The record-union., 1891-02-07
FREE COINAGE BILL.
LITTLE PROSPECT OF 1T PASSING
THE PRESENT SESSION.
Bland and Bartine Refuse to Take
Part In the Coinage Committee
Proceedings,
Special to the REcoRp-UyIor.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The action of
the House to-day in sustaining the decis-
ion of Chairman Payson, by which
Bland's free coinage amendment to the
sundry civil bill was ruled out of order,
is thought by many to mean that no free
coinage bill can pass this Congress.
There were probably some Republicans
who voted to sustain the decision of the
Chair, who himself is silver man.
because they believed the decision was in
accordance with the rules.
a direct vote on the free coinage bill
might result differently, but it IS not clear
howa direct vote on such bill can be had
during this Congress. A majority of the
Coinage Committee have decided that
they need more information, to be ac-
qulred through hearings, before they can
vote intelligently on the reporting of any
silver bill, and the vote to- day will prob
ably strengthen them in their position.
The silver men have given up all hope
OF getting any sort of a report from the
committee.
To-day Bland and Bartine left the COM
mittee, refusing TO take any further part
IN the proceeding, since it was evident to
them that it was not the purpose of the
committee that anything should be done.
In dong this, they placed all their faith
IN their ability to force the issue before
The House by attaching provision for
free coinage to the appropriation bill. To
DO TINS 1t was necessary, as they all ap-
preciated, to overrule the decision of the
Chair, which necessarily would be in ac-
cordance with the rules
io-day's vote was test of the strength
on thlS sort OF motion, and the result
makes 1t evident that no attempt to attach
nee silver to the appropriation bill in the
House Will be carried.
The leaders OF the Republicans do not
propose to let free coinage go to the Pres
!dent as a rider on the appropriation bill
II they can help it, as this would make his
poslton particularly embarrassing. and
would probably result in the failure of the
appropriation bill, making an extra ses-
sion necessary.
The Republican members from Cali
fornla voted to-day to sustain the Chair,
in his decision that BANDS amendment
TO the sundry civil bill was not germane.
Payson OF Illinois, a well-knoWn silver
member, chanced to be in the chair. and
While ne is anxious to have the silver
question come before the House. he said
tonight that he could not violate a plain
parliamentary law in order to gain a
point for himself and friends. The
scheme to bring the silver bill before the
House IN this way originated with Bar
tine and Bland, who hoped it would sl1c-
ceed, but admit tonight that the Chair
ruled correctly on the matter, and the
vote to sustain the Chair-i37 to l27-in
their judgment is remarkably GOOD
showing by the silver men under such
disadvantage
There are number of Western Repub-
hcans who are in favor of silver legisla-
ton who were not willing to vote against
the ruling of the Chair when thew knew
him to be right.
The anti-silver men say that seventy
one mem mberS We're absent, and that the
vote to-day brings them comfort. They
say there is no show for silver legislation
this session.
Bartine said tonight that the silver
men could in all probability wait until
the sundry civil bill reaches the Senate.
where the rules would admit of the silver
pllI peing inserted as an amendment and
rom there the bill could come back to
the House and the silver question get be-
iore the House without violating parlia-
mentary usage. This in his Judgment
would be one of the strings the silver men
would pull, but they would also watch
other points, and endeavor to get the
question before the House in some way
as soon as possible.
Representative Vandever SAYS if the
silver bill ever reaches the House he will
offer an amendment to confine the free
coinage of silver to the product of Amer
lean mines, and all silver shipped in to
pay tax TO be regulated by the Secretary
OF the Treasury. The maximum tax is
not to exceed the bullion and coinage
price of silver in London.
Senator Stewards proposed free coinage
amendment to the pension appropriation
bill was not urged when the latter was
under consideration, but Senator Stewart
will hold a conference with his three
coinage colleagues tomorrow in the
committee-room of Mines and Mining to
consider the adyisability of lacking it on
as a rider to the sundry civil or 1egisla-
tive appropriation bill, and it will prob
ably be considered in the Senate to-mor-
row.
1t is asserted with a positiveness which
indicates knowledge, that the President
mas made up his mind that he viii veto
any bill which carries free coinage. even
if it should be one of the regular appro-
priation bills.