New-York tribune., 1879-04-15
GREENBACKERS FOILED.
THE ATTEMPT TO INTRODUCE FINANCIAL BILLS DUR
ING THE MORNING HOUR DEFEATED-ALEXAN-
DER II. sTEPHENS's EXPEDIENT.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl

ING THE MORNING HOUR DEFEATED-ALENAN-
DER II. sTEPHENs's EXPEDIENT.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.I
WASHINGTON, April 1.-the Greenbackers and
their allies in the House were defeated to-day i'll
way they had not fOrcseen. At the beginning of
the extra session. the Nationals announced III high
sounding phrase that they held the balance OF
power, and would dictate the election Of Speaker
Their minds were soon disabused of this erroneous
IMPRESSION and they, at the same time, conceived
high regard for the power of party caucus. They
have held a caucus several times n week since then,
and a few DAYS ago the Democrats of the House
also held one in their interest. The result of the
"dicker" between the Nationals and Democrats
apparently, was that the former should
vote for the Army bill, and receive in return
q Monday session, when under the rules they might
introduce bills for the relief of the country"
The agreement was carried out in good faith on
both sides up to the moment when Speaker Randall
this morning recognized Representative Ladd, of
Maine tall the Maine Representatives. were on the
floor claiming recognition at once, under the call of
States for the presentation of bills and resolutions
for reference The title of Mr.. Ladds first bil-"A
measure to equaze the coinage of gold and silver "
was no sooner read than Mr. ConGcr, of Michigan,
raised the point of order that days notice that
it was to be introduced had not been gwen. After
order, and Mr.: COnger appealed from his decision.
On a motion to table the appeal the yeas and nays
were called, and this exhausted the morning hour.
The Greenbackers and their frends-nOtably Mr..
s. s. Cox-wcre considerably netled at this impo-
tent conclusion of the strategic movements which
have occupied their attention for the last four weeks
Representative Monroe offered resolution that 1t
is the sense Of the House that the interests of the
country require that no currency or tarlh legsIa-
tion should be undertaken at this session. On a
motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution
the yeas were 1OS and the nays III. Representa-
tive Barlow, of Vermont voted for the resolution,
as did also the following Democrats Messrs. Beck
nell Bliss Covert Denster, Godshalk, Hurd, Johns
ton. McLane, Morrison Ross and Talbot Judge hol-
ley declined to VOTE because currency and tariff ques-
tons could not be separated in the resolution.
Messrs. Fort, Of Illinois. and McCaid, of
Iowa. Republicans, voted against the reso-
luton. Five members of the Committee
on WAYS and Means voted for, and six
against the resolution one Kelley declined to
vote. and one Nlorse) who would have voted for it
was absent.
During the discussion in the House to-day on the
point of order relating to the introduction OF bills,
Representative Alexander IL. Stephens remarked
that he did not consider the decision Of much i'm
portance because any member could by the use of
the petition box get before the proper commit tee
any measure that lie desired introduced, and If
1t referred TO the Committee on ways
and Means, Banking and Currency or Coinage, the
committee could, under the rules of The House, re-
! port ii at any time.
! Mr. Stephens said that he had already introduced
| this morning in this manner all the measures on
which he desired action at this session, and several
others did the same. This gave rise to the question
whether bills could actually be introduced IN this
way or not and Mr. Springer caused several rules
to be read bearing on the subject The Speaker de-
| Clluei
tual question is raised Such question is likely to
arise early. as Of the financial committees Will
probably report bill on the subject OF silver or
! the National bank circulation within a few days,
and n point OF order will be raised that the COM
mtee has not obtained jurisdiction of the subject
| probably rule that when committee has a petition
on any gwen subject referred to it it Is authorized
/ to report upon that subject by bill or otherwise.