Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-08
PENDING FINANCIAL BILL
Continued From Page 4.
which will again be opposed to IT'S just
and humane demand"

which will again be opposed to Its just
and humane demand"
THE PENDING BILL.
Mr.. Bate, of Tennessee, followed in
speech In favor of bimetallism and
IN opposition to the proposed gold
standard.
He urged that the pending bill was
framed In the interest of the national
banks and of the. 'bondholders, Who
were the stockholders in the national
banks. He maintained that the pledge
OF parity of gold and slverywould not
be kept-that 1t would be broken as
soon as those who proffted by this bill
should assert their power and demand
the sacrifice OF silver. However, he
maintained that eventually silver
would rise triumphant. Gold mono
metallism had no inherent power with
the people and was simply the pound
| OF flesh demanded by the financial shy
locks.
Mr.. Bate declared his belief in State
banks. and in local self-government.
| Mr.. Allen, who spoke next, said the
| money question was the most momen-
| tous before the people to-day. and de-
clared his adherence to free coinage
at the ratio of 16 to 1.
| In answer to question from Mr..
Allen. Mr.. Aldrich said:
This bill does not change the status
of our silver money, our grcenbacks
or our Treasury notes, and 1t confers
upon no bank nor upon bank currency
any rights or privileges which they do
not now possess
Mr.. Allen (sarca stically): cts
very harmless measure
Mr.. Aldrich: II should say, rather,
that It is very beneficial measure"
The Senate then adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
Washington, Feb. THE House
| finished the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill to-day, passing it
| substantially as 1t came from the COM
mittee. There was some desultory dis
| cussion of the Philippine question and
the war in South Africa, the principal
feature being the speech OF Mr. Shat
roth In favor Of mediation In the
British-Boer war under the provisions
OF The Hague treaty. r.
The diplomatic bill as passed carries
S1,743,90S. The House passed the Sen
ate bill authorizing the Southeastern
railroad to construct bridge across
the Lumber river. in Robson county,
n. C.
SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
Although general debate on the din
lomatic bill closed yesterday by unani-
nous consent, Mr.. Shafroth (Colorado)
was allowed As minutes to complete last
weeks speech in favor of mediation by
the United States in the South African
war. Under The Hague treaty he con-
tended that England could not consider
an offer Of mediation an unfriendly act
He insisted that the South African Re-
public was an independent Govern
ment, Notwithstanding Great Britains
claim OF suzerainty.
BRITISH INCONSISTENCY.
While the British were demanding
relief in the South African Republic,
he said, 5000 Dutch residents of British
Guiana, born upon British SOIL who
are not allowed to hold office in the
Legislative. executive or judicial
branches of the colonial government
were petitioning for relief. Their cases
were almost analogous to those of the
Outlander in the Transvaal, yet Great
| Britain refused to listen to the Dutch
| in her own colony.
| Mr.. Shafroth said lie did not advocate
| armed Intervention or even mediation,
| but only the tender of our good officers
MR. GROSvENOR IS FUNNY.
MIR. Grosvenor, in replying briefly,
| said he sympathized with any people
struggling for liberty. Proceeding, he
set the House in a roar by running over
the history of Europe, pointing out here
and there the wrongs suffered by Hun
garians, Finlanders, Poles, etc, all OF
which were represented in his district,
yet-theI saissee-s; lAaeeeI-net felt
called upon TO interfere. He concluded
with the suggestion that a commission
OF twenty-five members. at salaries Of
$4,000 each, should be appointed to
roam over the earth to discover where
wrongs have been committed and to re-
port to the House, in order that the
United States might go to war every
time the kin of any of our constituents
were oppressed.
AN EVASION
Mr.. William Alden Smith, of Michi-
gan. suggested that, while he was not
authorized 10 speak for the administr ira
ton. he knew that if our government
was requested to act by either party
to the conflict its kindly offices would
be willingly placed at their disposal
DO YOU know that such an offer has
been made?" persisted Mr.. Shafroth
Such information would be conveyed
through our diplomatic channels in
London and Pretoria" responded Mr..