Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-06-10
THE WAR REVENUE BILL.

Mr.. Dingley, chairman of the ways
and means committee, presented the
conference r. port % the war revenue
bill in the House yesterday evening.
The adoption of the report by the
House at night wa marked by some
stormy scenes in which partisanship
and personal feeling had large part.
Many of the New England representa-
tives opposed the bill on account of the
silver seigniorsge clause, notwithstand-
ing Mr.. Dingley ss ,ured the House that
this provision had been practically
emasculated. Gen. Grosvenor and MIR.
Swanson had personal dispute over
the tobacco tax, during which they ex'
changed some sensational language.
Relative to the coinage of silver bul
lion. Mr.. Dingley explained that the
provision would result ultimately in an
increase Of circulation outstanding by
the amount of the present seigniorage,
or about $40 900, 900, the provision dc
claring explicitly that the coinage
should proceed at the rate of not less
than 81 100000 per month, and the dol
lars should be used for the redemption
of silver certificates, which, when re
deemed, should be Cancelled. The pro
vision was not materially different from
the law of $3.50.
MIR. Bailey criticised the bill general
" as burdensome to those who were
least able to bear additional burdens.
Mr.. Swanson democrat OF Virginia.
criticised the administration in its con-
duct of the war and antagonized the
pending bill as conducive to the inter
ests of monopolists. The speech brought
from Mr.. Grosvenor Republican Of
Ohiol o sensational response. He said;
"Had Sagasta, had Blanco, had Ger
vera been given the opportunity to
make speech on this occasion, they
would not have made so incendisIy an
appeal against the prosecution of this
war as the gentleman from Virginia has
uttered. I denounce his unpatriotic pur-
poses; | denounce his unpatriotic and
untruthful utterances."
Continuing, he was bitterly personal
in his declarations, charging the Vir-
ginia member with being servile to mar
row political motives 'He would
starve the soldiers of the Union while
be would prattle little about liberty"
said Mr.. Grosvenor, and further along
he declared it was not possible to
frame speech containing more
hostility to the government and
more antagonism to the people
than the speech of the gentleman from
Virginia" He referred to the Virgin
ian as representing "contestable die.
trict."
A laugh was created in the midst of
the Ohioan's TRADE when ne referred to
the battle ship Oregon as having recent.
" "sunk Confederate torpedo boat"
he explained the mistake by the "un-
patriotism of the gentleman FROM. Vir-
ginia." =,
Mr.. Swanson, in brief reply, said
"The only reason can give for the un
fair. unjust and unpatriotic personal at
tack upon me is that the speaker is in
such condition that he does not know
whether he is fighting the Confederate
or Spanish forces" Later MIR. Swan
son again secured the floor and declared
his belief that the Ohio member would
never have made "tbe brutal attack
had he been sober"
Mr.. Grosvenor declared he had at.
tackled the sentiment of the Virginian's
speech, and not tho personality of the
member. He denounced Mr. Swanson's
insinuation that he (Mr. Grosvenor)
wa not sober, as weapon which no
honorable opponent would use" in a |
debate such as tho one in progress.
The House agreed to the pill BY q |
vote CT 154 to aO7.