The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-27
THE WOLCOTT INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ACT adopted
BY THE HOUSE .
WITH BUT LITTLE OPPOSITION.
WHITE METAL MEN COMMENTED
THEMSELVES WPrHDIsAvOW-
ING THEIH FAITH.
Only Three Votes Cast Against the
Bill After u General and spir-
tied Debate.

WASHlNOTlON, Gu. ZO.-ln6 mouse
today passed the senate international
monetary conference bill. Despite the
seeming wide divergence Of views on
the money question the bill was pass
ed by vote of 279 to 3. 1t was sup
ported by Republicans, silver Repub-
licans, gold Democrats and silver
Democrats, The silver Democrats and
silver Republicans disclaimed any
faith in this attempt to secure bimet-
allism by an international agreement,
but they expressed themselves as will
ing and anxious to have the test made
Bills were also passed to provide for
the arbitration Of differences between
the carriers of interstate commerce
and their employees and the senate bill
to prevent the importation of impure
tea.
Mr.. Stone (Rep., Pa,) early took the
floor and explained the monetary con-
ference bill. the purpose of which, he
said, was to promote and advance the
scheme of international bimetallism,
the only safe bimetallism and the
bimetallism to which his party was
pledged. Upon the theory that there
was a probability that the scheme
might be successful and to carry out
a distinct promise made to the Ameri-
can people, he asked for the passage
Of the bill no
Mr.. McCreary (Dem., iKy.), who was
a member of the last international
conference, gave hearty support to the
bill He said he had confidence that
the incoming president would dis
hors %hn I,,@i
by the bill. He favored international
bimetallism. 81.
Did you not say. upon your re-
turn from Brussels" inquired Mr. Cox
Oem., TENN that the difficulty of
reaching an International agreement
lay with England? What reason have
you for believing England will change
her position?"
England replied Mr.. McCreary, "is
the. greatest creditor nation. She has
had the gold standard since 1916, and
she will never agree until the coun-
tries Of continental Europe force her
to. But sentiment favorable to bimet-
allism is growing in England Nine
of the present ministry are members
Of the bimetallic league"
Mr.. Hartman Silver Rep, Mont) stat
ed the position of the silver Republi-
cans. They would vote for this bill, he
said, but they desired to disavow any
belief that an international conference
would result in anything tangible and
to register their protest against re-
fusal to adopt Independent bimetal
ism as un-American, humiliating and
degrading. ~ -s 1-
Mr.. McRae Dem, Afk.) voiced the
position Of the silver Democrats. They
believed silver should be remonet TIED
If it could be done by international
bimetallism, they would not place a
stone in it's path. But he had nc faith
in the scheme. If the Republicans
tried and failed, as he believed they
would, they would be relegated four
years from now, tc the oblivion which
would swallow up the Cleveland ad
ministration.
Mr.. -Quigg Rep., N. " took up the
cudgeis against the bill in vigoroua
half-hour speech. The Republicans
he said, had heard Democrats who
had voted the mule ticket in the last
campaign advocate this bill, and those
who had supported Bryan, support it.
The Republicans, who had gone
through the campaign denouncing sill
yer as a humbug, were now asked to
vote for bill which recognized il.
1HC pdllle. hdU D0en fought and won
on the gold standard. If the Repub-
llcans, who supported this bill, had had
their way at st. LOUISE the platform
would have been a straddle
Mr.. Hepburn (Rep., Io.) indignantly
refused to allow Mr.. Quigg to inter
pref the platform for him. He re-
sented the idea that the platform ir-
revocably committed the party to the
gold standard. It was to him, he said
a distinct pledge to promote by ali
honorable means an, international
agreement.
Mr.. Johnson Rep., Ind followed tn
lead OF Mr.. Quigg in a vehement and
az tunes, almost sensational speech
He SAID b1metallism was a thing of
the past. 1t was impossible. A stat
ute could no more deny the laws of
trade than the laws of God. He said
1t was ridiculous to- talk of creating
value by the agreement of several
countries, as 1T was to attempt to Gre
ate 1t by the legislation Of one. In con
clus1on, he appealed to his side to show
their courage by defeating this meas
ure.
Mr.. Dingley, the floor leader of the
Republicans, and Mr.. Grosvenor Rep..
% closed the debate with brief ringing
speeches. in favor of the bill. At SIS
the house adjourned.
Iowa Failure.
DIES MOINES To Fob oe nh coa,,u.4