Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-07
HOPE ABANDONED.
NO FREE COINAGE BILL CAN PASS
THIS CONGRESS.
ThelRepubiican Leaders Will Not Let Such
Measure Go to the President as It
Would Embarrass Him.

| WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The action oi
the house today in sustaining the de-
cision of the chair (Payson), by which
Bland's free coinage amendment to the
sundry civil bill was ruled out Of order
s. thoukht BY mary ton6ean That no ilss
coinage bill csns ness this congress
There were probably some Republican,
who voted to sustain the decision of the
chair, who himself is silver man, be.
cause they believed the decision was in
accordance with the rules. A direct
vote on the free coinage bill might re-
suit differently, but it is not clear how
direct vote on such bill can be had
during this congress. The majority OF
the coinage committee have decided
that they need more information, to be
acquired through hearings, before they
can vote intelligently ON the reporting
OF any silver bill, and the vote today
will probably strengthen them in their
position.
THE SILVER MEN GIVE UP HOPE.
The silver men have given up AL hope
of getting any sort of report from the
committee. Today Bland and Bartine
left the committee, refusing to take any
further part in the proceedings, since it
was evident to them that it was not the
purpose OF the committee that anything
should be done. In doing this they
placed ell their faith in their ability TO
torce m issue before the house, BY at
4taehing aptovieica for free coinege to an
|,appfuPrie Hon bill. TO do this it was
neoes - they Az appreciated, to
overruE the decision Of the chair, which
necessarily would be in accordance with
the rules. Today'e vote was test of
their strength on this sort Of motion,
and the result makes it evident that no
attempt to attach free silver to an ap-
preparation bill in the house can carry.
1T WOULD EMBARRAss BENNY.
The leaders of the Republicans do not
propose to let a free coinage bill go to
the president, as rider on an appro-
priation, if they can help it, as this
would make his position particularly
embarrassing, and would probably re-
suit in the failure of the appropriation
bill, making an extra session necessary.
It is asserted, with a positiveness
which indicates knowledge, that the
president has made up his mind that he
will veto bill which carries free coin
age, even if IL should beone Of the regu-
lar appropriation bills.
THE COINAGE COMMITTEE,
The chairman this morning laid before
the house coinage committee request
from the chamber of commerce Of New
York for a hearing on the silver bill.
next Thursday. The request was
granted.
A vote was then taken on the motion
pending yesterday to strike out that
part of Bland's resolution directing the
hearing to close on Thursday, next. 1t
resulted adversely to Bland, and the
same fate awaited amendments to fix
Friday and Saturday OF next week.
A motion to hold an evening session
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of
each week, then carried.
Williams, of Illinois, made motion
that the chairman ask unanimous con-
sent of the house for permission to sit
during the session of the house. Car
ried.
Before adjournment protest against
further silver legislat lion, signed by
seventy-nine members of the Chicago
board OF trade, was presented.
A DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
A call has been issued for a caucus
tomorrow evening by the Democratic
members OF the house. The call does
not state the object for which the caucus
is called, but it is understood that the
silver question will be the principal
matter discussed, and there will be q
general interchange Of views e. to the
course Of procedure the remainder Of the
session.