The National tribune., 1897-02-04

In the Senate the debate on the bill for an
international monetary conference was 70.
sumed. and Mr.. Villas Wis., spoke against it.
He characterized the bill as vicious and mis-
leading. 1t was wholly ilusory, perhaps de-
ceitful, in the promises it held out, and was
a fundamental acknowledgment of the theory
of the Bryan campaign.
Mr.. Carter Mont, R.) spoke of the recent
political contest, in which Mr.. Mckinley rep.
resented the idea of an international confer
euce, while Mr. Bryan denounced the plan.
Mr.. Mckinley was elected and now this meas.
ure was presented, a step in execution of the
conference plan. The bill was carefully de-
signed to secure the largest possible results, and
Mr.. Carter appealed to Mr.. Cannon not to en-
bsrrass this well-considered bill by urging his
amendment. If the coming Administrator
failed to secure satisfactory results from an in
ternational conference. then it would he dem
onstrated that such conference WAS futile.
But in making the effort the Administration
should be left free to direct its own course
The 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 be represented nj any international
conference called by the United States any other
country, with view 10 securing by international
agreement ixiiy of relative value between gold
and silver as means OF common ratio between
these metals with free miniagc at such ratio lie Is
hereby authorized to appoint five or more Commits
sloDers to SUCH international conference and for
compen sation oil SAID Commissioners and for all
reasonable expenses connected herewith to be
approved by the Secretary OF State including the
propori ion to be paid by the United States Of the
joint expenses of any such conference, the sum Of
Sl00 COG much thereof as may be necessary lie
hereby appropriated.
That the President of the United States is hereby
authorized, in the name of the Government of the
United States TO call in his discretion such inter-
national conference TO assemble at such point az
may be agreed upon.
debate on the conference report on the bill to
confer the rights and franchises of the Allan
tic & Pacific Railroad on the purchasers under
the mortgage foreclosure, Mr.. Powers, of Yer
mont. and Mr. Barrett. Of Massachusetts,, ex-
changed broadsides Mr.. Powers defended the
conference report against the assaults of half
score of members led by Mr.. Barrett
The latter was particularly severe in his
criticisms. charging that stock, jobbing opera.
tion 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. aud with keen satire
ridiculed the Massachusetts member, and con.
tinued that, perhaps he was interested |" in
his opposition.
Mr.. Barrett. in responding. denied absolutely
any interest in the bill, but scored Mr. Powers,
who, he said, was the Supreme Bench Of
Vermont when the Central Railroad of that
State was wrecked under its decrecs" He
was not called to order, but Mr.. Grout, of Yer
mont, twice protested against the attack on the
judiciary of his State.
The report was rejected by an overwhelming
| msjority-T to l43-and the conferees were
instructed to insist on the House amendments.