Evening star., 1897-03-02
TALKING SILVER
Senator Dubois Speaks on the Mon
etary Conference Bill.
has LEFT TIE REPUBLICANS FOR GOOD
Exciting Debate Over Justice Shiras
in the House.


The crowded Senate galleries bore evil
dence today of the near approach of in
arguraticn. Before going on with appro-
priation bills number of other measures
were considered.
Mr.. Elkins CIV. Va) secured the passage
of Senate joint resolution reciting the
alarming spread OF the bubonic plague,
new prevalent in India. and directing the
Secretary of the Treasury to establish such
M ticnal quarantine regulations as may
become necessary to prevent the introduc-
ton and spread of infectious or contagious
diseases. The resolution provides for the
appointment of inspectors by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury Oh the advice of the
surgeon general of the marine hospital
service, and for the inspection of vessels,
persors. etc, pending the existence Of the
emergency.
Pennsylvania POstmnsters.
Mr.. Quay Pa.) secured consent to his
being relieved from the obligations of Sc
crecy of executive session in regard to
certain Pennsylvania postmasters, and
Their stated that several of these nomina
tions had been errOneously given to the
press last night as confirmed, when, in
fact, they were still subject to objection.
resolution was agreed to requesting the
spondence received relative to the arrest
of Victor McCord of Pennsylvania at Ari-
quipe, Peru.
AT the request of Mr.. Chandler 1t was
agreed to proceed at ! o'clock with the
bill for an international monetary confer
ence- The senator stated in answer to
inquiries that he did not anticipate serious
opposition to the House amendments.
Among the memorials presented was one
from the legislature of Pennsylvania rela-
tive TO the arrest of Sylvester Scovell in
Cuba.
FOrtificatiOns Bill.
The fortifcation appropriation bill was
then taken up.
Mr.. CIllom Ql.) gave notice that after
the fortification bill was disposed Of he
would move to take UP the House bill
known as the anti-ticket scalpng bill. No
measure he said, other than the appro-
priation bills was moro important to the
public than this.
Mr.. Allen tNeb) remarked that this was
far too important a measure to hurry
through at this time.
On request OF Mr.. Platt Comm an agree
ment was reached that after the disposal
of the two remaining appropriation bills
torifcation and deficiency-unobjected
House bills on the calendar would be con-
SiGered.
The Bond Investigation.
A statement by Mr.. Vest relative to the
Inquiry into bond issues was called out by
Mr.. PETERS effort to pass a resolution call
ing for report on the inquiry.
Mr.. Vest said subcommittee of the
finance committee had conducted its in
vestigation at Washington and New York
AT the later place when the subcommittee
put the question to Mr.. Morgan and Mr..
belmont as to the profit and as to the per-
socs TO whom bonds were sold they abso-
lutely refused to answer those questions
All other points of the inquiry had been
iully answered. The subcommittee reported
70 the full finance committee the refusal of
Messrs Beln cnt and Morgan to answer
these questions, but the finance committee
had never acted on the report.
Why were not these witnesses reported
10 the senate and arraigned for contempt of
the Senate?' asked Mr.. Allen.
Mr.. Vest explained that this power re-
ferred only TO contempts in the District of
Columbia; not in New York and other out
side places
The subcommittee were divided in opinion
in this inquiry, some favoring bringing New
York witnesses to Washington, others op-
posing it.
Mr.. Hill said he had opposed the investf-
CATION from the first, knowing 1t was sure
TO result in mere farce. 1t had been a
hshing investigation from beginning to end
Not sc:ntilla of evidence had been Sc
cured casting suspicion on the bond sales,
and on the questions of individual profits
n
l:shed rule Of law protecting individuals
rom inquiry into their private affairs.
MI Stewart criticised the bond sales and
after further discussion the matter went
over without action.
The Senate then came back 10 tho fort;
hcation bill.
Mr.. Hawley Comm took occasion to poipt
out that while the government was MAX
ing splendid provision for heavy guns etc
yet the condition of the army was such
that there was not force capable of arm
ing the guns. There were no artillerymen
trained In the use of these modern steel
guns, inquiry would show the lamentable
condition we are in through the failure to
enact proper legislation. 1t would disclose
that We were open to attack at ten or
twenty places
The fortifcation bill was then passed. Its
consideration having taken less than half
an hour.
Deficiency Bill Up.
The deficiency appropriation bill, the last
on the list. was then taken up.
The Monetary Conference Bill.
The deficiency hill was interrupted at /
o clock, when the bill for an International
monetary conference came up.
Mr.. Chandler moved to agree to the House
amendments.
Mr.. Dubois of Idaho then took the floor
for an earnest speech on the futility of an
international conference.
This measure, he said was clearly a
play of politics. All admitted that nothing
Could be done in such conference with
out the consent of England. and England
would never consent. He would vote for
the billsand hoped it would avail something
Tor silver. but he was convinced that re-
publicans did not intend and would not ac-
compi!sh anything by the bill
The republican party knew IT when 1t
put that declaration into the ST. Louis
platform" exclaimed the sena tor turning
and addressing republican senator's The
men who shaped the st. Louis platform he
said, intend to hold the country to the gold
standard While ne would vote for the
bill, he wanted it distinctly understood that
silver republicans had no faith in it's hon.
esty Of purpose.
Mr.. Allen (Neb.) interjected question at
this point. Was }, true, he asked, that the
st. Louis platform had been wired to ].
Pferpont Morgan and his approval to II
secured?
Mr.. Dubois said he knew nothing of this
report. He knew only that the financial
plank drawn at St Louis met the approval
of the advocates Of the gold standard
The senator read extracts from a recent
letter from Morton Frewens. the eminent
English bimetallist. referring to the visit
Of Senator Wolcott to London. Mr. Frew-
ems said the mission was apparently fruit
less. and he had never known the move
ment for currency reform so hopeless and
helpless. Continuing Mr.. Dubois said that
the gold standard declaration at st. Louis
III II