The herald., 1897-02-27
monetary B|METALL|SM
Takes a Long Step Toward
Realization
CONFERENCE BILL PASSED
By the Almost Unanimous Vote Of the
House
The Senate Discusses Cuban Affairs, but the
Debate Is Tame and SpirItIess After
Yesterdays Storm
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON. Feb. 26.-The last
six days of the session are suspension
days. ALI the ordinary rules are sus-
pended and bills can be passed and reso-
lutions adopted by a two-thirds major
ity vote of the house. Today was the
first of these six days and the house
celebrated it by passing the senate in
ternational monetary conference bill.
Despite the seeming divergence of views
on the money question the bill was
passed after a lively debate of two
hours, by a vote of 279 to 8. 1t was
supported alike by Republicans, Silver
Republicans, Gold Democrats and Silver
Democrats. The Silver Democrats and
Silver Republicans disclaimed any
faith in the commission to secure BIZ
metallism but they expressed themselves
as willing to have the test made. Quigg
New York, Rep.) and Johnson Qnd..
Rep.) both made vigorous speeches i'll
opposition. Those who spoke for the
bill were c. w. Stone of Pennsylvania,
Grow of Pennsylvania, Watson of Ohio,
McCreary of Kentucky. Sparkman Of
Florida, Hartman of Montana, McRae
of Arkansas, Cooper of Texas, Cox of
Tennessee and McMillin Of Tennessee.
The bill was also passe dto provide
for the arbitration of differences be-
tween the carriers of interstate COM
merce and their employees (known as
the Erdman bilD; also the senate bill 20
prevent the importation of impure tea.
One hours debate on side was al
lowed on the monetary conference DILL
Stone took the floor and explained the
purpose Of the bill, which was to promote
and advance the scheme of international
bimetallism, the only sGe bimetallism
and the bimetallism to which his party
was pledged. The house anne mendments
were added to give greater efficiency:
McCreary, who was member of the
last international conference, gave
hearty support to the bill. He said he
had confidence that the incoming presi-
dent would discharge the duties inn
posed upon him by the bill. le favored
International bimetallism.
did you not say on your return from
Brussels" inquired Mr.. Cox, that the
difficulty of reaching any international
agreement lay with England? What
reason have you for believing England
will change her position?"
England" replied Mr.. McCreary, sis
the greatest creditor nation. She has
will never agree until the countries of
continental Europe force her to. But
sentiment favorable to bimetallism Is
growing in England. Nine of the pres
ent ministry are members OF the BIZ
metallic league" ~
Hartman Mont, Rep.) stated the po-
sition of the Silver Republicans. They
would vote for this bill, he said. but
they desired to disavow any belief that
any international conference would re-
suit in anything tangible and to regis
ter their protests against refusal to
adopt Independent bimetallism as un-
American, humiliating and degrading.
McRae voiced the position of the silver
Democrats They believed silver should
be remonetized If it could be done by
international binaetallism, they would
not place a stone In its path. If the Re
publicans tried and failed, as he believ-
ed they would, they would be relegated
four years from now to the oblivion
which would swallow up the Cleveland
administration.
Quigg took up the cudgel against
the bill The Republicans, he said, had
heard Democrats who had voted the
s'mule ticket" in the last campaign ad-
vocate this bill and those who had cup
ported Bryan. The Republicans who had
gone through the campaign denouncing
silver as a hufmbug, were now asked to
vote for a bill which recognized it. The
battle had been founght and won on the
gold standard. If the Republicans who
supported this bill had had their way
at st. Louis, the platform would have
been a stradde.
Hepburn Indignantly refused to allow
Quigg to interpret the platform for
him. He resented the idea that the
platform irrevocably committed the
party to the gold standard 1t was to
h lJcff vn1n 1Nxy olI
honorable means an international agree
ment
Johnson followed the lead Of Quigg
in a vehement and at times almost SEN
gational speech. which was listened to
with close attention, but which received
no demonstration either of approval
or disapproval. He said bimetallism
was thing of the past 1t was impos-
sible. A statute could no more define
the laws of trade than it could the laws
OF God. He said it was ridiculous to
talk of creating values by the agree
ment of several countries as it was to
attempt to create it by the edict of one.
He recalled the fact that members said
they wHuld support the bill, but they
had no faith in 1t. He, too, had no faith
in It. 1t lacked logic. Why temporize
With this question longer? What would
the world think of our weakness. and
vaclllation? If the country believ d in
debassd currency, Bryan and not Nc
Kiniey should be inaugurated. He
warned the Republicans that they had
been defeated in the past because they
had yielded something of principle TO
the demands of infiationists. The acts
CT 1873 and 1892 were mistakes. He an
peaied to his side to show their courage
by defeating this measure
Dingley, the floor leader Of the Repub
licans, and Grosvenor closed the debate
with ringing speeches in favor of the
DILL The very appearance of Dinglev
on the floor aroused the Republicans TO
enthusiasm. Both speeches were brief.
Al o:25 the house adjourned.
IN THP cENArp