Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-20

Within ten minutes from the time the hear
ings were closed on the silver question
the members Of the House coinage
the ways and means committee in
which latterly the hearings have been con-
Quoted, and assembled in the regular meeting
room of the committee. There was practically
no discussion in committee and the members
proceeded promptly to voting.
THE FIRST VOTE
The first vote taken was on the Senate bill
for the free and unlimited coinage of silver
On yea and nav vote it was decided. as stated
elsewhere in rRE STAR, by majority Of TO
to report this bill 10 the House adversely.
with a Recommendation that il do not pass
The four members in the minority were the old
free coinage contingent Of The COM
mlttee, MeSsrs. Carter of Montana and
Bartine Of Nevada, republicans and
Bland OF Missouri and Williams of Illinois. demo
Gratis The eight members OF the committee
VINO composed the majority were Mr.. Mickham
OF Ohio. the chairman of the committee and
Messrs. Walker of Massachusetts. Comstock Of
Minnesota. knapp OF New York. Taylor Of ILL
nois, republicans. and Messrs Tracey of New
iork. Wilcox of Connecticut and NauA OF Penn
sylSania. democrats
Mr.. Knapp of New York was rot actunllv
present, but he had given Hr. Walker a written
proxy authorizing the latter to represent him.
and his vote was cast against the biil according
to his wishes.
MR. Carriers PROPOSED COMPROMISE.
After the free coinage men found that they
were defeated on the Senate bill Mr.. Garter of
Montana moved as a substitute for the Senate
measure providing for free coinage o. the
American product This also defeated,
only Messrs. Carter and Bsrtine actually favor
rrafF
mittee recorded in favor Of il. In
casting his vote Mr.. Bland stated that
be wonld vote to report favorably Till for the
free coinage of the American product. but that
he would do SO solely for the pur-
pose Of getting it on the calendar of
the House with a favorable recommendation,
and that he would reserve the right to oppose
1t on the floor with a bill providing free and
unlimited coinage Of silver. and did hot intend
finally TO vote IN favor of Mr.. Carriers propo-
sition.
ANOTHER PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE.
Mr.. Carter next moved another substitute for
the Senate bill This provided that for the
first three months after the passage of the
act the Secretary of the Treasury shall
purchase monthly in the open market ten mill
ION ounces Of silver, and that thereafter he
snail purchase monthly six million ounces of
silver instead of four and a half millions. as
is authorized under the present law. This
ias' motion also Jailed, securing only two votes,
those OF Messrs. Carter and Dartine, the two
democratic free coinage men, Messrs. Bland
and Williams. voting against it.
THE MAJORITY REPORT.
1t was then arranged that the chairman of the
committee, Mr.. Wickham Ct Ohio. should draw
up the report in behalf of the majority of the
committee and present it to the House
a. promptly possible. The report
will be brief. and Mr.. Wickhsm stated that il
would probably be laid before the House late
this afternoon. A resolution was agreed 10
giving the minority authori to submit their
views to the House in the sha. of minority
report if they see tit to do SO.
THE STATUS OF THE BILL.
Nothing was said in committee about bring
ing the bill before the House. and it now goes
to the foot of the already overburdened House
calendar with the recommendation of the COM
mittee that it do not pass.