The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-01-27
TELLER: "SIT DOWN."
Colorado Mans Snappy De-
nand to Fairbanks.
TIRED OF BEING BADGERED.
Vented That Voting For His Resolution
Committed Any Man to Free Coinage.
Made u Striking Speech-Hoar, Berry,
Foraker aud Others Participated.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2G.-Thc session
of the senate was characterized by al
most acrimonious discussion of the flnau.
cial question. For nearly four hours
the Teller resolution was under cousid-
orution, the principal speeches being
made by Mr.. Allison Qa.D, Mr.. Berry
Ark and Mr.. Hoar (Mass.). The
sharpest colloquy was at times INDUCED
in between the advocates and the OPP
poncnts of the resolution, the debate
often approaching bitterness.
When the Teller resolution was laid
before the senate Mr.. Allison reviewed
the history of the Stanley Matthews
resolution, maintaining that its passage
mt that time was not in opposition to
public interest or in derogation of the
right of the public creditors. He held
that now the situation was quite differ
cnt.
Mr. Allison insisted that the pending
resolution gave the secretary of the
treasury no more authority under the
law than ne now has. The secretary
may now pay government obligations in
coin.
In rcspouc to question of Mr.. Teller
Mr.. Allison said he thought it would be
proper for the secretary of the treasury
to pay the obligations of the govern
ment III either silver or gold. "But," !"
declared Mr.. Allison, "the secretary OF
tho treasury, if he is an honest man in
reaching his decision as to action upon
that point, must take into consideration
existing conditions, one of which is that
this government is pledged to maintain
the gold and silver currency of the
country at parity"
Mr.. Berry Dem, Ark. }, in an eX-
tended speech, declared that the pend
ing resolution was precisely the same
as that for which the senator from
Iowa (Allison) voted 20 years ago. If
it was not a violation of public faith
then he maintained it could not be such
now.
Mr.. Hale (Me.J said that when the
present iaw was put on the statute
books the silver was about twice as
valuable as it is now, and Mr.. Aldrich
interjected to inquire whether in view
of the fall in the price of silver the
senator from Arkansas Berry believed
the government ought to take advantage
of its creditors and pay them in the
cheaper metal.
Mr.. Berry replied that he was as much
in favor of maintaining the honor of
the country as the senator from Rhode
Island, but he held that the bondholders
ought to be willing to live up to their
contract and accept coin in payment.
Mr.. Lodge (Mass.) said that it was
well understood that bond purchases
ware to be paid i'll gold, as they paid
gold for the bonds and he quoted from a
speech Of Mr.. Teller, showing that he
(TellerD had the same idea.
Mr.. Berry said that the country had
before it the spectacle of secretary of
the treasury who wanted to redeem
silver dollars in gold, and firmly to fasten
ihe gold standard upon the country, vet
the president had not the nerve ito
kick him out of the cabinet"
Mr.. Teller (COlo.) followed in an ex-
tended speech in support of the reso-
luton. He declared that it was a uues-
tiOn Of law which he would endeavOr to
discuss.
In answer to Mr.. Foraker, Mr.. Teller
said conditions were the same now as
they We're 20 years ago, when the
Matthews resolution was passed. Said
he: "The resolution then bound no
man to vote for free coinage, and it
binds no man now 50 to vote"
Mr.. Hoar dissentcd from Mr.. Teller's
proposition that this resolution involved
only question of law, and urged that
it had come now to a question of honor
Mr.. Teller contended that he had
quite as much regard for the national
honor as had other members of the
senate. 81 am getting tired" shouted
Mr.. Teller, "of the position assumed by
certain senators here, because they live
i'll she eastern part of this country.
They are no more honest, they are no
more strenuous in upholding the public
honor than | am. / want to say here
and now that | believe in paying the
debts of the government in silver, even
If that is the cheaper metal. The gov
eminent has the right to the difference
according to its contract. The silver
dollar, which the gentleman from Iowa
(AllisOn) says is as good as the gold
dollar, is paid to the mechanic, the
artisan and the laborer in liquidation of
obligations incurred with them and |
hold that the bond purchaser is no bet
ter than the man with the blistercd
hand and ought to be paid III the same
money. The secretary of the treasury
is now bound by law to regard the in
terests Of the people, but that depart
ment has been making law to suit itself
for 20 years.
Mr.. Teller held that there could be no
degradation in paying the debts of the
government in silver.
Mr.. Fairbanks arose and endeayorcd
to PROFOUND a question to Mr.. Teller.
''Sit down." cried the Colorado senator
''Iye been badgered enough"
AS Mr.. Fairbanks sat down Mr.. Teller
said he would again answer the gues-
Lion, but he did not now desire to be in-
yerrupted.
Mr., Teller declared in conclusion that
ne had seen the national treasury robbed
"a transaction the most disgraceful
'ver accomplished by national admin
stratiOn. In view of that fact he
thought that the arrogation to them
selves by the opponents of the reso-
uton Of all honesty was not warranted
~ the facts.
Mr.. Hoar chided Mr. Teller for telling
Fairbanks TO "sit down."
Mr.. Teller-I will strike that out of
ny speech.
III were the senator" said Mr..
Ioar, 81 would have the entire speech
tricken from the record"