, 1881-02-27
70 ner cent and extended through the entire
WASHINGTON.

CVN It II EIGCs
Yesterdays COMMITTEE NETTING
sx.esai nixnafch Ia The Chfcd1Q Tffkunk.


WAsu1SGroS, D. C., Feb. 28.-The Ways
and Means Committee met this morning 10
take final action upon the Funding bill.
There was manifest disposition on tne part
of tile Democrats to reconsider the action OF
last Thursday, when it was agreed to recon-
menl various amendments to tho bill rs 1t
came from the Senate. and to insist upon
motion TO Immediately concur In the Senate
amendments. Speaker Rainfall, who has the
per cent scheme very much at heart, ana
whose pride is involved in the passage
of the bill, has used his intlueuce to
induce the Democratic majority OF the ways
and Means Committee to press for Immediate
action. The Republican members OF the Com
nittee, however, notably Mr. Frye, insisted
that such a course would be
A GROSS VIOLATION OF FAITH;
that the Committee had agreed with the Re
publicans that the amendments which had
been carried il the Committee last THURSDAY
should be presented in the House, alid that
not to do so now would be to ylotate lhelr
faith in SO gross manner that the kepnollc-
ans would be compelled to take notice OF IT,
The attitude OF the Republicans OH tne
Committee plainly indicated that they would
not consent to any such Judgment rs
was proposed by the Democratic members
without asserting the rights which the
Republican minority so well knows 10" 10
exercise. TAereupon the Democratic mem
bers of the Committee acccdcd to tic de-
mands of the Republicans, concession
which Speaker Randall has since said was
"a surrender to the bulldozing Of the Repub-
Iicans." Speaker Randall, moreover, de-
clares that the Democrats of the House viii
not consent to any such surrender, anu that
the Ways and Means Committee, IT it keeps
Its faith with the Republicans, shall be over
ruled. .--.--..
AT ALL EVENTS,
the Democratic members Of the Committe,
after three hours session, sqnarcly voted
this morning to instruct the Chairman at an
early opportunity after the passage of the
Sundry Civil bill to move to go to the Speak
er's table to consider the Funding bill, and
to concur in the Senate amendments, with
the amendments adopted in the Committee
OH Thursday, already published, and with
an additional amendment and resolution
also that MI. Conger might offer an amend
nlent to the fifth section Of the bill; that MI
Mills might offer all amendment yet to be
formulated, and that then there would be
call for the previous question upon the Senate
amendments and the amendments thereto
The Committee also decided to orec0nslder the
amendments adopted last Thursday, which
extended the time for taking out the new
bonds to Sept l. The Committee leave the
date as it was left In the Senate amendments,
at July l, the end of the fiscal year, and the
time Of semi-annual payment Of interest on
the bonds.
MR. M'K1NLEy
| Al fot -
Provided, that nothing in this act shall be con-
strued to repeal, or In any wny affect or modlty,
Secs 20 :.sa 5s.,,3. and 5229 Of the Revised
Statutes Of the United States.
The purpose of the Mckinley amendment
is to retain in the statutes the present law,
which provides for voluntary liquidation. 1t
was not the intent of the trainers Of the new
Funding bill to repeal that law, but, as there
have been some doubts as to the construction
of this law and as to the effect Of the Fund
ing bill, it was thought advisable to make
the affirmative declaration that the yolun-
tary liquidation provision was not to be
modified, affected or repealed. Mr.. Con-
gers amendment proposes to fix Sept l
as the date under which the per cent bonds
alone will be received as security for elrcu-
lation, and proposes to strike out that section
OF the bill which provides for the repeal Of
the fourth section Of the act Of July II, 1870,
under which National banks can now at
pleasure retire their circulation down to the
amount of S50, 900 upon the presentation OF
Iegal-tenders The amendment which Mr..
Mills proposes TO offer Is of q greenback
character, and has not yet been defnitly
formulated.
THIS Is TIE AGREEMENT OF TIE COMMIT
TEE.
It has been ascertained since the meeting,
however, that the Democratic leaders have
decided that the Ways and Means Committee
must be overruled; that twill not do to per-
nit the bill to 20 back to the Senate with IN
amendment, however trihing, as to do that
will enuanger the final passage Of the bill,
aud that motion must be made in the House
to concur in the Senate amendments, and to
pass the bill exactly as it now stands upon
the Speakers table. If the members Of the
| Ways and Means Committee DO not keep
their faith with the Republicans, Or if they
vince a lukewarmness in supporting
amendments which were agreed upon at the
Instance Of the Republicans, it is very proba-
BILE that a desperate contest will begin. Mr..
Frye, on behalf OF the Republican members
Of the Committee. has given notice that the
Republicans will not consent to such condi-
tions, and will do their utmost to prevent the
Democrats from carrying out their purpose.
THE FEAR
that the bill would be defeated if it should
be sent back to the Senate, with even an in
significant amendment, is undoubtedly we'll
founded, for it has been ascertained to-day.
that number of the Republican Sena tors
have determined that, if the bill comes into
the control of the Senate again, they will
certainly defeat it.
What is to be the fate Of the bill
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
it is very difficult to predict. The sentiment
against its passage has visibly gained
strength since yesterday among the Repub-
lican members Of that body, and strong
disposition is manifested to prevent further
action unless the fifth section of the bill shall
be struck out altogether. It has been init
mated to leading Republican members of the
House by influential Senutors that if the bill
can be sent back to the Senate,
even with one amendment, the measure
will be killed in that body for this
session, at least, but the Republican Repre-
sentatives say that they have trusted the Sem
ate once to improve this bill, and if they can
prevent it they do nut propose to he again
the victims of such misplaced confidence.
There are forty to fifty Republican members
Of the House who now feel that they cannot