The Indianapolis journal., 1892-01-14
Cheese-Parer Holman Starts Democ-
racy's Alleged Economy Ball Rolling.
Resolution introduced That Binds the Party
Not to Vote Money for Payment Of Boun-
ties and Subsidies or to Assist Industries.
Gag Law Applied, but Time Given for
Discussion on Protests of Members.
Free Coinage Bill to Be Passed at an Early
Day, So Mr.. Bland Says-Springer Ex.
plains His Recent Silver Utterances.
THEY WANT FREE COINAGE.

THEY WANT FREE COINAGE.
the House-what Blana and Springer Say.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 1a-Representative
Pierce of Tennessee. an ardent free-coln-
age man, fired the first gun in committee
in favor of free and unlimited coinage of
silver Immediately after the House COM
mittee on coinage. weights and measures
elected an organization this morning.
This was the first meeting of the commit
tee, and 1t was expected TO be simply of q
preliminary nature. but Mr.. Pierce forced
the subject TO the front at once by O reso-
tuition TO report o free-silver bill without
delay. The discussion that arose on the
resolution of Mr.. Pierce showed
that the committee is for free
coinage. though both free silver and
anti free silver men opposed the
adoption of the resolution on the ground
that 1t was too precipitate. There was not
much talk with regard to the policy of Civ
ing hearings. and, while little was said by
men favorable to free coinage. the senti-
ment of the committee appears TO be ad-
verse to any prolonged hearings that will
prevent consideration of the subject by the
House until the session Is well advanced,
though members are willing TO hear argu-
ments that will be to the point and not Of
unusual length. The first business was
the call of the roll. and IL showed ten out
of thirteen mem bers present, the absentees
being Tracy, Dem., OF New York; Taylor.
Rep, of Illinois. and McKeighan, Ind. of
Nebraska. Wednesday at 1880 o'clock
was fixed as the hour of meeting.
This was no sooner agreed upon than Mr..
Pierce of Tennessee offered the following:
Resolved. That it is the sense of this commit
for and mil liroff tad %
silver should be reported TO the House without
delay.
The resolution was unexpected by most
of the other members OF the committee and
was rather irregular, but 1t had the effect
desired of pressing the question 10 the front
Mr.. Kilgore of Texas said he had no doubt
the committee would report free coinage
bill. but he saw no necessity for adopting
such q resolution at the first committee
meeting. MIR. Williams of Massachusetts,
protested against the resolution in quite q
long speech. He warned the majority that
If they sincerely believed that they had
| just cause. partisan and oppressive meth
DDS in forwarding that cause would be the
best argument that could be used against
them and against their cause. After fur
| ther discussion Mr.. Pierce withdrew his
resolution for the present and uy common
| consent the subject went over until next
Wednesday.
After the meeting chairman Bland said
| to reporter: There is no doubt that the
u
| The resolution which Mr.. Pierce to-day in
! troduced was merely to test the sense Of
| the committee upon the silver question.
After come discussion kt was decided TO
postpone the resolution Ontil next Wednes-
day, to await q full attendance of the men,
| bers of the committee. There is evidently
| O majority of the committee favorable 70
| the resolution. but we thought that there
should be fair opportunity for full dis
| cussion."
lyon think a resolution for q free-coinage
| bill will be adoptedp
81 think the temper of the committee 10
to take up the subject without delay and
report a free coinage bill to the House at
| an early day."
| will the bill be q strictly free-coinaRe
bill. or will the coinage be limited 10 the
| American productp
There will be no American product
| about 1t, or any other limitations. It will
be g general free coinage bill. and. In my
opinion. such bill will pass the House"
| The action of Mr. Pierce to-day has sud.
denly revived the movement of prominent
Democrats for joint caucus to determine
the policy TO be adopted by the party on
| this prominent Issue. Chairman Springer.
| of the ways and means committee. was
| asked this evening for bis opinion on 20.
| days action of the committee. and the ap-
parent intention 10 report a free-coinage
bill at an early day. IL am not surprised
at the action or proposed action OF the COM
mittee," said he. 1t indicates, and take
it for granted that they will report q
bill for the free coinage of silver.
| That has been expected from the we'll
| known views of O majority OF the members
| of the committee. The only opinion have
expressed on the subject has not been in
| opposition to free coinage, but convic-
| tion that free-coinage bill could not be-
come q law because of the Presidents veto.
| want TO say for the benefit of those gen.
| tlemen who have taken exception TO my
| New York speech that i have never as
| sumed any leadership on the silver ques-
| tion. In my New York speech 4 merely
| stated a fact-that in view of the political
| complexion of the Senate and House and
| the Presidents Unknown opposition 10
| free coinage no bill could be passed. Sc
| curing free coinage. which could become q
law. 1t would be vetoed by the President
| even if it did pass the Senate. NV asser-
| fact which : have never heard disputed
| and which even my friend Mr. Bland ad-
| mitted to me a few days ago. OF course he
takes the position that that fact does not
| absolve him from making an effort TO pass
such O bill"
what is your opinion as TO the ultimate
] passage of free-coinage bill through the
| Houser
II could not say aa TO that. i think it
| probable that the Democrats will soon take
| the matter up and have a~caucus called
| upon the subject, and whsstever Is agreed
| upon at that caucus viii be carried out
| For my part before any action Is taken on
| the subject in the House am in favor of q
| Democratic Joint caucus being called. TO be
| composed of the Democrats OF the House
/ and Senate, to consider the question and
| determine the policy TO be pursued by the
| party. AS Democrat. i will cheerfully
| abide by the action of that caucus. as i am
sure will all other good democrats"
DEuoCRATTC .FCONoHys