The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-07
FREE COINAGE.
BANDS Rider to The Sundry Civil Bill
Defeated by the House.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The action OF the
House to-day in sustaining the decision of
the Chair, by which BANDS free-coinage
amendment 10 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 Re-
publicans 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 differ
emily, but 1t Is not clear how direct vote
on such a bill can be had during this Con-
gress. A majority of the Coinage Commit
tee have decided that they need more in-
formation, to be acquired through hearings,
before they can vote intelligently on report
ing any silver bill, and the vote today will
probably strengthen them in their position.
The silver men have given up all hope of
getting any sort of q report from the COM
mittee. To-day Bland and Bartine left the
committee, refusing to take any further
part III the proceedings, since 1t was evident
to them that it was not the purpose of the
committee that anything should be done. In
doing this they placed all their faith in their
ability 10 force an issue before the House
by attaching provision for free coinage to
an appropriation bill. To do this, it was
necessary. as they all appreciated, to over
rule the decision Of the Chair. which neceS-
sarily would be in accordance with the
rules To-days vote was a test of their
strength on this sort of motion, and the
result makes it evident that no attempt to
attach free silver to an appropriation bill in
the House can carry.
The leaders of the Republicans do not
propose to let tree-coinage bill go to the
President as rider on an appropriation if
they can help it, as this would make his po-
sitiOn artir ularly embarrassing and would
probably result in the failure of the Appro-
priatOn Bill making an extra session nee
essary. 1t Is asserted with a positveness
which indicates knowledge that the PreS-
dent has made up his mind that he will veto
a bill which carries free coinage, even if il
should be one OF the regular appropriation
bills.
The Republican members from California
voted to sustain the chair in his decision.
Payson of Illinois well-known silver
member, Glanced to be in the chair and
while he is anxious to have the silver ques-
ton come before the House he said tonight
that he could not violate plain parliamentary
law In order to gain point for himself and
friends. The scheme to bring the Silver
Bill before the House In this way
originated with Bartine and Bland, who
hoped it would succeed, but they admit to-
night that the Chair ruled correctly on the
matter and the vote TO sustain the Chair,
1877 to 127. in their Judgment, is a remark
ably good showing by the silver men under
such disadvantages. There were number
OF Western Republicans, who are in
favor Of silver legislation, who were not
willing TO vote against the ruling of the
chair when they knew him.. =. be right. The
anti-sllver men say that Sc, osIty-one men,
bers were absent and that the vote to-day
brings them comfort. They say there is no
show for silver legislation this session. Bar
tine said tonight that the silver men would,
in all probability, wait until the Sundry
Civil Bill reaches the Senate, where the rules
would admit of the Silver Bill being in-
serted as an amendment, and from there
the bill could come back to the House and
the silver question get before the House
without violating parliamentary usage.
This, In his Judgment would be one OF the
strings silver men would pull, but they
would also watch other points and endeavor
to get the question before the House in
says If the Silver Bill ever reaches the
House he will offer an amendment to con-
fine the free coinage of silver TO the product
of American 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 Appro-
prlatlon Bill was not urged when the latter
was under consideration, but Senator Stew
art VIII hold conference with his free
coinage colleagues tomorrow i'll the COM
mlttee-room OF Mines and Mining To con-
slider the advisability of lacking it on as a
rider to the Sundry Civil or Legislative Ap-
preparation Bill which will probably be con-
sidered in the Senate tomorrow.
The Chairman this morning laid before the
House Coinage Committee a request from
the Chamber of Commerce of New York for
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 BANDS resolution di-
recting the hearings to close on Thursday
next. 1t resulted adversely to Bland, and
the same fate awaited the amendments to
fix Friday and Saturday next week. The
motion to hold evening sessions Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday each week was
then carried. Williams of Illinois made
motion that the Chairman ask unanimous
consent from the House for permission to
sit during the session of the House. Car
ried. Before adjournment a protest against
further silver legislation, signed by seventy
nine members of the Chicago Board of
Trade, was presented.
A call has been issued for caucus to-
morrow evening OF the Democratic members
of the House. The call does not state the
object for which the caucus is called, but il
is understood the silver question will DO the
principal matter discussed, and there will
be a general interchange of views as to the
course OF procedure for the remainder of
the session.