The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-30
FOR BlMET TkLLISM.
Senate Passed Bill For international
Monetary Conference.
Barrett and Powers Create
Sensation.
Latter Says Boston Is the Home OF Railroad
WreckerS

Washington, Jan. 30.-The fnternn-
tienal monetary conference bill was
passed by the senate yesterday. The
vote was 46 to 4.
The closing OF the debate brought out
several notable speeches. including
those of Mr.. Hoar (Mass.), Mr.. Villas
(wis), Mr.. Jones (Ark.) and Mr.. Cor
.Inan (Md.). Mr.. Allison Qa.) and Mr..
Garter (Mont.). 1t disclosed that little
opposition existed against the bill. the
only division being as TO the expediency
of seeking bimetallisIn through interna-
tional agreement.
Mr.. Hoar's speech attracted atten-
ton, and was one of the most note
worthy utterances of the veteran sena-
tor made in recent days. He spoke OF
his observations i'm Europe during last
summer his agreeable discussions with
n. Meline and NJ. Bourgereau in Paris
and Mr. Balfour in London on the ad-
vance of bimetallism. Mr.. Hoar ex-
pressed the conviction that the four
great nations, the United States, Great
Britain France and Germany. were fast
and inevitably tending toward a BIZ
metallic agreement.
The monetary conference bill, as
passed, is as follows:
That whenever. after March 4. 1897,
the president Of the United States shall
determine that the United States should
conference called by the United States or
my other country, with a view to Sc
curing by International legislation q
sixity OF value between gold and silver,
as money, by means OF common ratio.
NE is hereby authorized to appoint five
or more commissioners to such interna-
aional conference, and for compensation
of said commissioners and for all rea-
sonable expenses connected Herewith,
10 be approved by the secretary of state,
including the proportion to be paid by
the United States for the joint expenses
of any such conference, the sum of $100:-
900, or so much thereof as may be neces-
sary, is hereby appropriated.
Section 2. That the president of the
United States Is hereby authorized, in
the name of the government of the
Emitted States, to call, in his discretion.
such international conference to assem-
ble at such points as may be agreed
npon.
During the day. Mr.. Morgan. failing to
secure an agreement for vote on the
Nicaraguan canal bill, announced that
II would be urged to a conclusion Mon
day. The senate adjourned until Mon
day.
The house yesterday witnessed an
other exciting and somewhat sensation
al episode. At the end of an acrimoni-
Gus debate on the conference report on
the bill to confer the rights and fran
chises Of the Atlantic and Pacific rail-
road on the purchasers under the mort
gage foreclosure Mr. Powers of Ver-
mont and Mr. Barrett of Massachusetts
Mr.. Powers defended the conference
Report. against the assaults Of half a
score OF members. led by Mr.. Barrett.
The latter was particularly severe in his
criticism, charging that a stock jobbing
operation was behind the measure.
This drew from Mr.. Powers, near the
close OF the debate, reply, in which he
charged that Boston was the home OF
the railroad wreckers. and. with keen
sarcasm, ridiculed the Massachusetts,
member. and intimated that he was ''in-
aerested" in his opposition. Mr.. Barrett,
IN responding, denied the imputation,
and scored Mr.. Powers. who, he said,
was on the supreme bench Of Vermont
when the Central railroad of that state
was wrecked under its decrees." He
pyas not called to order. but Mr.. Grout
or Vermont twice protested against the
attack on the judiciary of his state.
The report was rejected by an over
whelming majority, Il to 1A3. and the
conferees were Instructed to insist on
house amendments
The sensational incident occurred
when Mr.. Powers took the floor to close
the debate. He undertook to ridicule
Mr.. Barrett and incidentally to hint that
-
ferests. This provoked a very sensa-
tional reply from the Bay State mem.
her. Mr.. Powers appealed at the outse,
TO members not to be taken OFF their feet
by charges Of rascality made by the
gentleman from Massachusetts, (Bar-
rctt). The latter he said was probably
representing some OF those who were
interested in the affairs OF this company
II any Massachusetts interests were in
volved, he declared emphatically. they
were not involved In the direction OF
public good. Boston was the place where
railroads We're wrecked. and IL was a
dirty bird which befouled its own nest
massachusetts, he went on ironically
was great state. Ii had furnished
two presidents, the two Adamses bu,
poth were, unfortunately, now dead; II
genius In our history, Daniel Webster
Also dead. and the most placid states.
man who ever sat in this hall. Charles
sumner, also dead. These great mer
had pasesd away. and we were left to.
day, he said, TO bask in the sunshine q,
the gentleman from Massachusetts,
sBarretD and learn righteousness at nj,
feet 0aughte).
THE gentleman from Massachu
setts." he concluded. might he one O,
the most useful men on this aoor. bu
che trouble with him IL that he assumes
there Is nothing on this floor worth TO
specting. He came here To shed ligh,
He knew this was chaos of darkness
when he came. He was born. Mr.. Speak
er. to be a rose. with the destiny @
blooming and blushing upon this floor
but his fate has been to wither an
waste his beauty I'm the desert air.
lIAughter and applause.)
Mr. Barrett was very much arouse
by Mr.. Powers ridicule and innuend
and the moment the Vermont membs
took his seat. he was on his feet.
ras evident, from his opening word