The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-17
DEBATE IN DETAIL.
Proceedings of the House Under the
Five-Minute-Speech Rule.

WASHINGTON, Dec. l6.-The general
debate on the currency bill closed yester-
day. and to-day the bill was read for
amendment under the five-minute rule. On
motion Of Mr.. Moody. of Massachusetts,
the Senate resolution was adopted for the
appointment OF three members of the Sen
ate and five of the House to make arrange
ments for the unveiling of the statue Of
Daniel Webster. presented to the govern
ment by Stilson Hutchins. on Jan. is. 1900
The clerk then entered on the reading
of the currency bill Upon proforma
amendment Mr.. Grosvenor. of Ohio. got
the floor TO reply to some Of the state
ments made by Mr.. Bailey yesterday. He
had read quotation from a speech made
by Mr.. Bailey ing the debate on the
Dingley bill predicting that If that bill
failed to bring prosperity the Republicans
would not live long enough to secure an
audience from the people on the PROPOSE
tion that they could be made happy by in
creased taxation. In view OF that
prophecy Mr.. Grosvenor thought the Re-
publicans could view with equanimity Mr..
Bailey's forebodings Of yesterday.
Mr.. Clark, of Missouri, made an anus
ing speech, poking fun at the Republicans
for their efforts to secure consolation from
the late elections. 1t reminded him, he
said, of the boy who. in response to
question as TO affairs at home. replied:
'.Oh, very well; mother and sister are
dead. but we managed to pull the old man
through" With comb cut, both wings
broken and tail feathers out the Republic
| ans were growing because the old man had
pulled through. The only person who. he
thought, was entitled TO extract comfort
| from the elections was Mr.. G.osvenor. He
| had pulled the old man through. Laugh
teri
Mr. Mahon, of Pennsylvania, criticised
Mr.. Bailey for not frankly admitting. as
Mr.. Sibley, Of Pennsylvania. had done. that
| the return of prosperity was due to the
| restoration Of the Republican party to
power.
Mr.. Levy, of New York. announced his
| intention Of voting for the bill. although
| he did not agree with some OF its pro-
visions.
Mr. Fitzgerald, of New York. announced
his intention of voting for the bill, but
bitterly denounced its banking features.
| He gave 1t as his opinion that the enact
ment of the bill into law would be OF In
calculable service to the Democratic party
in removing the money question from poll
tics for at least six years.
REPUBLICANS JEERED.
Mr.. Norton, of Ohio, expressed the belief
that the pending bill was the elimination
of a gigantic money trust This trust, he
declared, was at the foundation OF the ALI
ance between vreat Britain and the United
States, which existed at this hour. The Re-
publicans jeered this utterance.
The Democrats gave Mr.. Glynn. Of New
York, round of applause when he an
nounced that he would keep step with the
national Democracy and vote against the
bill. There were, he thought, some good
features In the bill, which he would vote
for If he could do so. But, as a whole, he
would vote against it.
Mr. Grow, of Pennsylvania, In speaking
for the bill. gave an interesting resume of
the history of the national debt to show
that the pledge of the government to pay
its bonds and redeem the greenbacks In
''coin" meant gold"
Mr.. Carmack. Of Tennessee, said he did
not believe that it was ever intended by
this bill to strengthen and reform the cur
rency. The real purpose was to make all
government obligations payable in gold.
The debate was enlivened at this point by
bout between Mr.. Brown CRep. Ohio).
and Mr.. Clark (Dem. Missouri.) The former
resented what he regarded as a slight put
upon the memory Of the late President
Hayes, in some remarks made by Mr..
Clark earlier in the day. Mr.. Brown paid
glowing tribute to the memory of Mr.
Hayes.
In reply, Mr.. Clark declared that Mr..
Hayes was counterfeit President" for
whom he had a supreme contempt, even
though he was dead. He stole the presi-
dency." said he. "the greatest crime In the
tide Of times wish he could have lived
forever and borne the scorn Of decent n,en
to the end Of the world. His sepulchre
should bear the words: This man was
guilty of the monumental crime against
human liberty Now" concluded Mr..
Clark. as he retired to his seat, IF they
can make anything Of that let them
make it,
Mr.. Clark's words were received in 81.
lence on both sides of the house. The de-
bate then lapsed into dullness for an hour.
interrupted only by a brief but sharp ex
change between Mr.. Payne Rep.. N. 70
and Mr.. Bailey Dem.. Tex.), the former
making a covert reference to his fight for
the senate and Mr.. Bailey countering by
saying that the gentleman from New York
was never so serious as when he tried To
be funny, and never SO funny as when he
tried to be serious.
lands CAUSES LAUGHTER.
Later Mr. Lands (Rep., Ind) created
considerable amusement by referring to an
extravagant eulogy OF Grover Cleveland
made by w. H. Wallace. Of Missouri. in
seconding Mr.. Cleveland's nomination In
1892. Mr.. Lands read the extract to con-
trast 1t with the bitter denunciations of
Mr.. Cleveland in which Democrats In the
House indulged.
1t happened that Mr.. Vandiver Den.,
MOI got the floor next and his appear
ance caused an outburst OF laughter. "The
speech Of the gentleman from Indiana"
said he, 'is the most unkindest cut Of all
II is true that we once believed that fat
witted occupant of the White House was a
Democrat. But now We know he is a Re-
publican. And you welcome to him."
he added, with a wave OF his hand to-
ward the Republican side. amid Democratic
applause.
Mr.. Lentz. OF Ohio. charged that the pend
ing bill had been prepared by the $500
national banks, a secret combination that