Evening journal., 1892-07-06
FIGHTING FREE COINAGE.
The House Filibusters and Pre-
vents Vote on the Bill.
SILVER MEN MEET IN CONFERENCE

They Discuss the Stewart Measure and
Decide That No Amendment Is Neces-
sary-They Believe the Bin WIN Pass
the House by q Close Vote.
WASHINGTON, July 6.-After the senate
had listened to rather disquietiug state
ment by Mr.. Vest, from the committee on
public buildings and grounds, on the sani-
tery shortcomings of the Capitol, Mr.. Ber-
ry took the floor in reply to Mr.. Hale's
sariif speech and resolutions. He asserted
that the danger Of another Davenport force
bin rose above all other considerations in
the minds Of the people Of the south and
he challenged without reply, any Republic
an senator to rise in his place and say that
President Harrison had abandoned his pur-
pose in this regard
The deadlock between the senate and
house on the appropriation for the Grand
Army encampnent in Washington in Sep
tember next was clinched by the senate,
the house instructing for $50, goo to be paid
by the district taxpayers and the senate in
structing for SlooOOO to be paid out Of the
general district fund
The House Filibusters.
The fight on the free coinage bin passed
by the senate Friday began in the house as
soon as Speaker Crisp announced its recep-
tion. The antisilver men were wide awake
and hardly lad the words left .he speakers
mouth when Mr. Tracy, Of New York. a
Democrat moved TO refer it to the commit
tee on banking AID currency, which Is sup
posed TO be against the bill From the
time the motion was made until the time
of adjournment, the house passed through
a series of monotonous calls of the house
and yea and nay votes.
The vote on Mr. Tracy's motion failed to
show the presence Of quorum The point
of no quorum was made and a call Of the
house resulted This call showed a quorum
present; another vote on the motion did
not show the required number. And so
through the day each call of the house
followed each yea and nay vote until the
patience Of the free coinage men was ex-
hausted, and an adjournment was made
necessary.
But the fight will be resumed with each
side better prepared for the conflict. The
adoption Of a resolution revol1ing all leaves
OF absence and requiring the attendance of
absentees viii probably have the effect Of
bringing a full house together
silver Men in Conferences.
The act Of July IA, 1890, provided for the
purchase Of 1900 900 ounces Of silver bullion
each month by the secretary Of the treas
ury. To each seller Of bullion the govern
ment issued coin certificates representing
the amount paid him for his bullion.
The Stewart free coinage bill, passed last
Friday repealed this law, and it is claimed
that IN 80 doing it destroyed the legal ten
der quality Of tho coin certificates, and that
about $50 100000 in these certificates, held
by people throughout the country, are not
redeemable by the government. Senator
Stewart says that the government must re-
deem them. Representative Culberson says
II need not under the Stewart bill.
An informal conference Of about two
hours was held by the silver men after the
house adjourned in the house committee on
judiciary to determine the effect OF the
Stewart bin upon the legal tender quality
Of outstanding coin certificates. Mr. Cul-
berson presided Between twenty-five and
thirty silver advocates We're present, among
the number We're Senators Stewart and
Morgan, Representatives Bland, Pierce.
DUNCAN, Bailey, Henderson, Of North Car
olina, and Robertson.
A lively discussion ensued and Senators
Stewart and Morgan made brief addresses
on the subject and were followed by Messrs.
Bland, Pierce and others
Hope to Pun II Through.
The concensus Of opinion was that it
would be best 20 let the bin stand ns it
passed the senate; that it was not serious
or complicated enough to change it by add
ing amendments, thereby sending the
measure back 70 the senate, which action
would endanger it.
The legal side of the measure was con-
sidered and it was contended that in the
laws Of contracts no after legislation could
affect a prior contract. A number of pre-
cedents were cited
The question as to what policy should be
adopted in the house ton the measure was
not decided upon. In accordance with the
resolution OF the house absentees win be
notified that their presence in the house is
necessary, and that the fight in that body
on the silver bill win continue The silver
men realize that the contest win be a close
one, but hope TO pull the measure through
the house on close vote.