The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-09-25
SLICK WORK.
How the "Urime OF 1873" Was Acc, M
plished.


plished.
Mr.. President, / now come to one
of the most remarkable and to my
mind one of the most fraudulent
pieces OF legislation this or any other
country ever saw. / refer to the
manner of the passage of the bill de-
mOnetizing silver. / will not occupy
the time of the Senate by going over
the whole history of this most mi.
quitous transaction. Mr.. Hooper,
since deceased, was at the time
chairman Of the committee having
charge of bill which had been re-
ferred to his committee and on May
q, 1872, reported substitute and
moved to suspend the rules and
pass the substitute, upon which mo-
ton among other things the follow
ing occurred, which any Senator can
find by turning to the Congressional
Globe, part ., page 1888, and is as
follows:
Mr.. Holman suppose it is intended
to have the bill read before the passage.
The Speaker-The substitute will be
read.
Mr.. Hooper, of Massachusetts, hope
not. 1t is a long bill and those who are
interested in it are perfectly familiar
with its provisions.
Mr.. Kerr-The rules cannot he sus-
pended so as to dispense with the read
ing of the bill.
The Speaker-They can be.
Mr.. Kerr-I want the House to under
stand that it is attempted to put through
this bill without being read.
rba Snoulyap- npns ha ranfI, ~, e, n
from Massachusetts, Mr.. Hooper, move
that the reading of the bill be dispensed
with?
Mr.. Hooper, of Massachusetts-I will
so frame my motion to suspend the
rules that it will dispense with the
reading of the bill.
The Speak gentleman from
Massachusetts, moves that the rules be
suspended and that the bill pass, the
reading thereof being dispensed with.
Mr.. Randall-Cannot we have di-
vision of that motion?
The Speaker-.A motion to suspend
the rules cannot be divided.
Mr.. Randall-I should like to have
the bill read, although / am willing
that the rules shall be suspended as to
the passage of the bill without reading;
and (two.thirds not voting in favor
thereof the rules were not suspended.
Mr.. Hooper, of Massachusetts-I now
move that the rules be suspended and
the substitute for the bill in relation to
minis and coinage passed; and / ask
that the substitute be read.
The clerk began to read the substi-
tute.
Mr. Rrooks-Is that the original bill?
The Speaker-Ihe motion of the gen
tlem8n from Massachusetts Mr.. Hoop
erl applies TO the substitute, and that on
which the house is called 20 act Us being
read.
Mr.. Brooks-As there is TO be no de-
bate, tie only chance we have to know
what we are doing is to have both the
bill and the substitute read.
The Speaker-rhe motion OF the gen
tleman from Massachusetts being TO
suspend the rules and pass the substi-
tute, IL gives no choice between the two
bills. The House must either pass the
substitute OrnOne.
Mr. Brooks-How can we choose be-
| tween the original bill and the substi-
tute unless we hear them both read?
The Speaker-Ihe gentleman can
vote cay or "nO' on the question
whether this substitute shall be passed.
Mr. Brooks am very much in the
! ldDlb.Ol NONlllE 'llO WitA L w AOl
know what is going on.
| Mr.. HOlman-Before the question is
taken upon GuspendiHg the rules and
/ passing the uitt HUpr Jue SvuJlvuldu
! from Massachusetts win explain the
leading changes made by this billin the
! existing law, especially in reference TO
/ the coinage. 1t would seem that all Of
! the small coinage of the country is in
tended to be recoined.
! Mr.. Hooper, of Massachusetts-This
| bill makes no changes in the existing
law in that regard. It does not require
the recoinage of The small coins.
The question being taken on the mo-
ton Of Mr.. Hooper, Of Massachusetts,,
to suspend the rules and pass the bill,
it was agreed to; there being-ayes no,
noes IL.
and so the rules mere suspended
and the substitute passed aDithout its
eUer being read or oay member Of
that body kaoWiRg the contents Of II.
-[See speech of Senator Hereford,
of West Virginia, in Congressional
Record, December n. 1877, page 206.