The morning call., 1890-06-22
DEFEATED
BY DEMOCRATS.
Action Of the House on the
Silver Bill.
The Measure Finally Referred to the Coin
age Committee.
Hopes Of the Advocates Of Unlimited Coinage
Shattered Probability Of a
Compromise.
Special Dispatches to THE MORNING CALI.

Congress. When Speaker Reed raped his
gavel at precisely u o'clock to-day the gal
leres were densely packed, and the floor
was well filled with members and visiting
Senator's 1t was soon observed that there
were fewer absentee Republican members
than on yesterday, while on the Demo-
cratic side many empty seats were no.
tced.
Before the debate began 1t was believed
that the fight would be short and free
coinage would be downed by big major
ity, but when Townsend of Colorado arose
and in vigorous speech favored taking
up the Silver Bill, and was followed in
turn by Morrow. Hermann, Bartine and
Carter. each of whom earnestly supported
him, the hopes of the silver men began to
rise again, while Reed and Mckinley ap-
peared very anxious and apprehensive as
to the result
THE COAST MEMBERS STAND FIRM.
The Pacific Coast members spoke ably
and fearessly, announcing their intention
of voting in accordance with their own
Judgment, the desire of their constituents,
and to carry out the principles set forth in
their several State platforms, even though
they should incur the displeasure of some
of the Republican leaders. They felt that
they ed their first allegiance to their
constituents and their second allegiance to
the National Republican party.
Morrow spoke earnestly and made most
favorable impression. During his delivery
q
leaders wore kind of deprecating sneer
on their faces and annoyed Mr.. Morrow
somewhat by frequent Interruptions, but
the Californian was not to be intimidated
from his purpose, but remained cool and
self-poSsessed.
MoRRow's SPEECH.
He showed clearly that bill which had
been once considered and reported favora-
bly, by the Coinage Committee, and which
had passed the House and been amended
by the Senate. should not be again referred
to the same committee that was its author
and had already acted upon 1t. II II was
bill which under the rules was TO be acted
upon in comm ittee of the whole then let 1t
be so acted upon, but not referred to the
Co image Committee, where IL would pr0ba-
bly, stay and never be reported.
Bartine, Carter and Hermann spoke in a
similar vein. At the close OF the latter's
speech Mckinley arose and allotted five
minutes OF the Republican time to Bucka-
lew of Pennsylvania (Dl.
DEFEATED BY DEMOCRATS.
1t was then that the hope of the silver
men was again dissipated. They recog-
nized that the New York and Pennsyl-
vania gold bugs were about to bolt from
their party on the silver question. Express
slOnS OF disappointment and yeXatlon were
visible on the faces of the Democratic
Mcmillan EriSn Mills
Breckenridge and Springer.
When Buckalew resumed his seat after
speaking against the present consideration
of the Silver Bill, Fitch (D.) Of New York
followed in the same vein, asserting st0utly
that the Democratic party was not in favor
OF free coinage AT this declaration the
Democratic leaders appeared completely
disguised Thed had banked" upon max
ing great political capital out of this ques-
tiOn and now those troublesome" Penn
sylvauia and New York Democrats were
spelling everything.
When the roll-call showed that thirteen
New England Democrats had virtually
voted against free coinage and it was de-
feated by large majority, they actually
looked sick and were no doubt relieved
when at $3.50 o'clock the House adjourned.
a COMPROMISE MEASURE.
Tonight a California Associated Press
reporter talked with a nun Der OF Pacific
Coast members. They are nearly unani-
mously of the opinion that the final result
will be the adoption of an administration
compromise measure, VIZ: the coinage OF
100000 ounces of silver monthly; treasury
certificates made legal tender redeemable in
coin, and the elimination of the bullion
redemption features of WINDOWS bill.
1t seems to be settled conviction among
public men in Washington tonight that this
bill will pass the House, be agreed to by
the Senate and receive the signature of the
President. Many Western Republicans who
are known to favor free coinage seemingly
voted against their professions to-day, but
explain by saying that the President would
absolutely not sign free-coinage bill, and
that the Democrats, knowing it, wanted the
bill passed for the sole purpose of embar-
RAISING the President and making political
capital out of his veto. On the other hand,
they were assured that a bill for the coin
age of 4,50J,000 ounces monthly could be
passed and would receive the sanction of
the administration.
Perkins of Kansas was bold enough to
make the explanation of his own position to
the House this afternoon, and it was re-
ceived with derisive laughter from the
Democrats and shouts of Don't give Har-
riSon away like that"
BARTINE EXPRESSES HIMSELF.
When seen tonight Mr.. Bartine of Ne
vada said that, divested of all technicali-
ties, the struggle OF the last three days was
simply between the consideration and bury
ing of the Senate Free Coinage Bill. by
this | do not mean to say that the Coinage
Committee will make no report, but that
they Will not report bill for free coinage.
The events of the last few months have
demonstrated that this committee is not
In favor OF unlimited coinage. There are
only four members who are positively and
aggressively for free coinage, and | am
aware of no legitimate process by which
four men can Outv0te nine. Still, a major
ity clearly recognizes the necessity for leg
islatiOn, and | believe that a bill of some
kind will be reported at an early day.
CONCESSIONS TO SILVER MEN.
A disposition is eyinced to make some
further concession to the extreme silver
men, and as the heaviest blows Of the latter
have been directed at the bullion exchange
clause, it is probable that the concession
will come in the form OF a modification or
perhaps the complete elimination of that
provision. | am not prepared to say what
| will accept, or whether / will accept any
thing until / see what is offered. Until the
decisive question was reached, the Demo-
Gratis voted almost a unit with us, but they
did it more as a rebuke to a Republican
Speaker than through their devotion to sill
yer; and when we had the bill fairly with
In our grasp the Eastern Democrats broke
away and we were defeated.
ION the other hand considerable number
of free-coinage Republicans voted against
taking up the bill because they believed that
1t would pass by small majority and re-
ceive its quietus at the hands of the Presi-
dent, which might defeat all silver legis-
lation. The prevailing belief is that some
bill will be passed, in which belief l am
inclined to share"