The times., 1899-12-15

The fourth day of the debate on the Re-
publican Currency bill opened yesterday
morning in the House of Representatives
directly after the reading of the journal.
There was but a small attendance of mem
bers on the floor and few spectators in the
gallery.
Chaplain Couden, in his invocation. dwelt
on the significance of the day, the centen-
nial anniversary of the death of George
Washington. The chaplain said:
we are visibly reminded, God, our
Heavenly Father, on this centennial an
niversary by the ingathering of men from
all parts of our country and all over the
world to commemorate the deeds of our
Washington; that while men die their
deeds live on forever. Monuments have
been erected by the hand of art, songs have
been sung, historians have wed with each
other in commemorating his deeds and
sterling character, but the greatest mon
ument the sweetest poem, the grandest
song, the greatest historic fact is the Re
public itself, which stands first among the
nations of the earth. In it his thoughts,
his deeds, his character live, and we most
fervently pray that our statesmen OF today
may try earnestly to emulate his great
virtues, that they may leave behind them
footprints on the sands of time in the
spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen"
The first member to address the House
was Representative Cox OF Tennessee. He
opposed the Currency bill because it made
Government obligations payable in a dearer
money than that in which the people had
3ssgrv 1.IN
also, he said because of the authority
which it conferred on the Secretary of the
Treasury to issue gold bonds, and because
it extended the power of the national
banks.
Representative Lewis of Georgia spoke in
opposition to the measure and Representa-
tive Lanham of Texas also addressed the
House against it.
Representative Crumpacker OF Indiana
took his stand in favor of the passage of
the bill and did as all his Republican pre-
decessors have done, maintained that pres
ent prosperity is due to Republican admin
istration of national affairs.
Representative Lowering Of Massachu-
setts upheld the bill and stated his prefer
ence for gold standard.
Mr.. McCIcary's Unique Argument.
The bill was supported by Mr. McCleary
Of Minnesota, a member of the Committee
on Banking and Currency, who made a
speech out of the usual line He said that
the debate had developed g remarkable
change in sentiment on the Democratic
side. He could remember when on such an
r | occasion as this they would have rallied as
one man advocating the free coinage of sill
t YER So far in this debate he had heard
T but four members of the minority express
a concern for free coinage and the Chicago
platform-Messrs Cochran OF Missouri,
Sulzer of New York, Terry of Arkansas,
} and Otey of Virginia. For the purpose of
drawing out the Democrats, Mr.. McCleary
Y said he would Offer. several propositions for
their consideration.
q First-That silver had not been demone-
tized You can deny that OF let it CO. as
= you please.
S Mr. Sulzer-We deny it, and refer you
b to the act of '73 as proof.
. Mr. McCleary illustrated his assertion by
: the difference in the methods of grinding
r wheat at the beginning of the century and
d at present. Because of the change In
= method wheat had not been abandoned as
food; because of the change OF method of
= treating silver its use as money had not
G been abandoned, but on the other hand its
use had been enlarged TO q. greater degree
Y than ever before.
question by Mr.. Ridgely of Kansas
9 evoked the second proposition: That a
:, Populist could not favor free coinage with
> out abandoning the fundamental princi-
q pies of the party.
Mr. Ridgely-That's what you think.
Mr.. McCleary-And I'll prove it. Thai
= | fundamental principle declares that the
. Government alone should possess and ex-
a ercise the right of issuing. Free coinage
. of silver means that the individual shall
~ have and exercise the right.
Third-In all this century, not single
/ c;t oil had OT
! private account in the United States fol
| use as money.
Mr.. Sulzer-Well, We deny that.
, Beginning with the year 1901 amids
,a numerous Interruptions and questions, Mr.
McCleary covered every year of the cen
10 tury, and defed any gentleman to deny the
- | truth of his statement In the course o
this part of his speech, Mr.. McCleary
speaking to Mr.. Sulzer, said: Your grand
father probably never saw standard sill
yer dollar; your father probably never saw
one except as a curiosity.
Mr. Sulzer-If you go on the way you VI
started my grandchildren will never se
IS me. [Laughter.l
n Mr.. McCleary-That will depend Iargel!
r upon the action Of the possible grandfather
~ Fourth-Gold has been the money ant
,, standard Of the country ever since 1884
al In support of this, the speaker drew upol
n the experience and knowledge Of ever,
,e member in his presence. They must con
= cede, he said, that gold had been the stand
n. ard. Gold would continue to be the stand
re ard OF the United States, for history testi
Of fed that no nation ever adopted it and thel
abandoned ii.
r Fifth-The issue OF paper currency
c. not tn, exclusive function OF the Govern
Y: ment. If it were, he asked what was tn
be Government doing In all the years OF it
ry existence up to 1851? Governmental ac
We ton in relation to the issue of bank notes
n Mr. McCIeary said, was not the eXtensio
Sc of a privilege, but rather the restrictio
a. of a right
re. Answering a question, Mr. McClear
90 said in his opinion it would be the bes
rs thing for the country, for the Secretar
h OF the Treasury to take every greenbac
es as fast as 1t was redeemed and put it
h the fire-'1ust as you and l do with OF
on obligations when we redeem them"
of The present contest he said in conclt
sion. was the preliminary skirmish TO Ii
op last battle and, as in 1896 the resu
RS would be the defeat OF Bryan and th
II silver forces; the return OF that matches
its statesman who now occupies the Whit
es. House for another term, and the glories
n the present will be projected upon II
er twentieth century.
nd The bill was advocated by Mr.. Boute
it of Illinois, and opposed by David
Smith and Mr.. Gilbert of Kentucky.
ar Mr.. Smith designated the bill as a schen
Is to plunder the plain people, and sais thi
he It ought to be entitled "a bill to strengthe
"a national banks, and to enrich the go
nd and pawn trust by the impoyerishment
on, the people"
elr MIR. Berry in Opposition.
80 Mr Berry of Kentucky followed his co
leagues in opposition to the bill sayif