The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-02
ON Personal GROUNDs.
Harrison's Reasons for Opposing Free Sill
yer Legislation.

Harrison's Reasons for Opposing Free Sill
ver Legislation.
|. WARRINGTON, Jan. 1.-The correspondent
OF the New York Herald telegraphs that
paper as follows: The silver men in the
senate fully understand the parpose of the
proposed rule limiting debate. The os-
tensible purpose is to secure speedy action
upon the pending force bill. The real pur-
poae 10 so to prolong debate az to prevent
.ht passaee OF any financial legislation at
this session of congress. It is clever
scheme, but the ultra slverites say it will
not work. The advocates of cloture will
permit the proposition to be debated fort
night before they attempt to pass it, if in
deed they ever attempt to pass it, which is
regarded as rather doubtful. After that it
may be another fortnight before they ap-
ply it to the force bill and pass that meas
ure. This will carry the session
to the 1st of February, with scarce
ly four weeks intervening before the
regular date of adjournment. During that
period they expect to smother the Shermrn
and other financial bills. so effectually rs to
makeit impossible to secure their passage
before the 4th of March.
agAnother hidden purpose in the proposed
closure is the provision which prohibits
amendments being offered to any measure
to which the closure is to be applied. The
object OF this is TO prevent the free coinage
senators from adding free silver amend
ment to the free silver bill VIII en- the latter
comes up for consideration. But this does
not disturb the western senators. They saw
that twenty-four hours notice must be
given before the closure resolution shall be
called up This will give them an oppor-
tunity to forestal their oppo-
nents by Offering what amendments
they choose before the expiration of
that time. Aside from this they are strong
enough to carry a motion that the finance
COMMITTEES be discharged from the consd-
Grafton of the free coinage bills now befor 9
the committee, and that one or all Of the
number be taken up.
Three Of these measures now s!urber
upon the committee calendar. One was in
trOduced by Mr.. Plumb, another by Mr.
TellaI, and a third by MIR. Stewart. ] am
told that the bill the silver men will
demand il Senator Plumb's, although the
difference between the three is hardly ma
terial. They will not waste much time in
taking this action. About ten days hence
the first of week after next-will find them
ready with their forces well in hand.
The absentees will all have returned bv
that time, and then they will be prepared |
to challenge their opponents To a trial of
strength.
The western senator's tell me they can
pass free coinage measure. They NAV
loss several votes controlled by them when
the silver bill passed iii June last. but they |
will still retain enough to carry their point |
! am further advised by them that they |
have no especial sympathy with that pro-
vision of the Sherman-caucus bill which |
provides for the purchase of the twelve |
nf Irr,ln Gill "A
NIT frankly that the only people benefited |
by the purchase would be the spectators, /
and AS one of them expressed it to-day,
they are perfectly willing that the specula-
tors should be stuck Speculation i'll sill
yer degrades il to n commodity and creates
prejudice against any further bi-me:allic
egislation. This they say they are anx-
ous TO prevent. and for this reason they
lave nothing more than passive interest
II the purchase of the surplus.
Another thing learn to- day is that Pres
dent Harrison is using his utmost endeav-
essisn. Curiogsly enough. he places his
objections on personal grounds. To n gen
leman who spoke with him yesterday he
'luntly stated that such action on the part
II congress would seriously damage his
for n denomination, inasInuch as
10 would be compelled to veto free silver
I'LL He showed. my informant tells me. II
decent consideration for the effect such
eto would have upon the party. but his
'rincipal argument was the eifec; il would
nye upon him personally.
A distinguished silver senator indnlged
o-day while speaking with mo upon this I
ubject iii prophecy. IL was this: The ,
'arty. ~ party. that opposes free silver
oinage is doomed to dest suction in ls.,a.
he laboring people are demanding free
liver. The farmers are demanding II. and
d, too. are the people, irrespective of party
4 N N ar NJ alf
he democratic party" II WAS republican 1
alk.ng. comes out squarely for free silver {
n the mex. campaign and the republican 4
arty dodges the question or is committed =
gainst 1t, we w:si not carry as many votes 1
wo years bsnce as Scott received in 1852" !