Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-12-19
POLL OF CONGRESS-,
The Views of a Majority Of Mem
bers on the Great Issues Of
1892.
No Free Silver Bill Can Become a
Law, Thanks TO Republican
Interference.

1
authority of a republican United States
senator tuaD a bill providing for the free
and unlimited coinage of silver cannot
pass the tfty-second congress over the veto
# President Harrison.
The Press has made poll of the entire
congress, that the result announced above
is based on replies TO The Press IN Writing
from go members of the United States
senate and house of representatives.
The poll has occupied several weeks
time. The result indicates that since the
last congress adjourned there mas been no
abatement Of the free SILVER craze at the
west and south, and democrats OF the
states whore il prevails have surrendered
completely TO it.
Republicans in the silver states are also.
with few exceptions, victims of the heresy,
but an overwhelming majority of the re-
publican party IN congress as OF the nation
Is pledged to maintain the single gold
standard at all hazards and limit the out,
put of silver, while the democratic party,
in congress and out of it, is equally COM
mitted to the policy of cheap money md
unlimited silver coinage.
In the last congress l0l democratic re.
Uresentatives in tie house voted in favor
of the Bland bill, which would have open
ed every United States miut TO the silver
of the old and new world TO be coined into
dollars worth only seventyfge, to eighty
five cents each, but calling for 100 cents
In gold from the United States govern.
ment when presented bya foreign nation.
IherepubliCaus killed this bill.
The new congress has in the house 236
democrats, 81 republicans and farmers
alliance. OF the 244 democratic and farm
ers alliance members, 1862 are in favor Of
and will pass a free coinage bill of the
Bland kind early in the session The ma
jority Is so great that the presidents veto
will be 40 obstacle to any bill which the
aouse really desired to make law, for the
democrats, without the farmers alliance
have more than the two-thirds vote neces-
sary to pass bill over the executive veto.
The senate Is the bulwark Of safety Ii
ia republican by majority of 9-not large
enough to prevent the first passage of a
free coinage or a new tariff bill, but
quite large enough to make certain the de-
feat of any bill vetoed by the president
The two subjects OF transcendent lmpor-
lance before the new congress are the tariff
and silver. Scores Of bills concerning both
will be introduced. The final passage of
any tariff bill by the present senate has
not been considered possible blythe leaders
of either party, but the result OF the free
silver agitation, hardly second III impor-
lance to the tariff, has been doubtful until
to-day.
The Press poll of congress now practi-
caly removes uncertainty on that question,
too.
The Press gives the result of its canvas
OF the senate by individual members be-
cause the disposition IF a free coinage bill
must finally depend upon that body alone,
or the house Of representatives table 10y
states Is given, showing how democrats
republicans are now disposed TO vote.
A few of the interesting opinions Of sena-
for ana representatives. are also given.
Most of the replies to the Press two IN
quiries were either yes or no, and
the results appear in the table:
SUMMARY.
Republican senators Observation-Disclosures. IS
lnMocthuc senators .-..... .-....-.---.... 7s
Farmers alliance See. ........- .........,..... j
Number of republicans in favor Of unlimited
Number Of democrats in favor Of unlimited
coinage g.. 49,. .-..... ....... ....--. ...... 30
Number Of farmers alliance in favor of un-
'-'''''''t NpA+4-5+
Total senator's in favor OF free coinage ...... 81
Number of votes required in senate TO pass
free silver bill over the presidents Veto. bs
Number Of republicans opposed TO free coin
d, AIo ... ..tt.- --.. t..tr 'o
Number democrats opposed 20 free coinage
Doubtful democrats (Brlce) ....,....... 4
Il Senator rice(chairman Of the nation
al democratic committed, who declines TO
tell his position, votes with his party,
which is so nearly unanimous for free sill
yer there will still be four votes short of
a efficient number to pass free coinage
bill IN the senate over President Harri
sons veto TO be quite safe The Press
c.assed as favoring unlimited coinage two
Senators whose letters indicate reasonable
doubt as to their position. Most of the
members favored the Press with verbal re-
plies TO its questions. These are indicat-
cd in the summary, and their letters are
not published. Otbp's gave opinions in
ln detail and only tew'of the go letters
which The Press has received as aresult of
lts poll Of congress are printed herewith.
Free COINAGE In the New House bv states