The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-01-16
FREE-C COINAGE FIGHT.
VARYING EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION
OF THE RESULT OF THE BATTLE.

Western Republicans Very Much In
age-They VIII Not Tolerate
Pocket Veto by Reed-Eastcrn Demo-
Gratis Oppose 1t.
Speaker Reed has referred the Free
Coinage bill to the House Committee on
Coinage, Weights and Measures. That
committee will hold meeting next
Wednesday. An effort will then be
at an early day. If it is shown that
majority of the committee, as was the
case last session, are adverse TO reporting
the bill, then motion will be made in
the House to discharge the committee and
order the bill reported to the lIoase.
1--WE are terribly in earnest in this mat
ter of free coinage" said Western Re-
publican member to THE CRiTIc reporter,
"and we don't want any fooling on the
part of the committee. We want that bill
reported and we want IL done quickly,
too
Eyes; we are in earnest" responded
Southern member. eve are powerful in
earnest. We don't want no foolin' this
time. No monkcyin' on the part of the
committee and no pocket vctoes by Car
Reed, nuther."
Congressman Richard Vaux of Phila-
delphia is one of the six Democratic mem
bers of the Coinage Committee. He is
against silver. When asked If he would
obey the instructions of the Democratic
managers and vote to report the bill Mr..
Vaux said: 81 am utterly opposed to the
Senate Silver bill, and shall vote against
IL in and out of the committee. II is bad
legislation"
Representative Roswell =. Flower is
also opposed to free coinage. When asked
by THE Critic reporter If the bill would
pass the House, Mr.. Flower said: al think
It is almost certain that President Har-
rison will have an opportunity to sign or
veto free coinage bill"
Have the free-coinage men won over
any of the Eastern Democrats who OPP
posed the Silver bill last session."
~ think not, but II is certain that large
number of Republicans have been con-
verted to free coinage, and don't think
for that reason that there will be any diff.
iiculty to pass the Senate bill through the
| House."
The contrary view was expressed to-day
by a veteran and very shrewd observer
| of legislation otherwise "mcmber of the
third House." otherwise lobbyist. Said
he:
1.-THE Free Coinage bill will not pass the
| House,
This plain. direct and unequivoca
opinion caused The Critic man to inquire
the reason for the faith with which he
was evidently loaded.
"All the Eastern Democrats will vote
against it. They number twenty-three
Not more than twenty-five Republican:
will vote for 1t. This will leave the bill in
| minority"
The reasons this veteran observer CAV,
for thinking the Republicans who woult
vote for it are so few are not of lofty
character, but are characteristic of thu
man.
1.-THE only hope the defeated Republ
can members have of getting any
chicken pie in the near future lies with
the Administration. The President |,
heartily opposed to free coinage, especiall,
of unlimited free coinage as provided ii
the Senate bill, but it would embarras
him very much to be compelled either Il
sign or veto such measure. Now tn
pressure he can bring to bear upoi
the Republican members who go out OIL
March 4, if skillfully exercised, can fore
the defeat of the bill or its modification
to meet the views of the executive"
Net very lofty view, certainly, bu
the one taken by man well experience
in testing the weakness of men and witt
a wide knowledge of the lower and NOR
sordid and selfish motives on which the
act.
Well, we shall see what we shall see.