The San Francisco call., 1896-02-14

oy tne government. The amendment was
lost-39 to 81.
Corliss (R.) Of Michigan offered an
amendment combining the two previously
rejected, for the purpose of explaining his
position. Dingley opposed the amend
ment and was asked by Corliss if the
House might look to the Committee on
Ways and Means or to another committee
for action at this session looking to the in
itiation of a movement in favor of en-
larged use of silver.
Dingley replied that the Senator from
Colorado (Wolcott) had prepared an
amendment to the sundry civil appropri-
alton bill for the current year looking to
an international conference, the United
States, however, looking to another ma
ton for initiative action. For himself,
DINGHY stated, amid applause, that he was
in favor OF the United States taking pri-
mary action to bring about a conference
on the subject.
Corliss' amendment was rejected with
out a division.
Towne (R.) of Minnesota offered an
amendment committing the United States
to the free coinage of silver at the ratio of
151l to when the mints of Germany and
France shall have been opened for that
purpose. He said the bill was agreed
upon by conference of economists in
Europe last summer and was to be offered
in the English Parliament, the German
Reichstag and the French Chamber of
Deputies. With the concurrent action of
the United States with Germany and
France, he said, he had no doubt that the
parity of the two metals under free and
unlimited coinage could be maintained,
and such joint action would compel
England-nothing else would-to come to
their position.
Updegraff (R.) of Ohio said that the
financial argument had proceeded upon
one OF two assumptions: Tha. the Amer
ican people were desirous of settling their
debts upon basis of so cents on the dollar
or that Congress had the power to legis-
late into so cents worth of silver 100 cents
worth of value. No honest man would
stand a moment on the first, and no legis-
iative body had the power to do the latter.
The curse of Adam, the force of which be
first felt in his youth, that in the sweat Of
his face must he earn bread. stood in the
way of accomplishing such an object by
legislation. Silver was demonetized, he
said, upon the same principle and for the
same reason and by the same conspiracy"
which effected the law of 1873, that de-
monetized Goldfish in Massachusetts, and
whisky and tobacco in Virginia. Both
gave way for better material for cur
rency, and when the people found some
thing better than gold for money they
would adopt that.
Owens (D.) of Kentucky said he con-
graduated the country that the House
was not confined to the choice of either of
the two evlls-the bond bill as it passed
the House or the free-coinage substitute
sent by the Senate-but that the defeat of
one would be speedily followed by the de-
mise of the other. Whatever party to-
day, he said, bound itself to the dead body
of free silver would not again receive the
confidence of the country in the twenty
five years to come.
Dingley (R.) of Maine opposed Towne's
amendment for the reason that the United
States was not ready at this time to sug-
gest an international ratio for the coinage
of silver. The amendment was disagreed
to-52 to 146.
On Crisp's motion to agree to the Senate
substitute without amendment the vote
was: Ayes, 80; noes, 100. Tt seemed that
Hull Ol tllc DtlAOCIdtS fOL0u aEaluSI GESlr
leader, and as the members rose to be
counted the demonstration of overwhelm-
ing strength was greeted with applause by
the victorious side.
The chairman announced that the re-
suit was the committee agreed to recon-
mend to the House non-concurrenee in the
Senate substitute. [Applause.l
On motion of Dingley (R.) of Maine the
committee rose and Chairman Payne an
nounced to Speaker Reed the decision and
recommendation just reached. Dingley
stated that after speech by Crisp CD of
Georgia in favor of concurring in the
Senate substitute tomorrow members OF
the Ways and Means Committee opposed
to concurrence would reply, and then he
would ask vote on the recommendation
of the committee OF the whole.
Johnson tR.) of Indiana reported from
Election Committee its decision in the
contest of Van Horn VS.. Tarsney from the
Fifth Missouri District in favor of Van
Horn. The minority was given until next
Tuesday in which to prepare and file their
views.
The House then, at 10 P NJ, on motion
of Dingley, adjourned until tomorrow.