The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-16
The FINANCIAL BILL.
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT
ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE.
To GO To THE PRESIDENT TODAY
cans on Adoption OF the Report-The
Closing Debate Senators Butler and
Allen Define Their Positions on the
Free silver Question-senator Turner
speaks Against the Porto Rican Bill
SENATE.

SENATE.
Washington, March 13.-Senator AL
len rose to a question OF privilege TO
deny a published report that he had
abandoned his free silver coinage po-
sition. Nothing hat I ever said" he
said. could by any kind of torture be
construed as a lack of faith in my
party platform which declares for the
free and unlimited coinage OF both
gold and silver at a ratio Of 16 TO l."
Senator Butler said that the report
of the c~olloquy between himself and
Senator Aldrich had not correctly rep
resented him. This report stated that
Senator Butler evaded a direct answer
to Senator Aldrich's question as to
whether or not he, (Butler) was in
favor Of the free and unlimited coin
g of silver at the ratio OF 16 to l.
Senator Butler then re-stated his posi-
ton, as given during the colloquy. but
| did not point out wherein he had been
misrepresented.
In closing he said he wanted to make
the statement that he was in favor Of
the free coinage of gold and silver at
| a ratio OF Is to l by the United States,
independent OF any other nation.
Senator Aldrich replied briefly say
ing that the Associated Press account
of the colloQuy was a fair n accurate
statement of what occurred. He had
asked the North Carolina senator six
or eight times if he was in favor of the
free and unlimited coinage of silver
at a ratio of 16 to l by the United
| States alone and he had not received
a direct answer. Senator Aldrich said
he was glad to get today's statement
from Senator Butler that he "a now
| in favor Of such free coinage.
| At the request Of Senator Turner the
Porto Rican tariff and government bill
| was laid before the senate. His speech
was a general attack upon the policy
and provisions of the measure. He
I declared that it's enactment would re-
suit in the debauchery of our citizen
ship or of our constitution. He point
ed out that the minority in congress
had consistently opposed island acQui-
sition and even now he believed the
United States ought to let the Filipinos
90 in peace. He deprecated the pro-
posed Porto Rican tariff as a poor re-
turn for the ready acceptance of out
institutions by the Porto Ricans. 1t
was to his mind. a desperate assault
upon the liberties of the people, and
no more ~preposterOuS measure looking
to the grant of power to congress had
ever been presented in either house.
The constitution, he said, must apply
equally to all persons of the territory
of the United States, and there could
properly be no discrimination in favor
of enc section in the matter of taxation
or otherwise in the interest of another
section.
At 800 %. m. the senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The last legislative step in the enact
ment of the financial bill was taken
by the house of representatives today
when the conference report on the
bill was adopted. The senate had al
ready adopted the conference repot SO
1t remains only for President Mckin
ley to affix his signature to the meas
ure to make it a law. Representative
Overstreet, the author of the bill, will
take it to the White house tomorrow.
and the signature is likely to be affix-
ed soon thereafter. Already arrange
ments have been made for securing
the pen with which president Will
sign the bill.
The debate on h report continued
throughout the day Mr.. Overstreet, of
Indiana. opening and Mr.. Brosius, of
Pennsylvania, closing in support of
the measure, while Mr.. Little, of Ar
kansas, closed in opposition with a Sc
| we're ~arraignment of the bill.
Mr.. Overstreet, of Indiana, who was
in charge of the report, explained in
detail the notifications agreed upon.
He said that every principle contained
| in the house bill had been preserved
in the conference report exceut the pro-
| vision relative to the taxation OF ma
tional bank franchises. The establish
ment of the gold standard into law
was still it's all-importnat and essen
tial feature.
Under this bill will private obliga-
tons be made payable in gold?" in
ouired Mr.. Snodgrass, of Tennessee.
NO" replied Mr.. Overstreet, be
cause it is a question in law whether
it would not be retroactive. and, sec
standard and recognized it b con-
verting all public obligations, there
will be no necessity to legislate con-
corning private obligations, as they
will invariably reflect the charter
of government obligations"
Responding to an inquiry, Mr.. Over
street said: This bill holds out not
the slightest hope for international
bimetallism under present conditions.
say frankly that this bill will make
it practically and absolutely impossi-
BILE ever to have international bimetall-
ism at the ratio of Is to T.. ZAP
plause.)
Mr.. Lewis, of Georgia, also spoke
against the conference report, partic-
ularly against the imposition of the
| gold Standard, the drDllTdTy dullOTllS
given secretary of the treasury to sell
bonds and maintain the gold standard
and the r~efunding of the national debt.
Mr.. Little, of Arkansas, in closing
for the opposition, severely arraigned
1.-THE infamies of this BILL" and the
stealth, deceit, fraud and corruption
by which this conspiracy lbs forced
its Shiny course along h pathway OF
legislation, until now We are to witness
in the light of day, its triumph over a
free people" He declared it would
mark the blacklist page in our legisla-
tive history He closed as follows;
THE forces Of patriotism and integri.
ty have selected their leader in ad.
vance of the convention, which will BE-
ratified on July 4th and with thai
Ieader-the incorruptible, invinciblt
and fearless tribune of the people-W
J. Bryan-they will drive you and tn
cohorts of corruption from place and
power forever" Democratic ap
plauss.)
The vote was at 4:30 o'clock taker
apd tho conference rapOrt was agreed