporaneously and received close atten-
ton. He first drew attention to the long
continued antagonism TO silver and the
present locking up and accommodating of
silver in the treasury vaults, due, he said.
10 powerful influences in this country.
which claimed that the prerogative OF is
suing money should be given 10 corpora
tons, TO expand and contract as they
pleased. The national bank idea was not
a Democratic idea, the Democratic policy
fayoring retention by the government and
the people OF the moneymaking preroga-
tive. Mills showed the contractions and
expansions of the circulation made by the
banks, and said this system was now to be
perpetuated by further issue of bonds.
Whenever the verdict of the people had
been taken, it had been in favor OF the
legal tender notes. The people had always
stood against bonds and bank circulation.
Let any party" said Mills, dare TO go
before the country in the coming contest
with a plain declaration favoring a bonded
debt and bank circulation. and when the
campaign is over that party will need the
services of a first-class undertaken" He
differed with the president on this sub
Ject. and he regretted it. But this was a
country of free discussion, and the differ
ence with the president and the secretary
or the treasury existed in spite of high
personal regard for them. The president
wanted more bonds, adding TO the peoples
burden and imposing this burden on our
children and our children's children.
Gray asked II Mills believed in notes
which were never redeemed: in short, in
fiat money.
Mills rejected the idea that legal tender
notes were fiat, and explained the theory of
fiat money. Why did not our distinguished
secretary Of the treasury. asked Mills,
when the bank conspiracy began, say to
these gentlemen. now show your cards and
i Will pay you in silver? If the secretary
had coined the silver in the treasury and
paid IL for current expenses there would
have been no deficit. The presidents bond
issues were futile. 1t was like pouring
water through a sieve. The hundred mill
ion issue few days hence would be fol-
lowed by another hundred million in a few
months. The presidents language con-
corning finances sounded like the state
ments OF Jay Cooke when he advocated ma
uonal debts as national blessings. This
bank power threatened TO WELD a control!-
ing power in the senate, the house OF rep
resentatives, the executive branches and
the United States supreme court. This
last branch had grown so powerful that 1t
could almost decree monarchy in the
United States. That would be no more alb
surd than the decision against the income
tax, everything the decisions of hundred
years. The senator closed with a strong
expression Of his purpose 10 at all times
resist the growing influence of the bank
power.
The silver bond bill was taken up at
o'clock, and PETER addressed the senate
He said that the speech Of Mills had at last
justified the Populist party. I'VE have the
remarkable spectacle" said PETER. "of
Democratic senator, holding a distin-
guished place in his party. arraigning and
cenouncing the policy OF the president
which this party brought into power"
PETER urged in particular the repeal OF all
laws authorizing the issue OF bonds
He yielded the floor TO permit Pugh
Dem, Ala. to offer resolution similar in
text 10 the resolution historically known
as the Stanley Matthews resolution" for
the payment OF government obligations in
either coin, gold or silver. Pugh gave no.
tice that he would ask vote on this reso-
luton on Monday.
Resuming, PETER said the Populist party
would properly arrange the parity of the
metals when IL came into power.
That viii be-" said Hoar. when the
millennium occurs"
The millennium is near at hand, and we
VIII not have long to wait" responded PEI
fer. The senator said the bond policy of
the president was little else than a great
public crime" PETER will continue mis- re-
marks tomorrow.
The senate agreed that the adjournment
tomorrow will be until Monday. At 4.15
the senate went into executive session. and
at i:25 adjourned
Combinations: i. +. Bennett, OF Seattle.
70 he United States attorney, district of
Alaska; A. K. Delaney. OF Everett. TO be
United states district Judge district OF
Alaska: A. r. Morlan. Of Louisiana. TO be
consul at Belize. British Honduras.
Nominations. Chief Engineer George W.
Melville. L. s. ". TO be engineer-in-chief
Of the bureau Of steam engineering. with
the rank Of commodore. Second Lieut. /
II. HOwse. Sixth cavalry. 10 De first lieu
tenant.