The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 15, 1896, Page 1

VOLUME LXXIX.—NO. 77. CLEVER COLLIS EXPLAINS WELL, Mr. Huntington Talks Under Oath Before the Senate Committee. AS A PHILANTHROPIST. Great Service Done Uncle Sam by the, Central Pacific Railroad, ENORMOUS COST OF THE LINE. Representative Maguire Says Magnate Practically Admitted Unfair Methods. the WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 14.—The Senate Committee on Pacific Railroads to- day resumed its hearings on the various bills before it for the settlement of the debts of the Pacific railroads to the Gov- ernment. Winslow 8. Pierce, general counsel for the reorganization committee of the Union Pacific, presented for consideration a bill embodying the reorganization committee’s plan for the settlement of the Union Pa- cific debt. It provides for the appoint- ment by the President, the Senate confirm- ing, of three members to investigate, determine and report a fair cash value of the claim of the United States, the au- thority of the commissioners to be conclu- sive as to the sum which, together with the amonnts appropriated for commissioners’ expenses, etc., may be paid for the claim and lien of the Government; the Secretary of the Treasury, upon such payment, to execute an instrument of assignment of the lien and claim, reserving the sinking fund, and giving authority to the pur- chasers to organizé a new company, em- powered to acquirc and operate the lines and property of the Union Pacific. The bill further repeals the provisions of prior acts, which would be applicable to the reorganized company under the new conditions. It gives authority and direc- tion to the Attorney General in default of payment of the amount fixed by the Com- mission to foreclose the lien of the Gov- ernment, and upon the sale to bid the amount of the indebtedness to the Gov- ernment. y Replying 1o questions, Pierce said there was no reason why the provisions of the bill coula not appiy teo-the Central Pacific as well, it the necessary changes were made in its wording. A separate bill for the other road, however, would be more practicable, To an objection raised by Morgan that it contained no provision binding the reor- ganization committee to pay the-amount found due by the commission, Pierce said such a provision could be inserted, or, if the reorganization committee dii not ac- cept these findings, they could retire and the Government could go ahead and exer- cise its rights in the property. Mr. Coombs, representing the Credits Commutation Company, an association composed of 300 or 400 savings banks, scat- tered all over the country, having interest in the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad, ad- dressed the committee in reference’ to the affairs of thatcompany. His proposition was, in short, that the Government should invest §5,000,000 of securities in building 250 miles of road. from North Platte to Sioux City, which he guaranteed would, by completing connections with other lines, give effectual com petition. Mr. Littler, in reply to Mr. Coombs, said the proposition of the latter, stripped of all sophistry, meant that Congress should assist a lot of Boston bankers who had made an unsuccessful speculation. He declared that Mr. Coombs asked $5000 more per mile than it would cost to build the road for which he desired assistance. C. P. Huntington was then placed upon thestand after having been put under oath in accordance with the Senate resolution of vesterday. He said if the Pacific roads had been built as military necessities: he knew nothing of it. He began by reciting the difficulties under which the Central - Pacific was constructed, and the difference in cost of materials then and now. Rails cost §140 a ton as compared with $30 for steel rails now; locomotives now costing $5000 to $8000 cost then $20,000 and $30,000, with excessive freight cost ana high in- surance in bringing them around by Cape Horn. Labor was high and everything was paid for in gold. Mr. Huntington caid he had at times been compelied pay §2 20in currency for $1 in gold. When the Central Pacific was completed the value of all its assests was not suffi- cient to pay the debt by severai millions of dollars, Tt finally paid its construction debt in full, although that ‘construction, by reason of the nature of the country and engineering difficulties, was greatly en- banced. Asan instance of this Mr. Hun- tington showed that since 1872 his com- pany had been compelled to expend $2,641,- 000 for snowsheds alone. The road had never had any trouble with either the white man or the Indians. Its line of road had formed a harrier between the two and vrevented conflict and policed the country. The Central Pacitic was to-day, Le said, the best equipped and could do twice the business of all the transcontinental lines, With a reasonable extension of time he said the road could pay dollar for dollar of its debt and all accrued interest. The charge that the Central Pacific had not doneits dnty toward the other lines, es- pecially the Union Pacific, he said had no basis; it was, as any one acquainted with the facts knew, unjust. The orizinal idea when these roads were built was that they could do excellent police duty. Little at- tention was then given to' the question of traffic. He produced a map to show that all the transcontinental roads had outlets independent of the Central Pacific. No one could, he. said, show that the Southern Pacific had been responsible for the aiversion of business from the Central Pacific. The statistics showed that of the total freights on the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific for the ten years ending in 1892 the Central Pacific had carried 54 per cent against all competing lines, while it had during the same period done 58 per cent of the passenger business. The rec- ords showed that the Southern Pacificand ite ocean connections to New York had se- cured the greater part of their increased business by driving off the ships that had been carrving freight around the Cape, but had taken very little business that would bave gone by the Union Pacific. This busi- ness was taken at a small profit, which the company was able to do because of the use of its water line. All tie overland roads were parties to the agreement to purchase the tonnage of the steamship lines. The object of this was to keep prices steady so as to keep out of bankruptey. He denied , in response to a question by Morgan, that this was done in order to force the Pacific Coast to use the overland railroad lines. There was, he said, no at- tempt to monopolize the freight of the Pa- cifie Coast. Morgan urged that Huntington state to the committee the differences between the rates charged -by the steamship lines be- fore and after they made the agreement with the overland roads. Huntington could nst give these figures, but stated that a copy of the contract had been deposited with the Interstate Com- merce Commission. After some discussion Huntington was notified to avpear before the committee with'a copy of the contract and be ex- amined thereon. Huntington, continuing his stateme nt on the roads in general, said the Union Pacific had itself initiated the competition of the Oregon Short ‘Line, which was owned by the Union Pacific, and by charg- ing excessive rates on business done for | the Central Pacific, while the Central Pa- cific had stood by the Union Pacific on all through business when it could do so without detriment to the public. Senator Thurston’s bill, which contem- vlated a consolidation of the Union Pa- cific and Central Pacific, would, Mr. Huntington believed, be injurious to the interests of the owners of both lines. Such of other lines west of Ogden. No possible advantage could accrue to the Union Pa- cific throngh the proposition of Senator Thurston. The Central Pacitic would con- tinue to pay all its debts and maintain harmony among the lines centering at Ogden. The question before the commit- tee was whether this road over the desert should be used as a bridge for all the roads entering Ogden or only one of them. So far as the rates were concerned they were, he emphasized, low as any other road in the world under the same circumstances and surrounded by the same conditions. Looking back upon the situation at the time the acts of 1862 and 1864 were passed, Huntington said he would unbhesitatingly say that he never contemplated that the Union Pacific and Central Pacific should form one continucus connecting line, to be operated without being permitted to make connections or arrangements for in- terchange of traffic with any other com- pany which should compete for a common iraffic. Proceeding to the practical.ques- tion before the committee, the great debt which is coming due, Huntington said he had been in business#ixty years and had always paid 100 cents on the dollar. He wanted to do so now. He had nothing to apologize for in the construction of the Central Pacific and he did not appear before the commttee ask- ing equities or eulogies. He only asked, in behalf of the Central Pacific, tnat Con- gress should treat the question of a set- tlement with the Government on business principles. He recommended that the company pay as much interest currently as the road could earn over its fixed and operating expenses other than the Goy- ernment claim, as all others than the Government claim were, he contended, perfectly good, there being little or no floating debt, and pay into the treasury of the United States every six months a fixed sum until the whole indebtedness, both principal and accrued interest, has been paid. As these payments were made the amount due the Government would be steadily diminished, while the property would naturally continue to increase in value. The company was willing to do all it could; no corporation could do more. Continuing on this line, Huntington said he had hoped the Government would take 3§ per cent interest on the Central Pacific debt and require a certain fixed sum to be paid annually or semi-annually until the whole amount, comprising the original principal and all back interest, had been fully satisfied. In doing this he should conslder that the company haa done well by the Government, in view of the fact especially that the road, had received so little from the Government business sent over it, compared with what was expected. Mr. Huntington referred to the early completion of the Central Pa- cific—seven years before the time allowed. The Government gave freely to the Northern Pacific and the Atlantic and Pa- cific Iand which was of greater value than the bonds and land granted to the pioneer roads. The Government, he continued, must have realized that in doing thisit was deliberately destroying or weakening the security it had on the Central line, for the reason that it was taking away much of its earning power from which alone the Government could expect a return of the money loaned. In conclusion Mr. Huntingion said he had faith in the committee to believe that in the proposition it would lay before Congress it would not ptit upon tke Cen- tral Pacific a burden greater than it could bear. No manor set of men, Hurtingion believed, coula do as much for the Central Pacific in clearing off its obligations as could its builders, The record of the road was clean, despite the cries of the noisy few who, like jackals,-howled along its tracks; and the great mass of people oi - California knew and appreciated the great- ness and value ofsthe work the Central Pacific had accomplished. The company had never failed to fulfill all 1ts contracts with the Government, with States and with individuals. 5 In response to a question Huntington said it would be the worst thing the Gov- ernment could do-to seil out the Central Pacific. A % “1 would rather,” he said, “have it arranged for us to pay, a fixed sum every year with . the agreement. that if, at the end of six months, we failed, the Govern- maent could come in without Jthe interven- tion of either court or Congress and take possession of the property.”” Gear called Huntington’s attention to the statement that the Southern Pacific had been built out of, the profits of the Central Pacific. This wu'dqnled by Hunt- “I do not mind telling how that road ington, who said: a combination would force the extension® = \ 2, — I (\ \ G, FEBRUARY 15, 1896 fi‘: 3 3 PRICE FIVE CENTS Co.lis P.—Somebody stole your anti-funding resolution, hey ? That’s funny. was built now, for it has all been paid for. ‘We built it by issuing bonds, every one of which has been redeemed. We issued $88.000,000 of bonds on 1000 miles of road. It was an expensive piece of road. We succeeded in keeping the bonds from going into the general market until the road was sble to pay its interest and something more. Prior to that an effort was made to sell some of the bonds at very low prices, but the sale was defeated. When the road began paying more than its interest I sold some of the bonds at 90, and later on at better figures. By keeping the bonds out of the market until the rogl thus made a good showing I succeeded in saving $16,- 000,000 to the company. None of the earn- ings o: the Central Pacific ever weat into it.” Frye asked: “Say you had $2,000,000 a vear to start with, conld you not, after a lapse of ten or twenty years, increase the annual payments of the principal ?” ““Of course,” replied Huntington, ‘“‘we will carefully consider such a scheme, but it would be impossible to pay $2,000,000 annually to begin with. It would be reas- onable to increase the principal as the interest decreased.”” e HUNTINGION ADMISSIONS. Their Significance Pointed Out Forcibly by Maguire. WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 14.—Repre- sentative Maguire said to THE CALL corre- spondent to-night: '‘‘Other business pre- vented my attendance at the Senate Com- mittee on Pacific Railroads to-day, so I have seen only a synopsis of Mr. Hunting- ton's statement. I have read it carefully, but have found nothing new in itexcept his answer to the charge that the Southern Pacific Company has diverted traffic from the Central Pacific, and therefore from the Union Paciric also, to the Southern Pacific road. His answer contains admissions that completely establish the charge we have made in that behalf. He says that the ‘Southern Pacific Company obtained its business (for the Southern Pacific road) by going into a competitive field for it." ‘“Now, what does that, mean? Why, simply that the Southern Pacitic Com- pany enters into competition for freight traffic for the Southern Pacific road as against the Central Pacific Railroad, while controlling both roads, Theyown the South- ern Pacific Railroad and have no interest in the Central Pacific, except to receive salaries and expenses for operating it, ac- according to Mr. Tweed’s statement in the House committee in answer to my ques- tions. The Southern Pacific Company, therefore, controlling both roads and com- peting for traffic on behalf of one of them, in which it is interested. against the other, in which it has only that nominal interest, is sure to build up the one and destroy the other as a raere matter of business. Now, the Government is interested only in the Union and Central Pacific roads, and the competion, of which Mr. Huntington speaks, is calculated to destoy one of these roads, thus destroying the Government’s only source of payment, if the debt be re- fused. “Again, Mr. Huntington admits that the Southern Pacific Railroad is underbid- ding the Central Pacific in the matter of freights. He says: ‘This business (over- land freight) has been taken ata very small profit, which the company was able to do, becanse of the use of the water line.’ By the water line he means the Morgan line of steumers from New Orifeans to New York. Now, it does not matter why the Southern Pacific Company is thus cutting under the Central Pacific for the benefit of the Southern Pacific Railroad. No matter what the reason may be, the important thing is thiat it is doing'so; and ifithe Cen- tral Pacific Railroad is left under its con- trol, as the funding bill would leave it, the people will be deprived of the benefit of real competition, that would exist if the Central Pacific Railroad were either owned by the Government or bya competing company, and the United States Govern- ment will at the same time have its secur- ity and the means of paying its claim de- stroyed.” LOBBYISTS ME HARD AT WORK Able Lawyers Retained to Fight Against Goe- bel’s Bill, NO TRICKS OVERLOOKED. Men Experienced-in the Business Trying to Save Hunting- ton’s Charter, - DELAY THE ORDER OF THE DAY It Is Before the House Committee That the “Talent” Expect to Kill the Measure. FRANKFORT, Ky., Feb. 14.—Collis P. Huntington is continuing his fight against the passage of the bill to repeal the South- ern Pacific charter in his characteristic manner. He has on the ground actively at .work against tbe bill several of the ablest and most renowned lawyers of the State. These lawyers will not admit the purpose of their stay here, but their per- sonalinfluence is being used against the bill. . Hon. St.-John Boyle of Louisville, who was. elected Judge .of the Appellate Court and contested the seat of Judge B. Toney, who was given the seat by'a vote of 3 to 2 by a Democratic contest board, -is here in the interest of other measures, and his relations with corporations leads to the belief that he is lending valuable aid to Huntington’s men. Senator Goebel, who is fathering the | measure in the Senate, said to TuE OALL correspondent this evening: “I cannot say the exact day the bill will be called up in the Senate, but it will be within the next day or two. I bave nofears of the passage of the bill, as. the friends of the measure have unmistakable assurances from Senators that guarantee its suc- cess.” No action has been taken by the House Committee on Corporations having before it for consideration the duplicate of the Goebel bill, and there will probably not be any until after the measure has passed the Senate in order that the measure may come regularly before the House. It is be- fore the House committee that the Hunt- ington people hope to kill the measure. Friends of the bill are aware of these tac- tics, and will see that the bill does not get cold before it has traveled this gauntlet. Senator Goebel has his eye on that bas- tard brother to his. bill which was intro- duced in the House yesterday by Repre- sentative W. H. Stiglitz of Louisville and so quietly referred to the Committee on Corporations, of which Mr. Stiglitz’ fellow- tainly good reason to think that there is some ulterior motive behind this. unusual act, which in the face of the fact that the Goebel bill had already been acted upon by the Senate commitiee and was already pefore that body admits of no other cone struction than a desire to affront Goebel or a purpose to beiray the interests of the repealing party and ultimately defeat Goe- bel’s bill if possible. 2 1 8tiglitz avows that ne did}not act on his own motion, but at the instigation of L townsman is the chairman, There is cer- | another, whom he refuses to name. This is certainly rather a peculiar way for Mr. Stiglitz to act. His experience in ward politics in Louisville should teach him not 10 allow himself to be made a catspaw - by any one who is not willing' to have his name known in connection ‘with . the measuze. The “murder, will ont,” how- ever, in the course of a few days, and in the meantime those interested will have to content themselves with studying what is already known to Mr. Stiglitz and his colleague, Mr. J. C. Freemgan, and sur- mise as to the motives actuating the intro- duction of this bill. Mr. Kreeman was engaged in business as a printer and publisher in one of the interior towns of Kentucky until the spring of 1895, when he moved to Louis- ville. He was not regularly established in business on his own account, but worked principally with the Courier-Journal Job Printing Company and the Baptist Book Concern. Together with most of the em- ployes of the latter house, he 15 said to | have taken an active part in the organiza- tion of the A. P. A. movement in the city, and to have been in close consultation with Dr. Hunter after he moved to Louisville and began the work of arganizing the Re- publican State campaign, and is said to have had a useful hand in making the Re- publican organization in the city of Louis- ville. He was for Dr. Hunter in the caucns. Besides the chairmanship of the Commit- tee on Corporate Institutions, he held a place on the committees on Military Af- fairs and Printing, and is 8 member of the committee having the Kaufman-Dunlap contest case in charge. Mr. Stiglitz has, since his apprentice- ship, been engazed in the foundry busi- ness in the city of Louisville with his father and three brothers. They have al- ways been good Republicans and, espe- cially has W. H., the present member, been active in the politics of their ward. W. H. is said to have been one of the early members of the A. P. A. organization, and to have been one of the founders of the lodge near his voting precinct. His ex- perience in legislation was, until he came to Frankfort, confined to occasional visits to the Louisville City Council chamber. He has a great deal to learn yet, but he is not likely.to be made a tool of very long. He said that he would tell who asked him to introduce that bastard bill'in a few days, and Billy is pretty sure to keep his word. His disingenuity is evidenced by his defending his silence as to the author of the bill before he was attacked. The Courier-Journal may : possibly be wrong in saying that the offering of that bill has the “look of being either for useless party or personal advantage.” While it certainly has something of that look it may be that Mr. Stiglitz is being imposed upon. That he should be the one selected for the work is not so very surprising to those who know him. If Frankfort is consumed by fire during this session it will not be solely due to the fact that Stiglitz is'there. He has not had much practice in setting -worlds afire, but he really does know how to keep his mouth shut, and so makes a good member of a secret society. 1t may be said en passant thatfrumor has it that two-thirds of the employes, big and little, of the L. and R. N. N. and M. V. R, R. in Kentucky were members of the A. P. A. organization. One of them might have asked Stiglitz to introduce that bill. One of the big ones probably. Stiglitz has been - highly honored by Speaker Blandford in making up his House com- mittees. Besides being associated with Mr. Freeman on Corporate Institutions he is on the committees on Enrollment and Agriculture and Manufatures. “When Stiglitz asked to have his bill re- ferred to the Corporate Institutions Com- mittee he probably acted under instruc- tions of the man who pulls the string and with the expectation that he and Freeman could control things there. They will be disappointed, however. On the commit- tee with them are: J. W. Catron, a lawyer, of Albany, Clinten County (R.); J. M. Chambers, physician, Independence, Ken- ton County (R.); J. C. Gillespie, farmer, Carlisle (D.); J. S. Phelps, farmer and banker, Lexington (D.); C. M. White, traveling salesman, Elizabethtown, Har- din County (D.). At least two of these will be in favor of acting in concert with the party having the Senate bill in charge and will fight any attemot to use Stiglitz’s Dill as a club to kill the other. Goahel does not have a great deal to say about his plans in regard to the bill, but expresses entire confidence that 1t will pass both houses, though he recognizes the fact that the main fight is to be in the House. If he is advised as to the plans the Hunt- ington party have in view he is averse to saying anything about it, but from what 1s known of the man they are not going 10 spring many surprises upon him. They will find bis line as formidable when in the House as it is in the Senate, and some- thing more than the usual parliamentary tactics will be required to beat the bill, if it is beaten. The editorial in the Capital is still caus- ing curiosity as to who was the author of it, and when Frangfort curiosity gets to work the secret is soon out, even down to pieces of manuscript to prove the allega- tion. The author’s identity will not long be a secret. The Capital is a weekly during the best part of the year, and a daily when the Legislature is in session. Nearly ever since the war it has enjoyed the fat con- tract for the public printing, and so makes up a daily from the type set for the jour- nal at small expense. Mr. E. Polk John- son, a Democrat, is the editor. He was formerly city editor of the Courier-Jour- nal. That he did not write ‘“The South- ern Pacific!’ article can be seen at a glance by any cne who knows his style. Noris the style that of General Duke. It is not a bit like him. It rather looks as if it had been written by Colonel Thomas M. Bul- litt of Louisville, whose name is intro- duced in the article in the following con- nection: 5 To carry out such a project and consolidate the various railroad companies and their roads which it must necessarily include, and which, of course, were chartered by different States, it was Iportant, indeed essential to its success, that there should be one comprehen- sive organization by means of which alt the subordinate corporations might be united into one well compacted system. This was as nec- essary indeed to the comstruction as to the ultimate operation of the line. Mr. Hunting- ton therefore obtained from the Legislature of Kentueky a charter for the Southern Pacific Company. This charter granted, ete. This charter was obtained for Mr. Hunting- ton by the efforts and representations of Gen- eral John Eckols and Messrs. Henry D. Me- Henry and Thomas W. Bullitt. These gentle- men were principally interested because Mr. Huntigton, in pursuance of his general plan, was fhen projecting the extension of the Chesapeake and Ohio road into Kentucky and the completion of the C.O.and 8. W, enter. prises which have been of vast benefit to Ken- tuck¥. These roads were associsted into the _gen‘eru system under the Newport Newsand Mississippi- Vailey Company, a charter similar in purpose to that of the Southern Paeific Com- ‘pany. 7 Now, the foregoing is Tom Ballitt over dgain. Ivis his style from beginning to end, and he certainly enjoyed fuil facili- ties for knowing Mr. Huntington’s plans when he got the charter, for he has been his confidential lawyer at Louisville from the very first. Rathe- strange that Hunt- ington himself in his letter to the Courier should have overlooked colonel Bullitt's valuable services in securing the charter. He mentions Echols and McHenry, but 1eaves out the Colonel, who now, inno- centl; f course, gives it away. A biil was presented to the House on last bill day which is very interesting m connection with the question of the power of the State of Kentucky to repeal the charter of the Southern Pacific Company. This bill was presented by Representa- tive Lyons of Newport, Ky., and provides for repealing the charter of the Twelve- mile Turnpike Company. This turnpike is not quite as long as the Southern Pa- cific system, but like it the company own- ing it has a monopoly. and has ground and oppressed the people till they have called on the Legislature for help. The majority of the stock of the road is owned by ex-Senator Thomas S. Jones, who is as rich in proportion to the length of his road as Huntington is to the Southern Pacific’s unbroken line of iron from New- port News to San Francisco, and is always ready to contend for his rights, The Twelve-mile Turnpike runs from Newnport, which is in the extreme northwestern cor- ner of the county, to Alexandria, near the center. It is the only road leading to that quarter from Newport. The picnic grounds and all three of the Newport cemeteries are situated on it, and nearly all the market gardens. Seven-eighths of all the vehicles entering the city pass through its tall gates, and the company has reaped rich returns from their small investment, and consequently is loath to give it up, but Colonel-Jones is'too good a lawyer to dispute the power of the State to take away what she gave. ' The charter of his road antedates that of the Southern Pacific Company many years, and prob- ably has ten times as many vested rights in proportion to its length as any railroad in the country. e et NO. BREAK IN THE BALLOT. Kentucky Legislators Are Yet in the Deadlock. FRANKFORT, Kvy., Feb. 14.—The scheme to vote continuously and tire out Senator Ogilvie, Democrat, was frustrated by the precaution ¢f the friends of the sick man who prepared & bed for him in the legislative chambefr. The twenty-first Sen- atorial ballot was as follows: Hunter, 63; Blackburn, 62; Carlisle, 3; J. B. Heim, 1; Bennett, 1; Cochran, 1; Holt, 1; Bate, 1; Reed, 1. Necessary for choice, 69. The joint assembly adjourned until noon to-morrow. ¢ SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION. President Clevelana to Settle the Dispute of Italy’ and Brazil. ROME, Irivy, Feb. 14.—Baron Blanc, Minister of Foreign Affairs, authorizes the announcement that President Cleve- land having decided to accept the position of arbitrator to settle the questions in dis- pute between Italy and Brazil, a protocol has been signed referring to his arbitra- tion all claims that were not amicably settled by the two countries within two months. T S R B A Real Triumph. Their judgment and immense resources have enabled G. H. Mumm to attain the front rank in champagne, and the finest comes to this country because Americans are connoisseurs. 79,049 cases of Mumm’s Extra Dry wereimported in 1895, or 45,125 more than of any other brand. SILVER BEATEN IN THE HOUSE, Non -Concurrence in the Substitute From the Senate. OVERWHELMING VOTE, After Two Weeks of Argument It Is Decided to Stick to the Bond Bill, GEORGIA DEMOCRATS DISAGREE Ex.Speaker Crisp Advocates Free Coinage, While Turner Loudly Protests Against It. WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 14.—By'a vote of 215to 90 the House to-day, after debating for almost two weeks, decided that it would not concur in the Senate’s free silver coinage substitute for the bill of the House authorizing bond sales to mains tain the gold reserve, sales of treasury cers tificates to meet temporary deficiencies in revenue and providing additional revenue for the treasury. Nothing else was pre- sented in the course of the five hours’ ses« sion. The closing debate was r:otable prin« cipally because of the fact that the main speeches for and agzainst free coinage ot silver were made by two Democrats, both members of the Committee on Ways and Means and both from Georgia—Crisp and Turner, respectively. The closing speech against the Senate’s substitute was made by Dalzell (R.) of Pennsylvania. The speeches were of unusual length, and throughout the speakers were heard with attention and apparent inter- est, the” novel spectacle of Crisp and Turner arrayed against each other bes ing a strong factor in the case. While Crisp was speaking Senators Pritchard, Loage, Burrows, Palmer, Ti'lman, Bacon, George, Cockrell and Mantle cnd Secretary Herbert were observed on the floor. When thedebate had been concluded the previous question was ordered, pro forma, and at the suggestion of Dingley (R.)of Maine, in order that there might be no misunder- standing, it was put in this form: “Shall the House concur in the Senate substitute?” ‘The roll was called amid extraordinary quiet, and at its conclusion the cause of apsence of those not present was stated by their colleagues, so great was the anxiety to have the record show the attitude of every member toward the proposition. A study of the vote shows that 25 Republi~ cans, 58 Democrats, 1 silverite and all tha Populists present voted in favor of free coinage, and thati84 Republicans and 31 Democrats voted againstit. The Democratig vote against free coinage was six greater than the Republican vote for i This matter being disposed of the Housa took a recess until 8 p. M. to consider pri- vate pension bills. **Commencemeni day’’ of the debate on the silver bill in the House attracted no more spectators in. the galleries than any day of the past few weeks, during which it has been the pending business. There was, however, a larger number of Repre- sentatives in their seats than usual, Those who had been off to Lincoln day banquets. in various cities had returned and were on hand to vote, and many wha had not hitherto felt it necessary or de- sirable to listen to the discussion as it pro- ceeded came in to have their votes res corded on the question. As soon as the journal had been read the last stage of the debate’ upon the financial question asg involved from the Senate free-coinage sub~ stitute for tue public bond revenue bill was entered on. Crisp (D.) of Georgia, the Democratia leader, began the closing speech in favor of the free coinage of silver. By unani. mous consent he was given as much time as he desired in which to complete his re« marks. In the outset Crisp said he would endeavor to conduct his part in the dise cussion so as to offend no member of the House. This was an economic question,, and he would assume that every membems would vote upon it in accordance with hisg convictions. In 1873, he asserted, the United States demonetized silver. This had been questioned in the course of the debate. From 1782 to 1873, the Unitea States had had bimetallism. This propo« sition also, he said, had been controverted by advocates of the single gold standard, who now maintained that notwithstand- ing the existence of the statutes upon this subject there had really not been bimetal- lism_in this country. The confusion, in his opinion, grew out of the failure to dis« tinguish between a standard and a cur. rency. This distinction existed, and he quoted from a message from President Cleveland, “who ought to be satisfactory authority to the gold standard advocates,’ to show that it was appreciated.. The law of 1792 establishing the Mint contained the basis of the bimetallism for which the Democratic party had always stood, and which it now insisted should be restored; that bimetallism which provided for the equal coinage of coins of two retals, both of which are of the same debt-paying and purchasing power. The standard of value comprised both metals. In his argument on this point Crisp ase gserted that the standard of value was based upon the use of all the money in the world and not upon that of any single or particular nation. Aslong as any com- mercial nation opened its mints to silver the standard of value was based on both gold and silver. That was the conditions up to 1873, when the United States de- monetized silver. Discussing the effect of the law of 1873, Crisp said it was *‘sticking in the bark” for any gentleman to say that law could not affectvalues. Thelaw could and did affect values by regulating the de- mand for the article to be valued. That was the way in which the act of 1873 re. duced the value of silver, by reducing the demand for it as money. If law could not affect values, he asked, how could an in- ternational agreement affect valuesp f