The record-union., 1896-01-30

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-The Sen
ate chamber was to-day theater in
which scenes Of history were enacted in
the presence of crowded galleries. First
came concurrent resolution reported
from the Committee on Foreign ReIa-
lions, requesting the President of the
United States to use his good offices
with the Government of Spain to have
belligerent rights extended to the Gu
ban revolutionists. This was followed
by minority report from the same
committee-Camer (Rep) of Penn
sylVania composing the minority-with
a concurrent resolution requesting the
President 10 use his good offices with
the Government of Spain for the rec
ognition of the independence of Cuba Z"
With the reports accompanying the
resolutions long arguments were read,
and the resolutions were placed on the
calendar to be taken up for debate and
action whenever the Committee on For
eign Relations may deem it advisable.
The resolution heretofore offered by
Call (Dem.) of Florida, requesting the
President to report to the Senate in re-
gard to the arrest at Havana of three
American citizens, Mark E. Rodriguez
and Louis Soumellan and son, and to
demand their immediate release, was
reported back from the Committee on
Foreign Relations with the last clause
stricken out, and was also placed on the
calendar.
The event Of the day, however, was
the speech made by TiIlman Dem) of
South Carolina, ostensibly in favor Of
the free coinage substitute for the
House bond bill, but really in denunci-
alton of the President and Secretary Of
the Treasury. Tillman was on this oc-
ca sion a splendid combination of actor
and orator giving the Senators and
spectators two hours of entertainment.
The way in which he spoke of the Pres
ident might have exposed him to in
terruption and censure, but seemed to
be rather enjoyed than found fault
with
During the morning business, and
when reports of committees We're called
for, Morgan CDem) of Alabama said
that he reported back from the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations a number
of petitions on the subject Of recogniz-
ing belIigerent rights in Cuba; also. a
resolution offered by Call Dem) of
Florida, declaring that a state of pub
lie war existed in Cuba, and that bel
ligerent rights should be accorded to
the Cuban Government. He reported
back. he said, as a substitute, two
resolutions accompanied by a written
report.
Cameron Rep) of Pennsylvania pre-
sented a minority report closing with
a resolution that the President is
hereby requested to interpose his
-,
ernment for the recognition of the in
dependence of Cuba"
The reading of the full minority report
being called for, it was read by the
Clerk. The minority report was quite
long, and when its reading was con-
cluded the whole matter went to the
calendar.
Gray Dem) of Delaware. also from
the Committee on Foreign Relations,
reported back the resolution intro
duced on the DIST inst. hy Call (Dem.) Of
Florida, with an amendment striking
out the sentence requiring the Presi-
dent to demand the immediate release
of Mark E. Rodriguez and Louis Sou
plellan and his son, American citizens
arrested at Havana. The resolution
simply requests the President to report
the facts as to such arrests. The reso-
luton was placed on the calendar.
At o. m. the Viee-President laid be-
fore the Senate the unfinished business,
being the House bond bill with the FL
nance Committees free coinage sub
stitute. and TiIlman CDem) of South
Carolina addressed the Senate. He
moved from his rear seat to one in the
front row, Immediately in front of the
presiding officer. Although provided
with manuscript, he began extempora-
neously
Mr.. President" the Senator began,
'it is not saying too much. and l feel
warranted in charging. that the de-
rangement in our finances and all this
cry about sound money and maintain
ing the honor and credit of the United
States. are all part and parcel Of a
dannable scheme of robbery which
had for its object, first, the utter de-
struction of silver as a money metal,
second. the increase Of the public debt
by the issue of bonds payable in gold,
and third. the surrender to corpora
tions of the power to issue all paper
money and give them monopoly OF
that function
Senator Tillman referred to the Sher-
man silver law of 1890, and in this con-
nection said: THE silver Republicans
of the West who had deserted the sill
yer Democrats of the South and ac-
cepted the compromise offered by Sem
ator Sherman. may take warning as to
what faith or trust they can put into
any utterances or actions of the Sena-
tor from Ohio as to legislation in regard
to our finances. The time for another
Presidential election approaches. They
must understand that the election OF
any man to the Presidency who would
veto a free coinage bill means defeat
Tt means more; it means continued dis
aster to our industries and increased
poverty of the masses of the people.
Under the Sherman law" he con-
cluded, there was a diminution of the
amount Of the free gold in a gradually
decreasing scale but not enough to
cause any alarm. During the entire
year of 1891 and the entire year of 1892
there was approximately as much gold
as there was during 1854 and 1885.
Discussing the repeal of the purchas-
ing clause of the Sherman law. he said:
democrats and Republicans We'd with
each other in the furtherance Of the
nolicv which had been formulated and
steadily pursued by the Senator from
Ohio. When the Senate met there was
an acknowledged majority of men open
and outspoken in their determination
to stand by the white metal and who