New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-05
A SURPRISE TO MR.. BUCKNER.
THE SILVER BILL UNEXPECTEDLY TAKEN OUT OF
HIS HANDS AND REFERRED TO ANOTHER COM
MITTEF,


lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rEIBUNEl
WASHINGTON Nov. 4.-The House has got out OF pa
tence with the lack of tact and skill manifested by
the Committee on Banking and Currency, ana
passed a very unusual vote of want of confidence III
the committee during the short session OF yesterday
The committee had on Friday, by vote OF 10 4.
adopted bill to provide for the remonetHauoh Oh
silver and to make silver legaltenderfor all deDS
pni,Iic and private This bill the chairman was au-
thorized TO report to the House whenever an oppor
tunity presented itself. AS the committee NAVE
however used up all the time TO which they are en-
titled or are likely to be entitled, during the present
session. the only opportunity TO get the Dill polo1e tho
House will probably be under a suspension of the
rules during some Mondays session. In order
that members might be acquainted with the proyl-
sions of the bill and better prepared 20 vote upon 1t
when it shall be brought before the House, Nh
Buckner introduced it yesterday and asked that 1t be
referred TO his committee. OF course the House had
no means of knowing officially that this bill was the
one upon which the committee had been at
work for two or three days. but there were
few Representatives present who were not unohclai-
y aware of that fact. 1t does not happen once III
Congress that when bill thus prepared and agreed
to by majority of committee Is introduced 1or
reference that II is taken ont of the hands Of that
committee and intrusted TO another; but this IS
lust what the House did yesterday with
the measure which had been agreed to
by the Banking and Currency Committee
the evening before. Alexander \. stephens, chair
man of Coinage, Weights and Measures, who was
seated quietly in his rolling chair IN tho area IN
front of the Speakers table when Mr. Bucbner pre-
sented his measure, Immediately suggested that it
90 TO the committee over which he himself pre-
sided. Messrs. Buckner and Ewing, and other MEN,
Ill T7r.if- ltlla rlrla-
tested earnestly against any such disposition Of the
bill; but tho House, having had enough Of the
management of the Banking and Currency Com
mittee was determined that the silver BIZ, when it
comes mp for consideration, shall pe managed by
another If not a bier, CQmmitJte. by an Over "ielI
ing vote il took the bill out Of the hands OF rs au-
th0Ts, and sent ii to the Committee on Coinage,
Weights and Measures.
There is probably little difference in the sentiment
Of these two committees in regard to reWonotiZ1-
ton of silver. The Committee on Banking and
Currency stand seven to f1ur i'm favOrOf the passage
Of bin putting silver dollars on an equality with
gold dollars both in regard TO their legal-teuder
property aud also in regard to their treatment al
, the miuts Of the United States The majority IN
favor OF q similar bill in the Committee on Coinage
Weights and Measures is probably about The same.
Mr.. Brewer, Of Michigan, member Of the latter
committee, viii favor amendments to me pm
similar to those proposed to be introduced by Mf.
Eamcs Of Rhode Island. Ii would not be strange
if one would provide that all debts incurred since
the decentralization Of silver should be payable IN
gold or leGal-tendcr notes IN accordance with eX-
istng contracts specific or implied.
II il only just TO Mr. Alex. H. stephens to say that
when be moved TO refer MIR. BuCkneTS SILVER BIu TO
the Committee 0usConage, Weights and Measures,
he was not aware of the fact that il was an exact
coDv of the measure matured In tho Committee Of
Banking and Currency. The majority Of the House
knew it, but Mr. stephens did not even suspect it.
After tie bill had been referred, he assured mem
bers Of the committee that if he had known this
fact he would not have made his motion, and that
if they desired II, he would then move That the
House recall the bill and send il 10 the COMMITTEE
on Banking and Currency.
The Committee on Banking and Currency has
instructed It's chairman, Mr.. Buckncr, to offer the
Silver BIZ which has been agreed 10 10y II, after
the morning hour tomorrow, and ask the House TO
suspend the rules and pass it. The friends of tho
bill express the belief thls evening that they will
be able t. obtain a tw0-hrds vote in its favor but
there is observable an absence Of chat uuQucsiOnUg
confidence in their ability TO carry the House with
them whch they manifested a week ago. The re-
verses of the past four five days have taught
the opponents Of specie resumption and the advO-
Gates OF the old silver dollar the lesson that they
had oyeuated their strength in the House and that
it requires something besides a clear majority in
that body TO carry measure successfully through It,