The record-union., 1898-01-26

Entire Day to Political Debate,
During Which the Main Cues
ton Was Whether the Present
Administration Had Brought
About the Prosperity Now Pre-
vailing.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25-To-day's s
session OF the Senate was characterized
by a. heated. almost acrimonious debate
of the financial question For nearly
two hours the Teller resolution was un-
der consideration. the principal
speeches being made by Allison of Iowa,
Berry of Arkansas and Hoar Of Massa-
chusetts. The sharpest colloquy was
at times INDUCED in between the adVo-
Gates and opponents of the resolution,
the debate often approaching bitter
ness The feature of the discussion
was a speech by Teller author of the
resolution his statement calling out
suggestion from Hoar that he (TelleD
ought to have them stricken from the
record In response to an inquiry by
Spooner. Vest admitted that he thought
the system of coinage referred to in the
coinage of silver. that admission ap-
parently giving satisfaction 10 the Op-
ponents of the measure.
The Senate. on motion of Hoar of
massachusetts, went into executive ses-
sion to-day as soon as it convened The
doors were opened at 12:15, and Quay
secured the passage of the bill to in
dernnify the State of Pennsylvania for
money expended in 1861 for militia
called into military service by the Gov
ernment The amount involved is S46,-
000.
QUAY also reported the army appro-
priation bill.
Butler of North Carolina offered an
amendment TO the Postoffice bill provid-
ing for the extension of rural free de-
livery to every State and Territory of
the Union. and to as many sections Of
these States and Territories as possible
Butler said the amendments had been
drawn after full consultation with the
Postmaster-G General.
Perkins Of California called up the
pension appropriation bill
The amendment proposed by Alien
providing that the lowest pension paid
by the Government be So per month,
was ruled out Of order.
Allen then offered an amendment TO
the bill increasing the amount appro-
nriated from S141 000.00 to S14S, ,000,-
COO. in accordance with the estimates
made by the Commissioner of Pensions,
but it was lost without division.
The pension bill was then passed.
The Teller resolution was then lad
before the Senate.
Allison reviewed the history of the
Stanley Matthews resolution, maintain
ing that it's purpose at that time was
not i'm opposition to public interest or
in derogation Of the rights OF the pub
lie creditors He held now that the
situation was different. He insisted
that the pending resolution gave the
Secretary of the Treasury no more au-
thority under the law than he had now.
The Secretary may now pay Govern
rnent obligations in coin
He held that there WAS no disposl-
ton upon the part Of the administration
to evade the law, and added that the
Republican party had maintained that
II ought to be the purpose of the Gov
ernment TO maintain the gold and sll-
yer money Of the country at parity
Trlman asked Allison whether ne
wonla eav in terms that the bond obli-
cations of the Government were paya-
ble in silver
In replv. Allison quoted the law that
the bonds were payable in coin. but
that was not satisfactory TO Tliimah
who insisted upon an answer yes or no
Allison declined to have words put
into his mouth.
In response to a question of Teller,
Allison said he thought il would be
proper for the Secretary of the Treas
urv to pay the obligations of the Gov
ernnent in either silver or gold But,
declared Allison. the Secretary OF the
Treasury if he is an honest man. II
reaching his decision to act upon tnat
noint. must take into consideration eX-
isting conditions. one Of which IS tnat
the Government is pledged 10 MAINTAIN
the gold and silver currency OF the
country a a parity
Allison thought If it were the pu*-
nose of the advocates of the pending
resolution to force a depreciation of one
OF the great moneys OF the country
they ought to avow that purpose de
maintained that If the objects OF n
silver advocates were carried into e.
feet Il would De impossible 10 maintain
the parity of gold and silver coin.
IF | were assured" said he, that
the resolution would strengthen the
credit OF the country. l should GER
tanly vote for it.
Berry OF Arkansas. in an extends
speech. declared that the pending res
luton was precisely the sane as tE2.
for which the Senator from Iowa "a
nson) voted twenty years ago II i
was not violation of public faith the-'
he added. il could not be so now. one
of the reasons why Berry was desirous
of the passage Of the resolution was
that il would dlsprove the charges
brought in 1896. that the Democratic
party was composed of repudiaticnisi
and dishoEorabie men.
Aldgich OF RnCde Island-Do you DE-
sire to take from the Secretary Of tae
Treasury his discretion 10 pay Govern
ment obligations in either gold or sill
yer2
Rerry-The trouble is the Secretary
Of the Treasury has turned over tda
Governments option TO the bondho'd-
ers.
Aldrich-would the passage Of The
resolution by the Senate and House
act as instructions to tha Secretary q
the Treasury
aIt would" replied Berry. but am