The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-12
THE CURRENCY QUESTION.
n MIsPLA CED sEnICoLON "a UsEs
A DEBATE IN IHE HOUSE.

n Was In . MI to Refund the Besaea In.
dcbtedness OF the Territories, and the
silver Men Thought the te mic oiou Might
Warrant the Issue of Gold Bonds Only.
WASHINGTON. Feb. ia misplaced som :
colon In the bill providing for the rofundinR OF
the bonded indebtedness OF the several Terri.
tories was the cause Of o wholly unsx pected
debate on the monetary question In the House
today. lasting two or three hours. Two or
three years ago Congress authorized Arizona
20 sell sone gold bonds. up,n the request II
NJ. A. Smith. then the Delegate from that Ter
ritory. because the Territory could get better
terms for such bonds than for Lawful money!
bonds. The bill under discussion authorized
the -cfundinR of these particular bonds In gold
bonds, but the presence of . semi-colon in the
text suggested TO the mind of Mr.. McMtllin
CDem.. Teno.) tho possibility that the bill
could DO so construed as to warrant the issue
Of gold bonds for all the bonds mentioned. He
therefore moved IN make the bonds other than
those specified payable IN coin or lawful cur
rency OF tho United States.
Mr.. Knox REP. Mass.), In charge OF the
bill, expires Jed surprise that such O sonstruc-
ton should 10 placed on tn, language Of the
bill. which he understood. To Apply only to GER
tain bonds issued by. Arizona. which had been
made payable in gold. He was willing, how
ever. TO accept tho amendment suggested by
Nr. McMllIin. He added.that. the country was
on q gold bass, that It would doubtless con-
tinue on that basis, that IL would not initiate
an international bimetallio conference. and
that there was sufficient craftsmanship in the
Republican party TO prov do for the largest
possible use o. silver. and that 1t would not be
through the unlimited coinage OF the metal.
Mr.. Payne (Rep.. N. " prccipitated . lively
discussion OF the monetary question by asking
what harm would 10 done II all tho bonds
were made payable In gold. He believed that
all the bonds OF tho United States would be
paid In gold and ought to DO paid In gold. But
this question was not one OF paying Govern
ment bonds in gold, but of permitting tho
Territories TO issue tho bonds they wanted and
which would bo to their best interests. They
know how it 10 out in the Territories and in
tho silver Ststes. II they want to borrow or
loan. the word gold" is nominated In the
,oond. The gentleman who yesterday received
the second largest vote for the Office Of Vice
PRESIDENT, although running upon q ticket
declaring for the FREQ and unlimited coinage
S money ssyo To- S Ss pSIS 20 hs sI toot SAW Avn G 10 Il ,hSa t ISe
Mr.. Hartman isii,, Mon.l denied Mr..
s .lsssiSs' .Hs %9P t. r IeSasp f Rn' soId. Tic is'' p aae
upon Information furnished by tho gentle.
man from Massach usetts OMr. Walker. who
had repeated IL three different times yithout
Mr.. Payne said he did not know anything
setts might .hsy. said, but he did know that
what he had said was true, that. millions OF
repaynent o: which was pledged in gold. and
rover either could not have obtained the
money or would have been compelled to pay
o higher rate OF interest.
Tr. Dociery Dem. Mo ironically sala
I YORK ne had %"' p seeiS ate Se this debate Ipo% for si he
wave OF prosperity Will h was sweeping over
pie. But ho desired TO call the sentl.man's
attention to tho fact that when the bald prop
BY tho Executive to vote the word gold into an
Issue OF bonds, only twenty-sevon members
voted MTi Il na is , Of s sas RfSSO'hi Lis ion den,,, of Mr..
Walkers statement that money obligations
IN the silver States were made payable In gold.
banksof MontaLa, all OF whom wrote that to
their knowledge no notes were made payable
Mi. Walker said he accepted tho statement
OF tho gentleman from Montana
Mr.. McMiliin's n~mendment to make tho
refunding bonds, except tho Arizona gold bonds.
payable In "the lawful money OF the United
States" wa. agreed to-l4st to Z. The bill
The consid. ration OF tho Fortiacations An
preparation bill was resumed aud the BILL was
read for Hmsnamest; AZ amend nsa. offered
entrance to, New York Harbor 10 determine
defence thereon was rejected. Tho bill was
then reported to the House and PASSED.
carries a total OF s65.oii. 7I4, an Increase OF
$1,000. $50 over the appropriation for the cur.
REM year; wa. taken up y the iomm!ttse of
action. The House then adjourned.
~ THE SENATE.
The Diplomatic and Consular Appropriation
bill, carving an aggregate OF sl.o05.3o was
passed by the senate to-day after some caustic
remarks by Mr.. Morgan dem, Ala on mn item
OF $4,000 for a Minister Plsnipotentiary to tho
Mr.. Morgan referred TO the change in diplo-
mAtio arrangements in Central America,
salvador. and Nicaragua. so that tic sending OF
isse IL, Ssq qs1., Be 1 lSsSDs 81 S's:,.I 4: q TSsSsss.l
American Minister there could have no official
brought about a very Awkward complication.
and he would like to know what The
1t ali arose from the fact that the President
OF the United States had not thought u worth
chans. 70 ,h t.,0 Gaa . tax n. pi.ss IN IN c tss a,R'9 Hmsr.
lea, but had chosen to keep matters In his own
hands, And so. he said, Congress was left
msnt tthe Greater RspublIc Of Central America.
to States where. there was no foreign once at
which he could present his credentials. The
Senate, he said. should either ignore entirely
tho operations of the President on tho subject
or else proceed In conformity with some sug-
gestion OF the President, IN the President would
condescend to make n suggestion. But he said
that ne had no suggestion TO maze.
Mr.. Hale rep. Me-. In charge of tho bill.
TO recommend tho item. and to leave the mat
ter then To the State Department.
A proposition to have tho vote taken on tho
can feranc6 reDOrt on tho hmm grafton bill on
Wednesday next at 1 u. NJ. was made by Mr..
Lodge (tep.. Mass.l. and was agreed TO.