Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-27
LODGE ENTRAPS TELLER.
Incident of Yesterdays Debate I'm the
Senate.

The debate in the Senate on the Teller
resolution justifying the payment of United
States government bonds in silver, was
continued yesterday afternoon. Senators
Teller, Hoar, Plat and Daniel spoke at
considerable length on the resolution.
When The Stars report of the Senate pro-
ceedings was closed at the conclusion of
Mr.. Teller's speech, MIR. Lodge called at
tention to some statements in criticism of
an amendment offered by him to the pend
ing 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.. Teller was in favor of that amend
ment.
We'll 1 shall vote against it, replied
the Colorado senator.
Mr.. Lodge insisted upon knowing whether
Mr.. Teller did or did not think the amend
ment proper principle for Congress to
lay down.
Mr.. Teller still held that the government
and the governments creditors ought 10
abide ty contracts made
~ desired to know said Mr.. Lodge,
what the senator from Colorado thought
of my amendment, because l copied it word
for word from a speech made by the sena-
tor in which he declared that every dollar
this government owes will be paid in the
money that is the highest money of the
world in gold or it's equivalent In gold.
whether that be silver or paper.
Mr. Lodge thought that If the senator
from Colorado (Teller) believed that his
statement was accurate when ne maze II,
he ought not now to object TO supporting
it with his voice and vote.
Mr. Teller replied that he had never adj
yocated the payment of the government
obligations in a deprecated currency anu
did not now. l..
which he maintained the position that the
question under discussion was not one OF
law, but one of honor and integrity;
In the course Of his remarks Mr. Hoar
trial situation in New England and its re-
lation to the Dingley tariff law. Further
along he reverted to the situation ana
briefly discussed 1t. He was satished mat
not due to the operation of the tariff law,
but to quite different causes. He was glad
and the people of New England were glad
of the Industrial prosperity of South Caro-
lima. Alabama and Georgia, but he did hold
that the people of New England did not
want to be brought into competition with
communities where long hours are the rule
in industrial establishments and where
cl lid labor was employed in the factories.
He said that these practices were not
known in New England. where limited
hours for workmen and no child labor
were provided for by law.
He was followed by Mr.. Platt (Conn.), in
an address in opposition to the pending
resolution.
In the course Of a brief colloquy between
Mr.. Plat on the one side and Mr.. Alien
and Tillman, Mr.. Platt stated this country
now had bimetallism. To this Mr.. Chand-
Ter took exception, saying that any defini-
ton of bimetallism which omitted the free
coinage of both metals at a ratio fixed by
law was not only incorrect, but obsolete.
Mr.. Daniel (Va-) followed Mr.. Platt in
support of the resolution. He said that
we were confronted upon all sides with the
clamorous statements of the gold men that
agitation of the financial question was IN
settling business and destroying the credit
Of our people. Yet, he said, the gold men
were holding conventions, the financial
question was being Investigated by con-
gressional committees. and the President
of the United States. in his message to this
Congress-, had advanced propositions in
support of fastening upon the country the
single gold standard.
He said there was no disposition to pay
the government obligations in discredited
silver bullion, but in finished silver dollars
dollars that were just as good as gold
dollars-dollars that would buy as much as
gold dollars In any market Of the world.
Mr.. Daniel concluded at Z o'clock. On
n otion of Mr.. Aldrich, the Senate then went
into executive session, and ten .ninutes
later adjourned.