The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-06-28
The Fate of Silver in the House.

house to which the Senate ire
coinage bill was referred by tn
:. Speaker, was, of course, stamped
upon by that body, June Oath, as i
was intended that it should be iron
the beginning. A motion that tn
committee concur in the Senate bill
was promptly defeated by vote o
: 6 to 4; motion to non-concur
received the same support. So TIT
bill goes to the House from the com
mittee with an adverse report t.
start with. 1t narrowly escaped
being pigeon-holed entirely. The
general tone of the dispatches in
dicate its defeat in the House, if il
shall come to vote at all, by q
majority about equal to the vote OF
the republican majority in that
body-a dozen or more-there be-
ing few eastern democrats who
will oppose free coinage, about
equalling the republican members
who will befriend the measure. The
bill was reported to the House and
the debate began on Wednesday.
This will end the first act of this
farce.
AS we intimated last week, out of
this conflict compromise may yet
be arranged that will be of some adj
vantage to silver, but that is a matter
altogether in the unknown future.
The talk Of flying the monthly pur-
chases of silver at 81 500, 900 worth,
instead of the same number of oun-
ces, may receive support sufficient
to constitute basis of compro-
mise bill, which in the failure of all
other measures, can be adopted by
both Senate and House. Free coin
age is evidently dead The powers
are against it.
There is too much partizanship
displayed regarding this measure.
When, some weeks ago, it was as
serted on seemingly valid authority
that the President would not sign
any bill ON the subject passed by |
democratic votes, we were disposed |
to doubt it. It scarcely appeared
either creditable or credible that
the chief Executive co; did hold ola such
light views of the responsibilities
Of his great Office as to ignore the
business necessities of the country
and put them beneath partisan ne
In theory, at least, that
IS not what president is elected
Tor, or expected to do; but the out
,iyings of those near him, and the
outworkings of his nearest friends,
lbundantly confirm the political
hostility referred to.
For instance, in the published
address of Francis G. Newlands, !,
he Nevada representative on the
National silver committee, delivered
It Salt Lake City, this violent pref
'dice of the president is constantly
Manifested. Mr.. Newlands is @ re-
'ublican, but a warm advocate of
liver interests, and is presumed to .
peak candidly and intelligently.
II one portion Of his address he
avs: &
1t seems, after left, the matter came t
p IN the Senate; enough republican votes /
ere not secured for that measure to pass I
as party measure SO the motion to =
Institute free coinage was made, and the !
III was passed by very nearly two
eds vote, composed Of twenty seven, l
ink, democratic votes, and fifteen re
'bllcan votes. SO, you see, it has passed
e Senate as democratic measure. Ii
'cs to the House, and if it passes there,
will pass as democratic measure.
The president wants an Administration
easure. He wants party measure
e does not want bill to come to him
hich is supported in the main by dem
ratio votes, and hcs1des that, upon con
ction he is unalterably opposed to free
image. My judgment Is that If a free :
image bill passes it will be vetoed; but
do not think the Presidents veto is 90
6 10 strengthen the cause Of bi metal
I'm. l do not believe it can pass over
8 veto, ny two thirds vote. am in
pes, however, that all this confusion in
C House, which is probably simply ar
nged IN order to secure time with
aw to compromised am in hopes that
we will have bill providing
the purchase of 100000 ounces per
onth, the certificates to be legal tender,
q without bullion redemption; and if
secure that, | say that the cause of bi
stalllsm would have made most sub
initial and triumphant progress. j
If the above statement be true
submit that patriotism is subor {
mated to partisanship. 1t is not /.
aling with the important interests Il
the country fairly. If the pres q
'nt's party friends have placed
emselves in an unfortunate and
popular position on this matter,
at is no fault of the democratic
embers. These majority sena.
IS constitute az much q portion N
the government as any others. III
fulfilling their duties, and heed
J the demands of the West for -
lief and assistance, they are Justly y
titled to the credit of their votes. e
ey should be judged by their acts =
q not by alleged motives assigned
their opponents. The greatest n
ID to the greatest number" has a
7ays been fundamental princi- -
Of the party which elected them. "