The San Francisco call., 1899-12-13
ONE DEMOCRAT HEARD
AGAINST FREE COINAGE
briggs Of New York Speaks in Support Of
the Republican Financial Bill
in the House.

counted for the prosperity, under the
present administration.
Parker. Of New Jersey in support OF the
bill. argued that the pending question
should not be party one. -..
William Alden Smith. of Michigan spoke
in advocacy of the bill. Tne steady
growth OF the circulation during the past
Inree ara halt years. aggregating $4I6,-
o0O,000, he said, gave the lie 10 the. adEo-
Gates OF free silver. Our commerce with
gold standard countries last years aggre-
gated 81, 600, ,0O0, 600: with silver countries
SlSy 100000. How idle IL would be then 10
Jeopardize that commerce by going TO
silver basis.
Prince OF Illinois, who was a member of
the Banking and Currency Commission in
the last Congress, presented careful ar
gument in favor of the bill.
Cochran of Missouri opposed the bill In
a vigorous speech in which he contended
that the real question presented by the
pending biIl was whether there was sur
iiclent gold in the world upon which TO
pyramid the vast and constantly increas-
ing volume of credit. He referred 10 the
recent dispatches from London showing
the struggle for gold all over Europe and
declared that the gold lmportauons dur
ing the Mckinley administration had pro-
duced the gold famine abroad. There was
not enough gold In the world 10 do the
business OF the world. The Importation
of gold to pay for the surplus crops eX-
ported TO supply the failure of crops
abroad, Cochran claimed. had qu!ckened
trade and had produced the prosperity Of
would warn the Republicans that when
the stock OF gold declined the prosperity
of to-day would crumbe like house Of
cards.
In the course of his speech, when Coch-
ran reiterated Bryan's famous. declara-
uon concerning the crown OF thorns and
cross OF gold, the Republicans 1eered de-
risively.
Sims of Tennessee in opposition to the
bill said that under the existing prosper
ity wages did not average more than 10
Nor cen al - 81 " = -
price Of manufactured goods bad in
creased 100 per cent.
briggs OF New York was the first Dem
ocrat TO speak in favor of the bill. When
he arose many of the Republicans left
their seats and went over to the Demo-
cratic side 10 listen. He said that the
convention which nominated him did not
indorse the Chicago platform; nor did IL
indOrse either gold or silver. AS the
nominee he. was left to follow his own
convictions. on the Sth OF October and
again on the day preceding the election
he announced in the Brooklyn papers that
he favored the gold standard and If elect
ed gave his pledge that he would support
gold standard legislation. briggs de-
clared that he believed the dignity and
re-eminence Of the United States would
be advanced by placing this country upon
the standard Of the most highly civilized
countries of the world.
Il do not arrogate 10 myself" said he.
addressing his Democratic colleagues.
the presumption TO say TO you that | am
right and you are wrong. But l believe
as a Democrat that you would respect
me less. If, knowing how ! feel, | should
rot openly avow my convictions and keep
the pledges / made"
briggs announced that he would remain
a consistent Democrat, save only upon the
question Of free coinage.
Powers Of Vermont and Lawrence Of
MassachusG : supported the bill.
Upon C8l ms motion a resolution was
adopted directing the Speaker 10 appoint
a committee OF ten TO join the committees
appointed by the President and Senate to
prepare plans for the celebration OF the
centennial anniversary OF the first Con-
gress held in Washington. II was then
agreed that the sessions OF the House dur
ing the continuance Of the general debate
on the currency bill should begin at II
o'clock.
Grosvenor of Ohio announced the death
Of the late Representative Danforth Of
Ohio and at o'clock, as a further mark
OF respect, the House adjourned.