The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-02-12
LAWFUL MONEi Cues
Acrimonious D.0ats on the Funding
of Dj.s Of Territories.
GOLD OR SILVER WILL DO
Hartman's Voice Is Heard In De-
fense of His state and Friends
-Fortification and Appro-
prIatlon Bill Passed.

priation Bill faSSed.
Washington. Feb. 1.-THE house to-
day passed the fortificatlOns appro-
pration hill with but a single amend
ment. and made some headway with
the postofiice Appropriation bill, but
the major portion ~ the day was con-
sumed in political debate on the finan-
cial question prccipitated by an inno-
cent provision in a bin providing for
funding the debts Of the territories.
The bill aroused the opposition of MIR.
McMillin because il provided for gold
bonds and the payment of interest in
gold or its equivalent. Mr.. Knox. re-
publican Of Massachusetts,, said the
stipulation regarding gold bonds ap-
piled only To Arizona. which had ont
standing gold bonds to hc refunded
Mr.. Payne. republican OF New York.
said he saw no reason why the other
territories should he permitted to issue
gold bonds. This bill bore this relation
10 the question OF whether We should
put gold In the bonds OF the United
States, lie had voted TO put gold in
the bonds when the administration put
the country In "A position where not to
do so would cost the people 81. .00O, zoo.
Congress refused and now the taxpay-
ers would have To pay those sl2 900 900.
And yet you maintain" interruDted
Mr.. Terry, democrat Of Arkansas,
that we should pay those bonds in
gold, although we paid Sl2oO0O00 for
the privilege OF paying them in silverg'
| Almost every one maintains re-
piled Mr.. Payne, that the bonds are
payable In gold. Even the late demo-
/ cratic candidate for vice president
tSewalD. who ran on n silver platform,
held gold bonds. and the silver mine
owners, who were rampant for free
silver sentiment. wrote gold in their
notes"
MIR. Hartman. republican of Mon
tana. Indignantly denied this state
ment. but MIR. Payne insisted that he
was right lie said the western debit
ofs, IN order To get money at a re-
spectacle rate Of interest. were Obliged
To agree to pay the principal and inter-
est In gold. He said he believed every
United states bond should be paid in
gold.
Mr.. Mcguire. democrat Of California,
replied To Mr.. Payne. He said the hon
esty OF the believers In free silver was
Ia he questioned. because some OF them
In loaning their money made gold con-
tracts. Silver had. by law. been de-
priyed of it's legitimate function as
money. Gold had been given special
privilege. Silver was mere token mon
ey Why should the business man
abandon the business advantage which
the law gave him because OF his con-
Niction that, as matter 0f policy, sill
| yer should be remonetizcd?
| Mr.. Bailey, democrat of Texas made
a brief argument To demonstrate that
a gold contract. being contrary TO pub
lie policy, was Illegal.
Mr.. Walker, republican OF Massachu-
setts. chairman of the committee on
banking and currency, declared IL was
as notorious as that the sun shines
| that there were certain states OF the
union whose monetary system was be-
yond the reach OF congressional legis-
lation. There were seven states where
al transactions were In gold, and yet
IL was curious that the representatives
/ from those states on this floor sought
To compel the rest of the union To take
80 cents on a dollar He urged the
house 10 vote down an amendment that
had been submitted by McMillin, which
| was as follows: Provided, that the
| principal and interest OF the bonds
funded under this act shall he payable
In any lawful money of the United
States except the Arizona bonds above
| uestIlbtu heretofore issued.
MIR. Bartlett. democrat OF New York,
warned the house that the adoption oc
this amendment was equivalent To a
declaration in favor Of soft money.
| Mr.. Lacey. republican of Iowa. de-
plored the fact that a financial debate
had been precipitated by the bill and
expressed the hope that this bill would
not be run ashore and wrecked on q
silver coast.
Mr.. Hartman again got the floor to
deny the statements Of Mr.. Walker.
who, he said. had furnished more mis-
information To the world on this uues-
tion than all the rest OF the house. He
insisted that gold contracts were not
made in his state. and read one of Is
letters from cashiers of banks in his
state. all denying gold contracts. His
| correspondent. he said, had been I'm tho
banking business 20 years and had
never seen gold note.
In justification of his statement Mr..
Walker produced and read some gold
notes made in Utah and California. He
said he regretted IL II he had made a
| mistake In enumerating the seven
states, but he insisted there were seven
states where practically all the time
obligations were payable in gold.
| Mr.. McMillin's amendment was
agreed to li9 10 :. after which the bill
| was passed.
The house then went into committee
OF the whole and took up the postoffice
appropriation bill. Mr.. Loud. republic
can Of California. In charge. said there
was some question about the justice of
the present method of determining the
| compensation 10 be given To the vari-
| Gus railroads for carrying mails He
| said congress could do nothing but fix
the maximum compensation. 1t was
! within the power Of the postmaster
| general To devise methods for obtain
| ing the transportation OF the mails
at Just and equitable rates. The cost
! of the transportation OF the mails dur
| ing the past Is years had been S30S.-
600, 900. OF this $40, $40 900 had gone 10
/ the land grant roads. which received
| - per cent. less than non-aided roads
I Yet the transportation of mail was so
l profitable TO those land grant roads az
/ the reduced compensation that they
had put on fast mail trains in order to
| get the contracts.
| He thought all the roads should be
/ put on the same basis. The non-aided
roads could afford 10 carry the mails
at the rates paid land grant roads
| Cromwell. republican Of Ohio.
/ member OF the postoffice committee.
| refused TO give his assent To the sub
sidy given the fast mail from New