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8
SILVER IN THE SENATE,
WDjtr HAU BEEN DONE THE PAST
B EEK Bl' THE SENATORS.
MR. MORGAN PROPOSES A COMMITTEE.
Senator Butler’s Amendment to the Bill lie
pealing the Sherman Act—Some Inter
esting Speeches Made, Etc.
Washington, September 4.—(Special.)—The
house Joint resolution to make the Sth of Sep
tember, IS!*3, a holiday within the l istriet of
Columbia (’he uiiiidredth anniversary of the
laying of the corner stone of the capitol of (he
United States) was laid before the senate and
passed.
Among the numerous petitions presented lor
end against the repeal of the Sherman art wtw
one by Mr. Harris, who described it as "the
Stereotyped, printed. Wall street form of pe
tition.”
Mr. Butler offered an amendment to the bill
repealing the Sherman act. and had It refet
ted to the finance committee. It provides for
the repeal of the 10 per cent Lax. on stale bank
circulation, provided that such circulation
be secured by coin or approved state or munic-
*Mr. Allen also offered a resolution which was
referred to the finance committee calling on
the secretary of the treasury for informaton
on the following point: Whether the treasurj
department has at tiny time redeemed any
portion of the silver or coin certificates in si -
ver coin, as provided for by the act ot . • ’
if so, wl’.'n and what amounts Ha i
been’ thus reduced? What amount in coin
age value of the silver bullion purchased and
subject t • coinage in the discretion of the
6 . l ir y of the treasury, remains uncoined,
end whv such silver bullion has not been coin
’d and’paid out in accordance With the pro
visions of the act? Ami whether any pair of
the paper money redeemed mk > .
treasure department since March 1. 18-'-
ram-ell,‘d on redemption or in any manner
■withheld from general circulation?
Mr. Kyle, populist, of South Dakota offered
„ fr.-e e. iuago amendment to the repeal bill,
and it >'a- referred to the finance committee.
I, t-o oh-10-k |>. m.. Mr. Cullom, repttb
(iran. of Illinois, addressed the senate in fa
vor Os a bin to repeal the purchasing clause
of the Sherman act.
»r ,r an I*r«»p<**•*•* •’* Cowiwittee-
(Washington.
- Thursilay and unit. Birther
orders the daily hour of meeting shall b. 11
‘ . k a rn. lie asked that it he on the
table, and said he would call it up t”mor«*w.
\lr. Morgan introduce,i a. eoneutient r .-e
to 'consume "a“jmn? senab' S
financial ahairs. The rham I 1> to I
... bv the committee by baltoi. it i. i
-field i- ' ssions in the capitol
« .. lormn to do business. Thmuitttee is
v, ex imim- into the financial and monetary
condition of th-- government and people <
X’m in h!t/YbX
r • in' > h -gti! tender so tts to prevent un-
■ , ' ' . he actual causes
li ." .i'T'. I '' 'vet etiibarrassl-d condition of the
people and the national banks, and what
pat'orni' ’baol-" f" un" "busing ’ih' ir powers
, 1-iw Th- joint committee may
under Hie 1,1 n ,,[ less than
appoint '‘lb- '• m-.t, • • ■ * ' tjttite a quorum.
- «“•
. Mr. Morgan’s re.
quesr, laid en the table to be called up by
him her, after. vesterdav by Mr.
"'Tio",'n tin sel-retary Os the tri-asury
Ale,.. '• ine redemption ot
f " H ’, ! en = fieates in coin, was taken »>l> ami
i?. i , the committee on finance as
wl, also the joint resolution introduced by
M'. <’ I roll. th.- •••hl of Aug st. for
~ f tddi.’iomil gold eertitieates.
11 ;. 1 took the floor and finished
j had begun yesteniay
. . ~m , ndn ent for the free
tVe ■: li ed I yinage of silver at the parity
C Interrupting Senator Mcwart.
Mr s'teuart addressed the senate In op-
*7.,. »n t » the r< peal bill. He began his
J,' 1 “w. mb's and measures, ami of the de-
■ of 1873. lb' intimated that
vote against that bill was be
' li aoiill pass and wanted to
' . know ledge of the
~ .. idued the silver dollar from the
J, , ,■ li.- claimed to hive shown
■ ■ of th”
■ ,’mlng tlie consideration of
. •] .. i me-an; of the fact that the
Wi is omit ted in the cotifeirence of
V..;". . V-'. (Tminc to the platform of
«. r- u'ii' n mil democratic parlies on the
’ ..1 .• v . .■ Mr. Sl.-wart declared that
•en,.,. in th< pot ition of the
|; .-ould trust neither. The adniin-
■ f w -’and was doing
/.i '. p' ■ what he predicted in the canvass,
rep,-. 1 , of the only law that
metal. The
K n act in I. up t • this time, inflicted no
eountrv. but had rather
, ' ■ Mr.
prev< ' a panic in
. said, has bt'en
« •.] o fore" eongress to demonetize
o The co-oi. ration of Gladstone and
t l-v.l-id was to d ■ Io silver, the former.
«, v SllSl „. n ,ijnu cotnag, In India and the latter
' ' to
nd a half million ounces per
haul's and
the I ndi Id'T had < rent oil dire dist ress
■ i’nm di-ite duty of the
ftour was > relieve t.h-it distress. There
V, ,1 an li I,—-’ reniriy. and there was a dis.
i. .
.. -t,v silver, or if Hint <->nld not bo done,
f.. Hlp/e , mH —■ tn th,* treasury by issuing
s'd-.-'r > c-itth-at < on It. and by Issuing
<-ev _-h e.mba,-l;< to relieve the distress.
,■ . .■ 'v " • u-iss th,- re-
bi I" snnit'fy the infamous a.-t of
3S7't . -i i to f e-t. n a perpetual gold standard
tipm th
<• om t'oint in the spoo.-u, Mr. Hoar in Ids
solemn manner, made an attempt to
r >rro, t - tie • r Mr. St,-n.art’s st itom-nts. but
the In’tor turned ang'-llv to Mr f! ,-r and
that 1 St< wart) di 1 not want
t h a lot of trasn.
“W il." snld Mr. TTo.ar. “I will watt till
the senator gets through.”
••Tlow <-an I get throu'.'h." was the re
joinder. "If von will talk?” fT.nugh'ter).
A Call of tii<- .Senate.
At another point a similar attempt by Mr.
A. was ,icf, an d m a like manner, ami
Vlt!i i as “aggravaling. Wheu
. ml for over an hour, Mr.
t-:ev. all ll.itieeu that there Were but lew sen
ators- iu i ne'eliameer and that these were pay
iu-. not the slightest attention io the speech.
'J ile.-e facts s,s-me,l to ami iv him and lie stop
-I>. ,l ami remarked lii.-it the senate was doing
business without a quorum.
•■I 4<> not < are aboui that.” said be. “In my
ov ,i case, but I give noli,-,- hereafter, wiien
Other senators ar,- qH-aking and are giving
fa,-is and inlornmtioii that are so mtr,-h need
ed by the gent.emen tn rhe cioak rooms, 1 v. id
Insist on having forty-three senators in their
Beats.”
■’The absence of a quorum being suggested.”
eaid Mr. I’ugh, ”1 move the call of the sen
ate.”
The roll was called, fifty-six senators re
sponded and Mr.-Stewart went on with his
wpeech.
At 3:45 o’clock, p. m., Mr. Stewart having
disposed of that part of the speech which he
had before him in typewritten sheets, made a
Fhort pans-. Then In- said h<- had a great
deal more to talk about, and that he did not
know whether he could g--r through tonight.
The hint was no; taken, and so Mr. Stewart
vent on with his silver argnment. He moved
up and down in tin- central aisle, pitching
his voice to a high tone, gesticulating mtn-u
B. addressing his remarks now to tlie dem
ocratic side of the chamber and then to the
y-epublican side. Alter he had ,'onrinued in
this style for over a quarter of an hour, he
opened his desk, took out of it a bundle of
patters, and proce, -led to read extracts from
The Xew York World, of January. 181*1, In
condemnation of the force bill, and of the
cloture rule.
Two Silver Victories.
Mt Morgan realized that Mr. Stewart was
Co'.ng this merely to spare himself, and re
•JHarkad that the senator from Navaxi*
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1893.
been on his feet a good while and he was evi
dently fatigued. Tne senator had not drawn
yet to the conclusion of his remarks. Doubt
less he had some valuable suggestions to make
on this question, and therefore he moved to
proceed to ex,-entile business.
“Yetis and nays,” tlti.wluy called our. Tlie
vote was taken by the yeas and nays and re
sulted. yeas ;;t;, nay's 28.
So the senate proceeded to executive busi
ness and at 4:40 o'clock adjourned until to
morrow at noon.
The executive session was the result of the
desire oh the jwirt of the friends of silver to
give Mr. Stewart, who had been speaking
three and a half hours, :i rest so that he
might go on wth his speech tomorrow refresh
ed. The vote was a triumph for the silver
men.
Then Mr. Morgan moved that the senate
adjourn. This was antagonized by the repeal
forces who staled that they thought Mr. Stew
art should continue for another hour at least.
The yeas and nays were taken, showing thir
ty-six votes for adjournment and twenty-seven
against. It was another victory for those
fightng for time, and when the doors reopened
the silver men were emerging from the cliam-
Is-r. smiling over the second victory they had
scored within an hom
Wedn,-n<lnv in tbe Senate,
Washington. September C>.—Among the bills
introduced in tlie senate and referred was one
by Mr. Cullom to repeal all acts provid
ing for the creation or maintenance c.f the
sinking fund. The committee on privileges
and elections reported in favor of.allowing to
the claimants for seats from Montana, Wash
ington, and 'Wyoming—under appointment
from the governors—s2,r>o() each. Keferred
to the committee on contingent expenses.
Tlie resolution offered yesterday by Mr.
Morgan, for the appointment of a joint, select
committee on finance was next laid before
the senate by the presidUig officer.
Mr. Voorhees suggested imit the resolution
could not be adopted without its reference
to the finance committee, and lie moved to
proceed with the consideration of the bill to
repeal the idiertnan act.
Mr. Morgan—l will be entirely delicate and
respectful to every senator when he is in
order, ami I am in order now, and no sen
ator has a right to the floor to supercede the
resolution which the vice president has laid
before the body. 1 am not guilty of any
indelicacy in asserting ray rights under the
rules of the senate. The senator from In
diana has given notice of a motion to refer
this resolution to the finance committee, if
this proposed joint select committee wore
not expressly intended to supersede tlie func
tions of the finance committee in both houses
that would be a very proper motion, but I
do not expect that the senator will refer
to the finance commitli-e a measure which
has for its purpose to supplement the power
of that committee. Tlie actions of that com
mittee up to this time have not been in con
formity with, and do not entirely or proper
ly cover, the condition or necessities of the
country.
Mr. Morgim Spenkw.
Mr. Morgan went on io make a long speech.
He had offered the resolution, he said, from
his own conception of the situation. There
was no human being responsible for it but
himself. An attempt had been made to cure
a great breadth of financial trouble, and evils
and ditlicullies iu the United States by' the
administration of a ceriain nostrum to
cure a partcular part of a complaint which
the pepole of the United States recognized
as being a very serious one and presenting a
great _many different aspects. 'There was a
great dielfreneo of opinion as to what shall
lake place after the repeal of the Sherman
law; and the object of his reslution was to
put the matter in tlie hands of a joint se
lect committee to determine what should be
done in the event of the senate’s concurring
with the bouse in the repeal of the purchas
ing clause of the Sherman act. Would any
body undertake to say that there was no
necessity for further legislation after the
Sherman act was repealed? Had atty one
hinted that that repeal was to be a eitre of
the timincial difficulties of the people of
the United States? Was it proposed to do
anything more than to give a mere respite
until the country could right Ilse’s. or until
the legislation of congress could be matured
to bring the country right? No one* had sug
gested as yet. the particular remedy that was
going to relieve the country of all the great
evils that it was experiencing and Itad been
experieneingfor the last two months and
for tin- last. Therefore, it was necessary not
only to meet 'public expectation, bitt to' per
form the duty devolving on senators, to take
a br-vid and general view of all tbe diffi
culties suggested In relation to the financial
.and monct irv situation of tbe United States;
it was that a joint select com
mittee should investigate fully aud comp Ut
e the whole subject, and when it under
stand it bring forward one bill or several
bills for the purpose of rectifying the trouble.
N<> l «t Measure <>t His Own.
Mr. .Morgan said be wanted an investiga
tion of tlie whole subject. De wanted the
country to be informed. lie had no part leu
lav pet measure of his own, and was influ
enced by no partisan considerations. De
was not of such, be thanked Almighty God.
Ho was willing to vote for any system or
measure that 'Would make the people secure
henceforth against sueh outrages and wrongs.
He cared not whether tlie measure was to be
a republican, a democratic or a populist meas
ure. It made no dillerenec, provided only
that it would give relief to the people—in ac
cordance with tiie constitution—which they
had a right to expect at tile hands of con
gress. He was not going to be illiberal. He
was not going to inquire whether somebody
outside of ttie senate chamber wanted it
done, or did not want it done. He was not
going to ask of persons without legislative
powers to form a joint commission or to in
vestigate the question. He felt the necessi
ty of broad, catholic, orthodox action in re
gard to finance. if the senate wanted to
take the tax off the state banks, and if that
was the judgment of congress, as being one
of the beet remedies, let that be done. If
congress wanted to remonetize silver as a
means of restoring confidence and giving a
basis of credit and redemption, lot that be
done. If congress wanted to strike silver to
death, or to strike gold to death, let that
be done. But. said he. let us hold the
reins over our own institutions and our es
tablishments. Let America furnish to Ameri
cans the proper currency for circulation. Let
us not be dependent, in regard to our cur
rency. on Great Britain, Germany or France.
When Mr. Morgan Tesumetl his seat the
clock showed the hour to* be ten minutes be
fore 2 o’clock. No senator made a sign of
desiring to occupy the interval of ten min
utes after which it would be the duty of the
vice president to lay the repeal bill before
the senate as unfinished business .
After a short pause Mr. Voorhees suggested
that the resoiution should go to the calendar
and the setiute should now pr.weed with the
repeal bill. That suggestion met with op
position on the part of Messrs. Morgan ami
Harris. , . ,
Mr. Voorhees moved to take up the repeal
bill. The morion was agreed to—yeas. .17:
navs. 21. a< follows:
Yetis Messrs. Allison, B.ackburn, ,s 'iti.
f'afferv. tlullom. Davis. Dixon, Dolph, l iitilk
ner Five, Gallinger, Gibson. Gorman. Hale.
Hawley’ Higgins. Hoar. Hunton. Lindsay.
M-.Miii'an. McPherson. Manderson. Mitchell
of Oregon. Palmer. Pasco, Pettigrew. . lai .e.
Ouav. Hansom. Sherman. Smith. Stockbridge.
Vest. Vilas. Voorhees, Washburn and White
of Louisiana :‘>7. .. , ~
Navs M’ssrs. Allen. Bate, Lurv.
Poke Dußols. Hansbrough. Darris.
Irbv’ Jones of Arkansas, •T°. 11, ' S
of ■ ' Nevada. Morgan. Potior. 1 erkms.
I’owet. Pugh* Shoup. Souires, Stewart, ’leliet.
Walthall anti WolcotU-21.
Mr. Stewart Resumes.
Mr Stewart took the Hour and outlined his
speech of yesterday, resuming it at tbe point
where he lta>l left off the inconsistency of
(lie New York puivrs in demanding immediate
action on the repeal bill, without fur.het do
bate. while in January. INH. they had tierated
republican senators for their position on the
force bill and for favoring cloture. This dif
ference of position he ascribed to tiie fact
that two v*'ars ago, there was "no money at
stake " while now. the New York papers were
“obeying the mandates of the money power
and seeking to wrench front the people their
rights under the constitution.”
Thursday in 1 b»> Senate.
Washington. September 7.—Among the num
erous petitions presented and referred today
was one by Mr. Wolcott, republican, of Col
orado, for the immediate repeal of the McKin
ley tariff bill. He said that the petition was
on one of the printed forms sent out by the
New York banks for the repeal of the Sher
man act. but that the petitioners—all the citi
zens of a town in Colorado— bad substituted
the McKinley tariff bill for the Sherman apt.
At 12:35. Mr. Voorhees moved to proceed to
the consideration of the house bill to repeal
the purchasing clauses of the Sherman act.
Mr. Stewart, who was entitled to the floor
to proceed with the third installment of his
speech begun Tuesday--expressed his willing
ness to forego bis right until the senator from
Mississippi tMr. Malthalb Who desired to
address the senate today bad concluded his
remarks.
Walthall for Bo h Metals.
Mr. Walthall then addressed the senate in
favor of bimetallism. He expressed his read
iness to co-operate with tlie chairman of the
finance committee, who urged prompt action
on tlie repeal bill: and suggested that there
was a simple mode of arriving at prompt ac
tion. If the declaration of policy, ho said,
which the substitute contained, were embod
ied in the form of an enactment, he believed
that a vote could be reached in half the time.
There seemed no reason why that declaration
should not be given the form and force of a
statute to effectuate that policy. He argued
that the bill should be addressed to some other
legislation than the mere repeal of tbe blier
man net: that eongress should ‘ sir.Ke al tne
root; not merely fit the fruit." It it w c*' e
found flint the Sherman law, and not the
McKinley law had been the culminating atio
Itv of recent legislation, haste should bo
made to supplement the educational feature
of the campaign of 181)2 by teaching the peo
ple now that the campaign had beeni conduct
ed to success on a mistaken Issue, he people
of the southern states had no toleration for
the Idea that the party which that section had
done so much to put in power couhj, wtlh
propriety or impunity, violate its vow by put
ting the'country now on tbe single gold basts.
He admitted that all the democrats of Missis
sippi did not favor as he did the ftei aud
unlimited coinage of silver, but t'j l ’-”’ w' lo
favored a single standard in Unit is..tt< wen
about as rare as the advocates of a high pro
tective tariff. They were equally pronounced
against both. They knew that a single go d
standard meant a reduction in the vohim. f
money and an increase tn its value 11. quot
ed Mr Carlisle’s declaration that tin 1 demone
fizlng act of 1873 was the niost S l '-;""
of tiffs or any other nation, and s.tid tat
he found enough in the warnings of that
speech to deter him from giving his sa ic.k.u
to anv proposition tending in the direct tot of
dlsorganizJtlou and distress for a single day.
He wanted to see silver restored I” s " J;
fnl pltiee. He wanted to see how fai a fin
~ Lage of silver bill at the present ratio
would go of itself towards rest
nt.'
good would lie y,'; \ .ipricultural int'T-
The fl .om\tV,v P That could not be gone
bv bis vote, or with his consent.
Mr. Stewart Resu’i*®**
Mr Stewart resumed the floor and said ho
iiitormn "M'e are all opposed, he said noiy
Ictllv “to filibustering: and want to go on
with' business." He gave the votes In the
senate on th: coinage lulls in wh-ch his
name appeared among the yeas. Next n. .i i
extracts from the metropolitan papers of IM»2
to show that the tariff and force bill wete the
ov 't-hadowing i'Ttes in the preMden lai cam
paign. Then the ’el ter front Mr I’owdo ly,
representing the labor element ot the counitj.
to President Cleveland on the subject ot bi
metallism. was sent tip to the clerk’s desk to
be read in order, as Mr. Stewart said, tiiat
it might be printed in the Record as “part
of this great debate.’ ’
The clerk had not got through the first para
graph of the letter before the absence of a
quorum was again suggested. Ibis time by
Mr. Teller. , , ,
The.roll call showed the presence of forty
nine senators and the reading of Mr. Powder
ly's letter was resumed by Hie clerk.
What Did Daniel Whisper?
At 4:15 o’clock, p. m.. Mr. Stewart was sill!
speaking. Mr. Daniel went over and whis
pered a word in his ear. when to tiie aston
ishment of all. he announced he would now
close his speech. “There are several branches
of the subject which I have not yet t.incited,
which I wish to speak upon, but I will close
this speech here.”
“Does the senator conclude?’’ Mr. Voorhees
asked with an ineredlilous manner.
“Yes.” was the reply.
"There is." said. Sir. Voorhees, “a large
amount of executive business to be transacted.
I move that the senate proceed to that bus
iness.”
"Permit me,” said Mr. Daniels, “to give no
tice that I desire to make some remarks on
this subject next Thursday ”
“A good many senators here." said Mr.
rintt, “hope to b« able to have a vote upon
this bill before next Thursday, and 1 suggest
that the senator from Virginia fix an earlier
day."
“Notice has been given for Thursday.” Mr.
Daniels snitl. “but if there is a possibility of
a vote before Thursday. T will address the
s. nefco on an earlier day.”
'I lie senate then proceeded to executive bus
iness nml at 5 o’clock, p. m., adjourned until
tomorrow.
Hr. Faulkner on the Floor.
Mr. Faulkner repudiated none of the friend
ship that iie had shown in the past for sli
ver. but asserted that the present sitmiti'i'n
was entirely different from what it haff b . n
in the past. Assuming the premise, which
he laid down at sotne length to be true, that
the great commercial nations of the world
l-neitiding the United States, were today com
mit ted to .a single gold standard, every hour
of study strengthened his convictions that it
would 'be unwise, as it would be impossible,
for the United States, .at this time, to at
tempt to establish free and unlimited coinage
of silver nt tiny ratio and at the same ’ cue
preserve the parity between the two inotflls.
Mr. Faulkner saw no solution of this prob
le.tn except international bimetallism. E-ngiaed
had always been and was today a stumbling
block to the inauguration of international
bimetallism.
faive the Faith Cure.
“I shall vote for the repeal of the purchas
ing clause of the act of 1.N.K1,” said Mr. Faulk
ner, "not for the reason that I believe it is
the cause of the prostration of our business
industries and our fiat.ancial stringency, nor
that it has Induced a want of confidence on
the part of tlie people in the integrity and
stability of our financial system, but for three
good and sufficient reasons:
“1. The authority and directions it confers
upon the .secretary of the treasury to enter
the market's and purchase 4.500.000 ounces of
silver monthly, without any limit as to the
time when this accumulation of bullion shall
cease, presents a constant menace aud tends
to press the price of silver bullion. The
act is founded upon a false theory as to the
primer functions of the government in its re
lations to moiiiey and furnishes a vicious pre
cedent for the future.
“2. In tbe execution of its provisions,
especially in the storing of the bullion and
the Issue of treasury notes, it has been tbe
fruitfnl source of t.he strongest arguments
against tlie use of silver as a part, of our
monetary system.
“3. The people believe, however.erroneous’y.
that tie disturbances through which 'we are
passing’ tire main issues to this act, anil like
any other faith cure, its repeal—which is
proper in any event—will assist in restoring
confidence, the want of which is their chief
obstacle to the restoration of the activity.
“Mr. President, although T shall vote to rc
peal the purchasing clause of the net of 1890.
I certainly hone I may not lie ea.’el upon
to do so without having first an
amendment to the bill now pending before the
senate which •will, by law. and not by n
more declaration, give notice to the worlil
that this government will exorcise a’! Its
powers, employ nil Its resources and throw
rhe weight of Its great influence lit favor of
it,,. Foe.stib’ishment of silver on an equality
with gold as ■> standard of vn’ite.”
Mr, Tnrpie Speaks.
Mr. Turpie opened with what he called a
stiidv of tiie history of money for the last
foiir'hvndred years and stated that it was not
to be doubted that tlie svmjiohte of gold had
favored the passage of tlie Sherman law.
xvhieh now it desired to have repealed. The
basis of accumulating medium, truly consid
ered. is subsidiary coinage: and this coinage,
he said, in which labor was paid, was base,
spurious and dishonest. Whatever lie might
think of the value of the banditti of the gobi
trust, it was a constant source of irrita
tion to it. an anomaly. It was contrary to
the traditions of the syndicate and Io its
mysterious law of aggregation, for the syn
dicate had iong ago said "all gold is mine."
For no Honest Dollar.
Mr. Jones, of Arkansas, was the next
speaker. He favored lite repeal of the Sher
man act, not in part but in the whole. He
did not believe that the Sherman act had
been the cause of J.he financial troubles of
the country, and he believed that they would
pass away without the repeal of that act,
lii concludng his colloquy with Mr. Halo,
referred to above, Mr. Voorhees desired to say
a few words to tbe public.
“Anxious as I ant to press this matter to
:i vote, and having pressed it to the utmost
Mmit. until I had thought T had strained tiie
boundaries of pationi’o and until in <b ference
to the wishes of the senator 1 withdrew tne
resolution for the 11 o’clock session - which
I would have been glad to have adopted—it
is some consolation to my mind that lite public
business of tbe country is discounting the
passage of this bill. Prosperity is reviving.
The times are not so strained, not so hard
since the house has passed the bill, and with
the knowledge that- the senate will pass it
in a little time it will bo behind us. and not
before ns. The public has taken notice of
this fact, and alretvly there is a revival all
over tin' country xvhieh is some compensation
for the last four or five weeks of strain and
toil which we have undergone.”
Mr. Teller xvhb Spiev.
Washington. September 9.—The first two
hpurs of to lity s session in tlie senate xvere
consumed iu the discussion of a resolution
offered yesterday by Mr. Peffer to inquire
into tlie refusal of the imtional banks of
New York, Boston and Philadelphia to pay
the checks of their depositors in curreiiey.
The discussion xvas unfinished xvhen the
morning hour cloged (at 2 o'clock p. mJ,
and. under the rules, the resolution went
to the calendar, xvhence it cannot be taken
except by a vote of the senate. And so
that particular resolution will be heard of
uo more during the present session.
The remainder of the day xvas oceupiel
by Mr. Teller in a speech, most of which
was devoted to a denunciation of the) news-
paper press of the country—especially the
metropolitan part of it —for its impudence
aud its mendacity. He treated! President
Clevt'kind's telegram to Mr. Wilson, of
West Virginia, congratulating 'hiifl nnd
his associates on the passage of the repeal
bill by Hie house, as an instance of news
paper falsehood, aud exclaimed —with pre
tended indignation—that the president, of
the United Slates could guilty
of such a gross breach of propriety- He
h:ul not. concluded his speech when the
senate, at 4:50 o'clock p. m., ailjourued.
Very few members were in their seats
when (he day's business began, and when
Mr. Teller took the floor, but before he
began his speech Mr. Stewart atten
tion to the absence of a quorum. The roll
was called, ami forty-three senators (ex
actly a. quorum) answered.
After an executive session, the senate at
4:50 o’clock adjourned until Monday.
CONGRESSMAN OATES ON SILVER.
A Letter Written Last January and a Vote
Lust Week.
High Ridge, Altt., September I.—Editor Con
stitution: I enclose herewith a letter received
from Hon. William <’. Oates, member of
congress from Alabama, written on the IStli
of January, of this year, when congress was
iu session, ajid about the Hine it was consid
ering tlie silver bill then before it. I wrote to
Mr. Oates on the subject, and his reply speaks
for itself.
Since that time I have been pained to ob
serve that Mr. Oates in the vote of the house
a few days ago voted against every proposi
tion to couple the free coinage of silver at any
ratio witli tlie repeal of the Sherman law.
He voted against all of the ratio propositions,
against the Bia nd-Allison law, aud after sil
ver had been practically killed iu the house,
he voted for the uncouilitioual repeal of the
Sherman bill.
in tlie language of Congressman Cobb, of my
state, "where are we at?” It is just this
sort of tiling that is causing trouble in Ala
bama .
I enclose Congressman Oates’s letter. Re
spectfully, J. T. SIMS.
CongreHUinun Oates’s I.otter.
House of Representatives United States,
Washington. 1). C., January 18, Jtmu.—Mr. .1.
T. Sims, High Ridge, Ala.-Dear Sir: t have
your letter ot the '.fin instant. 1 received your
former lei ter and did not answer it because
niy time was so taken up wiiu more pressing
business. Yon call on me trequently for in
formation of a political character. 1 will
make tins bargain with you: t will agree to
furnish you alt the political information you
seek, provided it wii; keep you straight and
sound on tiemocr.K y. But, from tlie character
of your writing, you serin to tne to be a pretty
high political kicker, and never seem to have
much faun in what tlie democracy is doing
or going to do.
You say in your last letter that you want to
know tiie difference in tlie price of silver in
India and in tiiis country, which you asked
in your former letter. You also say that you
have seen it stated in the newspapers that
nothing would please Mr. Cleveland more titan
to enter upon uis administration with tlie
Sherman law repealed and tbe United States
put on a single gold standard. I will bet a
llorse to a ginger bread that you got that out
or The Alliance Herald or some sueh author
ity as it is.
No reputable newspaper which was dispos
ed to tell the truth and knew what it was
writing about would make such a statciuent.
1 have seen Mr. Cleveland personally aud had
a long talk wtih him. I know that he wants
the Sherman law repealed, but 1 utterly deny
that he wants tlie country put on a single gold
standard, for he told me himself Hint he did
not, that lie wanted silver anil gold coined
and used, but oh a parity with each other.
He says he does pot believe in the continued
coinage of a dollar in silver which is only
worth 70 cents in gobi, but If possible sil
ver should be made the equiva
lent of gold., and he is decidedly in
favor of the free coinage of both metals on
a. parity with each other. Tlie Sherman law
is a very unscientific and unsatisfactory ar
rangement. and I will vote for its repeal pro
vided there is coupled with It an arrange
ment to secure a larger circulation in the south
and wesl either of sound paper or metal mon
ey. But I will not vote for its repeal unless
such tt measure is coupled therewith, nor will
a majority e.f the dem terats of the house.
Now. hereafter, yon read sound democratic
papers or those which are independent and
fair to both sides, like The Washington Post,
and yon will get correct information.
Now, as to the price of silver, there is no
difference between tlie price of silver bullion
in tiiis country .and in India. Tn both the
prices* correspond with the price of silver
bullion in London, which the day before yes
terday was 84 cents per ounce, as stated by
a cablegram from London.
T have great res]>ee| for you. my friend,
and do not want you to go wring in politics,
and 1 do not bo’iere yon will if yon g.'t correct
information: and that von can get if yon go
to the right sources. I have always regarded
yon as .a good m.an and bolfove that von will
do in politics, as in private life, (lie thing that
is right. With great respect. 1 a'U. verv truly
yours. WH.TJAxr U. OATES.
What Colonel Oates Says.
Washington, iSciptember 4.—(Special.)—
Colonel Oates says he never xvrote
a letter to J. I. Situs, saying that
lie would never vote for unconditional re
peal aud that Mr. Cleveland was for the
coinage of both gold and silver at a parity,
though he has always maintained that Mr.
Cleveland is not .-tn enemy of silver. He
says Sims is a populist, and an agitator and
an enemy of the democrats. H. W. B.
Colonel Oates Replies to Mr. Sime.
Washington, September 6 (Specia.)
Colonel Oates, of Alabama, today read
the letter published in Tiie Constitution
of the fifth instant with tiie statement, of
Mr. .1. Ij. Situs, of High Kidge, Ala. Iu
reply, he writes me as follows;
i no not know wneiher the letter as publisli
ed is strictly correct or not ;• possibly 1 <!???!?>'
ed to my clerk. As it apjieara, it was a pri
vate letter awl was written to Mr. Situs as
such. His publication of it without consult
ing me shows lie is not the geuthtman 1 H>ok
him to be. At tlie time i wrote the letter,
January IStli, last, it was aliotit tlie time an
effort was made in Hie house of representa
tives io have a bill which had beep reported
from tbe committee on banking considered by
the house, a part of which was Io repeal the
Sberntan law and a. part of it for the benefit of
national bunks. The question came up in the
house under a motion fur cloture to compel
a vote tlureon. 1 and all the other ntembers
from Alabama, with one exception, voted
against the bill, and against <ne cloture pro
position, and that was at that time the posi
tion of ali of us, and that was what 1 re
ferred to In the letter Io Mr. Sims about not
voting for its repeal without some proposition
for tlie increase of circulation. But as to the
vote the oilier day on tbe Wilson bill, to re
peal tlie iiureliasi'iig clause of the Sherinat)
act. Mr. Sims says. "I have been pained to
observe that Mr. Oates, in the vote of the
house a few days ago. voted against every
proposition to eouple the free coinage of sil
ver at any ratio with Hie repeal of the Sher
man law. Ho voted nrainst fill the ratio pro
positions. against the Bland-Allison law. and
after silver had been practically killed in the
bouse, lie voted for the unconditional repeal
of the Sherman bill ”
(.'alls Mr. Sims a T.iar,
I have to say as to this language, that Mr.
Sims is a willful liar. I voted against tlie
free coinage of silver at the ratios of 111 to 1,
17 to 1. 18 to 1, ll* to 1; 1 voted for the free
coinage ot silver at 20 to 1.1 voted for the
restoration of tlie Bland-Allison act, and then
for the repeal, aud the record shows it. and
when Mr. Situs published to The contrary he
simply published a lie. xvhieh shows what
sort of a man he is, 1 am sorry to say.
With regard to I’residept Cleveland’s posi
tion, his message speaks for itself. I do not
think lie is in favor of the free coinage of
silver, lint 1 do believe that he is In favor of
continuing iu use all the silver we now have
coined and the bullion now in the treasury to
bo coined, as a legal teudor money (which will
amount to at least $711(1,000,000) ami on a par
with goITI. In his message he did not say
that lie was in favor of continued silver coin
age, and the message speaks for itself. 1 do
not agree with him in that, but we must
admit that there has been isome change of
circumstances sin-.-e I conversed with him last
winter. My stateme.it of his position then
was more a matter of inference than any
positive statement of his.
I’m Him <«n the Platform.
My proclamation placed nun securely on the
national denuxT.iltc platform as I understood
it. I deny that lie is for a single gold stan
dard. He favors the use of botl) metals! but
not the present free coinage of silver. When
Mr. Sims wishes to obtain a letter ITeroal’ter
for publication, he ongh*t to be gentleman
enough to say so, and give the writer an op
portunity to be very careful In Its preparation
and then stale facts and not falsehoods in
connection with it. He has always been con
sidered a resnocfaTile citizen, bn? he is not a
friend to democracy. I knew that fact but
corresponded with him to .try to make him
its friend by giving him corr»ef ••formation.
Believing my 1. tier erroneous in rome respects,
a gentleman would, before publishing it, have
called on me for an explanation. I hope that
your paper, as it saw proper to publish an
editorial upon the >tter. will also be just
enough to take notice of the foregoing state
ment.
ABOUT FINANCE.
A KOTABEE IN TERT IETT WTTH MR.
JAMES SWANN, OF NEW FORK.
A Very Intereating Presentation of the Way
to Solve the Financial Problem Now
Confronting the Conntry.
Mr James Swann, of the cotton firm of
Inman, Swann & Co., of New York .and
also president of the Atlanta *
bank, is in the city. . . .
Air. Swann is a frequent visitor in At
lama. Indeed, he divides his time between
Atlanta and New York, and is heie a
- if not quite, as much as in Ae« I > *’•
"Yes,” said he to a Constitution repoitei
yesterday. ”1 think tiie paO.’ky
about over, and 1 hope that every hmg «*
soon be on a normal oasis. It 1
me great pleasure to see
way iu wliicli Hie baiias of Atlanta ha\
ridden Hie storm. There has been at* a ■ k
a feeling of confidence and seemtj aim t „
them, hut 1 confess that 1 did n< Hi ill
that after ail the trouble was
would be able to make as good a show g
as they now make. 11. sinqdj shi Lie
strength of solid institutions m a solid city
llk "\Vhai ll is i your opinion of the
"Oil, 1 hope that everything will be al
right in the matter ot financial legislation
and that tlie people will soon have eau.se to
have eontidence fully restoied. 1 law
given some thought as to what ought, to
done, but as j am a very quiet sorksof a.
man I have not cared to urge my xn w>.
"Would you mind giving what you think
to be the solution of the present tangle iu
the way of financial legislation/
"Not at all” said Mr. Swann, "and 1
simply give them for what they ate woit .
feeling confident tfiat if something on the
line 1 advocate is done the finances ot this
country will be put on a solid basis.
A lloinand lor Mote Mou,'.».
“lii the first place,” continued Mr.
Swann, "it must lie admitted that there is
an imperative demand for more money with
which to do the legitimate business ot the
country. I take no stock in the argument
that there is now enough money in Hie coun
try to do tlie business required of it, and
I ’am equally sure that the per capita cir
culation <>f this country is entirely inane
quate. While I have not the exact, figures
in mind, tbe per capita circulation ot Lie
I'niteii States is, 1 believe, about In
Lngkuid it is approximately S2O and m
France approximately SSO.
"Now, on account of the peculiar situa
tion here it is imperative that we should
have a much larger per capita circulation
than cither England, France or Germany.
ln<l(‘od, We should have double the pel
capita of any of those countries. Det me
illustrate how this is so. London is, ot
course, the great financial center ot the
British isles. On account or the size ot
the country and the facilities for transpor
tation Hie shipments of money from Lon
don can be made to reach almost any paj'f
of Hie united kingdom in a night. It Ed
inburg was in a pinch, and needed help
at the close of business one day, relief
could be sent from London in tlie shape of
currency anil would arrive in Edinburg by
the beginning of the next day’s business.
So it is with any part of the United King
dom, and as London is to that, so I’aris
is to France, and Berlin to Germany.
“Let us compare this with the situation
in this country, where states tire asSarge
as empires. Suppose, for instance, Gal
veston gets in a pinch, or seme city iu the
far west, or even in Georgia. It becomes
necessary to appeal to New York for help
New York, of course, occupying tlie same
position in this country to that occupied by
London or Berlin or I’aris in their respect
ive countries. Here it would take two or
three days to get. the relief that Jjondon
could exiend in a few hours. If immedi
ate help is wanted in tlie far west it is a
question of probably' several days. Thus
the condition here demands that there be
a larger proportionate amount of money
in circulation, and the business ot this
country will never be on as solid a basis
as it ought to be until there is enough
money’ iu circulation to exercise its proper
function in moving commerce. YVo ought
not. only have SSO per capita, but even
more than that."
•-avor« State Banks.
"What is your opinion of tlie proposition
to repeal tne 10 per cent lax on slate
banks?"
"1 am heartily in favor of it,” promptly
responded Mr. Swann, "and 1 speak as
an official of a national bank. 1 <lo not
know of anything that would go further to
ward giving relief from tiie present situa
tion t han Hie repal of Hits’unnecessary tax.
giving every state the right to bank on the
credit of its own bonds or on the bonds of
its municipalities, or other gilt-edge secu
rities. 1 think, however, that in rhe es
tablishment of such a system of state banks
it. would probably be the wisest course to
adopt a system of national regulation so
that a person would know that every dol
lar issued by authority of one state would
be backed by identically the same strength
that stands behind tlie dollar of any other
state. In other words, 1 would like to
know that a dollar issued by Missouri is
based on the same security and subject to
the same inspection and supervision as a
dollar issued by the state of Georgia, or
the state of New York. 1 think this would
be the safest plan, an-d while it would de
prive no state of its authority it would im
part to such a currency a uniformity which
would remove all fear of wild cat notes or
depreciated money. I would even bo will
ing that every state should supervise its
own issue, and that state currency slioultl
be responsible only to the state in which
it is issued, but all such currency should be
emitted under a national uniform regula
tion.”
"What about national ’banks?”
“I think the national banks have
made th,i| cou.ntry the best
system of currency ever known, and while
I am tin advocate of stale banks, 1 am
none the less enthusiastic in my belief that
the national banks occupy a place which
cannot be filled by any other system. A
good state banking system would simply
supplement the working of the national
banks, one air.irding a currency for home
working and the other a medium for inter
national exchange. Each would work in
complete harmony with the other, and each
would possess a function of its own that
would make the other more valuable. I
would put the state banks on the same
footing with the national banks, anil on
the other band I would repeal the 1 per
cent, tax en national issues. Thus both
wotihT rest on the same basis. 1 would
also allow the national banks to emit cur
rency to the full value of their capital,
instead of 90 per cent, as now. This hili
is now before congress, and will, 1 believe,
become a law.
As to National Banks.
"But as national banks are based on
government bonds, what would you do, as
the bonds were retired, to prevent the'de
crease in the circulation of the national
bank issues”?
"I would meet that byi authorizing the
issue of 2 per cent government bonds, and
in order to prevent any speculative tenden
cy 1 would inhibit the use of those bonds
for any other than banking purposes. They
should not be allowed to circulate or to be
come objects of purchase' <>r sale. These
bonds should be isstieil by the government
solely for banking purposes, and after they
have been purchased, and have performed
their function of forming the basis for
establishing national banks, they should be
immediately returned to the federal treasu
ry and held there as securities. I think
it would be the greatest calamity that could
befall otir financial institutions for ,i Ur
national banks to be forced out of existence
by reason of the retirement of the bonds on
which they are based.
"I am not an advocate of the issue of
bonds for any other purjioso than as si>cu
rities for the continuance of the national
banking system. I think there should be
no objection to a 2 per cent issue under the
terms I have proposed.
“What about silver?”
“1 think that with the repeal of the
10 per cent tax on state issues, and with
the increase in our currency circulation,
sufficient to meet the demands of trade,
the silver question would settle itself at
once. I am not against the use of silver
as a money. On the other hand, T want
it. and want plenty of it. I do not want
any increase in the ratio. I would coin the
seigniorage now in the vault of the treasury
into 16 to 1 silver dollars, and thus in*
creace the silver circulation by about
$52,000,000. This with the increase of 10
per cent of the capital of the national
banks would give us about $ 100,000.000
more money But I would not stop here. I
would convert ail of tbe one
and two dollar silver certificates
into silver dollars and would
purchase the silver necessary to do this.
1 would then from time to time coin all
the silver that we need at a ratio of 16 to
1, and it will be found that the regular
business increase in a country so rapidly
growing as ours would, in tin's manner,
practically consume the entire product of
the American mines. This would solve
tiie silver problem and give ns plenty of
silver money, and it would increase the
circulation to the extent demanded.”
The Sbnrmim Law Not. the Only Trouble.
"Do you think the present financial
troube is attributable to the Sherman
law?"
"I’artiall.v, yes, but by no means wholly
so. J think, however, that that measure
is sufficienHy vicious to be gotten rid of at.
once and for this reason 1 hope that the
•senate will dispose of it with as little delay
as possible. No good comes from contin
ued debate on the question, and until this
is out of the way, it is impossible to get to
xvork to the establishment of a permanent
basis of finances. Hence, to nry mind, the
Sherman law should be repealed at once,
and its repeal should be accompanied by no
condition. It must not be understood, how
ever, that our present financial troubles are
to be attributed solely to the Sherman law.
This is by no means true. The great un
derlying cause of the present financial dis
tress is the reckless manner iu xvhieh the
republican party ran into dependent pension
business, pledging the government to the
payment of millions of dollars every year,
for which it had made no provision. Such
a tremendous exhaust precipitated tipoa
the country without warning,
and without any provision to
meet it ix the chief catfce for the trouble,
and the Sherman law simply emphasizes it.
Jt acted like a medicine being put ou the
skin of a man's face to bring our a sub
cuticle disease, ami the minute the Sher
man law touched tlie sore spot, the patient
broke out all over with the dependent pen
sion disease.
An Income Tax.
“What is the remedy?"
"Au income tax! 1 d" not mean by this
a general levy of iam increased tax smip.y
for getieial revenue purposes, but let tiie
tax be levied for the specific purpose of
paving Hie dependent pensions Let us
I'md out what this pension bill amounts
to and lew an income tax to ineet it
I will cheerfully pay my part ot it. and 1
ani’isure the south will not hesitate to do
so. In my opinion, such an income tax
would go a long way toward solving the
problem under discussion and bring the pen
sion administration to a solid basis where
onlv those who are entitled to shall le
ceive support form the government. hits
would head off the bummers, and it wou.d
do it in short order.
"Do von think Hie business men of New
York aiid the New England stales will agtee
with voti in your views concerning Hie ie
peal of the 10 per cent taxon state minks.
“Yes, 1 think si), said Mi. > "‘inn.
"They are becoming much more llboial
in their views as regards this and other
sueh propositions than formerly. Thej
i’ullv realize now that something must
be done and that lhere must be more
monev, and I am sure they ar-’ ready to
co-operate for a conservative s-diition of
the questions now agitating the business
world." ♦—
THE GRAND ARMY MEN.
Arrivin'.* in I.tn a* 1. .lianapoß*
The C’miiimuidcr-in-Lnici ■
Indianapolis. Ind., September 4.-This
citv opened wide its arms today in hos
pitable welcome to the men ot the Grand
Ar;nv of th-’ Ib’publie. . I Here aie no
evidences today of the hnancia ey-’.one
tiiat but a few weeks ago brought n re-k
and ruin to so many Indianap-ws home-.
Personal cares ami troubles have been for
-’otirn for the time being at least and ern
plovers and wag'-workers alike are unit
ing' .heartily i'n Hie pleasant duty ot mak*
ins things pleasant for the strangers with
in their gales. The decorations ol rite
city, while not so elaborate as at. some ->f
rhe’ previous encampments, are artxstin
and ornamental, all the lea-ling thorough
fares having been put in apple-pie order.
Ample proxisions have been made for tho
comfort of th-' delegates and visitors, no
matter how large the number-
The weather is of the finest, and noth
ing seems to be lacking to insure the com
plete success of the twenty .-eveuth nation
al encampment of the veterans.
Now that, a majority of the delegates
are on the ground's, the preliminaries <>t
the contest for the next commander-in
cliief are begining to wax warm and sev
eral new candidates have appeared in the
field. Among these are Colonel Charles
P. Lincoln, of Washington; General E.
Bur-1 Grubb, of New Jersey; and Edgar
Allen, of Virginia. While, however, .all
of these have th<*ir local supporters, the
real contest remains between the original
candiilates. Captain J. G. B. Adams, of
Massachusetts, and General N. 11.
Hurst, of Ohio. The only pltiee so far
mentioned tor the next encampment is
Lincoln. Neb.
The Grand Army Election*.
Indianapolis. Ind., September 8. -The Grand
Army encampment today elected the follow
ing, practically without opposition: John it.
Adams, of 'Massachusetts. commander In
chief; Coiiti "Walker, of Indiana, settlor vice
commander, and J. C. Biggs, of Terns,
junior vice commander.
Massachusetts Political Conventions.
Lynn, Mass.. September fl.-The pe d?’s
party convention today nominated a :P.i
state ticket with George 11. Cary, of Lynn,
as candidate for governor.
The prohibition .state convention today
nominated a full state ticket with Rex.
Louis Albert Banks, of Boston, at tbe bead
of it.
To the United States Senate.
From The New York Tribune.
1.
Vote, vote, vote, vote,
Vote, vote, vote, vote.
Vote, vote, vole, vote.
Vote, vote vote, vote
Vote!
'l.
Dam your floods of eloquence,
Data your floods of eloquence,
Dam your floods of eloquence.
Dam your floods of eloquence—
Vote!
THE COTTON CROP.
Report of the Department of Agriculture— A
Low September Condition.
Washington, tieptember £».—The Septeuibei
cotton report of tue department of agriculture
shows a decline from the August condition
of the crop of Hui 7 points, tbe average being
73.4 this month, as against 80.4 last mouiu.
This is the iowest September condition
since 1881, which stood at 70.
The condition iu September, 1802, nas 76.8.
For tlie same mouth in the years 1801 aud 161-2
it was 82.7 ai.d 85.8, respectively.
Tiie s.a.e averages arc; Virginia, 03;
North Oarmlna, 76; South 1 a-roliua, 63; Geor
gia, 77; Flor.da, 85, Aiaa-ama, 7’B; Mississippi,
78; Louisiana, 81; Texas, 63; Arkansas, 80;
Tennessee, 67.
In addition to the unfavorable coudit ions,
among which tiie drought lias been prom.-
uoiit, the correspondents ot the department
ascribe the falling oil in the condition of the
crop to tiie ravages of insects, eueuiies of
viie plant, such as caterpillars and boli, army
and leaf worms. Dust, as a cause of dam
age, is also extensively noted.
'The hurricane of August 28th caused much
damage to the crop in the states of North
Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, and m
a less degree in the state of Florida.
Reports from the stare of Alabama show
an excess of 'moisture in some parts of the
state.
In some places the plant is taking on a
second growth, which is not considered bene
ficial. and in others there is sprouttug and
rotting in 'the boils. Seven counties of tilte
state report too rapid <,pening. eighteen that
the plant is shedding badiy, and forty-eight
report rust.
The correspondents’ reports from Mississippi
are to the effect that the crop is doing finely
titid the weather is favorable for present con
dition.
In Louis’.'ina excessive ra ns cany tn Au
gust. canstsl the old cotton to shed badly,
while the young cotton was not benefited,
as the growth was in weed instead of fruit.
With the exception of the counties of Se
bastian and Scott, the reports from Arkau >ts
show the crop to be below the average.
Tn Texas the plant is small everywhere,
both early and 1-ate planting.