The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-21
PROSPECTS FOR SILVER
EAGERLY DISCUSSED ON ALL SIDES.
Reed VIII Not Assume the Responsibility of
Defeating the Bill-Shively On tho
Subsidy Scheme-The sugar
BOunty-Capital Notes

WAsHINGToY, Jan. l6.-Pending action
of some kind in the house on the silver
bill, the active discussion OF the question
mas subsidized and members of the house
are awaiting Developments. The coinage
committee has the key to the situation at
present and the general disposition Is 10
give the committee an opportunity TO
show what it means to do before making
predictions or outlining the course to be
pursued in the future Some effort is
making on the part OF the gold adherents
to have the bill kept in committee, but
the silver men are sangulne as 10 their
ability to defeat such move. At least
two of the democratic members OF the
committee are gold standard men.
and each side shows them great
consideration in the present condition of
affairs. With their assistance, the silver
men could order a report made to the
house, and il is asserted that this will be
done without much delay, though it is
not contended that these democrats will
commit themselves to vote for the bill,
but merely that they will agree To secure
consideration for it. The speaker enter
tertains the same views as ever on the
question OF free coinage, but there is rea-
son TO believe that he is not prepared to
90 to the most extreme measures in order
to prevent the matter coming up, and to
bear the burden OF dissatisfaction which
would thereby be created in the silver
wing of the republican party. Moreover,
Mr. Reed has said that he was by no
means sure of successfully fulfilling such
a task this year, because OF change
in existing conditions, and oil a
growing sentiment favorable TO
silver. The vacancy in the coinage
committee occasioned by the resignation
OF Mr.. Conger Ia has never been filled,
and the speaker has not vet determined
what 10 do in the matter. The committee
cannot meet before next Wednesday, and
as the outlook before then may assume
many phases, it is not likely there will be
anything important determined on until
the committee has another meeting.
Should there be failure to report a bill
there has been some talk of taking it out
OF the committees hands by vote in the
house, but this would be an unusual
course, and one in which there might be
sufficient opportunity for delay to kill
silver legislation.
lnere Is some taik among the repuD-
licans OF the advisability OF getting to-
gether on the silver question in the inter
est of party supremacy, but the prospects
OF such agreement are remote, Tor the
radical silver men say they will not abide
by any caucus action on this question. III
there were assurances that the measure
would be signed they would probably
willingly accept free coinage of the Ameri-
can product with a heavy seignOrage on
foreign silver, as a compromise, hut the
ma jority of the democrats are understood
to be opposed to anything save unlimited
free coinage. and solid republican vote
cannoube secured for any compromise.
While it is impossible to obtain an au-
thoritative statement from the president
in regard 10 the senate silver bill, il is in
timated very broadly by gentlemen who
have conversed with him on the subject,
that he is very much dissatisfied with the
measure in its present shape, and that he
will certainly veto it unless it undergoes a
material modification before it is sub
mitted to him for action. He is in entire
accord with Secretary Window on the
subject and the latter's opposition to the
free coinage of silveris matter OF record.