University of South Carolina Libraries
FINANCE AND TARIFF. Tili: MUMttAGK OF I'Hl )SI DKN T cijEVi<\t, AND. Sound Currency Is Above the Plunc of Party Polities and Concerns all Clause? of the People?Tariff Kelbrm Imporlaiit and Must Not Be AVr locted. Washington, D. C, Aug. 8. To tho Congross of the United States: The oxistenco of an alarming and ox traordinury business situation, involv ing tho woljaro and prosperity of all our pooplo, has constrained me to call together in oxtra session the people's representatives In Congress to the ond that, through a wise and patriotic ox orclso of the legislative duty with which they solely are charged, the prosout evils may bo mitigated und clangors throateniug the future may be averted. Our unfortunate financial plight is not tho result of untoward events nor of conditions related to our natural rosources, nor is it traceable to any of tho aflllotions which froquontly cheek national growth and prosperity. With plonteous orops, with abunduht promise of romunorativo production and manufacture, with unusual invita tion to safe investment, and with sat isfactory assurance to business enter prise, suddenly flnanoial distrust and fear have sprung up on every side. Nuraorous moneyed Institutions have suspended because abundant assets wore not available to meet the de mands of frightonod depositors. Sur viving corporations and individuals are content to keep In hand the money they uro usually anxious to loan, and those engaged in legitimate business aro surprised to find that the securi ties thoy offer for loans, though here tofore satisfactory, are no longer ac cepted. Values supposed to bo fixed aro fast becoming conjectural, and loss and falluro have Invaded evory branch of business. I bellovo thoso things are principally chargoablo to Congressional legislation touching the purchase and coinage of silver by tho general government. This legislation is ombodiod in a statute passed on the 14th day of July, 181H), which was the culmination of much agitation on tho subject in volvod, und which may be considered a truco, after a long struggle, between tho udvoeatos of froo silver colnago and thoso intonding to bo more con servative Undoubtedly the monthly purchase by the government of four million and flvo hundred thousand ounces of silver, enforced under that statute, wore regarded by those in terested in silver production as a cer tain guaranty of its increase in price. Tho result, however, has been entirely different, for immediately following a spasmodic and slight use, the price of silver began to fall after thepassago of tho act, and has since reached the low est, point over known. This disap pointing result has led to renewed and porslstont otfort in the direction of free silver colnago. Meanwhile, not only aro the evil ofYeots of tho operation of tho present law constantly accumu lating, but tho result to which its exe cution must inovitably lead, Is becom ing palpable to all who give tho least heed to flnanoial subjects. This law provides that in payment for tho 4,500,000 ounces of silver bul lion which tho secretary of the treas- . ury is commanded to purchase monthly, thero shall be issued treasury notes re deomablo on domond in gold or silver coin, at tho discretion of tho secretary of the treasury, and that said notes may be roissued. It is, howover, de clared in the act to be " the established policy of the United States to maintain tho two metals on a parity with each other upon the p"esont legal ratio or Buch ratio as may be provided by law." Tho declaration so controls tho ac tion of the secretary of tho treasury as to prevent his exercising tho discretion nominally vostod in him, if by such ac tion tho parity between gold and silver may bo disturbed. Manifestly a re fusal by the secretary to pay these treasury notes in gold if demanded, would necessarily result In their dis credit and depreciation as obligations payable only in silver, and would de stroy tho parity between the two metals by establishing a discrimina tion in favor of gold. Up to July 15th, 1893, these notes had been issued In payment of silver bullion purchases to -tho amount of $147,000,000, while all ^but a very small quantity of this bul lion remains uncoined ana without use fulness in the treasury. Many of the notes givon in its purchase have been paid in gold. This is illustrated by the statement that between the first day of May, 1892, and tho 15th day of July, 1893, the notes of tills kind is sued in payment for silver bullion amounted to a littio more than $54, 000,000, and that during tho same period about $49,000,000 were paid by the treasury In gold for redemption of SUCh notes. The policy necessarily adopted of paying these notes in gold has not spared tho gold reserve of $100,000,000 lohg ago set aside by tho government for tho redemption of other notes, for this fund has already been subjected to tho payment of new obligations amounting to about $150,000,000 on ac count of silver purchases, and has as a consequence, for tho first timo slnco its creation, been enorooched upon. We have thus made the depletion of our gold easy, and have tempted other and more appreciative nations to add it to their stock. That tho oppor tunity we havo olfored has not lieen noglocted, Is shown by the largo amounts of gold which havo been re cently drawn from our treasury and ox ported to increase the financial strength of foreign nations. Tho ex cess of exports of gold over its imports for the year onding June 30, 1893, amounting to more than eighty-seven and a half millions of dollars. Be ? twepn tho first day of July. 1890, and tho fifteenth day of July, 1893, the gold coin and bullion In our treasury de creased moro than $132,000,000, while during the same period the siver coin and bullion in tho treasury Inoreased more than $147,000,000. Unless government bonds are to be constantly issued and sold to roplonish our exhausted gold, only to be again exhausted, it Is apparent that the operation of tho silver purchase law now in force, loads in the direction of the entire substitution of silver for the gold in tho government treasury, and that this must be followod by the pay ment of all govornment obligations in depreciated silver. At this stage gold and silver must part company and the govornment must fail in its established policy to maintain the two metals on a parity with each other. Given over to the exclusive use of a currency greatly depreciated according to the standard of the commeroial world we could no longer olaim a place among the nations of the first-class, nor could our government olaim a performance of Its obligation so far as such an ob ligation has been imposed upon it to provide for the use of the pooplo the best and safest money. If, as many of its friends elalm, sib ver ought to occuy a larger place in our currency and the currency of the world through general international FINANCE AND TARIFF. Tili: MUMttAGK OF I'Hl )SI DKN T cijEVi<\t, AND. Sound Currency Is Above the Plunc of Party Polities and Concerns all Clause? of the People?Tariff Kelbrm Imporlaiit and Must Not Be AVr locted. Washington, D. C, Aug. 8. To tho Congross of the United States: The oxistenco of an alarming and ox traordinury business situation, involv ing tho woljaro and prosperity of all our pooplo, has constrained me to call together in oxtra session the people's representatives In Congress to the ond that, through a wise and patriotic ox orclso of the legislative duty with which they solely are charged, the prosout evils may bo mitigated und clangors throateniug the future may be averted. Our unfortunate financial plight is not tho result of untoward events nor of conditions related to our natural rosources, nor is it traceable to any of tho aflllotions which froquontly cheek national growth and prosperity. With plonteous orops, with abunduht promise of romunorativo production and manufacture, with unusual invita tion to safe investment, and with sat isfactory assurance to business enter prise, suddenly flnanoial distrust and fear have sprung up on every side. Nuraorous moneyed Institutions have suspended because abundant assets wore not available to meet the de mands of frightonod depositors. Sur viving corporations and individuals are content to keep In hand the money they uro usually anxious to loan, and those engaged in legitimate business aro surprised to find that the securi ties thoy offer for loans, though here tofore satisfactory, are no longer ac cepted. Values supposed to bo fixed aro fast becoming conjectural, and loss and falluro have Invaded evory branch of business. I bellovo thoso things are principally chargoablo to Congressional legislation touching the purchase and coinage of silver by tho general government. This legislation is ombodiod in a statute passed on the 14th day of July, 181H), which was the culmination of much agitation on tho subject in volvod, und which may be considered a truco, after a long struggle, between tho udvoeatos of froo silver colnago and thoso intonding to bo more con servative Undoubtedly the monthly purchase by the government of four million and flvo hundred thousand ounces of silver, enforced under that statute, wore regarded by those in terested in silver production as a cer tain guaranty of its increase in price. Tho result, however, has been entirely different, for immediately following a spasmodic and slight use, the price of silver began to fall after thepassago of tho act, and has since reached the low est, point over known. This disap pointing result has led to renewed and porslstont otfort in the direction of free silver colnago. Meanwhile, not only aro the evil ofYeots of tho operation of tho present law constantly accumu lating, but tho result to which its exe cution must inovitably lead, Is becom ing palpable to all who give tho least heed to flnanoial subjects. This law provides that in payment for tho 4,500,000 ounces of silver bul lion which tho secretary of the treas- . ury is commanded to purchase monthly, thero shall be issued treasury notes re deomablo on domond in gold or silver coin, at tho discretion of tho secretary of the treasury, and that said notes may be roissued. It is, howover, de clared in the act to be " the established policy of the United States to maintain tho two metals on a parity with each other upon the p"esont legal ratio or Buch ratio as may be provided by law." Tho declaration so controls tho ac tion of the secretary of tho treasury as to prevent his exercising tho discretion nominally vostod in him, if by such ac tion tho parity between gold and silver may bo disturbed. Manifestly a re fusal by the secretary to pay these treasury notes in gold if demanded, would necessarily result In their dis credit and depreciation as obligations payable only in silver, and would de stroy tho parity between the two metals by establishing a discrimina tion in favor of gold. Up to July 15th, 1893, these notes had been issued In payment of silver bullion purchases to -tho amount of $147,000,000, while all ^but a very small quantity of this bul lion remains uncoined ana without use fulness in the treasury. Many of the notes givon in its purchase have been paid in gold. This is illustrated by the statement that between the first day of May, 1892, and tho 15th day of July, 1893, the notes of tills kind is sued in payment for silver bullion amounted to a littio more than $54, 000,000, and that during tho same period about $49,000,000 were paid by the treasury In gold for redemption of SUCh notes. The policy necessarily adopted of paying these notes in gold has not spared tho gold reserve of $100,000,000 lohg ago set aside by tho government for tho redemption of other notes, for this fund has already been subjected to tho payment of new obligations amounting to about $150,000,000 on ac count of silver purchases, and has as a consequence, for tho first timo slnco its creation, been enorooched upon. We have thus made the depletion of our gold easy, and have tempted other and more appreciative nations to add it to their stock. That tho oppor tunity we havo olfored has not lieen noglocted, Is shown by the largo amounts of gold which havo been re cently drawn from our treasury and ox ported to increase the financial strength of foreign nations. Tho ex cess of exports of gold over its imports for the year onding June 30, 1893, amounting to more than eighty-seven and a half millions of dollars. Be ? twepn tho first day of July. 1890, and tho fifteenth day of July, 1893, the gold coin and bullion In our treasury de creased moro than $132,000,000, while during the same period the siver coin and bullion in tho treasury Inoreased more than $147,000,000. Unless government bonds are to be constantly issued and sold to roplonish our exhausted gold, only to be again exhausted, it Is apparent that the operation of tho silver purchase law now in force, loads in the direction of the entire substitution of silver for the gold in tho government treasury, and that this must be followod by the pay ment of all govornment obligations in depreciated silver. At this stage gold and silver must part company and the govornment must fail in its established policy to maintain the two metals on a parity with each other. Given over to the exclusive use of a currency greatly depreciated according to the standard of the commeroial world we could no longer olaim a place among the nations of the first-class, nor could our government olaim a performance of Its obligation so far as such an ob ligation has been imposed upon it to provide for the use of the pooplo the best and safest money. If, as many of its friends elalm, sib ver ought to occuy a larger place in our currency and the currency of the world through general international co-operation and agreement, it in obvi ous that tho United States will not be in a position to guinea hearing in favor of suoh an arrangement so long as wo are willing to continue our attempt to accomplish the result single handed. The knowledge in business circles among our own people that our govern ment cannot make its fiat equivalent to intrinsic value, nor keep inferior money On a parity with the superior money, by its own independent efforts, has resulted in such a lack of confi dence at >home in the stability of cur rency values that capital refuses its aid to now enterprises, while millions are actually withdrawn from the chan nels of trade and commerce to become idlo and unproductive in tho hands of its timid owners. Foreign invostors equally alert not only decline to pur chase American securities, but make haste to sacrifice those which they al ready have. It does not meet tho situation to say that apprehension in regard to the fu ture of our li nances is groundless and that there is no reason for lack of con fidence in the purposes or powers of the government in the premises. The very existence of this apprehension and lack of confidence, however caus ed, is a menace which ought not for a moment to bo disregarded. Possibly if the undertaking we have in hand, wore the maintenance of a specifio known quantity of silver at a parity with gold, our ability to do so must be estimated and gauged and perhaps in view of our unparalleled growth and resources, might be favorably passed .upon. But when our avowed endeavor is to maintain such parity in regard to an amount of silver increasing at the rate of $50,000,000 yearly, with no fixed termination to such increase, it can hardly bo said that a problem is pre sented whose solution is free from doubt. The people of the United States are entitled to a sound and stable currency and to money recognized as such on overy oxchange and| in every. market of tho world. Their government has no right to injure them by flnanoial ex periments, opposed to tho policy and , practice of other civilized states, nor is it justified in permitting an exag- , gerated and unreasonable reliance on : our national strength and ability to jeopardize the soundness of tho peo- ' pie's money. This -matter risos above tho plane of party politics. i It vitally concerns overy busines and calling and enters ovory household in the land. There is one. important as pect of tho subject which especially < should never be ovorlooked. At times < like tho present, when tho evils of un- < sound finance threaten us, tho spocu- ( later may anticipate a harvest gather ed from the misfortune of others. Tho capitalist may protect himself by hoarding or may oven find profit in tho ] iluct nation of values, but the wage- ] earner?tho first to be injured by a de- j predated currency and the last to re- ; ceivo the benefit of its correction?is J practically defenseless. Ho relies for work upon the ventures of confident and contented capital. This failing him. his condition is without allevia tion, for he can neither proy on tho misfortunes of others nor hoard his la bor. One of the greatest statesmen our < country has known, speaking more than fifty years ago, when a derangment | of tho eurrency had caused commercial distress, said : "The very man of all others who has the doopest interest in a sound currency and who suffers most | by mischievous legislation in money matters is the man who earns his daily bread by his dally toil." These words are as pertinent now as on the day they were uttered, and ought to im pressively remind us that a failure in the discharge of our duty at this time must especially injure those of our countrymen who labor, and who be cause of thoir number and condition are entitled to tho most watchful caro of thoir government. It is of the utmost importance that such roliof as Con gress can afford in tho existing situa tion bo afforded at once. Tho maxim, "Ho gives twice who gives quickly" is directly applicable. It maynbo true that tho embarrass ments from which tho business of tho country is sufforing, arise as much from evils apprehended as from those actually existing. Wo may hope, too, that calm councils will prevail, and that neither tho capitalists nor the wago-earners will give way to unne cessary panic and sacrifice thoir prop erty or their interests under tho influ ence of exaggerated fears. Neverthe less, overy day's delay in removing one of tho plain and principal causes of tho present state of things onlarges tho mischief already dono and in creases the responsibility of the gov ernment for its existence. Whatever else tho people have a right to expect from Congress, they may certainly do mand that legislation condemned by tho ordeal of three years' disastrous experience shall bo removed from tho statute books as soon as their repre sentatives can legitimately deal with it. It was my purpose to summon Con gress in special session early in tho coming Soptombor that wo might en tor promptly upon tho work of tariff roform, wnlch tno truo interests of tho country clearly demand, which so largo a majority of the people as shown by . their suffrages dosiro and expect, and to tho accomplishment of which overy effort of tho present ad ministration is pledged. But while, tariff reform has loat nothing of its im mediate and permanent importance, and must in the near futuro engago the attention of Congress, it has seem ed to mo that tho financial condition of tho country should at once and be fore all other subjects be considered by your honorable body. I earnestly recommend the prompt repeal of tho provisions of tho act passed July 14. 1800, authorizing tho purchase of silver bullion, and that other legislation may put boyond all doubt or mistake tho intention und the ability of the government to fulfill its pecuniary obligations in monoy univer sally recognized by all civilized coun tries. (Signod) Grovkh Cleveland. Kxecutivo Mansion, Aug. 7, 1803. He Still Lives.?Goneral Forrest, during tho lato war, was onco ap proached by an Arkansas man, who asked: "Gonoral, whon fl.U you rockln,' wo'ro goln' to got something to oatV" " Eat I" exclaimed tho general; "did you join tho army raoroly to get some thing to eat V" " Wall, that's about the size of it." "Here," calling an officer, "give this man something to eat, and then have him shot. " The officer understood the joke, and replied: J All right, general." The Arkansas man, exhibiting no 1 alarm, said : " Bile me a ham, oap'n, stew up a 1 couple o' chickens, bake two or threo 1 hoe-cakes, fetch a gallon o* so o' butter milk, and load yer guns. With sieh inducements, the man what wouldn't be willing to die is a blamod fool." A hearty meal was prepared for the 1 soldier, but he still lives. AN AGREEMENT TO H?HT. THE CONTENDING FORCES IN CON GRESS. * The Leaders Arrange to Conduct the Battle Over Silver Upon a Definite Flan?The Debate oil the Repeal of the Sherman Act Beginn at Once. Washinqton, August 10.?Another day has passed, and the two wings of the majority in tho House of Represen tatives are apparently as far as ever from an agreement upon tho method of conducting the postponed discussion of the silver question. Tho day has been spent in fruitless conferences on the subject, and because no progress has boon made in tho negotiations, tho House was compelled to adiourn for lack of anything to engage Its atten tion. Tho two committees representing tho silver and autl-sllvor forces seem to be playing for position, each desiring to assumo the Initiative, but of what avail tho point of vantage sought will bo It is difficult to discern among tho mass of rumors that is afloat. Prom all of these, and from statements by mombers of tho conference regarding their procoeding8, tho positions of the two parties are those : The anti-silver men, lod by Bourko Cockran, propose that a bill shall no Introduced to repeal the purchasing clause of tho Sherman law, and that a vote shall be taken upon that proposi tion first. If it be defeated, amend ments may be offored providing tor tho freo coinage of silver, and a voto taken on them. The freo coinage men offor a countor fin?position, to wit: That the bill out ined by the free silver caucus yester day shall bo Introduced by tho commit tee authorized to propose it, providing for a repoal coupled with free coinage; that any amendments desired may bo offorod, and that a voto shall bo taken at the end of three weeks' debate. This was not acceptable to tho anti si Ivor men, who insisted,' it is said, upon a voto first upon tho proposition to unconditionally repeal the purchase clause. It was impossiblo, apparently, for the committees to corao together, and after several separate consultations and two joint, meetings, an adjournment was had until to-morrow morning. Tho free coinage men wore repre sented in tho conferenco by Represen tatives Bland, Bnatner, Culborson, Bryan, Bailoy, Bat', head, Oates and Lane; '.he unconditional repealers by Cockran, Tracy, Harter, Raynor, Oatchlngs, Lapham, Golssonheiner, Coombs, Fitch, Wilson of West Vir ginia, and John Dewitt Warner. Washington, Aug. 11.?Tho con ference of. silver and anti-silver men lias roached an agroomont by which tho general debate on the bill for the repeal of the purchase clause of the Sherman law Is to be limited to eleven days. This will be followed bv a debate for three days under the five minute rule, when the voting will begin on the bill and the various silver amendments. The present arrangement is that tho repoal bill will bo Introduced In the House to-day; that tho accompanying resolution shall proscribe tho method of procedure, and general dobato shall begin at once. If carried out this pro grain will bring the houso to a voto on tho bill and amendments on August 28th. The silver mon's part of tho pro gramme is to offor first, a substitute looking to freo coinage at tho present ratio. If this is defeated, then votes to be taken on amendments fixing the ratio at 17, 18, 19 and 20, in order, and, finally, if these fail, upon the Bland Allisbn act. The House this morning was in a bustle of intense excitement. The members mot in groups, talking over the situation, and the universal ques tion, was, "riajve tho silver and anti silver men reached an agreement ?" Silver was on every man's tonguo, and silver will bo on every man's tongue for the next fortnight, as tho conferenco has practically agreed to limit tho debate to that period of timo, the debate to begin Immediately after tho reading of tho journal to-day. Aftor tho reading of the journal Mr. Wilson (Democrat) of West Virginia, offored for present consideration a bill to repeal that part of the act approved July 14, 1890, (tho Sherman act.) It provides that so much of tho act approved July 14th, 1890, as directs tho secretary of the treasury to purchase from timo to timo silver bullion to the aggregate amount of 4,500,000 ounces, or so much thereof as may be offered in each month at the market price thoreof, not exceeding $1 for 371? grains of pure silver, and to Issue in payments for such purchase treasury notes of the United States, bo, and tho same is hereby repealod. But this ro peal shall not impair nor in any man ner affect tho legal tender quality of the standard silver dollars heretofore coinod. And the faith and credit of the United States is horoby pledged to maintain tho parity of tho gold and sliver coin of tho United Statos, at tho present logal ratio, or such other ratio as may be established by law. Representative Bland offored tho agreement ? made this morning gov erning tho course of the debate. It limits tho dobato to fourteen days, tho session continuing from 11 a in. to 5 E. m., and with night sessions for do ato only if desired. Tho vote first to be taken on tho bill to bo presonted as a substitute for tho Wilson bill, pro viding free for coinago at a ratio of 10 to 1. If that fails, then at a ratio run ning from 17 to 1 up to 20 to 1. If thoy all fail, then on the revival of the Bland-Allison act of 1878, and then on tho original moasuro. Tho substitute bill of tho freo coinago caucus was callod for and prosontod by Bland. Bland demanded tho provious ques tion on his order, but this was antago nized by tho Republicans, undor the leadership of Cannon, who wantod timo to debato tho question. Under tho ruling of tho spoaker, in tho ab sence of rules or agroomont ordering tho provious quostion, would cut off dobate. By tho oporatlon of voting by tellers, Mr. Cannon secured sufficient support to secure a vote by yeas and nays, and at 12:35 calling of the roll bogan. Vote resultod: Yoas, 217; nays, 100. So tho provious quostion was ordered. Tho Republicans gener ally voted with the Democrats In sup port of tho motion. Tho resolution was thon udopted. At five minutes aftor i o'clock, Raynor (Maryland) began tho debato iu support of tho Wilson bill for tho unconditional ropoal of the sllvor purchaso clause. Raynor was reinforced by Browne, of Indiana, who in a brief speech advo cated tho repoal of tho Sherman act, conditionally or unconditionally. Blaud was put forward to return the fire of argument and eloquence and he performed his part without detracting from his reputation as the leader of the silver forces on the Soor, lie was followed by the populist member from Colorado, Pence, who constituted him self a bulwark for tho protection of sil ver, and by Wheeler, of Alabama, who demanded a groator volume of cur rency. The fight was still on when at 5 o'clock the house adjourned until 11 ^'oloek tomorrow. PRBB COINAGE OP snA lOK Democrats and Populist? Hold a Cau cus? Agreement as to the Repeal of the Sherman Act. The friends of freo silver in the House of Representatives held a cau cus on the 9th inst., for the purpose of agreeing upon a lino of action to se cure free and unlimited coinage of sil ver. At the close of the mooting it was officially announced that the fol lowing resolution offered by Boatner, of Louisiana, had beon adopted by a majority vote: "Resolved, That wo will support a bill repealing tho purchasing clauso of tho Sherman aot and a concurrent measure providing for the freo and un limited coinage of silver with full le gal tonder on such a ratio as will pro vide and raaintaln tho parity between gold and Silver. " Bo it further resolvod that a com mittee of seven bo appointed by the chairman of this conference to preparo and submit such a bill and take proper steps to secure the free and full discus sion and consideration thereof and a vote of the house upon tho bill and all ponding amendments." Tho committee provided for in tho conference resolutions was composed as follows: Bland, Slbley, Boatnor, Lane, Bankhoad, Bryan and Bailoy. By vote of tho caucus Judge Culbort son was added to the committee. When tho conference mot it was es timated that there wero about forty members of tho House in the hall of the 234. Becauso tho House was in session about fifteon mombers wore ab sent of tho number in attendance. Culbertson, of Texas, was elected chairman of tho caucus and Sibley, of Pensylvania, tho only Democrat pres ent from tho eastern States, secretary. The only Republican present was Bow ers, of California. Tho Populists were represented by Jerry Simpson and Kerr, of Nebraska. Tho attendance upon tho caucus can hardly bo regard ed as a test of tho strougtn of tho sil ver forces in tho House for tho reason given by Enloe, of Tennossoo, which was that the Democratic party was charged by tho pooplo with tho duty of legislating so as to remedy tho pros out depression in all branohos of busi ness. A Democratic caucus and not a mixed conference should havo been called to talk over tho situation and to formulate a plan of relief. Off tho entire Tennessee delegation, many members of which aro in favor of free coinago, but one, (Cox,) was prosont at tho con ference. This samo thing was true of a number of freo silvor men from other States who did not desire to seem to sopurate themselves from thoir re spective party organizations even on tliis question. Reports from members after tho cau cus adjourned agreed that no differ ences of opinion wore developed in the progress of tho discussion. The question of tho ratio for the coinage of silver was not discussod except inci dentally and, as will bo notieod, no special figure was named in the resolu tion. Besides the action reportod a motion by Mr. Bland was udopted au thoring tho appointment of a commit too of " whippors in," ono from each State, whoso duty shall bo to canvass tho House, discover each member's standing upon tho proposed bill and seo that overy friond of tho measure is in his seat and ready to vote whon the timos comes. " We will requiro ample time," re marked Bland, " to carry out tho terms of tho resolution, and I do not soo how it will be possible to como to a vote un der a month or probably six weeks. I cannot toll when the committee will have its bill ready to prosont to tho I louse. Tho question of thoratio to be inserted in the bill was not discussod, but it is apparent that some of the free silvor men are satisfied that tho pros ont ratio of 16 to 1 should bo changed. Wo shall probably vote upon the pros ont ratio 10 to 1, and if that is defeated thon 17 to 1 and so on up to 20 to 1 if necessary." THE INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE. Getting Ready to Erect the Buildings at Once. All tho membors of tho Board of Trustees of tho South Carolina In dustrial and Winthrop Normal Colloge were present at a mooting in Rock Hill on tho night of August 7. Many architects had submitted speci mens of thoir work and usked to bo elected architects of the building. These samples of work woro inspected and the letters of recommendation ac companying them examined. The Board thon adjourned until tho next day whon it inspected tho brickyard and stockade, which it found in satis factory condition. Tho Board also selected the exact sito for tho location of tho college. Tn the afternoon tho Board mot again. Tho first business was tho election of an architect. There woro only two applicants who rocoivod uny votes. Bruce & Morgan of Atlanta wero elected i architects. Bruco was on tho ground, which contributed materially to tho success of his firm, which roceiv ed eight votes. His firm woro tho ar chitects of Clomson Collogo, and thoir work thero was thoir strongest rccoin mondation. v H. H. Huggins, of Roanoko, Va., got five votes and had ho boon on tho ground ho might havo boon oloetod. His plans woro exceedingly well pro pared, though he had only five day's notico of the election. Ho was born and roared in Darlington County and is a graduato of South Carolina Col logo. Tho committee on by-law? made a re port, which was adopted, displacing tho temporary by-laws under which tho board had beon wprking. Thoso now by-laws provided for tho olectlon of an exocutlvo committee of fivo. Tho following woro chosen: Governor Tillman, Superintendent of Education Mayfiold, Roorosentatlve Eldor of York County and Messrs. Rod dy and Crawford of Rock Hill. To this committeo wero submitted the details, plans and specifications for tho collego building. This oxeeutlve commlttoo was consti tuted a building committeo for tho pros ont. It is required to make reports monthly, or oftonor, if required by the finance committeo, which will audit accounts and inspoct tho books. Messrs. II. B. Du ist of Groonvillo, J. E. Breazoulo of Andorson, F. B. Gary of Abbovillo constitute tho finance com mitteo. Mr. W. B. McFaddon, an ox-County Treasurer, was olectod secretary and treasurer of tho board, which position Mr. Mayfiold has been temporarily fill ing. ?" Brothron,"saida preacher, when tho collection was being made, " per haps one of you will he good enough to {>ut a needle and throad in the bag, so hat I may be enabled to make some use of the buttons with which you are all so liberal." ?Whenever a nowspaper man gets so ho can ploase everybody, his useful ness on this oarth will be out off, for right there he will be gently waftod on angel's wings to the heaven of rest beyona. THE SOUTH'S OPPORTUNITY. Some Admirable Advice Tendered the South by the Manufacturers* Rec ord. Disasters that are entirely without compensating features are rare. Every calamity that befalls mankind carries with it some element of advantage. Thus the present business depression and distress in the West present to the South an opportunity for self ad vancement such as has never been presented before. Wo road daily of the thousands of unemployed, tho losses of business men, tho distress and dissatisfaction of tho farmers, tho idle ness of tho mechanics, in tho West. Our first thought Is ono of sympathy and pity ; our second should bo of the relief that these thousands could find in the South. In this situation lies the great opportunity for tho South to help tho unfortunate and at the same time benefit boyond meas ure every interest In tho South. Thoro has been an infinite amount of talk, argument and theory about getting desirable immigrants for tho South. There is now an opportunity to accomplish this result in a simple and certain manner. Wo are not advancing a theory, hut stating facts that can be substantiated whon wo say that a little expenditure of raonoy and well directed effort at this timo will start a movement South ward from tho afflicted portions of tho West which will give tho South thous ands of sottlors of the classos most de sired. There are thousands of farmers in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska and other Wostern States who aro dissatis fied with tholr lot, with tho elimtae, with crops and prospects. They are ready to go anywhere, if prospects of hotter conditions be offered. They own farms or have sulflciont money interest in thorn to give them a small amount of capital upon the disposition of their property in the Wes.t, and thoy can go to the South with monoy, onergy and skill. Thoy aro ready and willing to take any stops that promise to hot ter their conditions, and any section of tho country that can secure those peo ple will havo a most valuable addition to its population and industry. Here, then, is the tromondous oppor tunity of the South, a chance for prac tical work that will be more productive of results than a porpotual convention of Southern Govei *nors in Richmond. If tho people of tho South are in earnest in tholr desiro to increaso tho population of their section by immi gration of tho most desirable charac ter, hero is a chanco to fulfill their wishes. Tho stimulating of foreign emigration Southward is a big under taking, requiring time, money, work and tho co-operation of several import ant forces, but tho West offers an opportunity for securing immediate re sults by tho expenditure of a minimum of energy and cash. As rogards tho practical features of tho situation, wo havo only this sug gestion to make : Tell the peoplo of tho West what tho South offors them? cheap lands that will raise a wide range of crops, a delightful climate that is unsurpassed by any section of this continont, and a ready market for all that is produced. Tell tho West ern people thoso fuels in specific terms, not more generalities, but definite in formation about what is being done in tho South by thosNorthorn and West orn people who havoomigrated thither. Thoro have boon books and books about the resources of the South and statistics boyond measure, but what tho people of the West now want to know is what fruit lands aro for salo In Georgia, at what price, and what they will yiold in dollars and cents under average conditions. They want to know what opportunity there is for planting rice in Louisiana and everything about it that is needful for a beginner to know. They want to know what an orange grove in Florida will eost, and what its crop is worth to tho grower. Thoy want to know whore in tho South cattle can bo raised to best advantage, what the pasturage costs and what tho cattle will bring. In short, the peoplo of tho West who now are dissatisfied with their lot want accurato, spooitic and dotailod in formation about Southern opportuni ties, clown to tho oxact price and loca tion of lands now for salo. Put those facts Into tho hands of tho Western farmers and merchants by nd vortisomont In Westorn papers, by carefully propared pamphlets, by per sonal missionary work in tho West if possible, by correspondence with ovory ono in the West whoso name and ad dross can bo ascertained. Fill tho pa pers and magazinop of tho South with such facts as we have suggested and scattor thorn by millions in tho West. Get tho co-operation of the railroads in this work, and socuro reduced rates for prospective settlers. Pay tho ox ponsos of a train load of Western peo plo for an excursion through tho South, and the cost will bo repaid a hundredfold. Do all of this and as much moro as tho united ingenuity of tho best Southorn minds can suggest, for this is an opportunity not to bo neglected or wasted. It is tho op ftortunity of a century, and if used wiso y and fully it will benefit the South to a degrco boyond imagination. But It is necessary to act now, not next month or in tho wintor. Tho solution of the immigration problom is in tho hands of tho peoplo of tho South. If thoy realize tho situa tion and act at once they can accom plish stupendous results.?Manufac turers' Record. Crop Report for AuGUST.?The crop report of tho department of agri culture for tho month of August makes tho condition of cotton at 80.4. A decline of a little over two points since last month. This is the iowost average for August ever given out by tho department. Averages by Statos aro for Virginia, 88; North Carolina. 81; South Carolina, 75; Georgia, 83 ; Florida, 1)2; Alnbama, 79; Mississippi,. 81; Louisiana, 89; Texas, 72 ; Arkansas, 89 ; Tennesseo, 83. General averages in August for sovoral years aro as follows: 1892, 82.5; 1891, 88.0 ; 1890, 89.5; 1889,89.3; 1888, 87.9 ; and 1887 it was 73.3. Tho present low condition is tho conso quonco of oxcoss of rain in tho early part of tho season, followed by hot, dry woathor during tho month of July. Rust is reported as tho cause of Injury to tho crop in tho Statos of Alabama, Mississippi and Tonnessoo, and the boll worm, and tho caterpillar havo damaged crops moro or loss through out tho Statos of Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas. Shodding is also roported as occurring in some locali ties. Sinco tho first of August tho drought has boon broken, and rain has vi, ted the cotton belt, excepting in parts of Tennessee, Mississippi and Texas, where it is badly needed. In some portions of Mississippi and Ala bama too much rain for tho good of ot ton is announced. ?Dr. Gcorgo W. Connor died at Glennvillo, Ala. recently, at the age of 70 years. He was a brother of the late Hon. F. A. Connor, of Abbeville, and a man of distinction and influence. THE OHIO DEMOCRACY. Endorsing President Cleveland and Getting Heady fbr Victory. Tho State Detuocrutic Convention of Ohio mot on the lUth inst., and held a short but harmnoious session. Tho platform following was adopted unani mously : We havo hereby adopted tho platform of the Democratic party, adopted by Its National convention at Chicago, and especially those portions of it referring to tariif and to currency legislation. Wo congratulate tho country upon the oarly prospect of measures of relief asnuthnodby the president's lute message to congross, and wo havo confidence that the Demo cratic congress will devise laws to fur nish such relief. Tho financial situation is tho un fortunate outcome of tho Republican administration. It is tho natural re sult of the McKinley tariff, the Sher man silvor law, extravagance of tho Republican party recently In power and the creation and fostering of trusts and corruptions by that party, all com bining to shake credit, to create dis trust in tho money of tho country and to paralyze its business. We recom mend that the national banks may be porinitted to issuo thoir currency to an amount equal to tho par value of Unit od States bonds which thoy may deposit with the treasurer 8 of' tho' United States to the end that tho volumo of currency may "bo immediately increas ed. Tho interost of ovory truo soldier and pensioner demands that tho pon sion rolls should bo made and preserv ed as a roll of honor. Wo bollevo in just and liberal recognition of tho claims of veterans and favor granting them all that patriotism could ask and all that national gratitude would de mand. But the granting of pensious on fraudulent claims or for partisan purposes on department decisions in uontravontion to law, as practiced un der tho last administration, needs to bo investigated and corrected so that tho unselfish valor of tho American sol dier may remain untarnished. The Democratic party pledges itself that tho rightful claims of no union soldier to a pension shall bo denied and the allowance of any worthy pen sioner shall not bo disturbed. Wo con demn tho unbusinesslike administration of state affairs under Governor McKin ley, deplore tho official scandal and de falcations under it, and denounce tho condoning of official crimen which have brought humiliation upon our people. Wo denounce tho reckless oxtravag anco of the largo Republican majority in the seventieth general assembly, which appropiated for current expenses about $000,000 in excess of tho current revenues and added almost $30,000,000 to the local bonded indebtedness of the state, by laws in the main unconstitu tional. Wo demand that an end bo put to such robbery of tho tax payers. The Democratic party expresses its confidence in tho ability of Hon. Cal vin S. Brice, of the United States senate, to materially assist tho Democratic majority in tho congress of tho United States to extrloate tho groat com mercial interests of this country from thoir prosont distressed condition. Tho country has an abiding faith in the integrity, patriotism and exalted courage of President Cleveland. True to the pooplo and watchful to their in terest, ho- will enforce honest and economical methods in the conduct of public affairs, and secure to overy sec tion of the country the blessings of good government. Close attention was paid to each paragraph as read by the o' irman of tho oommittee'on resolution . Hon. A. .1. MoMahon. There were no manifestations of ap proval until the eulogy of Cleveland was reached. Then the delegates and spectators cheered again and again shouting and yelling until it seemed they would never stop. Lawrence T. Neal, of 'Chillicothc, was nominated for Governor. W. A. Taylor, of Columbus, was nominated by acclamation for Lieu tenant Governor. .- ma ? ? -- STATE NEWS IN BRIEF. Interesting Notes from Various Sour ces. ?Tho State Board of Education meets in Columbia on the 15th inst. ?Tho Survivors of the 13th S. C. Regi ment will hold their regular annual mooting at Prosperity on the 26th inst. ?Hon. M. L. Donaldson is in Wash ington working for the place of United States Marshal. ?Row Edward MeCrady has receiv ed and accepted a enll to Trinity Church, Abbeville. ?Congressman Latimor has appoint ed Mr. W. P. Campbell, of Dolton, to bo his private secretary. ?Camden is to have one of tho hand somest and best appointed school build ings in tho State. It will cost about $10,000. ?Edgefiold will have a primary for Auditor on the 23d to fill tho unoxpir ed term of Auditor Davis, appointed Dispenser. ?The number of pationts at tho Stato Lunatic Asylum is now 770, tho largest number on record at tho Asy lum at ono time being 782. ? Ex-.Iudgo Thomas Jefferson Mac koy, who has been lost in Franco for several years, has turned up in Now York, as talkative as ever. ?The Marion cotton mill has great ly reduced its force and is working the remainder at only about half timo. It is hoped that a completo shut down is not in contemplation. ?Hon. Samuel Dibble contemplates running a tolegraph over tho Bowman Railroad from Orangeburg via Bow man's to Branohville. This will con nect Orangeburg with the Postal Tele graph Cable Company. ?Miss Tylla Croft of Groonville, who holds a place in tho treasury de partment, has been promoted, through tho efforts of Senator Butler and Repre sentative Shell. Her salary will be in creased from $1,000 to $1,200. ?Tho cholera has brokon out among tho hogs In tho section of country East of Little Mountain in Nowborry Coun ty. Many havo diod, and no romody seems to do any good. A farmer says a good remedy is turpontino and soda. ?Reeoivor .1. H. Averlll has set to work improving the Port Royal and Augusta Railroad and is going to make it ono of tho best equipped roads in the South, llo has given tho Richmond locomotive and machine works an order for six new locomotives to bo dolivered next month. ?Ono of tho disponsary constables visited Laurens last week In the guise of a peddler. Ho was spotted and whon ho got with tho boys and inti mated that ho would like some toddy they gave him a doso that laid him out. Croton oil is said to havo )>oon the in gredient that knocked him out. ?Capt. Win. Tennent, formerly oi Charleston,died on the 8th inst. at Cher rokee Springs, Spartanburg County, ol heart failure, aged 55 yoars. He waf a graduato of the Cltadol Academy; and for a time after tho war ho prae tioed law, which he quit to enter mer oantile life, and for several years past he has traveled for a Arm in the North " HA KIwIS IS WILLING. Farley Not Averse to Stepping into Shell s Congressional Shoes. Spartanburg, Aug. ?.?A repres entative of The State saw Geu. Far ley hero to-day, and said to him : " 1 see that Congressman Shell has announced your candidacy for Con gress to succeed him, and also that you have dissolved with Senator Irby and Tillman." " I saw Capt. Shell's lutorvlew by The State's Washington correspon dent," tho General replied, "and al though 1 know that he is a good friend of mine, and I appreciate his iuterest iu me, I am afraid he has allowed his just indignation in tho Irby matter to carry him too far. I am not an "an- 1 nounced" candidate for Congress, nor has there been any disturbance of the volutions between Governor Tillman 1 and myself, that I know of. These are j matters of which I must bo allowed to ' apeak forjmyself, at the proper time 1 and place." "But are you not a candidate for 1 Congress ?" said the STATE. < "Oh, well, 1 do not hestitate to say that if at the proper timo my friend's * and our people should desire me to * run I should do so, but although the ' mutter of my candidacy is boing agita- J ted now, I think it rather too soon to 'jump that fenco.' I am willing to five the people as well as myself timo ( to think/' I " Don't you think your Christmas ar ticle likely to havo some otTeet on tho 1 Sbvernor PM < "For good, yes ; but as to tho criti- ( Asm, no. Governor Tillman is no baby, 1 and besides, you Antis havo treated 1 him to so much gratuitous abuse that 1 J think he will find a little frank and 1 honest criticism, by way of example, 1 both pleasant and refreshing. Tho Governor knows what criticism is, for 1 ho indulgos somotiines himself, and is 1 willing to givo and tako honest blows ? like a man." ? I FIGHTING IN K1)GF,FI10LI>. An Old-Fashioned Scrimmage over tho Craddoek Letter. i Special to the Augusta Chronicle. 1 EDGBFIELD, S. C, August 0.?Yes- ' torday afternoon, Captain J. H. Till- l man and W. J. Sholton, representa- l lives of tho Columbia Register, enga^- 1 ad in a Qstiouff which grow out of the < Parley-Tillman-Irby matter with i which the public is* acquainted. Shol ton was sitting on the court houso i steps. Tillman called him and they bad a talk and walked off together to ] Grey's stables. There an altercation I took place in which Tillman got the i best. There is expected blood. Both of the gentlemen aro on the streets this afternoon without visible signs of , danger. another account. Columbia, S. C, August 9.?A dis patch to Tho State from Edgoficld 1 throws additional light on the famous "Craddoek" letter which United Statos Sonator Irby swoars Captain J. H. Tillman wrote, and which Tillman , in scorching language accuses Irby of being the author of. This article was tho cause of Adjutant General Farley's hot attack on Irby, which has not been answered. " Yesterday after noon," says tho dispatch, " Captain J. H. Tillman and W. J. Shelton, of The Register, met on tho street and had some words about the voluminous Till man-Farley-Irby correspondence. The lie was passed. Tillman knocked Shel ton down and straddled him. They aro well matched in size. Shelton had an iron stick in his hand. It is said that Shelton while down acknowledged that Irby dictated to Tighe, his secretary, the Washington dispatch, which so abundantly convicts himself (Irby) and that Tighe translated his stenographic reports to Slielton, and that Irby and Tighe themselves tiled the dispatch at the tolograph olllce." FOOLING THE NEGROES. Humlreds are Induced lo Go West and Fail to Get Work. A dispatch from Pueblo, Colorado, says: Some employment agent at or in the vicinity of 'Birmingham, Ala., appears to be doing a thriving business in the way of sending colored men and their families to this city on tho prom ise that he has secured good places for thorn in the Bessemer steel works or tho mines of tho Colorado Fuel and Iron Development Company. A crowd of forty arrived this morn ing, composed of about twenty men and the remainder women and chil dren. When asked what they came for they made tho same statement that was made by the other companies num bering over two hundred that have ar rived here during the past four months; that was that places had been secured for them as stated above. They did not receive tho places, however, and the managers of the company declare they never promisod them places and have little or nothing for them to do. Most of those who came lirst havo oither returned to Alabama or to Woir City, Kas.; many of the men going without their families because they had not sufficient funds for all to re turn. Their families are going back as fast as they can. and arc very anx ious to go. Not more than twenty of the men out of over a hundred suc ceeded in getting any kind of employ ment and they will probably remain here. i Had these people places actually en I gaged, so that they could earn a living from the time of their arrival, or sum ' ciont means to subsist on for a few months, they might do well enough here, if thoy woro accustomed to agri cultural pursuits, a limited number of steel workers and miners might get places after a time, but at present such laborers aro leaving the city by hund reds because the steel works and mines are practically closed and whon thoy do start will run light for several months unless Congross enacts some legisla tion favorable to silvor. ?Governor Tillman has pardonod Robert Stonhouse, colored, who was sontenced to two years in tho peniten tiary at tho spring term of tho circuit court in Greenville for killing Marion Sims, white, whom ho found in a com promising position with his wife. Judge Izlar said the facts in the cuse fully warranted executive clemency, in which Governor Tillman now eon curs, saying that the unwritten law was good for tho negro as well as the whito man, and he should havo the bonollt of it. ?"Well," said tho lawyer to tho rural justice, "you sent for mo?" "Yes," said tho justice, "I want advice about this here prisoner. Ho's been ketchod stenlin' nogs, an', as I han't got no law books, I don't kuow ef I'm entitled to lynch him or not!" ?President Cleveland loft Washing ton on tho 11th inst. and wont direct to Buzzard's Bay, Mass., whore he will stay a fortnight. ?There is many a wife whoso bus band belongs to tho church who nevet suspects that he has religion. ITKM8 OP GRNKRAL INTEK1CST. ?There has never beou wisdom enough in tho world to know how to help a man who does not try to help himself. ?That man has got a good start up the hill of knowledge who ean learn a good lesson from another's experience. ?Miss Blancho A. Wright, of Lewis ton, Mo., has been ordained pastor of tho Newport, N. Y., Universalist church. ?Iceland is being depopulated. Tho Canadian govornment is offering in ducements to tho people to locate in tho north western part of Canada, and it is estimated that fully 1,500. people will emigrate from leoland this sea son. ?Robort H. Coleman, tho Iron mil lionaire of Pennsylvania, haa mude an assignment. His liabilities will ap proximate three and a half million dol lars, and It is a-ssertod that they exceed the assets. Coloman's interest in the Jacksonville, Tampa and Koy West railroad has brought him to tho verge )f financial ruin. ?The first oleetrle locomotive of any considerable size in tho United States tnd the first practically operative high speed electrie locomotive in tho world, adapted to tho steam railroad, lias recently l)een comploted at tho Lynn works of tho General Floctrie Company, and will shortly be oxhibited it tho World's Fair. ?A dispatch from Santa Rosa, Cal., jays that tho severest shock of earth quake felt in that city since 1808 oc jurrcd on the Oth inst. Tho oscilla tions wero apparently southoust to northwest. Considerable damage was lono in tho way of falling chimneys, broken windows, eto. Tho court house .vus badly shaken up. ?Ono of tho most romarkublo matri monial events on record in Mexico is reported from Coat/.ucoulas, whore a Uprightly old gentleman, 90 years of ngo, whoso name is Santiago Imibol mid who hails from tho Phillipino Islands, married a good looking girl of sixteen, rich, and bolonging to one of the first families in Minatitalian. ?Senator Vest is said to bo prepar ing a free coinage bill, fixing tho retio between gold and silver at 25 to 1. This would not satisfy the Colorado mine owners, but it is tho only plan for lixlng the parity of the metals for tho next fow years. It would mean that a dollar's worth of silver would bo rep resented in a silver dollar. ?General Fit/. John Porter has been appointed cashier of the New York postollice by Postmaster Dayton. Tho place pays $2,000 a year. It has been filled by Richard Van Cott, son of the 9x-postmaster who resigned. General Porter was born in Portsmouth, N. IL, in 1822, being the son of Commander John Porter, of tho navy. ?Not content with tho possession of tho greatest newspaper in tho world, Mr. James Gordon Dennett has given an order for the largest and finest of all private yachts. It will be 340 feet long, and will bo guaranteed for twenty-three knots an hour. Mr. Den nett already has a yacht which cost $.'150,000, and which would satisfy most people. ?A report from the Health Officer of l'ensacola, Fla., that two cases of yellow fever had developed in the city of Pensacola, has caused the mayor of Mobile to 'ssue a proclamation that no person nor baggage from Pensacoia shall be admitted to Mobile from this date to December 1st unless the quar antine is sooner revoked. ?A remarkable declaration wus made in Chicago last week by Mayor Carter Harrison. In an address of welcome to the annual convention of the military surgeons of the National Guard of the United States, ho said : " There aro 200,000 pooplo in Chicago to-day unemployed and almost desti tute of money. If Congress docs not give US money we will have riots that will shako'tho country." ?Tho Now York Herald's poll of tho new Congress shows that out of eighty three Senators, in a total of eighty oight, there are thirty nine who will vote for unconditional and twenty for conditional repeal of tho Sherman act. Three bundred and two out of a total House of three hundred and fifty-six members have beon polled, showing 137 in favor of unconditional and 12f> in favor of conditional repeal. ?The Legislature of Alabama has presented to the vote of the people a constitutional amendment providing that the school taxes of the white peo ple shall be devoted to tho education of the white children, and that tho schools for the blacks shall receive for their support only tho taxes paid by tho colored people. It is estimutod that now fully 85 per cent of the money spent on tho colored schools comes out of the white people's pockets. ?The Now York World of August 4 says : It is a sad record that wo havo to present to-day. There are no less than 30,177 men reported idle in fifty sevon trades in this city, and these figures do not adequately represent tho rapidly increasing army of the unem ployed. These are the victims upon whom tho evils of financial disturbance fall with most terrible weight. To them the situation means hunger and homelossness for wives and little ones, a dread prospect of poverty from which no industry can shield them. ?During the present financial con dition there are many curious things which are hard to be understood. It is reported from New York that paper currency is so scarce that laborers em ployed by the city are paid in gold. NOt long ago the banks were disposed to hoard gold, and a sort of a run was made upon tho United States Treasury to proouro it for shipment abroad. Tho stringency has gone on increasing, but gold has become more plenty for circulation. This fa 'mo, doubtless, to tho enormous shipments of wheat whioh are now being made, and to pay for which Europe must send us gold. ?Snow in August is a rare sight, but a dispatch to tho Boston Journal from Havorhlll says : "Snow drifts a foot deep were found this morning along the lino of Havorhill and Amesbury, on the hillsides this side of Amesbury. There woro patches of the snow twenty feet square In tho fields and pastures, and the country-side was covered with patches Of snow hero and there for a distance of one or two miles. Tho rainstorm in this city at midnight was torritlic, but no snow foil. The streets aro gullied in a manner which it will take hundreds of dollars to inako good, and the damage to ripening fruit will aggregate thousands." ?Senator David Dennett Hill, of Now York, bus undertaken to lea4 tho fight for freo silver- in tho United States Sonate. When the reading of tho President's message was concluded last week, Mr. Hill arose and pre sented the first bill providing for tho repeal of the purchasing clause of the Sherman law. It then contained a pro vision declaring that the repeal of the purchasing clause of this law was not to lie consVruoii ON an abandonment of ' bimetalism, but on the contrary de claring that it was the duty of tho government to maintain gold and sll > ver on a parity. Senator Hill will iu ? treduce a free coinage bill later in the session.