New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04

,...ssarv They did debate the bill until their
o,,os;,;o, h4care a public scandal They then
resorted to the bargain which they nad CONS
mated .. the first session with few OK the
Free Silver Republican Senator'S. UNDER WHICH -
was agreed that II the latter would vote against
the Elections bill the Democrats OF the Srha'e
would in turn, vote for the unlimited Tree c"ih'
age OF silver Proof Of this bargain was pre-
sen,ed at this session on December 49, ""e"
Senator Stewart (Rep). free silver senator rum
Nevada rose and opposed the Elections DILL On
the evasive ground that force would De r-lu'eu
10 carry II out and ne vas opposed 10 iorce. ""
December 80 Mr. Wolcott rep COLI Tree silver
Senator spoke against the bill. on the aieseu
ground that he was opposed 70 espionage anu
that ne deemed the bill contrary to the spirit VI
American Institutions On December 81 MI
Teller CRep, Cob. free silver Senator. also OPP
posed the bill. asserting tina, while wrongs e1-
listed they could not be redressed. and the bill
was a violation Of the fundamental principles OF
free government
On January 5 Mr.. Stewart, when the hour mad
arrived to consider the Elections bill. moved TO
take UP the Free Coinage bill instead Final
proof Of the bargain was then supplied. The mo-
ton prevailed. ard the Elections bill was dis
placed and laid aside by "a yeas IS Republicans.
26 Democrats 10 % nays (all Republicans. The
eight Republicans who separated from thel!
party were Nessrs. Stewart and zones tNeEg'
Mcconnell and Shoup idaho: Teller and VOL
colt Cob; Stanford (CaL) and "asnpu!h
Mimi .
No further action was taken until January IA.
on which day the free silver combination IN the
Senate passed Free Coinage bill. Immediately
upon the declaration Of the vote, Mr.. Hoar rep.
Mass) rose and demanded that the Elections bill
be taken up for consideration. Taken by surprise.
the Democrats filibustered- motion 10 ADJOURN
y,,,fa q wa def
ed by 81 yeas a Republicans-Stewart- Stanford.
Teller and Wolcott-2s Democrats) 10 IS nays
(all Republcans). The motion TO proceed with the
bill was carried. 33 yeas tall Repubcans) to 80
nays a Republicans. the same a. above, and -
Democrats) Vice-President Morton CRepo
voted yea" and the Republicans were again in
control Of the bill. Debate vas resumed ana
carried on from day % day.
on January Is the Elections bill was taken
up at 2 p. m. To force vote. the Republicans
held the Senate in session for thirty hours in all.
namely all that night and next day. adjOurnins
only at p, m. Of the 18th. The Democrats MS
bustered abstained from voting TO break a
quorum compelled the Senate TO suspend pro-
ceedings and send for absentees. and made inter-
nlnable speeches TO prolong the time. AT p. m
of the nth the Republicans. physically exhaust,
ed and unable TO secure a vote. were compelled
TO abandon the fight. The o:l! was not again
taken up during the session.
FREE COINAGE.
The Republican Senator's from the silver min |
ing States who had defeated the cause OF pure
elections in the hope Of securing an unlimited
market for their silver. were doomed TO bitter
after all.
The story Of their campaign for free coinage is |
soon told. Several bills had been introduced In
the Senate for free coinage. making. with other |
similar bills in the House, tweny-four in all. at |
this session. The Senate bills were referred to
the Committee on Finance speculation In
silver bullion then in progress in New-York |
City engineered by the Southern Democratic |
president Of a bank and 12O0OOO ounces OF
the metal we're being carried by the ring. in the |
hope that silver would advance rapidly in value
il Free Coinage bill were passed bill was
reported to the Senate from the committee enti- /
tied an act To provide against the contraction
Of the currency" which proposed that these
Il OODGU ounces should be bought at once by
the Treasury in addition to the $4,000 ounces
per month provided by law: that bullion Treas
ury certificates should be issued on SlO.OWOO
Of abraded and uncurrent silver and 6.OW.OO
trade dollars in the Treasury: that 100000 900
Of per ce IT bonds should be issued by the
and that National banks Of not more
than $4,000 capital might keep only $1,000 OF
bonds on deposit Is security for circulation that
there should be unlimited free coinage. when
ever 81 % grains Of pure value should be worth
81 in gold. and that the President might an
nounce any new ratio agreed on by an interna-
tional conference the lawful ratio Of the
United States
This bill was debated by the Senate from time
to time from December 30 until January H. On
that day an amendment providing for unlimited
free coinage Of silver. the same to be unlimited
egal tender for all debts public and private, was
adopted by II yeas 05 Republicans - Demo-
rats to 30 nays CoS Republicans > Democra.s).
Various other amendments were made The bill
vas shorn OF every feature except that OF free