The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-13
SENATE.

SENATE
washington, February s.-Almost
Immediately after the senate convened
today discussion Of the financial meas
ure was resumed.
Senator Allen, of Nebraska, conclud-
ed his speech, charging the republican
party with breaking faith with the
people on bimetallism. Senator Cock
rell, of Missouri, analysed the finan-
cial bill.
a house bill was passed granting the
New Orleans levee board authority to
move the existing lines in front of the
United States marine hospital in New
Orleans.
Senator Allen then spoke. He said
that Notwithstanding the promise
made by the republican party and the
fact hat it had a majority in both
branches of congress-, it had not done
by legislation or otherwise one thing
to restore silver to it's former position
as standard none In the closing
hours of the century, a great political
party had been guilty by false preten-
/ seS and gross fraud of obtaining the
: votes of the people,.
He declared that while the bimetal-
lie commission sent abroad had acted
in good faith, he had no doubt that it's
efforts were Systematically discredited
by the administration at home.
Senator CockreI followed. Referring
to the proposition in the house bill to
fix the standard in gold, he declared:
'such unqualified, unblushing repudi-
alton of legislative obligations has not
been proposed in the history of the
country. 1t was in plain violation Of
the constitution which provides that
each state shall make gold and silver
coin as legal tender, No Gold or Silver
Coin"
In discussing the senate substitute,
Senator Cockrell asserted that the
legal tender quality of the standard
silver dollar was taken away absolute
ly as to treasury notes and the green
backs. Its legal tender quality was
nullified absolutely.
He criticised sharply the power vest
ed in the secretary of the treasury to
issue bonds of the United States in
order to maintain the gold reserve or
the parity of the several kinds OF
money. He maintained that the bill
contained the initial movement for the
pe~rpetuation of the national debt.
For the next thirty years the United
States would be tied down by a debt
of more than a billion of dollars. with
no option of e~xtinguiShing that debt
and no possibility even at the end of
h thirty years period of paying the
debt.
In conclusion Senator Cockrell de-
clared there was no justification or
e~xtenuation for such a proceeding and
that it simply placed the financial af-
fairs of the country in the hands of
the banks.
The following bills and resolutions
were passed: Authorizing the con-
struction of a railroad bridge across
Fishing Creek, Edgecombe county,
North Carolina; withdrawing 120, 600
square feet of land in Honolulu from
the public domain for a cemetery and
mausoleum of the royal family of
Hawaii; granting a first class life saw
ing medal to Lieutenant F. S. Carter,
United States navy, for saving two
lives at Norfolk, Va, in 1898.
After a brief executive session, the
senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF.REPRESENTATIVES.
The house vas in session only an
hour and a half today and only minor
business vas TRANSACTED. The ways
and means committee BILL, establish
ing tariff rates upon goods from Porto
Rico into the United States and vice
versa, was reported, and Chairman
Payne gave notice that the bill would
be called up next Thursday. The de.
bate upon it will run for a week.
; Mr.. Richardson, of Tennessee, pre-.
sented the views of the minority an(
Mr.. Mccall, of Massachusetts,, present
ed a separate dissenting opinion.
Mr.. Weeks, of Michigan, took occa'
| sion as a matter of personal privilege
to denounce some publications in Vir
, ginia papers relative to the Wise
t Young contest as false.
: Mr.. Butler, of Pennsylvania, asked
unanimous consent that the secretar.
5 of the navy be authorized to place tn
l frigate Constitution (Old Ironsides
now at Boston, in the same condition
} she was while in active service, tn
cost to be betrayed by popular sub
: scription and to be under the auspice
of the Massachusetts States Society
s The bill was passed.
= Two bills from the committee on mer
= chant marine and fisheries, requirin:
certain lights on steam pilot boats a
anchor and requiring masters of yes
S sells to make reports of collisions ver
passed
At 1:2o o'clock p. m, the house ad
journed.