People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1893 — ANTI-OPTION ADOPTED. [ARTICLE]

ANTI-OPTION ADOPTED.

The Bill Passes the Senate by a Vote of 40 to 29—Opponents of the Measure in the House Will Try to Defeat It. WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 —The senate Tuesday passed the anti-option bill by a vote of 40 yeas to 29 nays. The bill which was passed differs in some features from the original Hatch bill, and will of course be sent to conference. The Vilas amendment was defeated. The George amendment was beaten by a vote of 50 to 21, and the Vilas amendment by a vote of 51 to 19. The most striking feature of the closing debate was the explanation of his vote by Senator Vest (Mo.). Senator Vest had been instructed by the Missouri legislature to vote for the bill. He declined to do so on the ground that he regarded the bill as unconstitutional, and that he should be violating his oath as a senator if he should vote for a measure which he considered unconstitutional. While declaring his utmost respect for the legislature of Missouri he stated that he would justify himself before the people of the state for not voting in favor of the measure, which he considered as unconstitutional. Mr. Washburn is very happy. He has made a fight against great odds, some of the greatest lawyers in the senate being against him. He is very confident that the bill will be sent to the president. Some of the friends of the measure in the house, however, are very much less confident of this than Mr. Washburn is. There are those in the house who are opposed to it who say they will resort to all manner of filibustering resolutions and expedients to prevent the passage of the measure in its last stage. When the anti-option bill was called up in the senate Mr. Wolcott (Col.) said he opposed the bill because it was not sanctioned by the constitution, as vicious in principle, and was not calculated to work benefit, but injury, to the people in whose interest it professed to be framed. Mr. Wolcott did not hesitate to say that he hoped some way would be found to defeat the execution of the bill if it became a law. It was a lie on its face, and more immoral than the thing it seeks to defeat. He was listened to attentively and was followed by Senator Gray, of Delaware, who spoke on the constitutional questions raised by the bill. Senator Higgins, of Delaware, spoke in favor of the measure. At 3:10 the speechmaking was ended, and the reading clerk, Mr. Johnson, read the George amendment The first vote was on Mr. Vilas’ amendment eliminating the revenue clause therefrom. It was defeated by a vote of yeas, 21; nays, 50. Senator Power offered an amendment that all silver bullion purchased by the United States be paid the day of or succeeding the purchase. This was voted down. Senator Power shot in an amendment including options on silver bullion in the bill. The amendment was declared to be lost. Senator Wolcott presented an amendment including petroleum, high wines and whisky in the bill. It was defeated and then the bill came up on third reading for final action. All of this was perfunctory and at 4:40 the last roll call was had. The roll call ran along and on the first call a good many senators dodged, but it was plain to be seen that the bill as amended was going through. The senate was exceedingly quiet, beyond a little sparing as to pairs. Mr. Washburn kept tab on the roll call. The result was as follows; Yeas, 40; nays, 29. Following is the vote in detail: Yeas—Allison, Blackburn, Call, Carey, Chandler, Cockrell, Cullom, Davis, Dubois, Faulkner, Felton, Frye, Gallinger, Gordon, Hale, Hansbrough, Hawley, Higgins, Hunton, Irby, Kyle, McMillan, Manderson, Mitchell, Morgan, Morrill, Peffer, Perkins, Pettigrew, Proctor, Sherman, Shoup, Squire, Stockbrldge, Teller, Turpie, Walthall, Washburn, Wilson—40. Nays.—Berry, Blodgett, Butler, Caffery, Cameron, Coke, Daniel, Dawes, Dixon, Gibson, Gorman, Harris, Hill, Hiscock, Hoar, Jones (Ark.), McPherson, Mills, Palmer, Platt, Pugh, Ransom, Sawyer, Stewart, Vest, Vilas, White, Wolcott—29. Pairs were announced between Messrs. Carlisle and Paddock, Aldrich and Quay, Bate and Allen, Jones (Nev.) and Saunders, Pasco and Casey, Vance and Warren. The bill passed and went to the house for action on the amendments made by the senate.