The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
FIRST CLASH ON
MONEY QUESTION
Party Lines Drawn in
the House.
CURRENCY BILL PUT FORWARD
MADE A SPECIAL ORDER FOR
NEXT WEEK.
Democrats, Populists and Silver Re
publicans Muster 144 Votes in
Opposition to the
Rule.
CURRENCY BILL PUT FORWARD
MADE A SPECIAL ORDER FOR
NEXT WEEK.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


WASHINGTON. Dec. s.-The House to-
day adopted a special order for the con-
sideration OF the currency bill, beginning
next Monday. The general debate will
continue until Friday; on Saturday
amendments may be offered under the
five-minute rule and on the following
Monday the vote will be taken. The
Democrats. Populists and Silverites pre-
sented a solid front against the adoption
OF the resolution, and every Republican
voted for IL.
Richardson. leader OF the minority.
taunted some OF the majority leaders with
their change OF front in coming out fat
footedly for the gold standard. but Gros-
venor and Cannon good-naturedly replied
that they had learned something with ad-
vancing years. The former said the Dem
eeFatie party was the only living demon
stration OF the survival OF a great organ
ization which refused TO learn anything.
Roberts. the Mormon Representative
elect from Utah, was not in the House
when the session began to-day. Ii was
agreed Immediately after the reading OF
the journal that when the House ad-
journed IL should be TO meet on Monday.
Dazell Of Pennsylvania. from the Com
mittee on Rules. presented the amend
ments TO the rules agreed upon by the
committee for the creation of Commit
tee on Insular Affairs. TO consist OF seven
teen members and 10 have Jurisdiction
over all matters excepting those affect
ing the revenues and the appropriations
pertaining TO the islands which came TO
the United States through the treaty OF
1899 with Spain, and TO Cuba. and TO in
crease the membership OF the Committees
on Foreign Affairs, Merchant Marine and
Fisheries. Public Lands. Military Affairs.
Naval Affairs and District OF Columbia
from Is TO II members and the Committee
on Territories from 10 to Is.
Bailey OF Texas said the minority of the
Rules Committee held no difference OF
opinion as TO the propriety of the creation
or the proposed lnSular Committee, but il
did dissent from the idea that the COM
mittec should be created for the purpose
OF permanently dealing" with the ISL
ands.
Dalzeu held that there was nothing in
the resolutions which intimated that the
committee was 70 deal with our islands
permanently. The resolution was adopt
ed without division.
Da!zell then offered the resolution for
the consideration OF the currency bill. 1t
provided for general debate, beginning
next Monday, until next Friday, debate
under the nVe-minute rule on Saturday,
and a vote upon the bill Immediately
after the reading of the journal on Mon
day, the 18th Dalzell said there was no
disposition upon the part of the majority
TO unduly press the bill. II presented sim
ply propositions which had already been
debated In the House. The Committee ON
Rules was OF the opinion that the resolu-
tien offered ample time for debate
Richardson upon behalf OF the minority
said he disssnted most emphatically from
the proposition advanced by DalZell that
the bill 10 be considered contained moth
ing radically new. For the first time in
history Ii was proposed by statutory pro-
visions TO fasten the gold standard upon
the country. II such suggestion had
been made two or three years ago, he
said half the other side would have been
up in arms against IL. He considered the
rule unusual and unjust to the minority.
But one day was TO be given the minority
to study the bill, while members OF the
majority had six months In which TO pre-
pare themselves. Richardson taunted the
ma jority with their sudden change OF
Bailey Of Texas declared that the pro-
posed course OF the majority was without
precedent or defense. He made an ela5-
crate argument 10 prove that ii was
proposition TO hastily determine ques-
ton to which the best and most careful
consideration should be given.
Grosvenor OF Ohio, in support OF the
rule. argued that II could not be justly
said that II would unduly curtail debate
and consideration. As TO the charge that
members OF the majority would find IL
difficult TO explain their change OF front,
he said IL was one OF the proudest boasts
of the Republican party that IL was wiser
now than IL was good many years ago.
THE Democratic party said he, "is the
only well recognized demonstration OF a
long period without learning anything
The past of the Republican party is be-
hind il; of its present II is proud, and its
future is assured Can the gentleman
from Tennessee say as much?"
WAS the future Of this bill assured un-
til after the caucus had been held?" asked
Richardson, amid Democratic applause
There never was caucus in this
House." replied Grosvenor. which came
together with such unanimity of purpose
as that which indorsed this bill" IRE
publican applause)
Cannon OF Illinois, in response to the
thrust of Richardson, frankly said that
he had voted for free coinage of silver i'm
impending resumption of specie payments
when the Democratic party was bowling
for fiat money. But specie payments had
been resumed without disaster despite the
Democratic howls Since then the coun-
try had been on the gold standard
Dalzell closed the debate by recalling
some Of the rules under which the Demo.
in the Fifty-second and Fifty-tLard Con-
crosses. He referred particularly TO the
adoption of the conference report in the
Fifty-second Congress upon the tariff hill
which 1.-The greatest Democrat since An
drew Jackson. Grover Cleveland (derisive
laughter on the Democratic side). had
pronounced a piece of party perfdy and
dishonor." He described this procedure
as a rape of all precedents," and cited
other cases where ne said gag rule" had
been employed.
Richardson attempted to reply to these
statements, but Dalzell refused TO WELD
and the special order was adopted. las 10
IA. strict party vote.
Robertson OF Louisiana then announced
the death OF the late Representative s. c.
Baird OF Louisiana. and after the adon.
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