The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-11
Payson's Ruling Upheld by
a Close Vote.
The Committee Also Holds
Back the Measure,
and Mr.. Bland Shows His Dis
appreciation.
The Democrats TO Caucus on the Bill
Tonight.

WASHINGTON. req. O.-lHo CuhiEmdu
this morning laid before the house coin
age committee a request from the cham
Der Of commerce of New York for hear
ing on the silver bill next Thursday. The
request was granted. The chamber pro-
poses TO send here q committee consisting
of A. s. Hewitt, Carl Schurz and others.
A vote was then taken on the motion
pending yesterday to strike out that part
of Mr.. BANDS resolution directing that
hearings close next Thursday. 1t re-
suited adversely to Mr.. Bland by eight to
four, and the came fate awaited amend
ments 10 fix Friday and Saturday of next
week. Mr.. Bland stated his object to be
70 come to determination for some day
when final action should be taken.
A motion by Mr.. Walker to hold even
ing sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday of each week, was then carried,
II being suggested that the early meeting
of the house precluded morning sessions.
Mr.. Bartine said it was not his intention
70 impugn any members motive, but he
was entirely satisfied from the course OF
procedure that there never would be any
report made by the committee in time for
action by the house during the present
session. For that reason he would not
bind himself TO appear and waste his time.
1t was simply that much time and labor
lost. He gave notice that he should con-
slider himself absolutely at liberty TO take
advantage of every opportunity TO bring
the matter before the house. Mr.. Bland
said he considered the bill as smothered
now. OF course, if il were not reported
by the last of next week, there was no use
in making report.
Mr.. BANDS remarks evidently annoyed
his opponents, for there was a chorus of
dissenting calculations from Mr.. Naux, Mr..
Tracey, Mr.. Walker and others. Mr..
Bland, without noticing these interrhp-
lions, repeated his declaration. and said:
II say the bill Is now smothered by a
vote of this committee He then picked
I'D his hat and lett the room, and Mr.. Bar
tine a moment later did the same. Mr..
Williams OF Illinois said that as long as
there was life there was hope, and he
would. therefore, attend the meetings of
the committee. He made motion that
the chairman ask unanimous consent from
the house for permission 10 sit during the
sessions of the house
Mr.. Williams motion was carried BY
the vote OF every member OF the com
mittee except Mr.. Walker, who gave notice
that he would object in the house to
unanimous consent being given. Tho
hour TO which the meeting Of the house,
at IL o'clock, restricted the session OF the
49, q IrsA aIr
pired, and the meeting broke up, Mr.
Walker first directing attention 10 the
fact that it was the free coinage men who
had taken up most of the time of the COM
mittee Before adjournment, a protest
against further silver legislation, signed by
seyenty-nine members OF the Chicago
board OF trade, was presented. Theprotest-
ants say that they believe further legis-
lation would be injurious to the bust ness
and commercial interests OF the country,
and tend TO retard the increasing con-
fidence OF the business world.
A very long letter, signed by f. Bach OF
Aberdeen, 5. D., was also laid before the
committee. Mr.. Bach asserts that there
is no reason for the demand for silver, and
that our finances are all right and only
need to be let alone.
The next meeting of the committee will
take place tuesday evening.
When the house went into committee
of the whole on the sundry civil bill the
pending question was the decision of the
chair upon the point of order raised by
Mr.. Ding.ey against Mr.. BANDS free
coinage amendment. There was no de-
bate, and the speaker Immediately pro-
ceeded 10 deliver his decision. The
amendment, he maid, was proposed to the
recoinage paragraph. The gentleman from
Maine made the point OF order that the
amendment was not in order, Cd because
1t changed existing laws, and (2) because
1t was not germane. In the judgment of
the chair, the question involved was pure
" one of construction OF the rules. The
arguments addressed III opposition to the
point OF order were based On the assump-
tion that the pending paragraph in the
bill, which appropriated $4,000 for the
expenses OF TeeOinage, was In itself a
change of existing law. With this view
of the case the chair did not concur. The
revised statutes imposed the duty on the
secretary OF the treasury, in very many
different instances, OF causing gold and
silver coins in the treasury to be recoined.
The pending paragraph only made pro-
vision for the performance of this work, so
that not only did the paragraph not
change existing law, but proposed
that the existing law should continue