, 1891-02-07

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Representative
Morrill,, chairman of the Raum investiga-
ting committee, has made a report, which
has been agreed to by his Republican col
leagues. The Democratic members Of the
committee will present a minority report.
With regard to the refrigerator branch of
the investigation, the report says: There
was an entire absence of any evidence
showing, or tending to show, that any re-
friRerator stock had ever been offered for
sale to. or purchasd by. any of the en-
ployes of the pension Office, or thai there
was any stock held by any one for the
benefit of the employees or any Of their
families; the only exception claimed being
Tanner spent four days while be was on
his yearly leave OF absence on the com
pany's business. and wrote a few letters
fer the company, but that be was never
interested in the Universal Refrigerator
company and bis promotion was due to
Commissioner Tauner. The committee
find there is no evidence to show any iav-
oritism 10 Lemon or any other attorney
aud no truth in the charges that Lemon
procured situations in the pension office
for his former employees.
The action of the house today in sus-
tanning the decision of the chair (Payson)
by which BANDS free coinage amend
ment tn the sundry civil bill was ruled Jut
of order. is thought BY many to mean
that no free coinage bill can pass this
congress. There were probably some Re-
TNnhltga na uuhO upfad fO ancfatp tho do
cision OF the chair who are silver men,
because they believed he decision was in
accordance with the rules. A direct vote
on the tree coinage bill might result diff
ferently, but it is not clear how a direct
vote on such a bill can be had during this
congress. The majority of the coinage
committee have directed that they need
more information, to be acquired through
hearings, before they can vote in~tellIgently
on the reporting of 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 a report from the committee. To-
day Bland and Bartine ieit the commit
tee, refusing to take any further part in
the proceedings, since 1t was evident to
them that it was not the purpose of the
committee that anything should be done.
10 dong this, they placed all their faith
in their ability to force the issue before
the house by attaching a provision for
free coinage to the appropriation bill.
To do this, it was necessary. as they all
appreciated. to override the decision of
the chair, which necessarily would be in
accordance with the rules. Today's vote
was a test of their strength on this
sort OF a motion and the result makes
evident that no attempt to attach free sill
yer to an appropriation bill in the house
can carry. The leaders OF the Republi
cans do not propose to let a free coinage
bill 90 to the rresi lent as a rider on an
appropriation bill II they can help it. as
this would make his position particularly
embarrassing. and would probably result
in the failure of the appropriation bill,
making an extra session necessary. 1t is
asserted with a positiVeness which indi-
Gates knowledge that the president has
made up his mini hat he will veto any
bill which carries free coinage, even if 1t
should be one OF the regular appropriation
bills.