Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-30
WITH But -FOUR NAYS.
SENATE PASSES THE MONETARY
CONFERENCE BILL.
SEVERAL NOTABLE SPEECHES
Villas BITTERLY ASsAILS THE CON-
FERENCE PROPOSITION.
Declares That Nothing Good Can
Come of Ex-senator Honr Be
Iieves an international
Agreement for Bimet-
aIIism Is Coming.
Declares Z

Washington, Jan. 29.->By the decisive
vote of 46 to 1. the senate to-day passed the
| bill for the appointment of commissioners
| to an international money conference. The
| closing of the debate brought cut several
| notable speeches. including those of Mr..
| Hoar of Massachusetts, Mr.. Villas, Mr..
Jones of Arkansas, Mr.. German, Mr.. Alli-
son and Mr.. Carter of Montana. 1t dis
| closed that little opposition existed against
| the BILL the only division being to the
| eXpediency of seeking bimetallism through
| international agreement. AS voicing the
| general view on the Democratic side, Mr..
| Jones and Mr.. German favored its adop-
| tiOn exactly as Republicans desired in or
! der that the responsibility might be theirs
| Mr.. Hoar's speech attracted attention and
! was one of the most noteworthy utterances
| of the veteran senator made in recent
| days. He spoke of his observations in Eu-
rope during last summer, his agreeable dis
| cussions with NJ. Meline and NJ. BourSer
| eau, in Paris and Mr.. Balfour, in Lon
| don, on the advance of bimetallsm. Mr..
| Hoar expressed the conviction that the
| four great nations. the United States,
Great Britain. France and Germany. were
! fast and inevitably tending toward Il BIZ
| metallic agreement.
Mr.. Villas, of Wisconsin, characterized the
| bill as vicious and misleading. 1t was
| wholly illusory, perhaps deceitful, in the
| promises it held out, and was Il funda-
| mental acknowledgement of the theory
| of the Bryan campaign. Mr.. Villas referred
| ternational conferences. Three of them
| have proven failures, and the American
of course. if the United States shall
| continue to be inspired by that sort of
statesmanship," continued Mr.. Villas,
which will try to keep an intelligent peo-
pie from bothering politicians in their pur-
suit of peace by putting them off with the
expectation of splendid results to come in
the sweet by and by from millennial con-
cord of nations in financial affairs, why
just so long polite, courteous and Sympa-
thizing politicians in the countries of Eu-
fire and have a big talk with the United
States: 1t is for nations, as for Indians,
rule of politeness."
The conference would doubtless bring
together many bright financiers, who
would listen and blink like owls, and. after
dinners, receptions and social festivities
the conference would close without action.
The people of the United States have
the right to expect such legislation as shall
give them sound currency, under the in
structions of last election, concluded Mr.
Villas. IF that supreme object shall be
traded off for the gain of favored classes
who shall be guilty of it"
Mr.. Carter, of Montana. spoke of the
kinley represented the idea of an interna-
uuhai conference, while Mr.. Bryan de-
nouEced the plan. Mr., Mckinley was
elected and now this measure was pre-
Sented, Il step in the execution of the con-
ference plan. The bill was carefully de-
signed TO secure the largest possible
suits and Mr.. Carter appealed TO Mr. Can
non not TO embarrass this well considered
bill by urging his amendment. If the COM
ing administration failed to secure salts
factory results from the conference then
it would be demonstrated that such a con-
ference was futile. But in making the
etlcrt the administration SHOULD be left
free to direct its own course
Mr.. Allison, of Iowa. urged that the be-
levers in stable money felt it wise to see
whether or not other commercial nations
would unite with us in bringing the money
metals into closer relation, and thus test
whether the metals could circulate on an
agreed ratio side by side. He resented the
ference had materially advanced the con-
current use of gold and silver.
Mr.. German felt that the country was
TO be congratulated at the unanimity OF
sentiment for this earnest and honest eff
fort toward an international conference.
and would not much longer submit to
methods which did not bring definite re-
suits in that direction. Being in power,
the Republicans were entitled TO fair treat
ment. and he said that there should be no
obstruction to the policy of the Republican
party unless it became purely partisan.
The first vote was on the Cannon sub
stitute making action by the president i'm
perattve within ninety days from March 4.
Mr.. Chandler moved to table the substi-
ttte which motion, on a roll call, pre-
vailed-years, Al; nays. s. Those voting in
the negative We're: Allen. Bate. Butler.
Cannon, Clark, PETER, Pettigrew and
The amendment of Mr. Bacon adding a
new section distinctly authorizing the pres
TIE bill thus amended was then put on
its final passage. The result was beyond
doubt, but the call was followed with keen
interest 1t resulted: Yeas, 46; nays 4.
Yeaa-Republlcans, Baker, Brown. Cam
eTcn, Carter, Chandler, Clark; Cullom, la
Hoar, Lodge. Mcbride Mcmillan. Nelson.
Pcrkins. PIatt, sherman. Shoup ThurSton,
blackburn. Blanchard, Gail, Fauikner Glib!
Lindsay Mills, Mitchell of Wisconsin,
White-l9: Populists. Jones of Nevada, Pef-
fer Independents, Cannon-l; total 46.
Nays-Democrats. Roach. Vilas-2; Popu-
lists Allen-1; independents, Pettigrew-1; |
The bill. as it passed. is as follows:
THAT whenever. after March 4. 1897. the !
president of the United States shall deter |
mine that the United States should be rep
resented at any International conference
called by the United States or any other
country with a view to securing, by inter |
national agreement. a tixity OF relative |
value between gold and silver as money by |
means of common ratio between these |
metals. with free mintage at such ratio he |
is hereby authorized to appoint five or more |
to such international con- !
ference; and for compensation of said COM
mssiCners. and for ali reasonable expenses !
herewith. to be approved by the |
secretary of state including the proportion |
to he paid by the United StItes of the joint |
expenses of any such conference. the sum |
of 0000. or so much thereof may be |
is hereby appropriated.
Section .. That the president of the |
United States is hereby authorized, in the |
name of the, government of the Uniteo |
States. to call. in his discretion. such in !
terrational conference TO assemble at such |
points as may he agreed upon"
I.uring the day. Mr.. Morgan. failing to |
secure an agreement for a vote on the
Nicaragua canal bill. announced that it |
would be urged TO a conclusion Monday.
To Prevent Observation-Disclosures.
Washington. Jan. Ex-senator Allen to-
daN introduced q bill. the purpose of which