Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-31
Mr.. Dingley Addresses the House of
Representatives.
OPPOSING THE TELLER RESOLUTION
A Vote to Be Taken at 5 P. M,
Today.
G REAT INTEREST SHOWN

OF Representatives met today In anticipa-
ton of a very exciting debate over the
Teller resolution, declaring the bonds CT
the United States payable in go!6 or silver
at the option Of the government. which
those in control had decided TO defeat be-
fore sundown tonight. The members on
both sides had been notified in advance,
and the attendance on the floor was large
A great deal of excitement was mani-
rested. There was disposition TO discuss
the situation between man and man all
over the House. Even after Mr.. Dingley
began his speech, opening the debate. II
took the utmost power OF the Speaker TO
secure order. Again and again the Speaker
had to command members to take their
seats and cease conversation.
Finally complete order was secured. and
Mr.. Dingley proceeded with his speech,
which, contrary to his custom, he read.
After he had proceeded for a few minutes
nearly every member on the democratic
side had got over into the middle aisle
and the space in front of the Speakers
desk, and they remained crowded there
in perfect silence until the close of Mr..
Dingley's remarks. MIR. Dingley's appeal to
the republicans to defend the nations hon.
or. preserve its credit and to stand by
the pledge of the republican platform to
preserve every dollar Of equal value with
every other dollar was loudly applauded
The situation became almost farcical
when, after Mr.. Dingley took his seat,
twenty minutes of time was given Gen.
Wheeler of Alabama, who, after speaking
for few minutes i'm his usual style. dis
tributed the rest of his time in one-mnute
lots to other democrats. including Dock
cry and Haynes. each of whom was cut
short in the middle of a sentence by the
minutes expiration.
Twenty minutes being thus consumed in
broken English. without any one having ,
expressed an idea or an opinion with suf-
ficient fulness to he understood, Mr. Bailey
resumed control of the time the demo-
cratic side and yielded ten minutes 10 Mr..
Bland. VINO made characteristic speech,
insisting that the terms of the contract in
the bonds made the bonds payable in silver
well as in gold. and that denial Of that
right to pay in silver was a discrimination
against silver money.
There was renewal of interest in the
debate. with Mr.. BANDS throwing some
fire into ii, and this interest sustained
when Mr.. PAYNE took the floor in defense
of the report Of the committee.
The Struggle Opened.
The struggle opened Immediately after
the reading of the journal. when Mr..
Dingiey (Me.), chairman of the ways and
means committee, reported back the resolu-
tion with the recon- nmendation that lit 90
not pass"
Mr.. Henderson Qowa), one of the leaders
of the majority, followed this by present.
irg the special order agreed upon by the
committee on rules providing for the i'm
mediate consideration Of the resolution ana
vote without intervening motion at
O'Clock today.
The rule was follows: "Resolved. That
Immediately upon the adoption of this
resolution the House shall proceed to the
consideration of Senate concurrent resolu-
tion No. % (Teller resolution: that general
debate shall be had thereon until the hour
of O'Clock, at which time, without any
intervening motion, a vote shall be taken
upon the passage Of said resolution. Gen
eral leave to print upon the subject Of said
resolution for five days from this date is
hereby granted"
Mr.. Henderson yielded moment 20 Mr..
Bailey, the democratic leader, who SAID
that while the minority strenuously op-
pc sed the undue limitation of the debate
proposed by the rule, still as his side de-
sired as much time as possible for debate
they would lot consume any of the time
allowed on a roll call.
Mr.. Wheeler (Ala.) and Mr.. De Almond
CMoD protested vigorously, however and
the latter said if he had had an oppor-
tunity he would have proposed Il Cuban
belligerency amendment.
To this suggestion Speaker Reed retorte1
curtly that 1t would not be in order. and
when Mr.. De Almond appealed to him not
to decide the question hastily the Speaker
exclaimed: That ii is not in order is too
plain for argument"
During this colloquy there were evidences
of disturbance and excitement the re-
publican side, of which Mr.. johnson QndD
was the center. At last Mr.. johnson in
sisted on asking question of Mr.. Hender-
son. He asked with much emphasis wheth-
Ell 1t was true that all the time was to be
consumed by the members Of the ways and
means committee.
There is no such proposition" called out
Mr.. Dalzell Pa). but Mr.. johnson did not
suhside and continued to protest declaring
loa6lly that he antagonized this rule if such
was the intention. He had a wordy war
with Mr.. Dingley, but in tone SO low that
1T could not be heard in the confusion. The
Speaker cut off further incident by putting
the question and the rule adopted,
143-l15. the democrats refraining from de-
manding a roll call.
There followed controversy the
division of time.
Mr.. Bailey suggested that two hours be
given each to the republicans and DEM
ocrats and forty minutes to the nepulists
and silver republicans
Mr.. Dingley replied that the time should
be divided equally for and against the res
clution.
Mr. Simpson Kan) thought the present
divisions Of the minority should be officially
I recognized.
.I wasn't aware that there was any dis
tinction between the populists and demo-
Gratis as at present constituted, retorted
Mr.. Dingley, dryly.
Mr.. Dingley OppOses the Resolution.
without any agreement as TO the DIVISION
Of the time, the Speaker recognized Mr..
who opened the debate I'm opposi-
ton to the resolution. Contrary to his
usual custom. Mr.. Dineley read his care
fully prepared argument from manuscript.
The intense interest In his utterances caus-
ed the democratic side of the chamber TO
be deserted by members. who crowdd the
Risles around the speaker In the effort to
catch the words that fell from his lips.
His party associates applauded him fire.
uuently.
The pending resolution. Mr.. Dingiey said
In opening, was not one which. IL passed
by both houses, would have force. IL was
simply a concurrent resolution. which did
not require the approval OF the executive,
and which, IL adopted. would be only an
of the opinion of the two
houses.
Its Importance, therefore," continued
Mr. Dingiey, lies In the fact that IL con-
CURED in by the House IL would legitimate
y and inevitably be regarded. not only
here, but by the world, as the expression
of the deliberate Judgment Of q majority
II the American people a. to their stand-
lrd of honor and good faith I'm the dis
charge not only Of national. but also OF
private. obligations. At the outset &c ia