The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1896-10-01
SLICK WORK.
How the "Crime of 187S," Which Demone-
tized Silver, was Accomplished.

How the Crime of l873," Which DemOne-
tized Silver, was Accomplished.
Mr.. President, l now come to one of
the most remarkable and to my mind
one of the most fraudulent pieces of
legislation this or any other country
ever saw. refer to the manner of the
passage of the bill demonetizing silver.
{ will not occupy the time of the senate
oy going over the whole history of this
most iniquitous transaction. Mr..
Hooper, since deceased, was at the
time chairman of the committee having
charge of bill which had been referred
to his committee and on May 81, 1872,
reported substitute and moved to sus-
pend the rules and pass the substitute,
upon which motion among other things
the following occurred, which any
senator can find by turning to the Con-
gressional Globe, part 8, page 1888,
md is as follows:
Mr.. Hoffman, suppose tits intended
to have the bill read before it is put
upon it's passage.
The Speaker The substitute will be
read
Mr.. Hooper, of Massachusetts,
hope not. 1t is long bill and those
who are interested in it are perfectly
familiar with its provisions.
Mr., Kerr-The rules can not be
suspended so as to dispense with the
reading of the bill.
The Speaker can be.
Mr.. Kerr-I want the house to un-
derstand that it is attempted to put
through this bill without being read.
The Speaker the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. Hooper, move
that the reading of the bill be dispensed
with z?
Mr.. Hooper, of Massachusetts--I
will so frame my motion to suspend the
rules that it will dispense with the
reading of the bill.
The Speaker-The gentleman from
Massachusetts, moves that the rules be
suspended and that the bill pass, the
reading thereof being dispensed with.
Mr.. Randall not we have a
division of that motion?
The Speaker-A motion to suspend
the rules can not be divided.
Mr.. Randall should like to have
the bill read, although I am willing
that the rules be suspended as to the
possage of the bill.
The question was put on suspending
the rules and passing the bill without
reading, and two thirds not voting in
favor thereof the rules were not sus-
pended.
Mr.. Hooper, of Massachusetts, 81 now
move that the rules be suspended and
the substitute for the bill in relation to
mints and coinage passed and I ask
that the substitute be read.
The clerk began to read the substi-
tute.
Mr.. Brooks-Is that the original
bill?
The Speaker motion of the
gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr.
Hooper, applies to the substitute, and
that on which the house is called to act
is being read.
Mr.. Brooks-As there is to be no de-
bate, the only chance we have to know
what we are doing is to have both the
bill and the substitute read.
The Speaker motion of the
gentleman from Massachusetts being to
suspend the rules and pass the substi-
tute, it gives no choice between the
two bills. The house must either pass
the substitute or none.
Mr.. Brooks-How can we choose be-
tween the original bill and the substi-
tute unless we hear them both read ?
The Speaker.-The gentleman can
vote "ay" or "no" on the question
whether this substitute shall be passed.
Mr.. Brooks-I am very much in the
habit of voting "no" when l do moi
know what is going on.
Mr.. Holman-Befor the question is
taken upon suspending the rules and
passing the bill I hope the gentleman
from Massachusetts, will explain the
leading changes made by this bill il
the existing law, especially in reference
to the coinage. It would seem that al
of the small coinage Of the country il
intended to be recoined
Mr.. Hooper, of Massachusetts This
bill makes no changes in the existing
law in that regard. 1t does not requir,
the recoinage Of the small coins.
The question being taken on the mo
tion Mr.. Hooper, of Massachusetts, t.
suspend the rules and pass the bill, i
was agreed to; there being ayes ITO
noes IS.
And so the rules were suspended
and the substitute passed without it
ever being read or any member of tina
body knowing the contents of it. (Se
speech of Senator Hereford, of Yves
Yirginia. in Congressional Record