The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-19
SILVER A SHUTTLECOCK.
THE RETURN RAP OF THE HOUSE
STILL UNCERTAIN.

Speaker heeo Trying TO ShaOo the
Stroke to Suit His Own Ideas-He
Has the Measure Under His Hand
and Will Keep it There Till He Con-
cocts a New Scheme.
WASHINGTON, June 1S.-The House silver
bill, as amended by the Senate lies under
Speaker Reeds big hand on the speakers
table. 1t will be there until he gets
ready to let it go elsewhere, for he has only
to refuse to recognize members desiring
action, and this he finds as easy as to see an
absent quorum. Speaker Reed is in guam
Diary, perpexed as he has not been this
session. If the Senate finance committee
had only kept the House bill in its pigeon
holes and sent Senate bill over instead,
Speaker Reed could bury it in COMMITTEES
and try some other measure; but as the
House has right to say whether it will or
will not concur in the Senate amendments
and, of course, it wants to concur by a con-
siderable majority-Speaker Reed desires
to get the bill into conference without CIV
ing the House chance to have its way.
A PUZZLE.
But how he is going to carry this out no
one can see He himself seems to be think
ing very hard about it. If he did not want
any legislation it would be easy enough to
keep the bill just where it is-under his
thumb: but he has said and believes that
some silver legislation must be passed.
Speaker Reed does not propose to have any
silver bill passed which goes further than
the Harrison compromise defeated in toe
Senate. Meantime, the force of his disci-
pline in the House was well shown to-day,
when the democrats, after vigorously APP
plauding the bill when it came over
from the Senate, tried to get immediate
consideration for it. The extremel silver
republicans, mode; ate silver republicans
and antl-silver republicans all stood up to
defeat this at Speaker Reeds nod, while
Richard Vaux with Mr.. Mutchler of Penn
sylvania) cast his first significant vote
against it. The silver men, moderate and
extreme, say that Speaker Reed must sub
nit the matter to party caucus. But
Speaker Reed does not submit to caucuses,
He keeps caucuses for the other fellows.
THE TOPIC IN THE HOUSE.
The all-absorblng topic of interest to-day
in the House was the probable disposition
of the bill. When the bill was received
from the Senate this afternoon Mr.. BANDS
motion that the committee of the whole
rise in order to Immediately consider the
bill was received with wild applause by
his fellow democrats, who saw their
chance to score a point and support it as a
unit. With two exceptions, no republicans
voted for the motion. As it was entirely
improbable that the bill could have been
reached even had the committee risen, Mr..
Perkins, who has charge of the Indian ap-
preparation bill was prepared to move to
return at once into committee of
the whole. Had his motion been defeated
call for the regular order would have sent
the House to business on the speakers table.
Just there the main obstacle stands. The
rule is peculiaE in its phraseology, and
reads: House bills with Senate amend
ments which do not require consideration
In committee of the whole may be at
once disposed of as the House may deter
mine.n
NOT MANDATORY.
1t will be noticed that the provision is
not mandatory, inasmuch as the word
may" isused, and it is suggested that there
was distinct purpose in its use 1t is un-
derstood also that when the bill is finally
reached on the speakers table. point of
order will be made that it must 60 to
committee of the whole under Rule 20.
which subjects to point of order any amend
ment OF the Senate to d House bill that if
originating in the House would be
The members who stand ready to make
this point hold that the clause in the bill as
1t came from the Senate, making an idef-
mite appropriation to carry out the purposes
of the bill, is subject to the point, but the
free coinage men hold that as the House
Dill contained a provision making an indef-
mite appropriation for the purchase of silver
monthly, this clause can't be regarded as
an amendment and is therefore not subject
10 the action of the House.
THE REAL ISSUE.
hn hot ha
appropriation clauses are held to be identi-
cal in purpose-one making an appropria-
ton for bullion purchases and the other for
the expenses of free coinage. Speaker
Reed admits that the points presented are
delicate and intricate; and the indications
are that when the point is made there will
be prolonged discussion before
cision should be In support of
the point of order, then the bill will be sent
TO committee of the whole, from which it
cannot probably be rescued save by action
OF the committee on rules.
Meanwhile, the supposed representatives
OF the administration sentiment are making
an active canvass of the republicans OF the
House, which may lead to a short cut to the
conference stage and avoid the presentation
OF the point of order if it shows
that they can defeat a motion to
concur in the Senate amendments. There
Is an effort making to have republican
caucus held tomorrow night to consider the
Senate amendments to the silver bill and
ehdeavor to unite upon definite policy In
Its treatment.
WAY OUT OF THE DILEMMA.
WASHINGTON, June IS, II 80 P. Mt
leaked out tonight that Speaker Reed had
solved the problem of what to do with the
ugly silver bill the Senate sent the House
by privately ordering Journal Clerk Smith
TO send the bill to the committee on coinage,
where it may be buried forever. This is
quite the most remarkable thing which
speaker Reed has done yet, and 1t is no
wonder that he enjoined strict secrecy on
the very few members whom he
TOOK into his confidence. The the
DRY of the silver men on both
sides of the House was that inasmuch
as the bill was on the speakers table IL
could not be taken off without being
brought before the House 80 that it could
De voted on. If it had been Senate bill it
would have gone to a committee as matter
OF course, but being a House bill amended
oy the Senate. they thought under the
practice of the House, that it must be
Drought before the House. even if motion
was made to send it to committee.
BEYOND THEIR REACH,
As 1t is now the bill is beyond their reach,
tor Speaker Reed will not recognize any OF