The Portland daily press., 1898-01-18
change the ratio to something like 20 to


of Secretary Gage on the financial ques-
ton contracting 1t with the President s
position, his words on this point being as
follows:
''When Congress convened on the
seventh of last month, the President, in
his reference to the subject of inter-
national bi-metallism, spoke earnestly
and anxiously of his desire to see an In
ternational bi-metallic agreement con-
summated. His assurances gave renewed
hope to bi-metallists all over :, the
country.
within fortnight after this, with no
event meanwhile which would change ex-
listing conditions, the Secretary OF the
Treasury in support of bill which he
has prepared respecting the currency s "a
as follows to a committee of Congress.
Here he quoted the remarks OF the
Secretary. of the Treasury.
"Ihe two statements are utterly at
variance" he continued, land contra
dictory to each other. They cannot be re-
con ciled. This is not the proper occasion
to analyze the bill of the Secretary. 1t
will reach limbo long before it reaches
the Senate. He proposes to capitalize the
premium on our bonds sold recently and
to make them, with others TO be issued,
a secnrity definitely payable in gold. He
forgets that only few months ago when
the country was in dire distress we were
compelled to pay nine millions of dollars
for the privilege of keeping the word
gold out of some of these very bonds.
He ought not to forget, for the bank of
some of the bonds and received some of
the proceeds of that deplorable transac-
ton. But do not intend to discuss the
bill which the Presidents message
specifically does not indorse; and it is pre-
mature to criticize the Secretary's Repub-
licanism, for his advent into the party
and the Cabinet were practically contem-
poraneous. We must accept the situation.
In my opinion, the great majority OF the
members of the Republican party are BIZ
metallists, and the fact that they are mis-
represented by a Cabinet officer is not
pleasing, but it is endurable.
1.-THE time when this country will sub
NIT to the final imposition of gold mono
metallism is far away.
Mr.. Wolcott concluded his speech at
2. O5 D. m. having spoken for an hour and
fifteen minutes. AS he sat down there
was burst of applause throughout the
chamber and for several minutes he was
surrounded by his colleagues who desired
to tender him their, congratulations.
Mr.. Allen, OF Nebraska, desiring to
speak upon the resolution which had been
the basis of Mr.. Wolcott's remarks asked
that the resolution be read.
Mr.. Lodge of Massachusetts, demanded
the regular order, which was the immi-
grafton bill and as he was sustained in
his demand by the Vice President. Mr..
| Allen said that as he had the floor he
would speak upon that bill. Mr.. Lodge.
although in charge of the immigration
bill was obliged to yield.
Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts announced
that he would be compelled to leave the
chamber and requested Mr. Allen to yield
him few minutes for some remarks up
on the bill The request was granted.
MIR. Hoar spoke in favor of the bill. He
referred to the defeat of the federal cleo
ton bill, known as the force bill and
said those who had deserted their asso-
ciates at that time in order to serve their
own ends had made the present measure
necessary as the immigration bill was IN
effect a suffrage bill. He had received
many remonstranoes and they came from
the very men who had compelled this
action.
Mr. Spooner, Wisconsin, said he too had
r ,ct iged circumstances, some OF them IN
the envelopes of steamship companies
which clearly showed their selfish pur-
poses. Which supporting the general
character of the bill, he pointed out a
feature which he sii was indefensible
namely. that requiring an immigrant to
both read and write portions OF the
United States Constitutions. he had
known men to rise to eminence in this
country who could read but not spell,
punctuate and write with accuracy. He
would not vote to turn from our shores
any man who can read in some Language,
our laws and our history. Rather than
support the provision requiring the immi-
grant to write as we'll as to read, he
! would be compelled to vote against the
bill.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Spooner's re-
having bAan
reached by the Wisconsin Senator and
Mr. Lodge, in charge of the measure, that
Mr. Spooner should draft an amendment
providing that steamship captains should
take back to Europe the wife and children
of an Immigrant who had failed to meet
the requirements of the proposed law,
Mr. Lodge spoke briefly in support of the
measure. He said that the bill contained
some notifications of the measure as
passed by the Senate during the last Con-
gress, the Ccrliss amendment relative TO
the passage to and from between Canada
and the United States of laborers having
been dropped. Mr.. Lodge declared that
the opposition to the bill had Teen stimu-
lated by the German steamship COM
panies, which would suffer by Its passage.
They had aroused the opposition to the
measure and had been aided materially
by the deputy commissioner of immigra-
ton who had himself been citizen of
this country for scarcely seven years. Mr..
Lodge read a letter written by the deputy
commissioner and then oaid:
~ never differ in opinion with any
man on account of creed or race, but this
appeal to race prejudice is as bad as any
know -nothingism. We are all Americans
here and ought to have done with such
appeals"
Mr.. Lodge concluded with a strong ap-
peal for the passage of the measure. The
amendment offered by Mr.. Spooner was
adopted by ~ ayes to % noes.
Mr. Gallery. of Louisiana, offered an
amendment increasing the age of immi-
grants affected by the bill from 16 to 81
years The amendment was lost by 20
yeas to 36 nays.
Mr.. KYLE of South Dakota, offered an
amendment providing that any inmi-
grant convicted within d year of his land
ing in this country, of felony or other
violation of law, shall be returned to the
country from which he came, The
amendment was lost without division.
The bill was then passed by vote of As
to 20, as follows:
Yeas-Allison, Baker, Burrows, Can
non, Carter. Chandler, Chiffon, Clark,
Davis, Elkins, Fairbanks, Foraker, Frye,
Gallingor, Hale. Hanna, Hansbrough,
Harris, Hawley, Hoar, Kyle, Lodge, Nc
Bride, Mcmillan, Mantle, Mason, Merrill,