Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-12
DEBATE CURRENCY
Discussion in the House Yesterday
Afternoon.
Mr.. DoLLIVER SUPPORTS TIE BILL
De Almond and Mcclellan Oppose
the Measure.
TRIBUTE OF RESPECT

was characterized by all the wit and eio-
quence for which the Iowan Is noted, and
held the members without regard to party
for over hour. Mr.. Dolliver declared
that the last doubt in the republican party
as to the wisdom of enaeting the gold
standard into law had been resolved by the
experience of the business world during the
past three years. He scored Mr.. Bryan
and generally ridiculed the alleged false
prophecies of the democrats in 1896.
Mr.. DeArmond (Mo) was one of the
heavy guns the democratic side. He
warned the republicans from the west that
they could not deceive their constituents in
the coming congressional elections by
claiming that they had yielded to the wis
dom Of their colleagues in caucus
Mr.. Mcclellan IN. W announced his op-
position TO tie bill on the ground that it
would contract the currency, extinguish the
oank notes and enhance the value of coin
bonds. He appealed to those of his demo-
cratic colleagues from New York who 1t is
reported irtend to vote for the bill not to
do so.
In opening, Mr. Doliver poked some
fun at the democratic leaders for ask
ing an additional period for incuba t.
ing speeches on the gold and silver
question. There was a time, he said
when he had figures and authorities
on the financial question at his fnger-tips
Now he was called upon to, speak, with
most of his figures at home and his author
titles out of reach. Still. he recognized the
TACT that at this stage of the controversy
to hold on to ones figures meant to lose
ones audience. daughter and applause)
proceeding. Mr.. DOliiver read from the
speech of Gov. Altgeld to the effect that
the republican Congress would obey orders
and enact gold standard legislation For
himself he said, he was proud to say that
ne was obeying orders-the orders of the
people of his district-trying to put the laws
u country will hoi,
opinions. The pending bill was a compro-
mise. representing the united wisdom of all
-. There is something about the pursuit of
me science of money said he, that en-
ao!es every one of its students to compre-
bend his own ideas without being very hos
pitabie toward the ideas of others UIaugl-
ter)
This was a bill to set at rest all doubt as
to the standard in this country 1t should
De presented to the business men of the
country as a Christmas gift. Mr.. Dolliyer
Saln ne did not want his record and past
iOl!ieS to be brought up against him He
had voted for the Sherman act in 1880. an
dct "hlch ne now regarded as piece of
unuttefabie stupidity.
Mr. Doillver said that in 1893 when the
act came to be repealed, he was very much
perpiexed He saw Senator Sherman one
evening Don't trouble yourself about the
failure Of your predictions regarding sil-
Yer, SAID the senator. Every prophecy [
made about it has turned out exactIy The
opposite" uaughter)
Just as yours will now" interjected Mr..
COX tIenn-t. amid renewed laughter.
Continuing Mr.. Dolliver commended the
act OF lSIS as one worthy of the aiminis-
tration Of Grant, and said he believed the
country would have been better off if
nothing had been done for silver after that
act. He believed that the result of the cam
pdign of 1896 settled the silver issue
proposition which received a black eye in
Iowa and Massachusetts, at the same time,
IN his opinion, had no future in the intel
.ectual life of the American people
In 1885 the cry of Bryan, he said, was for
more h, money! ~; Money was scarce; 1t was
came out from its hiding
Are you willing now interrupted Mr..
SIMS tTennl. that the mints should be
opened to silver if an International agree
No, SIR replied Mr.. Doiliver Il have
had my last whir with silver. 1 have been
humbugged for the last time"
Democratic Predictions Fafsifed.
Mr.. Dolliver said that the cry had been
for more money. In three years of repub-
lican administration S40O.0UO 900 had been
added to the volume Of the currency-mnre
money than could have been coined by the
mints in ten years if the minis had been
opened to silver.
In other words" said he, I'VE have done
Tor you in three years more than you could
have done for yourselves. Why don't you
get out of The road and let the main pro-
cCoSi'ii move on! tLaughter and APP
plause.D
Mr.. Dolliver recalled Mr.. Bryan's proph-
eS5 that the gold standard could not be en-
acted without universal fall of prices.
rs there man in this chamber" he
asked, who will rise in his place and say
that Mr.. Bryan knew what he was talking
about?'
Not a democrat arose. Mr.. DolIiver
paused, reiterated his question, and then
resumed.
1t is. then. confessed that in a question
which goes to the heart of the controversy
Mr.. Bryan lacked wisdom He also
called attention to Mr.. Bryan's prediction
that wages would fail and men would be
thrown out of employment: yet at the end
Of three years of republican administration
under the gold standard there was not an
industrious man in the country without en-
ployment- Those three years. said ne. had
resolved the last fears of the republican
party as 10 the wisdom of enacting gold
legislation. 1t could not have been done
two years ago. nor one year ago; but today
the unanimous voice of the republican party
was backed up by the experience of the
business world.
EauaIify nf Our Noner