Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-29
DEMOCRATS AROUSED BY BILL
Minority Members Oppose Subsidiary
Coinage Measure in Behalf
of silver Dollar.

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WASHINGTON, May 2s.-The house spent
the day debating the bill to increase the
subsidiary coinage by coming the silver
bullion in the treasury, and to recon stand
ard silver dollars as the public neces-
stiles may require. The limit of subsidiary
coinage is now 800, 900, 900. The bill in
creases this to an indefinite amount in the
discretion Of the secretary Of the treasury.
The bill aroused the opposition Of the
democrats, who claimed 1t was only a step
in the direction of the complete striking
down of the silver dollar. The debate
drifted into a general discussion Of the sill
yer question. Very little interest was
shown and Mr.. Cochran twice made the
point that no quorum was present.
Mr.. Newlands Of Nevada finally offered an
amendment to make subsidiary silver a
legal tends and this amendment was pend
ing when the house adjourned.
Speaker Henderson attended the funeral
Of Lord Pauncefote today and by his desiR-
nation Representative DalZell Of Pennsyl-
vania presided over the deliberations Of the
house. "'
Bills were passed to authorize the re-
linquishment to the United States Of patent
lands and clsims within the limits of the
Sequoia, Yosemite and General Grant ma
tional parks and extending the time for the
construction of n bridge across the Missouri
river at oacoma, 8. D. af'
1t provides for the coinage of the silver
bullion In the treasury and the r~ecoinage
of silver dollars into subsidiary coin as
public necessities might require. The
amount Of bullion in the treasury was a.
520,910 ounces. its coinage value in dollars
being 357.5 6 ,3S9, and in subsidiary coins
SOL ,546, 100.
In the course of his remarks Mr. Hill
declared that the legal tender silver dol
lars had cost the government $3.50, OO0, 900
in the last twenty years, which, he argued.
was convincing proof of the wisdom OF
their retirement.
When Mr.. Hill concluded the attendance
had dwindled until there were not over
twenty members or the floor and Mr..
Cochran OF Missouri made the point OF no
quorum. The bells were rum and in a
few minutes Mr.. Tawney, who was in the
chair, was able to count a quorum. The
debate then continued.
Mr.. Bell Of Colorado opened against the
bill. He declared that every great panic
from which the country had suffered had
been precipitated by the currency tink-
~erers." like Mr.. Hill. The ultimate aim
of Mr.. Hill and his friends, he said, was
TO create an all powerful banking trust
which would control the issue Of paper
currency. II their program was carried
out, he said, all the currency would is
appear except gold and bank paper. The
pending bill, he said, was one of three
and the only one the republicans dare pass
in the face Of the congressional elections.
Mr.. Smith Of Iowa argued in support OF
the bill that instead of being a measure
- IA wvo,,IA nnVAa0o H. .z,.-
of money in circulation to the extent OF
silver bullion coined, over $50, 900, 900.
Mr.. Grow OF Pennsylvania offered an
amendment providing that the subsidiary
coins should consist of half dollars, 10 and
scent pieces of proportionate weights OF
12h grains. To this amendment Mr.. New
lands offered an amendment providing that
such coins should be a full legal tender
for all debts, public and private.