Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-26
HEATED DEBATE.
Discussion on the Teller Resolu.
ton Becomes Almost Bitter.
Senator Hoar Replies TO the Speech by
Mr. TeIIer-Pension Appropriation
Bill Passed.

Washington, Jan. 25.-Today's ses-
sion of the senate was characterized
by heated, almost acrimonious, dis
cussion of the financial question. Fol
nearly four hours the Teller resolution
was under consideration, the principal
speeches being made by Mr.. Allison OF
| Iowa, Mr.. Berry of Arkansas and Mr..
| Hoar of Massachusetts.
The sharpest colloquy was at times
INDUCED in among the advocates and
the opponents OF the resolution, the de-
bate often approaching bitterness. The
feature Of the discussion was a speech
delivered by Mr.. Teller, the author of
the resolution, his statements calling
out a suggestion from Mr.. Hoar that he,
Mr.. Teller, ought to have them stricken
from the record. In response to an in
quiry by Mr.. Spooner Mr.. Vest ad-
mitted that ne thought the system of
coinage referred to in the resolution
meant the free and unlimited coinage
Of silver, that admission apparently
giving satisfaction to the opponents Of
the measure.
Washington, Jan. 25-The senate, on
motion of Mr.. Hoar, went into executive
session as soon as it convened. At 12.15
p. m. the doors were opened and the
senate proceeded to general business.
Mr.. Quay reported the army appropri-
alton bill, and gave notice that tomor-
row ne would call the bill up for con-
sideration.
Mr.. Butler of North Carolina offered
an amendment to the post office appro-
priation bill, providing for an extension
of the experiment of rural free delivery
to every state and territory Of the
Union and to as many sections Of those
states and territories as possible. The
amendment appropriates $250,000 to
cover the expense of the proposed ex-
tension.
Mr.. Perkins Of California called up
the pension appropriation bill. The
amendment proposed by Mr.. Allen, pro-
viding that the lowest pension paid by
the government be IS month, against
which a point of order was made yester-
day, was ruled out of order by the vice
president.
In the course of the debate on the
Teller resolution, Mr.. Allison insisted
that the pending resolution gave the
secretary of the treasury no more au-
thority under the law than he now has.
The secretary may now pay government
obligations in coin. He held that there
was no disposition on the part of the
administration to evade the law, and de-
clared that the republican party had
maintained that it ought to be the pur-
pose of the government to maintain the
gold and silver money of the country
at a parity.
In response to a question of Mr. Tel
Ter, Mr.. Allison said he thought it would
be proper for the secretary of the treas
ury to pay the Obligations of the gov
eminent in either silver or gold; sbut, !"
declared Mr.. Allison, the secretary of
!, 8 L.
in reaching his decision as to action
upon that point, must take into consid-
Grafton existing conditions, one of
which is that this government is
pledged to maintain the gold and silver
currency of the country at a parity"
Mr.. Lodge said that it was well I'M
derstood that the bond purchasers were
to be paid in gold, as they paid gold for
the bonds, and he quoted from a speech
of Mr.. Teller, showing that Mr.. Teller
had the same idea.
Mr. Berry denied that there was such
an understanding. He said that the
country had before it the spectacle Of a
secretary of the treasury who wanted to
redeem silver dollars in gold, and firm
ly to fasten the gold standard upon the
country; yet the president had not the
nerve to kick him out of the cabinet"
Mr.. Berry appealed for the passage of
the resolution on the ground of public
interest. Mr.. Teller followed in an ex-
tended speech in support Of the resolu-
ton. He declared that it was a question
Of law which he would endeavor so to
discuss.
We'll" inquired Mr. Foraker OF
Ohio, docs this resolution mean the
same now that it meant 20 years ago?"
Being a question of law" replied Mr..
Teller, ut can mean nothing else"
But was not the resolution Of 20
years ago." persisted Mr.. Foraker,
passed to meet a state of affairs exist
ing then that does not now exist?"
mot at all" replied Mr. Teller mo
man could then have known what flnan-
cial legislation congress would enact.
The resolution then bound no man to
vote for free coinage, and it binds no
man now so to vote"
Mr.. Hoar dissented from Mr.. Tellers
proposition that this resolution involved
only a question of law, and urged that
1t had come now to a question of honor
This is not question Of law" said he
1T is question of the violation Of pub
lie faith. Shylock had the law on his
side for a good while, but nobody sup
posed that Shylock, without derogation
OF the rights Of Antonio, could take that
pound of flesh
Mr.. Teller contended that he had
quite as much regard for the national
honor as had other members of the
senate. He then said: II believe in
paying the debts Of the government in
silver, even if that is the cheaper metal.
The government has the right to the
difference according to its contract The
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