The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-02-12
CONGRESSIONAL MATTERS.
Political Debate In the Ilouse-The Money
Question Comes Up.

POLITICAL uebnte III tn6 ItpuAe-l nc money
Question Comes Up.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 1.-THE
senate to-day passed the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill and FIX
ed next Wednesday at p. nj. as the
time for the final vote on the immIgra-
tIon conference report. These were the
only features Of the open session, which
was cut short early in the day by the
executive session on the arbitration
treaty. Mr.. Morgan questioned the
items in the bill OF 0,00O for a minister
TO Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Salvador
and $4,000 for q minister to Guatemala
and HunduraS 1t was understood, he
said, that Union had been formed by
three OF these countries and that our
ministers to Nicaragua, Honduras and
Salvador had lost their respective func-
tions, as their former Offices had been
closed. The union under the name of
the Greater Republic OF Central Ameri-
Gu had sent minister here, who II was
understood, had been received and rec
Ognized by the President, This was an
awkward situation, he added.
ut all arises" declared Mr.. Morgan
from the fact that the President does
not hink It worth his while to INFORM
Congress as to the status OF our foreign
relations, He seems to think that he
can do II all himself and that 1t Is un-
necessary to inform Congress.
Mr.. Hale, in charge Of the bill, said
the question would have TO be settled
later.
Mr.. Morgan did not press the objec-
tlon, saying his only purpose was to
have the public understand the pecu-
liar conditions.
At 1890 D. M, the senate went into ex-
ecutIve session and at 4:50 p. m, ad-
journed.
The house to-day passed the fortifl-
cations appropriation bill with but
single amendment, and made some
hendway with the postofiicc approprin>
tion bill. But the major portion OF the
day was consumed In n political de-
bate on the financial question, which
was precipItated by an innocent proNl'
sion in bill providing for funding the
debt of the territories. The Diil aroused
the opposition OF MIR. McMillin (Dem.,
Tenn because II provided for gold
bonds and the payment OF interest," IN
gold or It's equivalent
Mir Knox CRep. Mass..) said that the
stipulation regarding gold bonds APP
piled only TO Arizona.
Mr.. Payne (Rep, n. Y.,) said he saw
no reason why the other territories
should not be permitted to issue gold
bonds. He said this bill bore no rela-
lion TO the question Of whether we
should put gold in the bonds OF the
United States.
He had voted TO put gold in the
bonds, he added, when the administrn-
tIon put the country in position
where not to do so would cost the peo-
Die Si2,OOO,OOO. Congress refused and
now the taxpayers would have to pay
those Sl2,OOO00O,
And yet you maintain, interrupt
cd Mr.. Terry. (Dem,, Ark), that we
should pay those bonds In gold, al
though We paid Sl2OO0'OOO for the priNi-
lege OF paying them IN sllVer."
Every one maintains, almost every
one maintains" replied Mr.. Payne,
"that the bonds are payable In gold,
Even the late Democratic candidate Tor
vice president (Sewall) who ran ON a
silver platform. held gold bonds and
the silver mine owners who were ram
pant for free silver sentiment wrote
gold in their notes"
MIR Eurtman, tRep,, MOnt), lndlE-
pnntly denied this statement. but Mr.,
Payne insisted that he was right
Mr., Mngulrc. tDem. Cnl), replied u
MIR. Payne, He said the hOnc2ty ut
the believers IN free silver was TO be
questioned because sume of thcm IN
loanlng their money made gold con-
tracts. silver had by law been de-
priycl Of Its lcEltimatc function as
money. Gold had been given special
prVllrre. silver was mere token mo-
ney. Why, he argued, should business
man abandon the business advantage
which the law gave aim because Of hiS
conviction that as a matter of policy
silver SHOULD he remonptlZei,
Mr. Bailey, (Dem,, rcxa9, made a