New-York tribune., 1878-02-19
THE SILVER LEAGUE.


No ACTION IN THE HOUSE YEsTERDAY-THE ELL
To RE REFERRED TO TIE COMMITTEE on BANK
ING AND CURRENCY.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TBIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-The Silver BIZ VIII ho'
be sent to the President for his signature TINS week.
Its supporters in the House of Representatives are
by no means pleased with tho shape III "hlch the
Senate amendments have left the measure, ana are
Greatly divided in sentiment to the best course to
be pursued with il. On Saturday and Sunday some
of the most influential members of the Silver League
including Mr. Buckner its President, and Mr..
Philips of Kansas, its secTetary-concluded after
consultation, that tho wsest policy would be TO
cause the rules to be suspended during the ses-
sion of the House to-day. and have the Senate
amendments to the Bland bill concurred in without
debate They were not pleased with tn character
and scope of these amendments, but careful study
OF the debate in the Senate and an analysis OF the
votes in that body convinced thcm that they could
not do better. But it was soon discov-
cred that there parliamentary difficult
ties in the way of the disposal OF the
hill in that way to-day. In the first
place private bill camo from last Friday, in
which vote had to be taken immediately after the
reading of the journal and this occupied nearly an
hour then there the call OF States Tor blls ana
,oint resolutions for reference finally, at o'clock,
the COMMITTEES of the District OF Columbia had the
floor and could not he displaced even by two
thirds vote. There only one way left, there
FORE TO get at the Silver Bill to-day, and that was
10 keep the Houso in session until the District Com
mittce bad completed its business and that was
found to be impossible. Although large majority
Of the House are in favor of the speedy passage of
the measure they were not quite ready TO hold the
Housc in session at unreasonable hours for that pur
pose.
The next plan suggested that proposed in the
Ranking and Currency Committee this morning,
which was to have the House go to the Speakers
table after the morning hour tomorrow, postpone
all other business and let the Silver Bill be reached.
and then concur in the Senate amendments without
referring them to the committee This plan
met with even opposition than any other
The extreme men are unwilling to accept the
hill as il now stands; they want free coinage aud
unlimited issue of silver, and comparatively lit
te for the bill il il does not embrace these features
General Ewing, who was in Ohio and was intending
10 remain there for several days, telegraphed that
he was Oh his way to Washington, and that he was
unaterably opposed 10 the bill in its present shape
Thus matters stood when the House adjourned this
afternoon aud the Silver League met.
The day had been spent by the silver men in an
interchange of views, and those views were very
diverse in their character. At the meeting OF the
Silver League Mr.. Buckner presided. A resolution
was offered by Mr.. EdeD of Illinois, instructing Mr.
Ruckner Chairman of the Committee ON Banking
and Currency and President of the League, to make
motion tomorrow after the morning hour that the
House 90 10 the Speakers table, and that when the
silver BiIl was reached it should be at once
considered without reference to the committee.
This resolution was supported by AeSsrs. Eden,
Phillips Hanna ard Others end opposed by hiessrs.
Ewing. Buckner and Bright General Ewing was
very earnest III his opposition TO any acceptance of
~ Ila aid
know even that ne should vote for the measure un-
less the Questionable features were stricken out lie
characterized the bull III its present form as fraud
md cheat and said that it was merely scheme TO
aid and hasten the resumption OF specie payments.
The bill as il now stands, nc declared does not re-
nonetze the silver dollar. Free coinage is an inds-
pensable feature of remonetization. General Ewing
spoke at considerable length. celebrating the points
givon above and denouncing the amended bill IN un-
measured terms
General b. F. Butler began by saying that he oc-
oupied peculiar position regard TO this measure,
as he was probably the only member OF the Silver
League. two-tlirds Of whose constituents were op-
nosed 10 the Silver Bill. General Butler was not
pleased with the Senate amendments, bat said that
he would vote TO concur in them if lac could not
get ANYTHING better. In his speech he called
attention 10 the fact that, while the Bland
hill as IL passed the House made silver legal-en-
der for all debts public and private, except where
contracts had been made before its passage TO pay
gold coin and while that proviso was inserted to
cover past contracts only, his Interpretation OF the
language of one OF the Senate amendments was
that it, allowed contracts to be made in the future
ignoring silver coin. Ii was very necessary that
gold should be stipulated in the contract and silver
coin shonld be shut out altogether. The banks
were even now threatening to stipulate for the
payment of gold in their contracts. This, he
thougbt was all wrong. Ia France and Germany,
he s,id such contracts not allowed by law, il
il held that il is contrary TO public policy to allow
agreements 10 pay debts in anything except the
money Of the realm, or to permit citizens to make
Determinations against any portion OF such money
not made by the Government itself General Butler
also called attention to the fact that the bill,
os IL stands, makes no provision for the issue
Of the silver that may be exchanged at tho Treasury
for certificates, aud said that unless positive
directions were gwen TO tho Secretary Of the Treas
ury hc might lock up all tho silver coin in the Gov
snment vaults He insisted that the bill ought TO
be sent TO the Committee on Banking and Currency.
and tha. il should take the usual course, but said
that although he thought 1t ought to be changed,
he would vote for any measure which the committee
MIR Fort. OF Illinois, was displeased with the bill
in ts present FORM but said that he should vote for
IL If II could not be passed IN more acceptable
shape.
EMr Hendrcl B. Wright of Pennsylvania favored
taking the bill from the Speakers table Tomorrow,
and passing it, and offered substitute for the pend
ing resolution, the object OF which was 10 secure
such action.
Mr. Phillips of Kansas. said that he would prefer
the original Bland bill TO the amended measure Dut
that after all the latter secured two Things; flfst
Il secured the reconciliation Of the silver dollar OF
412la grams and secondly it made that dollar legal
tender for al debts public and private 70 Unlimited