The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-08
4 SCARE FOR SILVER MEN
pEpUBLICANs TALK OF A FORCE
BILL RIDER.

BILL RIDER.
:. Would be Put on the Same Bill as
+be Free Coinage Clause and the
1orosident " ouid Sign 1.-THE silver
Men on a New Tack Now-Town-
sands Resolution.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Tt is threatened
hv the republicans of the House that if the
senate attach free coinage amendment to
env appropriation bill they win amend it
bv uniting on the forcs bill as rider. If
,5is we're done and the bill sent to the
President. it is said that he would probably
sgn the conglomerate bill, taking free coin
,ge rather than veto the appropriations
andforce bill. This may deter the demo-
crats from entering upon the plan of putting
free coinage on an appropriation bill.
GOING FOR THE COMMITTEE.
In the House to-day Representative
Townsend of Colorado offered for reference
a aresolution amending the rules OF the
House SO as TO provide that when four
members of any committee shall make
a statement in writing that after
five hearings on any bill (other than revenue
or appropriation bills the committee re-
fuses to make any report. favorable or un
favorable, 1t shall be in order to move to
discharge tho committee from further con-
sideration of tho measure This amend
rnent Of the rules is directed especially to-
ward the committee on coinage, weights and
measures, having charge of the free coinage
bill
SILVER MEN sCHEMING.
Since the defeat of the attempt to have q
free coinage amendment attached as "a
rider" to the sundry civil appropriation bill,
the silver men have been busy devising
other schemes by means OF
which TO compel vote by the
House on the question of free coinage.
The vote yesterday was not regarded
by them as a fair test of strength, for the
reason that it was complicated with the
question of parliamentary practice, on
which they did not regard their position as
strongly fortified, and they were therefore
anxious to bring the matter up in some new
form.
THE TOWNSEND RESOLUTION.
Mr. Townsend's resolution, described else
where, was the first effort in the new plan
of campaign. 1t does not Of itself consti-
tute question Of privilege, but 1t is be-
lieved by Mr.. Townsend and other ardent
free coinage advocates that it affords a
resolution that will fairly be
matter of privilege under
the rules The proposition is that in case
the rules committee fails TO make q report
on the resolution offered to-day that then
another resolution shall be presented recit-
ing that the measure perhaps naming
the Senate silver bilD has been suppressed in
committee and directing that it be forthwith
reported to the House. 1t is thought that
by this means the question may perhaps be
brought up free from the objection which
presented itself to some members
of passing a measure by the establish
ment of precedent that might hereafter
operate injuriously. The democrats held &
caucus Tonight on the silver question, and
Representative Walker of Massachusetts, Ii
urging upon the republicans the advisa-
bility Of doing the same early next week.
THE OPPOSITION WORRIED.
The opponents of the free coinage bill ar,
fearful that the friends of that measure arr
prepared to press the question upon th,
House by some motion which may be re
garded as privileged or by attaching tn,
proposition as ''rider" to some appropria
tion bill. They are somewhat anxious ovel
the close vote of yesterday, and will resor
to every available means to secure the alb
sentees who are known to be opposed to fre,
silver coinage.
ACTION OF THE CAUCUS.
The caucus of the democratic members ot
the House Tonight, at the suggestion O
Representative Bland of Missouri, wa
very lightly attended, only sixty-one mem
bers being present. Representative Holman
OF Indiana presided, and Messrs. Blanchard
of Louisiana and Wilson of West Virgini.
acted as secretaries. The silver bill was tn
sole topic of consideration, and after sew
eral resolutions had been offered and with
drawn, the following resolution, offered By
Mr. Richardson of Tennessee, was unani-
mously adopted:
RESOLVED, That it is the sense of this caucu
That the Senate silver bill, which was referre,
by The House to the committee on coinage
being, in our opinion, an important publ
measure, deserving due consideration by tn
House we earnestly request the committee t.
Whlch the same was referred to report it to tn
House without delay
The caucus then adjourned.