The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-20
TARIFF AND SILVER.

Tho Former VIII Be Given Precedence, and
the Latter May BE sidetracied.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19-"No, sir; there
will be no clash between the silver and
tariff issues" said Representative Bryan, of
Nebraska. q member of the committee on
ways and means. in reply to question this
afternoon as to what would be done with
the silver problem after tariff takes the
floor. II think the Democrats in the
House." continued Mr. Bryan. have
enough parliamentary skill, as we'll as
political tactics. to handle the two great
Issues at one and the same time without
making them clash. The bills placing wool,
binding-twine and cotton ties and cotton
bagging on the free list. Will be reported to
the House on Saturday. the 27th inst. and
on Tuesday. the 1st of March. they will be
taken up for consideration. 1t is the de-
termination of the committee on ways and
means to push forward the debate upon
these questions until they are voted on,
but the committee does not believe
that there Is any moro Importance
attached to these measures than there is
to the proposition in Mr. Bland's free-coin-
age bill. and whenever il is decided that
coinage come to the front the decision will
meet with no opposition on tho aart OF any
Democratic member of the committee on
ways and means"
Notwithstanding this official statement
from Democrat who represents the Crisp
faction, and, therefore, the controlling
power of the House. there Is good reason to
believe that one of the prinolpal objects in
determining to begin the debate upon the
specific tariff bills before q day is fixed for
confederation a n
indefinitely delay, If not, absolutely side
track, the latter question until after the
November elections. 1t will be very easy
for the silver and anti-silver Democrats to
play shuttle-cock with the silver and tariff
bills. and defeat an actual vote upon the
silver question before the fall elections. It
Is improbable that there are more than two
dozen of Mr.. Bland's followers who are
really anxious to be placed On record re-
epectIng free coinage.
The truth is almost every Democrat In
Congress would be glad of the opportunity
to dodge the silver question. Bland him
self is fully determined to force the light on
free coinage, and If there is sufficient
power within himself and his folio wers the
silver question will come before the House
at no distant day. While the free-coinage
advocates are clamoring through their cor
respondence and press interviews for an
early action upon the silver question and
are announcing with apparent vehemence
that they are eager for the fray. it is
noticed in q large majority of instances
that they are encouraging the immediate
commencement Of the debate upon the
tariff.
Democratic members of the committee on
ways and means say the debate on
the three tariff bills which are to
come up in the House on the
1st of March VIII last at least six weeks.
This would take the House until the mid
die of May did it do nothing but talk tariff.
About fourteen appropriation bills are to
be passed before the final vote is taken on
the tariff. 1t will take more debate on
these appropriation bills than it will upon
the three tariff bills SO that 1t may be seen
July will come before the tariff bill and
the regular appropriation bills can be dis
posed of. which takes action on the silver
bill out of the question unless the Demo-
Gratis abandon their declaration for an
early adjournment Of this session.
Representative Harter of Ohio, said to-
day that he had presented the request for
caucus of the Democratic party on the sill
yer question to Mr.. Holman, chairman of
would be issued. Between forty and fifty
signatures were appended to the request.
and the caucus rules provide that a caucus
shall be called when signed by thirty five
members. Mr.. Harter said he had no doubt
the caucus would be largely attended and
that q considerable number of Senators
would be present. Many Senator'S, he said
had stated to him that they believed ac-
tlon on the silver question should be post
poned, and would do what they could to
bring about such q result.
Mr.. Springer was asked to-day how long
the tariff debate would probably run in the
House, and he said: "Ob, can't saw as to
that. do not think there Is any disposi-
tion on the part of the Republicans to take
more time than Is really necessary to the
consideration of the matter We will 90
right along with the tariff. pass n bill if we
can. and, if we can't pass 1t, at least do our
best in that direction. But / have no
doubt we will pass q bill.'