The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-02
SILVER BILL PASSED.
Senate Adopted Substitute by Seven
Majority.
ALL AMENDMENTS WERE DEFEATED,
And Number Contemplated Were
Cut Off.
l. AMENDMENTS WERE DEFEATED,
MR.. MILLS CHANGED HIS VOTE
And Finally Recorded Himself rs Against
the Measure--Text Of the FREQ
Coinage BNl.

Washington, February 1.-The long con-
test over the silver bona bill is at an end
In the senate, that body having passed
the free silver coinage substitute for the
house bond bill by the decisive vote OF d
to 50. a majority of seven for free silver.
This result was reached ut . o'clock after
three hours of caustic debate and sharp
parliamentary foncing. The public interest
in the elimination of this protracted
struggle WAS shown by crowded galleries
and a full attendance on the floor. seventy
seven senators being present and the
others paired.
Baron van Thielmann, the German am
bassador occupied front scat in the
gallery, showing the keen interest In the
final vote Members of the house crowded
the chamber, filling available seats and
standing room in rear and side areas. ii
had been expected that the final vote
would bc taken nj o'clock, but n conflict
of opinion arose as TO the agreement. re-
sulting in considerable bitterness and per
sonnl feeling.
Many amendments were pending when
. o'clock arrived and these were sum-
marily cut off by a. strict construction OF
the agreement. although the differences
over the agreement itself held OFF the
vote for an hour beyond the time set. The
result was such foregone conclusion that
little excitement or surprise was oc-
| casioned by the announcement OF the
passage of the substitute.
The early hours OF the session, begin
| ming at II o'clock. were given to the clos
| ing speeches. including that OF Mr.. Nor
| rill. the octogenarian Of congress. who Is
| sim vigorous in speech and thought The
! other speeches were under the five minute
rule. being brief and snappy.
Mr.. Lindsay took occasion to say that
| In his Judgment the president had fulfilled
| tho fun measure OF his duty IN financial
| affairs and should do no more. II calamity
came as n result of congressional inaction
| the president should Leave the responsible
| ity where II belong ed-on the shoulders OF
congress.
| Another interesting incident occurred
when Mr.. German was urging that the
| legislation was fruItless, as IL could not
receive executive approval.
| Mr.. Morgan called attention TO the fact
that the duty of congress was TO act
without executive influence or direction,
to which Mr. Morgan. with much earnest
ness said: II fully agree to that PROPOSE
| ton and only regret that there has not
| been n closer adherence in the past. The
senator from Alabama can not go farther
| than | to resist encroachmcnts Of any
executive in giving any suggestions be-
You'd those he In bound 10 make by the
| constitution of the United States: but due
weight should he given to whatever rec
ommendation he makes without fear OF
| political power or patronage from the
president"
Mr.. Mills who had voted with the silver
men on all questions. changed his vote at
tho last and recorded himself as against
the passage of the free silver bin.
| Following is the fun text of the bill:
| Section l. That from and after the pas,
sage of THIS act. the minis of the United
| States shall be open to the coinage OF sill
Yer. and there shall be coined dollars of
| the weight of 4l2I2 grains. troy, Of stand
ard silver, nine-tcnths fine. as provided by
/
same terms and subject to the limitations
| and provisions of law regulating The coin
age and legal tender quality OF gold, and,
whenever the said coins herein provided
for shall be received into the treasury. GER
| tifcates may be issued thereon in the man,
ner now provided by law.
| Sec 2. That the secretary Of the treas
| ury shall coin into standard silver dollars
as soon as practicable. according to the
provisions Of section OF this act from
| fly of the act of July II. 1890. entitled An
| act directing the purchase OF silver bul-
Lon and the issue OF treasury notes 6 there,
OF the said silver bullion which represents
the seignionage or profit to the govern.
cost Of the silver purchased under said act
and its coinage value; and SAID silver dol.
lars so coined shall he used In payment oil
the current expen ses of the government
roignioragc available for use ms money
the secretary of the treasury is hereby au-
thorizod and directed to issue silver GER
iiiicatcs against It as II II was already
coined and In the treasury.
, Sec. 3. That no National bank note shall
Il he hereafter issued for "A denomination less
than $40 and all notes OF such banks now
outstanding OF denominations less thar
that sum shah he as rapidly as practicable
taken w, redeemed and Cancelled, aud
notes OF $40 and larger denominations shall
be issued In their stead under the dtrec'
ton OF the comptroller OF the currency.
| Sec. 4. That the secretary OF the treas
ury shall redeem the United States note;
commonly called greenbacks. and also thu
treasury notes issued under the act o.
July. 1873 when presented for Resumption
giving In exchange for said notes either
gold or silver coins. or both, not az tht
| option OF the holder. but exclusively a.
the option OF the government ana SAID
notes commonly called greenbacks. wher
so redeemed. shall be reissued as provided
by the act of May 81. 1878.
The senate proceedings opened at II
o'clock today with speech by the VEN
cradle senator from Vermont, Mr.. Nor
| rill, who said the house had promptly
responded TO the presidents message and
! had supplemented IL with an r2ency
| tariff revenue hill. The free silver sub
J stitute for the bond bill, he added, may
| not be the frss time when bread has
been asked for that stone has been
| prcsened. hut Il Is the first time that .