The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-21

was an officer Of the treasury department
at the time. and everything done in con-
nection with the act was as open as day
light He read from the departmental re-
ports prior TO the framing Of the bill, dis
cussing the silver question. The bill was
then framed, he said, and sent to all the
assay and mint officers. and to every one
with request that they COM
municate their views by marginal
notes on the copies sent them. He also read
from the congressional proceedings in sup
port OF his assertion that thero was nothing
done secretly in connection with the passage
OF the bill. Tho act Of 1878, he declared,
simply registered in the form of a statute
what had been the unwritten law of the
country for forty years.
STEWART STICKS TO THE CHARGE.
Senator Stewart OF Nevada was then
given an opportunity to close the hearing.
de said he should not take up much time
with any statement Of the clandestine man
ner in which the demonetization of silver Ia
1873 had been accomplished. He had made
several speeches on that matter. The pro-
ceedings In congress would show that there
was no discussion in the Senate whatever,
and that the amendments which had been
fixed in the bill had never been submitted
aud printed In the Globe as was GUS
IL anybody knew what step was 10 be taken
and its effect be did great wrong not to
call 1t TO public attention and have the
question thoroughly understood. Senator
Stewart then made an argument in favor
OF free coinage
After q colloquy between Senator Stewart
and John Jay Knox and several of the COM
mittee over the manner in which the act OF
1873 was passed, the committee closed
the hearings and soon afterward be-
gan consideration Of the Senate free
coinage bill in secret session, with the re-
suit already told. just before the hearings
closed the committee received a communi-
cation from Murat Halstead, presenting an
argument against free coinage, which was
ordered printed.
TO BE REPORTED TODAY.
The silver bill was not reported 10 the
House during the day, but Chairman Wick
ham Will submit tho report Of the majority
tomorrow. The report will not 20 into an
argument OF the question. The silver men
generally are disposed to regard the action
To-day as practically the end OF the silver
legislation for this congress. An effort
will very likely be made to have
the bill acted on by the House,
but its friends do not express the hope of
success for their efforts. There are, It IL
said, only two methods by which It can ba
Soiod uPs lHo HTsb ID pN bpeclhl OTueE
from the committee on rules, but this is
regarded as impraoticable, as the majority
OF the committee do not favor the measure.
The other is by motion TO substitute the
silver bill for some other bill before the
House.
REED WOULD KILL IT.
There is, it isithought, no doubt that the
speaker would rule such a motion out OF
order, and a majority vote on this would be
necessary to overrule that decision, If the
speaker should entertain an appeal. The
silver men have heretofore been defeated
on motion to oyerrulo the
decision of the chair against the
silver bill, and do not expect better fate
the next time they make similar motion.
| There was some hope entertained that the
coinage committee would report compro-
mise bill on which most of the repub-
| licans could unite, but now that
an unlimited free conage measure, will be
reported with an adverse recommendation
| IL is almost conceded that nothing can be
done until the next congress. The anti
silver men are very we'll pleased with the
situation, and Representative Walker of
Massachusetts, predicted this afternoon that
the bill would never see the light again
this congress.