Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-06
THE SILVER NATTER.
EARNEST DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE
WITH RESPECT TO IT.
A Legal Point-wfI the New Bill Destroy
the Legai-Tender Character of Trca-
sury Notes?
rnY telegraph 70 the DIspa.ch.l

Thy telegraph 70 the Dispatcn.I
WASHINGTON, July 5.-EverTbody in the
House this morning was discussing the
prospects Of the silver 1iil. II IS clear
that Representative Culbergon. the chair
man of the Judiciary Committee, has dis
comfted his free-silyer friends by his
statement that the Senate bill would de-
stroy the legal-tender character OF the
Treasury notes issued under the terms OF
the act of1soO. which the bill repcals. The
result OF that declaration has been to Gre
ate division among the fTee-sllyer men.
number Of them. including hr. Blani
himself nccept Mr.. Culberson's opinion
and believe that the bill will have 10 be
amended 10 cure the defect. Even so
ultra an advocate as Nr. Pierce takes this
view, but be is very much put out that
Mr.. Bland should have made this state,
ment IN advance Of the consideration OF
the bill in committee. as be thinks u VIII
tend 20 streng then the opposition.
rHE oTHrB SIDE.
On the other hand q large number. pro-
baby a majority of the Democrats. and no
inconsiderable number Of the Republicans
take issue with Culberson's view. and h0ld
that the bill docs not IN any way a1ect the
iegal-tender character Of the treasury
notes.
There are many different methods OF
reasoning by which they arrive az this
conclusion, but probably one Of the SIM
plest and clearest is that stated by dis
tinguished Democratic senator. VINO say
that Congress can do nothing 10 impair Il
contract already existing, and that, As tne
notes show on thor face. tney are c'h,I1cts
pure and simple. A large number oi lie,
t,t Tho sfCorffnD that ffe Nft
could not be made retroactive, ana that
therefore no amendment IL necessary.
Mr.. BLAND APPREHENsIyE.
Those ouiuions dOnot satisfy Mr.. Bland,
who is evidently under the suspicion mat
his political enemies are digging PIT tor
his feet by facilitating the passage or
bill which the President might veto with
out committing himself upon the merits
of the silver question.
A Democratic member OF the Committee
on Rules who takes issue with MIR. Bland
said as 10 this objection that the Presl-
dent would not veto the bill upon any
such indirect ground as a posslule leEai
construction of one OF its provisions, but,
with his usual directness. would stamp IL
with his disapprOval because it was free
coinage bill.
The broaching of this legal question has
had the effect TO cause some members 10
talk Of referring that feature OF the oill 20
the Judiciary Committee for examination
and report, but it Is probable that TINS VIII
come 20 nothing aud that the Coinage
Committee will be left 20 deal with the
matter IN its own fashion. Mr.. Bland me
chairman, has called "A special meeting oi
the committee for tomorrow at 10 O'CLOCK,
and he will try to force the hghtlng'
THE ANrI-slLvKB FIGHT BEGUN.
The auti-silver Democrats will not wait
TO make the fight in committee. but have
already begun to Obstruct the bill by
arriving TO have il referred to various COM
mittees supposed TO be hostile TO the mea-
sure. They have not been able as yet TO
get anv assurances of support from the
Republicans, and are extremely ANXIOUS a.
to the outcome. With the ald Oi the IL
pubicans in a refusal TO vote a quorum
could probably be broken and action upon
tbe biII be indefinitely postponed. But
the Republicans are maintaining an alr OF
reserve and are not giving any comfort 10
the anti-sllyer Democrats. There has been
no conference among them. but many OF
them SAY this morning that III tho absence
Of any programme they shall vote against
the bill, so as TO get on, and Will not assist
IN any obstructive movement.
THE sILyERITE PROGRAMME.
An amendment of the bill by the House
ls not likely to be SO serious IN lts enects
upon the final passage OF the measure as
has been generally supposed, II the present
propramme of the silver men is carried
ont Jhev intend 10 pass the bill, and On
amendment, il the latter is found to be
necessary. and send 1t back 10 the Senate
with n reouest for conference. By so
doing they cay they will avoid the danger
of having the bill smothered in the
Finance Committee, which is constituted
with a majority adverse TO 'ree-silver COM
ace. The Senate has rarely refused 10
accede TO such request, and tho pre-
sumption is that there would be but one
test vote-upon the adoption OF the mo-
tion TO accede to the request OF the House,
and that as q conference report the bill
would be so privileged as to be sure OF
speedy action.
As TO A SPECIAL ORDER.
The Committee on Rules of the House
did not meet this morning, but Will try to
get together tomorrow. Mr.. Catchings
saws that so far the majority OF the COM
mlttee has not had aDv conference respect
ING the treatment of the silver bill, and he
is not prepared now to say whether the
committee will require petition signed
by a majority of the Democrats before
they will report a special order Tor its con-
sideration. lie says-and the remark may
| nave kOUlt sik ikulHNnhOO eA"N WV 'N''N
the hill is materially different from that
of the bill reported by the House
Coinage Committee, in which case u
uetiuou was required. There Is now
bending before the Rules Committee
resolution introduced by Repre-
sentative Pierce setting apart day (left
| blank in July when it shall be IN order to
move 10 suspend the rules of the House
and pass any bills. The ordinary rules of
suspepsion-day. which shut oh tlibuster-
inc would would apply in that case, but
| there is a further prOvlso that q majority
vote instead of two thirds shall be sutfl-
cient 10 pass the bill. The resolution ls,
| of course, intended TO meet the case OF the
silver bill.
eUsPEH6IoN-DAY.
The committee also has before il Mr..
| Catchings's resolution, Introduced Satur-
| day last. making next thursday suspen-
slon-day IN place OF yesterday, whlch was
| a holiday. This resolution was intended
| TO secure vote upon the tariff bills still
nendinp on the calendar, but 1t may be
| ihat the committee will amalgamate the
| resolutions, although this Will encounter
| the objection of the Republicans, VINO IN
| tend 20 fhbuster against the tariff bills,
! but have not as yet determined 10 40 50
against the silver bill.
Meantime conferences are IN progress In
various parts of the House, and the aspect
of the case is subject TO change every mo-
| ment.
ACTION OF THE HOUSE..
| The Bill Still Upon the Speakers Table