The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-06
4 VERY live ISSUE NOW.
Members Of tho House Discuss
Nothing but the Prospects
Of Silver.
Culberson, Chairman of the Judi
oiary Committee, Discounts
White Metal Men.
Others Disagree With tho Gentloman
From Texas-Progress OF tho Bill
in the House.

WASHINGTON. July b.-Everybody in the
house this morning were discussing the
y ospects Of the silver bill. 1t is clear that
Culberson, chairman Of the judiciary COM
mitte has discounted his free silver friends
by his statement that the senate bill would
destroy the legal tender character of treas
ury notes issued under the terms of the act
1890. which it repeals. The results OF that
declar alton has been to orsste division
among the FREQ silver men. A number OF
them, including Bland himself, accept Gull
berson's opinion ana believe tho bill will
have to be amended to cure the defect.
Even 70 ultra an advocate a. Pierce takes
this view. He is very much put out that
Bland should have made any statement in
advance OF the consideration of the bill in
committee, ~ he thinks it will tend
to strengthen the opposition. On the
other hand. large number, probably u
majority, of the democrats. and no consid-
erable number of republicans, take issue
with Chairman Culberson's view. and hold
that that the bill does not in any way affect
the legal tender character of the treasury
notes. There arc many different methods
of reason by which they arrive At this con-
olusion. but probably one of the simplest
and olsarest was stated by distinguished
democratic senator, who says congress can
do nothing to impair contract already ex-
listing; that ss the notes show on their
face, they are contracts, pure and simple
A large number of republicans take the po-
sition that the act could not be made re-
troaotive, therefore. no amendment ia
necessary.
These opinions do not satisfy Bland. who
evidently is under the suspicion that his
political enemies are digging = pit for his
feet by facilitating the passage of G bill
which the president might veto without
committing himself upon the merits of the
silver question. A democratic member of
the committee on rules, who takes issue
with Bland. said as to this objection that
the president would not veto the bill upon
any suoh indirect ground as tho possible
legal construction Of its provisions, but
with his disapproval because it was free
coinage bill. The broaching of the legal
question has had the effect to cause som Q
members to talk of referring this feature of
the bill to the judiciary committee for sx-
animation and report. But il 10 probable
coinage committee will be left to deal with
the matter in its own fashion.
Bland, the chairman, has called a special
meeting of the committee for to- morrow At
10 o'clock, and he will try to forco the
fighting. The anti-silver democrats will
not wait to make fight in the committee.
but will endeavor to have it referred to
various committees supposed to be hostile
to the measure. They have not been able
yet to get any assurances of support from
republicans and are extremely doubtful as
to the outcome. With the aid Of the re-
publicans in q refusal to vote a quorum
could probably be broken and action on
the bill bs indefinitely postponed, but the
republicans are maintaining an air of re-
SOL ve and are not giving any comfort to the
anti-siiver democrats. There has been no
conference among them, but many say in
the absence of any programme that they
will vote against the bill, 80 as to 90 on
record, and will not assist in any obstruct-
i've movement.
Amendment Of the bill by tho house are
not likely to be so serious in its effects mp
on the final passage Of the measure as has
been generally supposed, if the present
programme of the silver men is carried out.
They intend to pass the bill and amend
ment, if the latter IL found to be necessary,
and send it back to the senate with re-
quest for conference. BY so doing they say
they will avoid the danger of having the
bill smothered in the finance committee,
which is constituted with a majority ad-
verse to free silver coinage. The senate
has rarely refused to accede to such re-
quest, and the presumption 10 that there
will be but one test vote, upon the adoption
of a motion to aocede to the request of the
house., and az conference report the bill
would be SO privileged as to be sure of
speedy action.
The committee on rules of the house did
L L..
together tomorrow. Catchings says 80 far
q majority of the committee have not had
any conference respecting the treatment of
the silver bill, and h. is not prepared to say
whether the committee will require petit
tions signed by . ma jority Of democrats be-
fore they will report a special order for its
consideration. He says, and the remark
of tho bill is materially different from that
of the bill reported by the house coinage
committee. in which case petition was re-
Quired. There ia now pending before the
rules committee resolution introduced by
Pierce setting apart day (lsft in blank) in
the rules of the house and pass the bill.
The ordinary rules of suspens sion day, which
shut of tilibusterinR, would apply in that
case. but there 10 further proviso that
majority vote, instead of two. thirds, shall
be sufficient to pass bill. The resolution.
Of course. is intended to meet the case of
the silver bill.
The committee also has before it Catch
ing's resolution introduced Saturday max
ing next Thursday suspension day, in place
of Yesterday, which was a holiday. This
resolution was intended to secure vote
upon the thrift bills still pending on the
calendar. but it may be the committee will
amalgamate the resolutions. although this
will encounter the objections Of republi-
cans who intend 10 filibuster against the
tariff bills, but have not as yet determined
to do 30 against the silver bill. Meantime,
conferences are in progress in various parts
of the house. aud the aspect of the caucus
10 subject to change every moment.
SILVER MEN CAUCUS.