The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-15
A TEST FINANCE VOTE.
The Chandler Amendment Was Defeated by
Clear Majority,
INDICATING SUCCESS OF CURRENCY BILL
MIR. Teller Replied to Mr.. Allison
Speeches Under the Ten-Minute
RuIe--FinaI Vote Today.

Washns ton, February 14.-Throughout
its session today the senate had the inan-
cial bill under discussion. After o'clock
the debate passed under the ten minute
rules and at times became spirited and
interesting. Late in the afternoon a test
vote indicating an overwhelming majority
/ for the passage of the bill was taken. Mr..
Chandler (Rep.. N. HI offered an amend
ment to authorize the president TO appoint
commissioners to any international bime-
tallic conference that would be called and
1t was defeated by vote of As to rs. The
Chandler proposition out OF the way, the
discussion proceeded on the amendment
brought in by the finance committee, pro-
vding that the provisions of the bill are
not intended to place any obstacles in the
way OF International bimetallsm. The
democratic senators arraigned the republic
cans for presenting the amendment, de-
claring that they were insincere and that
the proposition was intended to hoodwink
the people and catch votes. No vote on the
amendment was reached. The final vote
on the amendments and the bill will be
taken some time tomorrow
MT. lelleT WIS TeCpSulLeu W itply W
speech Of Mr.. Allison delivered yesterday.
He had waited in vain. he said, for an ex-
PLANTATION OF the house bill which techni-
cally was the measure under colsidera-
ton He approached all questions relating
to the finances of the country with sus-
picion. He thought the house bill ought
to be considered carefully, as 1t might pos
sibly become law. Ii had been drafted by
Of n
and there was force and strength behind
it,
Mr.. Teller took issue with Mr. Allison
that the United States are on the gold
standard I'VE are not on the gold stand
ard except by the unauthorized action OF
the treasury. We are on what Is sometimes
called a lmping silver standard and some
times a limpng gold standard. Nobody
outside OF the United States has consid-
cred the United States on the gold stand
ard. but it may be said that we practi-
cally have been coerced by executive usur-
patton and transgresslon OF the law TO
proceed as If we were on gold standard.
Mr. Teller denied that the United States
were under the law on the gold standard
as had been argued, but that the pending
bill was to be enacted into law because
the gcld standard advocates were afraid
that the American people would put some
man in the White House who would MOI
favor the gold standard This feature con
stituted the reason for the pending Dill,
the purpose being to embody the gold
standard into the statutes so that 1t could
not be disturbed without great difficulty
MIR. Teller said there never had hesa an
hour since 1879. even In the ssvercst
panlcs, when there was the slightest doubt
that the greenbacks would be redeemed
in gold. He maintained therefore there
was no reason for the legislation PROPOSED
10 the pending measure. In conclusion
Mr. Teller said that the republican party
had abandoned its principles. which We're
the Creates good for the greatest num-
Der, 1t had fallen into evil hands and
was being used by evil Influences, There
is nc hope" said he, ''for the colttry
from it. Its policy will be dictated from
the greatest c5mmerc.a al csn erS and be
ever borne and weighed down by greed. :"
amendment to the committee am endment
ro.a,ing to bimetallism. The Chandler
proposition authorized the preside to
appoint commissioners to any internal
tioral conference called by the United
safes or any other country to arrange
a bimetallic agreement.
Mr., Teller suggested that this was the
existing law and asked Mr. Chandler to
withdraw the amendment, but Mr.. Chand-
| iE4 hSNllucu, dSiHS tudl II tlb amend
ment was existing law it could do no
harm. to adopt 1t.
Mr.. Vest (Mo) announced his purpose
to vote against both the Aldrich amend
mept and the Chandler amendment to H.
because he regarded the proposition for
az international conference a fraud and
preteXt, just as when the adoption of the
McEnery resolution after the ratification
OF 'ne Paris treaty, which was merely for
the purpose of supplying some senators
with shallow ford over which to cross
the stream and what had since been en-
irely ignored. The inteatlon of the
pending bill was to kill silver and il
would prove as effective in that Office as
dagger or dose Of prussic acid would
, be IN disposing OF animal life. II would
De absurd to send commission abroad
asking for bimetalhc conference in view
OF the declaration for gold.
MI. Teller said the American press
tnrougnout the country was opposed TO the
: Dlmetalhc amendment. He said il would
re ridiculous to put such an amendment
IN TINS Dill, as it would have no force or
enect II was trifling with grave oues-
non simply TO catch votes II was great
letting down on the part OF the finance
committee and a childish treatment of the
subject. VI 'ne
The vote was taken on Mr.. Chandler.
amendment to the committee amendmsnt
1t was defeated As to %, as follows.
Yeas-25.
Bate, NcEnor,