Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-01
Vote of the Senate on the Silver
Bond Bill.
ALL OUTSIDE AMENDMENTS REJECTED
Only That of the Finance Commit
tee to the House Bill Passed.
ALTERS IN THE HOUSE


the Senate chamber is usually given over
to the pages, Senator Jones (Ark3. the
commander-in-chief of the silver forces,
was at his desk preparing for the culmina-
ton of the struggle on the silver bond
bill, set for o'clock today. He was smil-
ing and confident of the outcome
Before him were spread the bond bill as
amended for free and unlimited silver
coinage, and the Individual amendments
of Senators-twelve in number-which were
to be. voted on. The Senator was arrang-
ing them in order for the successive votes.
Senator MorrilPs Speech.
At II o'clock the session was resumed.
Under the parliamentary fiction 1t was
still the session Of Thursday, as no adj
journment had been taken until then.
There was but scanty attendance on the
floor and in the galleries. but the chamber
gradually filled as the session proceeded.
There was no prayer or routine owing
to the parliamentary status, and Mr..
Morrill, chairman of the finance commit
tee took the floor for his speech, which
had been announced as the last of the
long speeches of the debate. Great inter-
est attached to Mr.. Morrills remarks, ow-
ing to his continued vigor at the advanced
age of eighty-five, and his long participa-
ton in the great financial struggles of
Congress. He spoke from manuscript, with
a clear voice, readily heard in every part
of the chamber. Occasionally he put aside
his notes and emphasized his remarks with
emphatic gestures. An abstract of his
speech will be found elsewhere in The
Star.
Mr. Morrill, closed at II AS, and Mr. Tel
Ter (Col) replied briefly to the reference
made as to the cheapEess of silver when
coming from the mines. He said the same
could be said of gold. The very remarkable
mines at Cripple Creek were turning out
gold at % cents an ource. Mr.. Teller re-
ferred sarcastically to the frequent char
acterization of "silver barons,'' and asked
He irstanced five men in Colorado who,
from mimi g gold, had quickly become mil
EOnaires.
Mr.. Buffers Amendment.
From this time forward the speeches We're
brief, uLder the agreement that the five
minute rule of debate should prevail. In
Ger this rule, also, the various amendments
were taken up for debate. The first amend
ment, that of Mr.. Butler N.C), prohibited
the issua, ce of bonds without authority of
Congress, and also provided for a method
of rHdeeming greenbacks in gold or silver
according to the fluctuations of the ratio
Mr.. Daniel Va.) spoke against the Butler
amendment, urging that 1T vested broad
discretion in the Secretary of the Treasury
TIE metals.
Mr.. Gray Oel) opposed the amendment
as tending to increase the antaGonism be-
tween the metals
Mr.. Butler sought to fntelrogate Mr. Dan
lei IS to the grou1 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 premium or the one at a de-
preciated 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
or more explicit answer. 1.-The Senator
tDanleD does not understand the question:
said Mr.. Butler.
Permit me to say" responded Mr.. Dan
lei, amid laugh, that the Senator does
not understand the answer"
Mr.. Jores Ark) pointed out that the
main purpose of this measure was to Sc
cure the free coinage of silver The COM
mittee did not wish to complicate this main
issue with collateral questions. He appeal
ed to the friends Of the measure to pass
the free coinage amendment without sat
terlng their energy by side amendments
Mr.. Teller added his appeal in the same
line. He thought that the friends of silver
should be content to carry their main prop
osition, reserving incidental questions to
another day.
II am sorry to see the friends of free
coinage weakening" said Mr.. Allen, as he
proceeded to support the Butler amend
ment. pointing out that it was d ,sirable
and essential feature of the main propos,-
ton for free coinage. - &
1t was useless to have free coinage, IN
terjected Mr.. Butler, unless the Secretary
of the Treasury was directed to carry out
Its spirit by paying obi cations in silver.
Mr.. Harris Tenn) spoke against going
into the niceties and refinements of the
sage of the main question-free silver
coinage He moved to lay the Butler
amendment on the table. but, at the re-
quest of Mr.. Butler withdrew the motion
amendment to speak Mr.. Butler declared
that he would never want to see a free
silver bill passed unless there went with
1t provision to maintain the parity
without amendment he proceeded, every
free silver man in this chamber would
have to bury his head in shame.
Mr.. Bacon (Ga.) urged that free coinage
would sustain the parity without resorting
to this additional amendment
Mr.. Cockrell CMo) added a further urgent
appeal against con1plcating the question.
mo greater obstacle has been encountered
by silver" said he. than this continual
disposition to try to get too much.''
MI. PeHer kan.) supported the Butler
amendment, he being the fourth of the
populist Senators-Butler, Allen, Stewart
and Pefer-who had resisted the appeal
of the main silver element for the adoption
OF free coinage without complicating is
sues. "
The Amendment Defeated.
The vote was then taken on the silver
amendment. 1t was closely followed. as
opposing forces The amendment was de-
seated-13-60-by the following vote:
4eas-Allen, Brown. Butler, Cameron,
Cannon, George, HILL Kyle, PETER, Pritch-
ard Roach, Stewart, Tillman-13
Nays-Allison, Bacon, Baker, Bate, Berry.
Blanchard, Burrows, Call, Carter, Chan
dler, Chiffon, Clark, Cockrell. Davis, Du-
hois, Faulkner, Frye, Gallinger, Gibson
German Gray. Hale, Hansbrough, Harris,
Hawley, Hoar, Irby, Jones (Ark3, Lindsay,
Lodge, Mcbride, Mcmillan, Mantle, Mills
Mitchell loreg3. Mitchell ONis.), Morgan
Morrill,, Murphy Nelson, Palmer, Pasco,
Perkins, Pettigrew, Platt Proctor, Pugh,
s sao, ,,; Squire, Teller, Thurston, Turpie
Wetmore, White, Wilson-6O.
Mr.. Stewart Nev) ridiculed the discus
sion going on. 1t was all dress parade
he said. Every one knew the pending
measure would receive no attention after
leaving the Senate. AS it was merely a
question of recording opinions the vote
should be taken on all collateral cues
lions.
The Allen Amendment,
The amendment of Mr.. Allen QNeb.) for
bidding the issue Of Understanding bonds
was next taken I'm 1'his hro,pb+ fo,,,o.a