Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-28
BACON'S MAIDEN SPEECH The Georgia Senator Made a
 Telling Speech IN FAVOR OF FREE COINAGE He Effectuay Answered a Question Pro-
 pounded by Senator Hill. UTAH'S SENATOR'S TOOK THEIR SEATS They Indulged Tn Little Game With $1o,- GOO at Stake and MT. Cannon Won.
 The House Passed the Senate Armenian Resolution.
UTAH'S SENATOR'S TOOK THEIR SEATS

Washington, Jan. 27.-Two senators from the state of Utah took their places in the senate today, making the whole number of members of that body S9, as there is still vacancy in the case of Del aware. Both are classified as republi- cans and as favoring free coinage. Lots were drawn to decide which was to fill the long term, closing March B. 1899, and which was to fill the short term, closing March 3, 1897. MT. Cannon was fortunate enough to win the long term, his col F league, MT. Brown, having to take the short one. During the morning hour the joint resolution reported from the com mttee on agriculture, directing the sec- retary of agriculture to comply with the law regarding the purchase and distri- button of seeds, was debated in the sen- ate, MT. Hansbrough, republican, of North Dakota, arguing in favor of it and MT. George. democrat, of Mississippi, against it. No action was taken and at D. m. the house bond bill with the free coinage substitute was laid before the senate as unfinished business. Two speeches were made on the bill, one against free coinage by MT. Nelson, re- publican, of Minnesota, and one in favor of bimetalism and free coinage by MT. Bacon, democrat of Georgia. The bill went over without action, MT. Lodge, re- publican, of Massachusetts, giving notice of an amendment for the issue of $100,- 900, 900 of per cent bonds for coast de- lenses.
 In the opening prayer the senate chap lain made an impassioned invocation in behalf of the people of Armenia praying that the powers and people of Chrsten- dom may be aroused and united to force the sultan to check such a bloody sword and to stay the frenzied rage and cruelty of his fanatical soldiery and subjects.
 Among the petitions presented and re- ferred to committees was one from the wife of John l.. Waller, held in prison by the French authorities, in which she declares that such imprisonment is a "crime against justice," and that if her husband had been a British subject he would have been released long since She prayS that "Some uitable and im- mediate action be taken for his release"
 MT Bacon made a speech. which was his maiden effort in the senate, and he delivered 1t with much oratorcal grace and effect He spoke of the restoration of silver to general currency on the same terms as gold. He strongly favored such restoration. So long. he said. as this important and importunate and most irrepressible question remained undeter- mined it was not only natural, but un- avoidable that it should continue to at tract public attention and to be a most active political contention. The use of both metals, he argued, was necessary to supply the money essential to do the business of the world for the reason that all the gold of the world available for coinage was insufficient for such a pur- pose and that all the silver of the world available for coinage was also insuf ficient. That was the basic Fundamental principle in favor of both metals. MT. Bacon argued that there was no author ity under the existing law for the issue of bonds, and that if there was such a law it ought to be repealed.
 Mr. Hill asked MT. Bacon whether it was quite fair to charge that the mainte- nance of the gold standard was the sole object of the bond issue. Would 1t not be a more accurate statement to say that the issue of bonds was intended to maintain the greenback currency?
 MT. Bacon answered the question in the negative, and quoted from the mes- sage of the president to prove that the object of the bond issue was to maintain the gold reserve. There could be no pos jsible contention of the fact that the $162, ,O0O, ,0O0 of bonds already issued and the $1OO ,OOO 900 to be issued within few days were for the purpose of maintain ing a single gold standard. Not a dollar of those issues would have been neces- sary if the country were on bimetallic basis and if silver were paid out at the