Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-12-16
SENATORS IN CAUCUS
Nothing Final at the Repub.
 lican Meeting.
SEVERAL TEST VOTES TAKEN.
The Majority Opposed to the Two Pa
 Gent. Bond Scheme

Difference of Opinion on the ProposlttoM
 to Purchase Silver-The Elections BiIl { and the Rule for Declaring the Previous
 question Not Touched Ueon-Aaother
 Meeting to be Held To-l1orrOw Night.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.-The Republican Senators met in caucus at the residence of Senator McMillan last night and re- mained in session for more than three hours. They adjourned to meet again tomorrow night without coming to a definite conclusion on any of he propo- sitions under discussion, but after indi- eating the probable fate of several of them.
 Senator Sherman laid before Che caucus the proposition of the caucus committee and the proposition of Secretary Windom. The caucus proposition included . provi- sion that the subsidiary coin now in the Treasury shall be recoined. and further provision that when silver shall have re- mained at par for year, any holder of silver may bring it to the mint and have it coined into silver dollars at the ex. pense of the government.
 The discussion turned on the pro- position to issue $100, ,000, 1000 of two per cent. bonds. The committee propo- sition differs from the proposition of the Secretary on this point, in that the Secre- tary wishes the bonds to be made inter convertible, while the proposition of the committee is that these bonds be used for the retirement of bonds now in ciRcu- lation. It was stated that the Secretary would be willing to accept 15-year bond or 30-year bond. Arguments were made against the proposition to issue bonds on the ground that their issue would in no way relieve the situation. On the \ nfh hand said &hA YPnnn@06 ! issue would increase the national debt ! $25, ,000, ,000.
 There were several test votes taken on motions associated with the bond clause which indicated very clearly that Q largo majority of the Senators present were opposed to the issue of any new bonds. There was a difference of opinion \ when the caucus adjourned as to the probable fate of the proposition to pur- chase silver. One free-coinage Senator | said that there was little doubt that If | anything was agreed to it would be the purchase of 12, 2,000. 900 ounces of silver, while another free-coinage Senator said | that he believed the caucus would agree | to increase the regular monthly pur- chases. It was argued by the silver Sem ! ators in the caucus that the Senate must eventually come to free coinage, if not
 at this session, then at the next session
 of Congress, and they urged that the ! Senate accept the inevitable and agree to free coinage now. There seems but lit
 tie douht that the proposition to pur.
 chase silver and issue Treasury notes on
 it to replace the national bank notes re.
 tired will be agreed to, and also to have free coinage if silver remains at par for 8
 year, although the advocates of free coinage say that the latter proposition is
 of value only as indicating the senti
 ment in favor of free coinage. They say
 that if free coinage Is had it will be by
 direct legislation.
 The caucus did not get down to the dis
 cussion of the question of laying aside
 the Elections bill, and the rule for de-
 claring the previous question. which wal
 under consideration when the last eau
 GUS adjourned. The was a full attend
 ance