The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-19
Once Laid Aside 1t Is Said Tt
Will Rest Forever.
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS ON SILVER
Hints That the Action Taken Is Not
Binding.
Two Denver Men Appear With a Scheme
for Forcing Immediate Action in the
Silver Interest. but Their Programme
Looked ON With Disfavor.

WAsHISsToS CRY, Dec. 1s.-lSpecial. l.
Many Republican senators believe the
elections bill is dead. The action of the
Republican senatorial caucus last night in
deciding to pass the financial measure re-
ported today. to change the rules by adopt
ing the previous question, and to take up
the elections bill after the first two
orders have been disposed of, is
said by some of the senator's who were at
the caucus not to be binding. The Re
publicans, however, consider that by
bringing up the silver bill before the cleo
tions bill they have put the Democrats at
disadvantage.
The Republicans are masters ofthe situa-
ton. The Democrats cannot afford to
take the attitude of delay in passing the
silver measure. They are expected to
bring in free coinage amendments and
will want to debate them interminably
When the Republicans think the debate
has gone far enough they will insist on a
vote, and if the talk is prolonged then the
proposition to proceed TO the previous
question will be forced.
Democratic opposition to a change, that
financial bill might be voted on, would
put them in an unpleasant light, so that
the Republicans count on either a change
of rules, the speedy passage of cloture
rule, or perhaps both; but there is the best
of authority for the statement that the
elections bill when once laid aside viii be
dead forever. The Republican senator's
who oppose it will not make a distinct
agreement to support it at the price of lay
ing it aside temporarily, and it is believed
tlf~, LTD i 4t.
will oppose its consideration to keep it out
out of sight.
The Democrats in the meantime are pre-
pairing to make the best hight they can
against the previous question. When a
resolution for change is reported an OBJ
lection will lay it over for day, and so
the nghting is not expected to begin before
next week, at the earliest.
WAsHINGToN CITY, Dec 1s.-[Special l.
The result of the Republican caucus, which
is compromise financial measure similar
to the well-known views of the administra-
ton, is not looked upon with favor by the
silver men, who are thronging the capital.
They see in it nothing worthy the name for
silver, and will do their utmost to bring
about rearrangement of the plan before
the elections bill is disposed Of
The caucus is supposed to be binding,
but hints are thrown out that in this case
the reservation was made by the advocates
of the bimetallie system, by which they
will be able to take advantage of every op-
portunity offered. Republican senators
who favor free coinage are placed in a
peculiar position by the caucus decision.
Those who are willing to accept the COM
promise will be embarrassed when the
Democrats propose to amend the bill by a
provision for free coinage. 1t is probable
that very few of them will be able to see
their way clear to vote against such an
amendment, and there is possibility at
any time of the plan going to pieces. 1t
is not at all probable that free coinage
bill will pass the Senate.
All members of the Pacific coast delega-
tion are here except Senator Jones of Ne
vada, and his continued absence excites
comment, as this is a critical period in sill
yer legislation, and every vote from the
Pacihc coast is needed.
President Francis G. Newlands presided
over the meeting of the national silver
committee today, in which the action of
the caucus with reference to hnance was
condemned, and it was claimed that the
pSDpiS Vi TIC COUIlIy uOHld1Ueu the pas
sage Of free coinage act at this session.
Harley B. Morse and George G. Merrick,
of Denver, have arrived in Washington
with silver bar i'll their gripsack, ready to
prove that free coinage can be carried on
now if the silver men know how to go about
it. Their plan is to present the silver bar,
valued at $1,000, and demand that it be
coined into silver. Upon refusal they pro-
pose TO apply for a writ of mandamus, and
through the medium of the supreme court
compel the secretary of the treasury to do
what they desire.
Both men refused to be interviewed on
the subject, and appeared to be surprised
that the object of their visit was known,
refusing to say when the sensational scene
of boarding the. secretary in his lair would
occur. They claim to have good cause
for basing argument on the claim that the
demonetization of silver was an unconsti-
tutional act. Several members of the sill
Yer committee looked upon this pro-
gramme with disfavor, saying that it
would only delay legitimate legislation,
and get it into an inextricable mess. By
throwing the matter into the supreme
court, they claimed decision would not
be reached inside of five years, and that
the people would settle the question long
h.fa-n 10.