Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-08
OPENS NEXT MONDAY
Coming Debate on the House Cur
rency Bill.
REPUBLICAN PROGRAM CARRIED
Special Order Adopted by 1863 to
144
4 ST RIOT RTY VOTE


the House of Representatives convened to-
day. II was agreed Immediately after tho
| reading OF the journal that when the House
| adjourned today it be to meet Monday.
Mr.. Dalzell (PaD, from the committee on
rules then presented the amendments TO
the rules agreed upon by that committee
for the creation Of committee on insular
affairs, to consist OF seventeen members
to have Jurisdiction over all matters (ex-
cepting those affecting the revenues and
the appropriations pertaining TO tho
islands which came to the United States
through the treaty of 1899 with Spain and
to Cuba" and to increase tho membership
of the committees on foreign affairs. mer.
chant marine and fisheries. public lands.
military affairs, naval affairs and District
of Columbia from fifteen to seventeen mem.
bers and the committee on territories from
thirteen TO fifteen.
Mr.. Bailey (Tex.) said the minority OF
the rules committee hold no difference OF
opinion as to the propriety of the creation
of the proposed insular committee. but 81
did dissent from the idea that the conn
mittee should be created for the purpose
OF permanently de ealing' with the islands
which came into possession of the United
States through the Spanish treaty.
Mr.. DalZell replied there was nothing In
the resolution or I'm what he had said which
intimated that the proposed committee was
to deal with our new possessions pcrma-
nently.
The resolution was adopted without d.
vision.
Program for the Currency Bill.
Mr.. Dalzell then offered the resolution for
the consideration of the currency bill II
provided for general debate beginning next
Monday until next Friday. debate under
the flve-minute rule on Saturday and q
vote upon the bill Immediately after the
re aiding of the journal on Monday. the 18th
Mr.. Dalzell said there was no disposition
upon the part of the ma jority to unduly
press the bill. 1t presented single propo.
sitions which had already been debated IN
the House The committee ON rules was
of opinion that the rule offered ample time
for debate.
Democrats Charge Undue Haste.
Mr.. Richardson. upon behalf of the mi
ncrity, said he dissented most emphatically
from the proposition advanced by Mr.. Dal-
zell that the bill TO be considered contained
nothing radically new. For the first time
in the history of the country # was pro-
posed by statutory provisions TO rasten the
gold standard upon the country.
If such a suggestion had been made two
or three years ago, he said, half the other
side would have been up in arms against
it. 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 prepare themselves.
Mr.. Richardson taunted the majority for
their sudden change of base.
Mr.. Bailey CTeXas) declared that the pro-
posed course OF the majority was without
precedent or defense He made an elab-
crate argument to prove that II q
proposition to hastily determine a question
to which the best and most careful con-
sideration should be given.
The minority was entitled to present its
objections after mature deliberation in or
der that at the proper time the appeal could
be taken from the American Congress to
that higher tribunal, the American people.
Furthermore, the special order denied the
right of the minority TO recommt, privi-
lege hitherto never denied the minority.
Change of Opinion Defended.
Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohio), in support OF the
rule argued that it could not be justly said
that it would unduly curtail debate and
consideration. AS to the charge that mem.
bers of the majority would find it difficult
to explain their change OF front, he
said 1t was one of the proudest
boasts of the republican party that Il
was wiser now than it was a good many
years ago. He said he would be sorry for
any public man who had gone into public
life q young man and had remained in IL
until he was an old man without knowing
more than when he began.
THE democratic party" said he, was
the only well recognized demonstration Of
a great organization which had survived q
long period without learning anything"
applause and laughter.D
If gentlemen on his side were obliged to
apologize, said Mr.. Grosvenor, he predicted
that gentlemen on the other side would find
it difficult to hold themselves together.
THE past of the republican party" said
he, sis behind IL, of its present II is proud
and its future Is assured. Can the gentle
man from Tennessee say as much?
WAS the future of this bill assured until
after the caucus had been heldg' asked
Mr.. Richardson, amid democratic applause.
There never was a caucus in this house."
replied Mr.. Grosvenor, which came to-
gether with such unanimity of purpose as
that which Endorsed this bill ORepubli-
can applause.)
Mr.. Cannon QlL), in response TO the
thrust of Mr. Richardson, frankly said that
he had voted for free coinage OF silver In
1873, but he had done so because OF the
impending resumption OF specie payments
when the democratic party was bowling for
fiat money. But specie payments mad
been resumed without disaster despite the
democratic howls. Since then the country
had been on the gold standard.
Mr. Dalzen closed the debate by recalling
some of the rules under which the demo-
Gratis had forced through important bills
in the Fifty-second and Fffty-third Con-
He referred particularly TO the adoption
of the conference report in the Fifty
Congress upon the tariM bill, which the
greatest democrat since Andrew Jackson,
Grover Cleveland (derisive laughter on the
democratic side), had pronounced a piece
of party perfidy and dishonor. He described
this procedure as rape Of all prece-
DENTS" and cited other cases where he
said gag rule had been employed.
Mr.. Richardson attempted to reply TO
these statements, but Mr.. Dalzell refused
to yield, and at the conclusion of Mr.. Dali
zelPs remarks, the previous question was
ordered and the roll was called on the
adoption Of the special order.
Special Order Adopted.
The special order was adopted 16S to Ia.
a strict party vote.
Mr.. Robertson Q.a.) then announced the
death of the late Representative 8. q.
Baird of Louisiana, and after the adoption
of the customary resolutions. at ! 80 pm.
as a further mark of respect, the House ad-
journed until Monday.
Movements of Military Transports.
The nua rtermasfer Reneral Was fodar In