Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-18
D0DGING THE QUESTION.
The Administration Does Not Want to Face
the Silver Question.

WASHINGTON. April 1.-THE president
is seeking to dodge the silver issue. The
introduction by Mr. Breckenridge, of Ken
lucky, of a resolution declaring it TO be the
sense of the house that the secretary of the
treasury has power under existing law, to
purchase United States bonds with the &C
cumulated surplus in the treasury, and
that in the opinion of the house, such dis
position of the surplus is desirable is
generally interpreted to mean that the
committee on ways and means will not re-
port back TO the house at this session
the bond buying bill with the Beck
silver amendment. The reason for this
determination on the part of the majority
of the ways and means committee, are
not far TO seek There is but little doubt
hut that if the bond buying bill is
anended by the senate should be sub
mitted TO the house for action, it would be
passed. The house is hardly so conserva-
tive that the bond buying bill as it came
from the senate will be defeated. 1t is
known that the leaders of the ways and
means committee fear that such would be
the result of reporting this measure, and
they don't at present care TO invite the
financial debate which would he certain to
follow, or to precipitate into the presi-
Dental campaign so disturbing an element
AS the silver question, which the leaders of
both parties had expected would for an in
definite period lie dormant.
tits believed the leaders of the ways and
means committee in this respect represent
the policy of the administration. Should
the BILL as amended by the senate, be
passed by the house and 90 to the president,
il hardly can be possible. in view of
the record the latter has made
upon the silver question. that ne would
sign it. A veto at this time is not regard
ed at desirable, especially as the admins
rratiOn has accomplished the object which
was originally sought by the passage of
the bond buying bill in the house That
purpose was 10 secure an enactment by
both houses of the provisions of the ex-
listing law which authorizes the secretary
Of the treasury III certain circumstances TO
use the surplus for the purchase of bonds
The secretary of the treasury has had
doubts whether this paragraph in the APP
preparation bill would confer the neces-
sary power.
There can no longer be any doubt as 10
what the opinion of the senate Is upon that
subject, for, than the authority is vested
In him by law, the senate has now de-
rlared, and the leaders of both parties in
the senate have now declared. and are pre-
pared to maintain that construction OF eN-
listing statues. II the house shall
slso declare that there is suf-
hclent authority under existing
law, theadministration viii have received
the expression of opinion of the two
houses, even il not concurrent. The secre-
tary of the treasury under such circum-
stances would undoubtedly feel author
Ned, should an emergency arise TO use the
surplus for the purchase of bonds Ii is
evident that, If the ways and means COM
mittee can prevent ii. there will not be A
Discussion, i,,f ba
sion. But ii may be doubted whether the
ways and means committee Will have the
power to prevent ii.
The resolution which Mr.. Breckinridre /
has introduced, if reported to the house.
would furnish Il very convenient text for a /
general financial discussion. Possibly !
party pressure might be brought to hear |
by adopting the previous question 10 pre-
vent amending the resolution. but it will |
hardly be possible TO wholly prevent a (
debate which would involve the general |
discussion OF the silver question.
THE SUPREME COURT VACANCY.
WASHINGTON, april 1.-THE latest very
positive reports which connect the name 1
of Senator Gray, of Delaware, with the |
rhief justiceship have been summarily de /
nied by a statement Of that gentleman |
himself Mr. Gray, owing TO the nearness /
OF bis own home to Washington, is able to /
continue his law practice and il is his Gus /
tom every Saturday, when the senate is /
not in session, 70 spend the day at home in /
legal consultation. He did this ON last
Saturday and conferred with his business
and legal and political friends, as is his /
custom. Out of his regular and ordinary
visits at once grew the report that he had |
been rendered the position of chief Justice
of the supreme court and had gone to Del
aware TO confer with his political friends
about Il, and TO endeayor to come to some
arrangement as to his succession in the
senate. He says very plainly that he has