The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-18
Leads all Oer North Carolina Da88 in B0h News and Circulation

wheat III England"
Mr.. WOlcott next enumerated the OBJ
stacles with which the commission had
had to contend, in which he included
the remarkable drop in the price of
silver, the coincident tariff legislation
in the United States and the state
ments of New York bankers in England,
who, he said, sought access to English
officials and assured them that any
sentiment which had formerly existed
in the United States in favor of bimetal-
Iism was dead. Other statements made
by the bankers, according to Mr.. VOL
colt, were the following:
'That the mission was sent solely as
a stop to a few far western Republicans;
that the country generally favored the
gold standard, and that the President Of
the United States shared this view.
1.-The statements were," Mr. WOlcott
said, 'Of course untrue, but in support
of them those people assumed to present
interviews and statements of the direc-
tor of the mint, a holdoyer from the
last administrator, the late Controller
of the Currency, an equally precious
legacy, and pretended statements in let
ters and interviews from the Secretary
of the Treasury to the effect that there
was no chance for international or other
bimetallism and favOring the permanent
adoption of the gold standard"
The commission was, ne said, also at
tackled from time to time by statements
from extremists in the other direction.
Mr.. WOlcott summarized the present
situation by saying that it is apparent
that for the time being it is useless to
count on any co-opera ton from Great
Britain toward bimetallic agreement,
and that while France actively desires to
see silver restored to it's old position as
Il standard of value equally with gold,
she insists that the problem is one which
demands international action and the CO.
operation TO some adequate extent of
other leading commercial nations of the
world.
Here Mr. WolcOtt announced his in.
tention to retire from the commission.
He SAID:
1T is my sincere conviction that an
international bi-metallic agreement is
still feasible. by the terms of which GER
tain countries will join us and open their
mints to the unlimited coinage of sill
yer, and others will contribute to the
plan an enlarged use of that metal as
money; and | say this the more freely
because / shall give way upon the COM
mission to somebody more fitted for such
negotiations, and better able to give
them his constant time. This result can
not be brought about without the eX-
penditure of both time and patience, and
the persons entrusted With the duty of
negotiation must have back of them the
hearty support Of the President or Of
Congress-.
He thought it might be necessary to
change the ratio to something like 20
to /.
At this pont he referred to the atti-
tude of Secretary Gage on the financial
question, contrasting it with the Presi-
dents position. Their positions, he said,
are contradictory. He criticised the Sec
retarys bill, for which he predicted de-
feat.
Mr.. Wolcott closed with a strong plea
for international bi-metalism.
Mr. Wolcott concluded his speech at
2:05 p. M, having spoken an hour and
fifteen minutes. AS he sat down there
was a burst of applause throughout the
chamber, and for several minutes he was
surrounded by his colleagues, who de-
sired to tender him their cOngratula-
tions.
At the conclusion of Mr.. WOlcott's s
speech the immigration bill was taken
up and discussed until o'clock, the
hour ait which, by previous agreement,
it had been arranged to vote finally upon
the amendments and the bill. After the
adoption of two amendments proposed
by Mr.. Spooner, of Wisconsin, the bill
was passed by a vote of 40 to %.
The detailed vote is as follows:
Yeas-Allison, Baker, Burrows, Cannon,
Carter, Chandler, Chiffon, Clark, Davis,
Elkins, Fairbanks, Foraker, Frye, Gal
! l.nger Hale, Hanna, Hansbrough, Har-
| ris, Hawley, Hoar, Kyle, Lodge, Nc
Bride, Mcmillan, Mantle, Mason, Nor
rill, Penrose, Perkins, Pettigrew, Platt
| (Conn.), Platt New York;, Pritchard,
! Proctor, Quay, Sewell, Shoup, Spooner,
| Teller, Thurston, Tillman, Warren, Wet
more, Wilson and Wolcott-45.
Nays-Allen, Bacon, Bates, Berry,
Caffery, Clay, Cockrell, Daniel, German,
Heilford, Jones (Ark), Kenney, Lindsay,
McEnary, Mallory, Martin, Mills, Mitch
ell, Money, Morgan, Murphy, Pettus,
| Rawlins, Roach, Stewart, Turpie, Wal
thall and Whites.
The bill as passed provides that all
immigrants physically capable and over
16 years Of age shall be able to read or
write the English language or some
other language; but a person not able
to read or write who is over 80 years of
age and is the parent or grandparent of
qualified immigrant over 1 years of
age and capable of supporting such
parent or grandparent may accompany
the immigrant, or the parent or grand
parent may be sent for and come to join
the family of the child or grandchild
over / years of age qualified under the
law; and wife or minor children not
able to read or write may accompany or
be sent for and come to join the husband
or parent who is qualified. The act does
not apply to persons coming to the
United States from the island of Cuba
during the continuance of present dis
orders there who have heretofore been
inhabitants of that island.
After the immigration bill was ms
posed of the Senate devoted some time
to the consideration Of bills on the cal
endar.
The joint resolution providing for par
ticipation by the United States in the
Fisheries Exposition, to be held this
year. in Bergen, Norway, which has
been naSsad ~ tha House with an