The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-31
VA E1 EA IN NMN HE ft+R
NO CHANCE Fur SILVER.
A Free Coinage Bill Could Not Be
Passed Over a Presiden-
tial Veto.
Thirty Republican Senators Are
U~nalterably Opposed to the
White Metal.
Misstntements by Republican Correspond
ents as to the Probable Action Of
House Committees.

WAsH1NaToN, Dec. a.-The New York
Press has made a poll of the entire con-
gress, which shows exactly how the demo-
cratic and republican members OF each
state stand. In the house there are 236 dem
ocrats, eighty-seven republicans and eight
farmers alliance. OF tho democrats, 1G2,
and Of the republicans, nine ara in favor OF
free coinage. Eighty-seven democrats and
seventy republicans are opposed to it, and
hfty-four members of the house are doubt
full. In the senate thirty-six democrats
and eighteen republicans are in favor of
free coinage, and three democrats and
thirty republicans against it. The total
number Of senator's who will vote in favor
of free coinage being tifty-four. there is NO
danger of such a law being enacted at this
session since it takes ffty-nine votes to
pass q bill in the senate over the Presidents
veto.
Democratic members are much surprised
and angered at the published statement to
tho effect that 'the appointment of a coin
age committee, the majority of which are
Known to be free coinage advocates, does
not necessarily mean what at first blush it
appears to-" and the allegation that 'the
policy of the democratic party as to this
will be determined outside of the commit
tee" ia vigorously denied by those who are
situated to speak authoritively on this sub
ject. They further say that there is not
the slightest foundation for the report cir
culated that the silver issue will be let
alone awhile until some middle course can
be agreed upon while efforts will undoubt-
eddy be made by certain anti-silver inlu-
ences to keep the tariff question to the
front with the objective purpose of stranR-
ling free coinage legislation If the endeavor
is found to fail. The opponents of free
silver claim that if the silver question be
agitated at this time attention would be
distracted from the tariff, upon which issue
the presidential contest must be fought,
and hence the tariff must be kept to the
front until something can be accom-
plished. and not permit the result
to be influenced materially by
consideration of silver or any other ques-
ton. The fact really is, free silver legis!a-
tion is demanded by a very large majority
in the house with a strong chance of sue
cess in the senate, and the coinage commit
tee will proceed at once in this direction
without subordinating the silver question
to the tariff, letting each measure stand
upon its W merits.
The Mills plan is to pass a wholesale re-
duction bill, in which form it is conceded
the senate would reject it. The idea of
MI. Crisp and his friends is to increase the
free list OF articles of prime necessity and
raw material, propositions which would
find favor with certain republican senators
who hold the balance of power in that
body. 1t 10 not believed to be good politics
to risk the presidential canvass upon a
measure that not only would fail of ap.
proval in the senate. but unnecessarily
anger the manufacturing interests of the
county at a juncture when their good will
is a matter of paramount Importance.
silver legislation, as advocated
by the gold standard men under Wall street
dictation.