The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-15
THE HOUSE DEBATE
A TAME AFFAIR
Attendance Was Light in the Gal
lerieS.
Mr.. SlBLEY CHANGES VIEWS
Most Of the Speech Making is for the
Record.
|R. SIBLEY CHANGES VIEWS
M'CLEARY AND SULZER CLASH
Former Was Assailed with Fusilade of
Questions by Asserting That Sill
yer Had Never Been Coined
on Private Account

Washington, December 14.-The debate on
the currency bill in the house today was
tame and prosaic The attendance both in
the galleries and on the floor was light,
and none of the speeches made attracted
special attention.
Mr.. Sibley, democrat of Pennsylvania
who has publicly announced his change of
views on the money question, and who, it
was thought, might vote for the bill, stated
that he would vote against it,
Mr.. Thayer of Massachusetts, democrat,
was the only member of the opposition who
made a speech for the bill today. The 9TH
er speakers today were Messrs. Crumpack-
er of Indiana, Lowering of Massachusetts,
Olmstead of Pennsylvania, McCleary OF
Minnesota, Boutelle of Illinois, and Graft
of Illinois, republicans, in favor of the bill,
and Cox of Tennessee, Lewis of Georgia,
Lanham of Texas, Sibey of Pennsylvania,
Burke of Texas, Terry of Arkansas, Ball
of Texas, Gilbert of Kentucky, Smith and
Berry of Kentucky, Atwater of North Car
olina and Jett of Illinois, democrats,
against it.
Owing to the Washington memorial ser
vices at Mount Vernon, the attendance at
today's session was very small.
Mr.. Cox of Tennessee, who was the rank
ing member of the banking and currency
committee in the last congress, opened the
debate in opposition to the currency bill.
He paid his respects to Mr.. Grosvenor,
whom he characterized as the spokesman
of the administration on the floor. He was
a most adept representative of the chief
executive, he said, for when placed in a
hole he never experienced the least diff
ficulty in getting out. Gaughter).
Mr.. Lanham, of Texas. opposing the bill,
said it was, in effect, a proposition to
change the character of the obligations of
debtors without their consent.
Sibiey VIII Print His Views
When Mr.. S1bey of Pennsylvania arose
to speak much interest was manifested
owing to the report that he had changed
his views upon the silver question. Mr..
Sibley, however, disappointed his audi
ence. He had only risen to say that he
proposed to print his views in the Record.
He had been offered time by the republic
cans, but as he had spoken against the
republican candidates in twenty-seven
states in 1856, he did not desire to accept
fayors at their hands. On the other hand,
he did not desire to embarrass the demo-
Gratis by accepting COO they had ten
dered him. He would vote against the
pending BILL ne said, but he did not en-
firely agree with the views of members
upon the minority side.
Mr.. Daily of New Jersey and Mr.. Burke
of Texas opposed the bill, and Mr. Lever
ing of Massachusetts and Mr.. Olmstead of
Pennsylvania supported 1t.
Mr.. Tory of Arkansas said the bill would
consummate the conspiracy of the gold
syndicate against the plain people. The
democrats in ulis tislt stood against cor
porate and banking greed.
Mr.. Ball of Texas said that in order to
support this bill almost every republican in
public life had to recant the professions
of lifetime.
Mr.. McCleary of Minnesota remarked up-
on the &ange which had come over the
democrats. In past congresses they always
had seemed eager and anxious to offer a free
silver proposition as substitute for almost
anything that happened to be pending. Dur
ing the debate not a democrat had come
forward with a free silver substitute.
Mr.. McCleary made himself the target of
a fusilade of questions from the democrats
by asserting that during the whole
century, not single silver dollar
has been coined on private account.
During passage at arms with Mr.. SuZer
of New York Mr. McCleary said that neith-
er Mr.. Suffers father nor grandfather had
ever seen silver dollar except as curios-
ity.
And If you and your party associates
keep on retorted Mr.. Sulzer, neither will
my grand children" Gaaghter)
"That depends upon the GRANDPA ther," OBJ
served Mr.. McCleary amid renewed laugh
ter.
Mr.. Boutelle of Maine devoted considera-
BILE time to showing that both Jefferson and
Jackson We're distinctly opposed to the pres
ent democratic theories of finance.
Read Letter from Comptroller
Mr.. Gilbert of Kentucky, in opposing the.
bill, read a letter from the comptroller of
the currency in answer to en inquiry of his,
saying that the tax on capital surplus and
circulation of rational banks, If the circu-
lation were reduced to the minimum under
the pending bill would be $2,790,000. The
total tax collected from national banks last
year was $3,7ff00o
Mr. Berry, of kentucky, said If the re-
publicans had declared for the pending bill
when they got together to fool the people
at ST. Louis there would not be enough
republicans in the house today to get roll
call. He predicted that the bill would yet
unhorse the republican party.
After some further remarks by Mr.. Lew
is of Georgia, Smith of Kentucky and Jett
of Illinois against the bill, and Mr.. Graft,
republican of Illinois, for 1t, Mr.. Thayer,
democrat of Massachusetts,, concluded the
debate for the afternoon with a ten min
utes' speech in favor of the bill. He said
he regretted to differ from his colleagues.
but his conscience compelled him to dis
sent.
He spoke of the Chicago platform of 1896
as a great mistake made by a portion of
the democratic party created by Jefferson.
defended by Jackson and protected by the
immortal Russell of Massachusetts at the
sacrifice of life itself. He said that he be-
Heved that IL the question of silver at 16
to could be left to the democratic voters
unaccompanied by illustrious names, they
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