The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-27
ANOTHER DAY OF DEBATE
The Teller Resolution Still Holds
the Senate's Attention.
Mr.. LODGE CHIPS IN
He Tries to Catch Teller With His Lit
tie Amendment But Teller Refuses
to Be Caught-The Resolution
to Be Voted On To-Day.

Washington. Jan. 26.-For more than
six hours the senate had under discus
sion the Teller resolution providing that
the government pay the principal and
the interest of the bonds of the United
States in silver. BY agreement the res
olution and pending amendment are to
be voted on before adjournment to-
morrow. The debate was devoid of
sensational incidents and acrimonious
colloquies which characterized that of
yesterday, but it was replete with ar
gument and oratory.
The time was consumed by Mr.. Teller.
sill. rep, Col, author of the resolution.
and Mr.. Daniel, dem, Va. who sup
ported the resolution, and Mr.. Hoar,
rep, Mass, and Mr. Piatt rep NJ "
in opposition to it. All delivered set
speeches except Mr. Hoar, whose
speech was in reply to some points ad-
vanced by Mr.. Teller yesterday. No
other business was transacted.
At the opening of the senate Hale of
Maine presented the report of the con-
ferees on the urgent deficiency appro-
priation bill and the report was
agreed to.
Upon motion of Vest the senate took
up the Teller resolution. The debate
was opened by Teller Il would do
nothing" he said, that would bring
would be disgraceful. whatever the
opinion of the senator from Massachu-
SettS tHoar) may be of my opinions or
convictions. The Massachusetts SEN
ator tried to make it appear that my
position was on the parallel Of dollar
piece with a copper cent This propo-
sltlon do not advance. and don't think
it would find much support in this or
any other legislative body"
Mr.. Teller said he was willing to re-
tire from public life If by so doing he
could bring about an International BIZ
metallic agreement. He maintained
that the existing contract concerning
the money in which bonds of the
United States were payable could not
be changed without the action of con-
Gress--one of the parties to the con-
tract-and that the government had a
right to all the advantages the contract
afforded it.
Mr.. Fairbanks asked Mr.. Teller
whether the present secretary of the
treasury was now paying out only gold
In liquidation of the bonded obligations
of the government.
II DO not know. replied Mr.. Teller
what the secretary of the treasury s
doing. My relations with the present
administration are not such as To en-
able me to obtain information of its
acts"
Being further pressed by Mr.. Fair
banks, Mr. Teller said his belief was
that the administration was paying the
interest on certain obligations of the
government, no such obligations them
selves having matured. in gold.
Il have absolute information" re-
torted Mr. Fairbanks, that the admin
istration is paying the obligations re-
Ter to in legal tender notes. On Jan |
$29,OOO.O0o of bonds matured. and | am
informed by the secretary of the treas
that these bonds -,
gold. not in silver, but in legal tender
notes"
IF that be So. said Mr. Teller 1--WE
might as well discontinue this debate
and take a vote upon the pending reso-
luton now" The point had been reach
ed. thought Mr.. Teller. when an effort
was being made by the national ad-
ministration to put the country on a gold
basis. He thought there had been too
much sophistry and evasion of the finan-
cial question among those who discussed
1t during the past 20 years and. in his
opinion. the time had arrived for all
parties to walk squarely up to the can
mons mouth of the question and deal
fairly and honestly with themselves and
the people
In response to "A statement by Mr. Tel
Ter that $262. 900. 900 of bonds were sold
for the purpose of maintaining the gold
standard, Mr. Gear of Iowa said ii was
of those bonds We're sold to meet a de-
ficit in the treasury. The statement was
fatty contradicted by the Colorado SEN
ator, who maintained that there was no
necessity for the sale of bonds to meet
current expenses when there was plenty
OF silver to meet the pressing obligations
or the government. Referring, i'm the
course of his rsmarks. to the presidential
contest of 1885, Mr.. Teller said that no
political campaign in this country has
ever been characterized by so much bit
terness, acrimony and vindictiveneSs. He
conceded the right. he said. of others to
differ from him upon this and other
questions. but he held that he ought to
be accorded the same right and liberty;
for the people. not only of this country
but of the world. depended upon the
rightful solution of the financial ques-
tion He had right to speak here for
the great masses of the people, and he
took advantage of it because he felt that
the fastening of the gold standard upon
the country would simply make Of the
plain people hewers of wood and dra awers
of water. In conclusion. after speaking
about two hours and half. Mr.. Teller
replied to some statements made yester-
day concerning savings banks.
At the conclusion of Mr. Teller's
speech, Mr.. Lodge called attention to
some statements in criticism of an
amendment offered by him dodge) yes
terday to the pending resolution. The
amendment declared that the obligations
of the United States should be paid lin
the money that is the highest money of
the world in gold or its equivalent in
gold. whether that be silver or paper"
Mr.. Lodge inquired whether Mr. Tel
Ter was in favor of that amendment.
We'll. l shall vote against it" replied
the Colorado senator. Mr.. Lodge insist
ed on knowing whether MIR. Teller did
or did not think the amendment Il
proper principle for congress To lay
down. Mr.. Teller still held that the
government and the governments cred
it0rs ought To abide by contracts made.
Il desired 10 know" said Mr.. Lodge,
what the senator from Colorado
thought Of my amendment. because
copied it word for word from speech
made by the senator in which he de-
clared that every dollar this government
owes will be paid in the money that $
the highest money Of the world. in gold
or its equivalent III gold. whether that
be silver or paper Mr. Lodge thought