The herald., 1896-02-15
Crowds Come to Listen to Silver
Debate
CRISP SPEAKS ON COINAGE
Turner Of Georgia Upholds the Gold
Standard
The Formal Vote Taken and the Houss Rel I:cts
the Free Silver substituts
ais to 90
Associated Press Special Wire.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-The majority
against silver in the house today when the
final vote was taken on concurrence in the
senate free coinage amendment, was
larger than that of yesterday in COMMITTEES
of the whole. Yesterday the motion to
concur was defeated, 100 to so, a major.
ity of no; today it was beaten, 2I5 to 90
a majority Of 125. The vote today was a
record-making vote, and, counting the
pairs, but thirty-seven out of 356 members
we're unaccounted for. Perhaps few alb.
sentees lodged, but most OF them we're
unavoidably absent and were unable to 90.
cure pairs. The silver mon who yesterday
predicted much grvater showing OF
strength today wore again disappointed.
The sound money" leaders had been dis.
posed to concede the silver forces 100
votes. An Analysis of the vote today
shows that s4 Republicans and 81 Demo.
Gratis voted against concurrence, and 5s
Democrats, 25 Republicans and 7 Popu
lists for concurrence.
The debate, which preceded the vote
was of an interesting character but devoid
OF any sensational features.
The galleries. as usual on a field day ir
the lower branch of congress, were crowd
ed to the doors and quite number of sen
ators sat through the tive.hour debate
secretary Herbert was also present. Ex
Speaker Cifsp presented an argument for
lne s,ivef men and was replied to by Mr.
Iurner, Democratic colleague from
0eoreia, in two-hour speech. The per
so.ial rivalry between the two leaders Of
the opposing factions of the Democratic
nj fl1a lAI al, IL
the occasion. Dalzell of Pennsylvania
closed in behalf of the Republicans. The
partisans of the respective champions
missed no opportunity to acclaim their
approval when telling points were made,
and at the close the honors seemed even.
The public and private galleries of the
house, house wsre thronged in anticipation of the
closing debate Oh the senate free coinage
substitute for the bond bill. Dingley
chairman of the ways and means commit
tee, insisted on the regular order as soon
as the journal had been read. Under ar
rangement made yesterday. one hour was
allowed each side for closing.
Crisp (Dernocrat) of Georgia, represent.
ing free silver, said this was an economic
question and no matter what views the
members might have entertained in the
past, he assumed that in casting a vote
today each member would do so con-
scientiously and in aoco. d .nce with the
dictates OF his convictions. Crisp opened
mis- argument proper with the familiar
| silver" Prices were fixed by the amount
OF primary money in the world. If the
standard in England was gold, France sill
| YER. and China silver, the measure of
| values would be the combined amount of
| both gold and silver circulating as money.
He read from statem mt of Senator
; Sherman, made in 1875, thit the de
] Of hoe II
tion OF its price and created Il mad scram
I BILE for gold on the part of England, France
and Germany, which appreciated in price
and induced fall in prices throughout the
world. That fall in prices. Crisp asserted
was largely due to the demonetizing OF
silver. He read from Ba!fonr's speech OF
the 1lth instant, in the English parlia-
| ment, attrbuting the decline of agriculture
in the gold countries to appreciation of
| gold, and the artificial advantages it gave
the silver countries. Balfour also de-
clared the obstacles to reform came not
from abroad, but were put forward at
home. Crisp affirmed the existence of a
defined purpc Sc by those in authority,
both here and abroad, to depress the price
| OF silver in order to prevent remonetiza-
| ton. He cited the manner in which the
Bland ALLISON act of 1878 was executed
coinage OF minimum amount under the
act and refusal of the treasury after q
Few months to coin silver under the
act of 1890. He cited Secretary Car
isles refusal to give silver for gold in
1898, because silver was needed for re-
demption of treasury notes, and his course
| a few months afterward in redeeining those
notes in gold. "What kind of jugg ing is
that?" he asked. What sort of friendly
treatment of silver is that?" (Applause.) !
be then directed his attention to the man
ner in which parity between the metals
had been maintained. Every obligation of
the government (bonds, greenbacks and
treasury notes) was payable in coin. If
that was not true and they we're gold obli-
cations, why did not those who believed
that have the courage to say so and save
the tax-ridden people millions interest?
saved the people $l6 100000 interest by
authorizing gold bonds. Congress refused,'
said Crisp. I'VE paid 81 5000, 900 for the
privilege of paying in silver, and now you
attempt to deny our right to do So" Gap
! planse).
Mr.. Speaker" said Mr.. Crisp. continu.
ing, "a few days ago our condition was
pitiable. The greatest nation in intelli-
| Rence and trade, we had just applauded to
the echo the presidents message warning
European powers that they would not be
permitted to secure lodgemnt OIL the
American continent, The reverberations
of that applause had hardly ceased before
was Historically calling on congress for
help. 1t was feared that Great Britain
would take our gold. We we're absolutely
| helpless in the face of the enemy. Yet
| you know what that condition perpetual.
ed.''
Criticizing the bond bill, he declared thai
its purpose was to impound the greenbacks
and to do indirectly what the majority
dare not do indirectly. 1t was plan tc
retire all the greenbacks by holding them in
the treasury at the cost of outst anding in,
terest-bearing bonds, plan which Mr.
Carlisle had characterized as the most re-
markable experiment suggested in modern
| times"
! Coming down to the practical question.
whether the United States independent,
could maintain with free coinage the par
| ity between gold and silver, he said tha
there was no difference of opinion that i
could be accomplished by an internationa
agreement. AS a historical fact Franc,
had maintained the parity for sevent,
years. II four or five countries coul(
maintain a parity, it was conceded that M
law could effect the result. How powerful
must state be, then, to effect that result
he quoted from Jackson and Jefferson
and contemptuously said 1t had remained
! Tor modern economists 10 assert that t.
create demand and value by law was ~
physical and a metaphysical absurdity ,
he also quoted Sherman, and Carlisle
whiie ne was in the house. to the effec
that united action of several countrie,
could sustain silver. As to the ability ot
the United States to do so alone, the exam
pie OF France, country infinitel,
inferior in wealth and trade 10 us
must be borne in mind. Our commerce
internal and external. exceeded thai
OF England, Germany and France com