Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-02-04
Buried in the House.
Prompt Action In that Body, and
Majority OF 30 Against the Free silver
Declaration.

| Prompt Action In that Body, and II
Majority OF 30 Against the Free silver
Declaration.
Exactly the reverse of the action of the
| Senate was that of the House when the
Teller resolution was brought up at the
opening of the session on Monday, and
after a debate of five hours it was buried
under an adverse majority of five votes
The Republicans were solidly arrayed in
opposition, with two exceptions. Mr.. Lin
ney of North Carolina voted with the
Democrats and Populists, and Mr.. White
of North Carolina, the only colored mem
Der of The House, answered "present"
when his name was called. The deser-
tions from the Democratic side we're Mr.. Nc
Aleer OF Pennsylvania, and Mr.. Elliott of
South Carolina. Both voted with the Re
puOlltafs against the proposition. Speaker
Reed, although ii is not customary for him
to vote, had his name called, and amid the
cheers of the Republicans, went on record
in opposition to the resolution with Wig
orous mo
The limited time allowed for debate and
the pressure of members for an opportunity
to be heard was so great that the leaders
on both sides were compelled to farm out
the time by minutes. The galleries were
crowded all day, and the cOmbatants on
the floor were cheered by their sympathiz-
ers. Many senators came from the other
end of the Capitol to listen TO the debate.
The Republicans, under the leadership
of Mr.. Dingey, who made carefully pre-
pared speech sounding the keynote of the
opposition, assun ed the position that the
last clause of the resolution was in reality
a disguised declaration for the free coinage
of silver, while the Democrats under the
direction of Mr.. Bailey of Texas main
tanned that the defeat of the resolution was
another step toward the establishment of
the gold standard, to which they alleged
both the President and Secretary Gage had
irreevocably committed the Republican
party.
The debate at times was heated, but
there were no sensational incidents beyond
the kissing of Mr.. Rhea of Kentucky, when
he said that, as the author of the "crme
of 70, " the hottest place in Hades would
be reserved for the present secretary of
state. The vote on the resolution was:
Ayes, 1872; noes, ls2.
The Moral Effect.
1t would have been perfectly easy for
the Republican leaders in the House TO
have had the Teller resolution smothered
in committee, but it was the judgment of
Speaker Reed, Mr.. Dingley and others
that for the best moral effect it should be
at once reported TO the House, acted upon
and "killed dead" In this they were
right beyond all question. No foreign ma
tion and no bondholder can now say that
the action of Congress, or lack of action,
has cast any doubt upon the purpose of
the government to redeem the obligations
of the United States in gold or its equiva-
lent. The action of the House is a com
plete offset to the action of the Senate, and
more than an offset in its moral effect.
Even could the Teller resolution have been
apopted by both houses of Congress it
would have had no binding effect. Such
resolution is merely declaration and does
not require the signature of the President,
What the Teller Resolution Is, or Was.
After reciting certain facts in a series of
whereases, the declarative part of the
Teller resolution was in this form:
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Repre-.
seutatives concurring therein) That all the bonds
of the United States issued, or authorized to be
issued, under said acts of Congress hereinbefore
recited, are payable, principal and interest, at
the option of the government of the United
States, in silver dollars off the coinage of the
United Stat S, containing 4l2 grains each of
andard silver; and that to restore to its coinage
such silver coins as legal tender in payment of
said bonds principal and interest. Is not In VIOLA
tion of the pubic faith, nor in derogati IN of the
rights of the public creditor "