The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-26

MIR. Allison though that if it We're the
purpose OF the advocates to force depre-
cation Of the greatest monies of the coun-
try, they ought to ayow that purpose.
He maintained that if the objects of the
silver advocates were carried into enect,
it would be impossible to MAINTAIN the
parity Of gold and silver coin.
Mr.. Allison thought the resolution
ought not to be passed, because it could
have only the effect of minimizing the
credit of the United States. IF l were
assured" said he, ''that the resolution
would strengthen the credit of the coun-
try should certainly vote for it and 9TH
erwise give it my hearty support.
Mr.. Tillmnn inquired whether IN Mr.
Allison's opinion the credit Oh the coun-
try needed strengthening.
81 think" replied MIR. Allison, that
the credit of the United States is good
and I oppose this resolution because
desire to maintain that good credit.
Mr.. Berry, Democrat OF Arkansas,
declared that the pending resolution was
precisely the same as that for which Mr..
Allison voted 20 years. If it was not a
violationEof public faith thsn he main
tanned 1t could not be such now. one
Of the reasons why Mr.. Berry desired the
passage of the resolution was that it
would disprove the charge brought In
1896 that the Democratic party was CON-
I6puUlesUlCulSu9
Mr.. Aldrtch of Rhode Island Do you
desire to take from the secretary of the
treasury his discrestion to pay govern
ment obligations in either gold or sill
ver?'
Mr.. Berry-''The trouble is the score
tary of the treasury has turned over the
government option to Che bondholders.
Mr. Aldrich-"W Would the passage Of
this resolution by the Senate and the
House of Representatives operate as
instructions to the secretary of the trea-
surys" go
and words of the secretary Of the treasury
that he would not obay the ainsoruo-
tions."
Mr.. Hale of Maine said that when the
presens law was put on the statute books
silver was about twice as valuable
as it is now. Mr.. A1drich inquired
o %hssss ss. 4 IT, view sss 9f s e ha the
ment ought to take advantage of 1ts cred1-
tors and pay them In the cheaper metal.
Mr.. Berry replied that he was as much
in favor of maintaining the honor OF the
country as tie senator from Rhode Island
but he held that the bondholders ought
ito be willing to live up to their contract
and accept coin payment.
Mr.. Lodge Of Massachusetts said that
1t was well understood that the bond pur-
ohssers were to be paid In gold as they
paid gold fer the bonds, and he quoted
from q speech from MIR. Teller to show
that he (Teller) had the same idea.
Mr. Berry denied that there was such
an understanding. He said that the coun-
try had before 1t the spectacle of secre-
tary of the treasury who wanted to re-
deem silver dollars in gold and firmly to
fasten the gold standard upon thescoun-
try, yet the President had not the nerve
to kick him out of the cabinet: Mr..
solution on the ground Of public inter
est.
MIR. Teller of Colorado followed in an
extended speech in support of The reso-
luton. He declared that it was ques-
tion Of law which he would endeavor SO
to discuss.
sWell," inquired Mr.. Foraker of Ohio,
"does this resolution mean the same now
that it meant 20 years agoP''
being q question of law replied Mr..
Teller, sit can mean nothing else. -
"But was not the resolution of 90 years
ago. persisted Mr.. Foraker, ''passed to
meet state of affairs existing then that
does not exist now?"
man could then have known what fiDan-
cial legislation Congress would enact.
The resolution then bound no man to
vote for free coinage and 1t binds no
man now so to vote"
Mr.. Hoar dissented from Mr.. Teller's
that this resolution involved
only a question of law and urged that it
had come now to a question OF honor.
"This is not question of law" said he.
"It is a question of the violation of the
public faith. Shylook had the law on his
side for good while, but nobody sup
posed that Shylook 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
IT believe in paying the debts of the
government in silver, even If that is the
right to the difference according to it's
contract. The silver dollar which the
gentlemen from Iowa, (Allison) says is
as good as the gold dollar, is paid to the
mechanic, the artist and the laborer in
of obligations incurred with
them, and hold that the pond purchaser
is no better than the man with the blis-
tered hand and ought to he paid in the
same money. The treasury departments
has been making laws to suit itself for 90
years.
Mr. Teller held that there could be nc
in paying the debts OF the gov
ernment in silver.
Mr.. Fairbanks endeavored to PROFOUND
q question to Mr.. Teller.
'sSit down. cried the Colorado sena-
tor. GIVE been badgered enough
AS Mr.. Fairbanks sat down, Mr.. Teller.
said he would tomorrow answer the quss-
tion, but he did not now desire to be in-
terrupted.
Mr.. Teller declared that he had seen
the national treasury robbed-a transac.
tion the most disgraceful ever accom-
plished by national administration.
In view of that fact he thought that the
arrogation to themselves by the oppon-