The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-21
FREE COINAGE DOOMED,
TaR HOUSE COMMITTEE TO RE-
PORT ADVERSELY.

The Vote Stood Eight to Four and 1t
VIII Be Recommended That the Bill
Do Not Pass-Two Substitute Propo-
sitions Voted Down by the Commit
tee.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2o.-The Senate free
coinage bill gets to the bottom of the House
calendar with 1900 measures ahead of il
and an adverse recommendation standing
against it. The compromise propositions
which were thought possible were sum-
marily thrown out in committee, and the
promise to reach tho bill this week grinly
kept in the naked letter. Mr.. Cleveland's
veto did this. as the votes of Representatives
Tracey, Vaux and Wilcox show. Then
came Speaker Reeds part. He had his
committee on rules meet this morning, aud
by the time the coinage committee had the
compromise his programme of legislation
for the rest of the session had been adopted
and silver wasn't on it..
REEDS RELIANCE.
n taking this step Mr.. Reed relied not
more upon the votes of the office-seeiking
republican congressman whose term ex-
pired March 4, than he did upon the anti
free coinage democrats, strengthened by
Mr.. Cleveland's letter. He couated. 600,
upon the stimulating effect which Mr..
Cleveland's letter undoubtedly had upon
the anti-free coinage republicans. The anti
free coinage men still hope against hope,
believing that they have a majority in tho
House, but aware that they have TO fight
not only the speaker, but the influence of
Mr.. Cleveland's letter. They recognize the
fact that Mr.. Cleveland vetoed their bin
and that Speaker Reed is simply carrying
out the mandate Of the veto.
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE.
Within ten minutes from the time
the hearings were closed on the
liver question the members of the
House coinage committee had left the room
OF the ways aud means committee, In which
latterly the hearings have been conducted,
and assembled In tho regular meeting room
OF the committee. There was practically no
discussion In the committee room, and the
members proceeded promptly to voting.
The first vote taken was on the Senate bill
for free and unlimited coinage of silver.
On yea and nay vote 1t was decided by
vote of eight TO four to report this bill
to the House adversely, with the recon-
mendation that 1t do not pass it,
HOW THE COMMITTEE DIVIDED.
The four members in the minority were
the old free coinage contingent of the COM
mittee-Messrs. Carter Of Montana and
Bertine Of Nevada, republicans, and Bland
of Missouri and Williams of Illinois, demo-
Gratis The eight members of tho committee
who composed the majority were Messrs
W1ckham OF Ohio, chairman Of the commit
tee; Walker of Massachusetts, Comstock Of
Minnesota, Knapp Of New York, Taylor Of
Illinois, republicans, and Tracey OF Now
York, Wilcox Of Connecticut and Vaux Of
Pennsylvania, democrats. Mr.. Knapp Of
New York was no. actually present, but he
had given Mr.. Walker a written proxy
authorizing the latter to represent him and
his vote was cast against the bill, according
to his wishes.
HOME PRODUCT BILL.
After the free coinage men found that
they were defeated on the Senate BILL
Mr.. Carter of Montana moved as
substitute for the Senate bill q
measure providing for free coinage Of
the American product. This was also de-
feated, only Messrs. Carter and Bartine act
ually favoring it, though Mr.. Bland's vote
was recorded in favor OF 1t. In casting his
vote Mr.. Bland stated that he would vote TO
report fayorably the bill for free coinage
of the American product, but that he
would do 30 solely for the purpose of get
bthk Oll bhc td1ACAO6A VI 11OuSe WlbL u IdNOT-
able Recommendation, and that he would
reserve the right to oppose 1t on the floor
with a bill providing for free and un-
limited coinage Of silver, and did not intend
finally to vote in favor of Mr.. Carter's
proposition.
PURCHASE BILL.
Mr. Carter next moved another substitute
for the Senate bill, This provided that for
the first three months after the passage Of
the act, the Secretary OF the Treasury
shall purchase monthly in open
market 100000 ounces of sill
yer, and that thereafter he
shall purchase monthly 5000, 900 ounces of
silver, instead Of 4, SOC, 900, as is authorized
also failed. securing only two votes, those
Of Messrs. Garter and Bartine, the two
democratic free coinage men, Messrs Bland
and Williams voting against 1t.
wICKHAM TO WRITE THE REPORT.
It was then arranged that the chairman
of the committee (Mr. Wickham of Ohio
should draw up report In behalf of the
majority OF the committee and present It to
the House as promptly as possible. A reso-
luton was agreed to giving the minority
authority to submit their views to
the House in the shape Of a minority
report, if they see fit 10 do %. Nothing was
Bhl0 III bue hDOub DFluSAuK bu6 Dill
before the House, and 1t now goes TO the
foot OF the already over-burdened House
calender, with recommendation Of the
committee that 1t do not pass.
While Mr.. Bartine voted for the COM
promise proposition TO make larger
monthly purchases Of silver, he stated that
he did SO with reluctance, and only for the
purpose Of getting q favorable report to
the House, and that he should feel at
liberty to vote on the floor for some other
silver measure.
ARGUMENTS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
Congressman elect Jerry Simpson of
Kansas, representing the farmers alliance,
was one Of the speakers before the House
coinage committee to-day. He SAID the
farmers of the country demanded and
would insist on more money. He advocated
free coinage as one means to this end, and
also the snb-treasury scheme and the issl-
ance OF paper money as other methods
whereby more money could be put into
circulation. The people demandedga great
deal moro money and 1t was the duty Of
the government TO furnish ii. Simpson said
he did not care II free coinage did cause
silver to come to the United States; he
wished it would come, and it could not como
too soon, for it would give the people more
money.
Alonzo Wsddell Of South Dakota, who
was defeated for congress at the last cleo
ton as O candidate Of the farmers alliance,
also spoke In behalf of free coinage. which,
he said, was advocated by all the members
of the alliance.
JOHN J. KNOX HEARD.