The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-02
Silver Bond Bill at Last Passed
in the Senate.
BY A MAJORITY OF SEVEN
The Vote Taken After a Three
Hours Debate.
THE SENATE CHAMBER CROWDED
But There Was No Excitement or Sur
prise at the Result as it Was
Foregone Con-
cus;on.

clus;on.
Washington, Feb. 1.-The long con
est over the silver bond bill is at an end
in the Senate, that body having passed
the free silver coinage substitute to the
House bond bill by the decisive vote
of AZ to 35, majority of for free
silver.
The result was reached at 3 O'Clock
to-day after three hours caustic de-
bate and sharp parliamentary fencing.
The public interest in the elimination
of the protracted struggle was shown
by crowded galleries and a full attend
ance on the floor, II Senators being
present and the others paired. Baron
Won Thielmann, the German Ambassa-
dor, occupied front seat in the diplo-
matte gallery, showing keen interest
in the final vote. Members of the
House crowded the chamber, filling
available seats and standing room in
the rear and aisles.
1t was expected that the final vote
would be taken at O'Clock, but a diff
ference of opinion arose as to the
agreement, resulting in considerable
bitterness and personal 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 diff
ferences over the agreement itself held
off the vote for an hour beyond the
time set
The result was such foregone con
clusion that little excitement or sur
prise was occasioned by the announce
S,F
The early hours of the session, be-
ginning at IL o'clock, were given to the
closing speeches, including that of
Mr.. Morrill,, the octogenarian of Con-
gress, who is still vigorous in speech
and thought The other speeches were
under the fiye-minute rule, being brief
and snappy. Mr.. Lindsay took occa-
sion to say that in his judgment, the
President had fulfilled the full meas
ure of his duty in financial affairs, and
should do no more. If calamity come
as a result of Congressional inaction,
the President should leave the respon-
sibility where it belonged, on the
shoulders of Congress.
Mr. Morrill, closed his speech at 11.4j
and Mr.. Teller Tep. COLI replied
briefly to a reference made by him to
/
from the mines. The very remarkable
mines at Cripple Creek were turning
out gold at twenty-five cents an ounce.
Mr.. Teller referred sarcastically TO the
frequent characterization of silver
barons," and asked what had become
OF the "gold barons." lie instaneed
five men in Colorado who, from min
ing gold, had quickly become million
aires.
From this time forward the speeches
were brief, under the agreement that
the five minute rule of debate should
prevail. Under this rule, also, the va
rious amendments were taken up.
The first amendment was that of Mr..
Butler, of North Carolina, prohibiting
the issuance of bonds without authori-
ty of Congress. and also provides for
a method of redeeming greenbacks in
gold or silver according to the fuctua-
tions of the ratio. Mr.. Daniel Dem.
ya.) spoke against the Butler amend
ment, urging that it vested a broad
discretion in the Secretary of the
Treasury, which would tend to disturb
the parity of the metals.
Mr.. Gray Dem. DELI opposed the
amendment as tending to increase the
antagonism between the metals.
Mr.. Butler sought TO interrogate Mr..
Daniel as to the ground for opposition
to the amendment. Under the option
given in the present law, asked Mr..
Butler, should the Secretary of the
Treasury pay with the metal at a
premium of the one at deprecated
price. The Secretary should treat the
metals with absolute independence so
as to leave outsiders in doubt as to
which metal was to be paid. Mr..
Butler insisted on a more explicit an
swer. ''The Senator (DanieD does not
understand the question" said Mr..
Butler.
Permit me to say" responded Mr..
Daniel, amid laughter, that the Sena-
tor does not understand the answer"
Mr.. Jones (Dem. Ark pointed out
that the main purpose OF this measure
was to rescue the free coinage of silver.
The committee did not wish to compli-
cate this main issue with collateral
questions. He appealed to the friends
of the measure to pass the free coinage
amendment without scattering their
energy by side amendments.
Mr.. Teller added his appeal in the
same line.
Mr.. Allen supported the Butler
amendment, pointing out that it was
II desirable and essential feature of the
main proposition for free coinage. !.
1T is useless 10 have free coinage,
interiected Mr.. Butler, unless the
Secretary of the Treasury is directed
to carry out its spirit by paying obli-
| cations in silver"
Mr.. PETER (Pop., Kansas supported
the Butler amendment, he being the
fourth of the Populist Senators But
| Ter, Allen, Stewart and Peffer-who
! had resisted the appeal of the main