Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-22
lrRom A STAFF CORRESPONDENT ]


wAsHINGT ON, June N.-The result of
the wrong track taken by the Democrats
from the outset of the discussion of the
reference of the silver bill bore its legiti-
mate fruit to-day in the breaking up of the
party organization and the triumph of the
Speaker and his supporters by large ma
jority. The contest Of three days has been
altogether on the question whether the bill
was properly referred.
Had the Democrats taken for granted at
the outset that an improper reference had
been made and paid no attention to the rec
ord of the matter in the journal OF the
House, but insisted that the bill should be
at once taken up and the question decided
whether the House would concur in the
Senate amendments. the free coinage men
might have carried the day. Now their
case is hardly doubtful one.
FREE COINAGE BEATEN.
1t is practically certain they are defeated.
The bill is decided to be in the committee
to which it was referred, and not on the
Speakers table. The party line OF the
Democrats is broken more disastrously than
that of the Republicans, and the prospects
are that no opportunity will be given for a
vote on the question of concurrence until it
is plain that the anti-free coinage men have
sure control of the situation.
Notwithstanding their utter rout to-day,
the Democrats and free coinage men are in
very good humor. The turning of the
tables was so complete that the bitterest of
the enemies of the Speaker appeared to be
inspired with admiration for him and his
humorous remark in most solemn tones that
IL was possible some of tine gentlemen on
the floor of the House had discovered that
parliamentary law" was not an exact
science, was received with shouts of genu-
inc and hearty laughter as fully on the
Democrat as the Republican side.
IMPROPER LEADERSHIP.
1t is generally admitted that the disas-
trous rout OF the Democrats to-day was due
to the fool leadership OF Mills, Bland and
Springer, three men as wholly lacking the
elements of the ideal leader of parliament
ary body as could be found in the country.
Their first little victory SO flushed them
with Importance that they have done moth
ing since but strut about and air themselves
and ask their friends if they had not knocked
out Speaker Reed in great style.
Meantime Reed merely waited, certain
that they would get tangled up in their own
vanity before the end was reached. It is
now believed by the friends of the Speaker
that the bill will be speedily taken up by
the House, and there is no doubt whatever
that the House will refuse to concur in the
amendments of the Senate, and that the bill ]
will have to run the gauntlet OF a confer
ence committee, one-half at least of which
will be unchangeably opposed to free coin
age.
It is the opinion of some Of the most saga. |
cious and:least partisan observers that there |
will be no silver bill enacted into law at |
this session.
CONGER'S POSITION.
Chairman Conger said this evening to
The DISPATCH correspondent that the
on Coinage would meet on Tues
day and the silver bill would be at once
considered. He was of the opinion that the
bill would be reported back not later than
Th ursday. The only way the bill can be
brought up in the House for consideration is
by resolution of the Committee on Rules
making it special order, and such resolu-
ton will be reported as soon as the bill comes
in.
When asked as to the character of the bill
10 be reported Mr.. Conger said: "Of course
we cannot tell what our committee may do,
but so far as am Individually concerned,
you may say emph atically am opposed to
free coinage. and judging by the attitude of
,he other members of our committee in the
past, think you may safely say that the
ree coinage clause will be stricken out.
Other amendments will be made, but can.
not say what they will be. We will not
lally over the question, but will meet it
airly and squarely early next week."
TrnuTNrP