The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-14
AGUN FOR FREE COINAGE
THE FIRST SHOT OF THE SESSION
FIRED IN COMMITTEE.

FIRED IN COMMITTEE.
Representative Pierce of Tennessee
Offers a Resolution to Put the Com
mittee on Coinage on Record as in
Favor OF the Scheme-The Sentiment
of the Committee Favorable but the
Resolution Laid Aside Temporarily.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l3.-The first round
IN the fight over free coinage has resulted
in check for the free coinage men. The
committee on coinage met this morning
with only three members present, but two
of the three were taken from the slender
ranks OF the opponents OF unlimited coin
age, so that Mr.. Williams of Massachusetts,
democrat) and Mr.. Stone Of Pennsylvania
republican, had to bear the brunt of the
fight against the free coinage men. Mr..
Pierce of Tennessee, who is 50 hot silverite
that he made a special request of Speaker
Crisp to put him on this committee, Of
fered a resolution the moment the
| organization was completed that it
is the sense Of this committee that bill for
the free and unlimited coinage of silver
should be reported to the House without
dCAAls AnC AIOh az OASb bnOhGO
fight. but they were not without assistance
from the more conservative of the silver
men. Mr. Kilgore Of Texas thought the
resolution was premature in advance of
any hearing on the subject, and Mr.. Stone
declared that the adoption of such resolu-
tion was equivalent to finding verdict
before the evidence was in. Mr.. Epes OF
Virginia, another conservative member,
said he would like some information on the
subject before rushing through resolution
Of that sort.
WILLIAMS PROTESTS.
Mr.. Williams Of Massachusetts, who had
been waiting for his opportunity to speak,
| protested against the adoption of any such
resolution at the first meeting OF the COM
mittee when many members were strangers
to each other and weres oJking into each
| others faces for the first time. He said 1t
was an outrage upon the minority of the
| committee, especially as two of their old
and experienced members we're absent.
Mr.. Pierce declared that he had no motive
| to check fair discussion, but Mr.. Williams
! retorted that the motive must be Judged
| from the act, and the act was bad. A Just
cause, he remarked needed no such advo-
cacy. 1t was trampling upon the rights of
the minority and the people of this country
| have indicated that they are not favorably
| disposed to the oppression of the minority.
Mr.. Bartine of Nevada, although a strong
silver man, admitted that it was unWise to
| force the issue in this manner, and even
| Chairman Bland suggested that at this
stage, perhaps. the resolution would be
wiser if it took the form " proposition TO
at once take up the considf ration Of a free
| coinage bill.
1t was evident by this sine that the tide
| was running against the free silver hot
heads. and Mr.. Williams of Illinois, who is
a conservative silver man, had little talk
with Mr. Pierce, which led the latter to
state that perhaps 1t was best that the reso-
luton should be postponed. The commit
tee adjourned, therefore, withous taking
any action on the subject.
THE STORY BY THE PRESS.
By the Associated Press.
/ WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-Representstive
Pierce Of Tennessee, an ardent free coinage
man, fired the first gun In committee in
favor Of free and unlimited coinage Of sill
yer Immediately after the House committee
| on coinage, weights and measures, effected
an organization this morning. This was
the first meeting of the committee
and it was expected t. be simply OF
| preliminary nature, but Mr.. Pierce forced
| the subject to the front at once by a reso-
| luton to report free silver bill without
| delay. The discussion that arose on the
resolution showed that the COMMITTEES is a
free coinage committee, though both the
free silver and anti-free silver mon op-
posed the adoption OF the resolution on the
ground that 1t was too precipitate There
was not much talk with regard TO the pol
icy OF giving hearings, and what little was
said was by men favora bic to free coinage.
SENTIMENT OF THE COMMITTEE.
The sentiment OF the COMMITTEES appears
to be adverse TO any prolonged hearings
that will prevent the consideration of the
subject by the House until the session is
well advanced, though the members
are willing to hear arguments
that will be to the point, and
not of unusual length. The first
business was the call Of the roll, and it
showed ten out of the thirteen members
present, the aEsentees being Messrs. Tracy,
(democratl Of New York Mr.. Taylor IRE
publican) Of Illinois, and Mr.. Nc
Keighan independently of Nebraska.
Wednesdays at 1890 o'clock was
fixed as the time for the weekly meetings.
This was no sooner agreed upon than MIR.
Pierce offered the following:
Resolved That it is the sense of this commit
tee that bill for free and unlimited coinage of
silver should be reported to the House without
delay.
THE RESOLUTION UNEXPECTED.
The resolution was unexpected by most
OF the other members of the committee aud
was rather irregular, but it had the effect
desired Of pressing the question to the front.
Mr.. Kilgore said be had no doubt the COM
mlttee would report a free coinage bill, but
he saw no necessity for adopting such
resolution at the first committee meeting.
Mr.. Bartine of Nevada, the leader of the
republican free silver men in tho last con-
gress, said he was as heartily IN favor of
free coinage as any man, but it was tie first
meeting of the committee and two of the
members opposed TO free coinage were alb
sent. 1t might look like snap Judgment
to pass the resolution, and while in the last
congress free silver bill had been grossly
wronged by the prolongation Of the hearings
1t would be better not TO 20 to the other ex>
treme now.
HAsTY ACTION ILL ADVISED.
Mr.. Williams Of Massachusetts, protested
against the resolution in quite a long speech
He warned the majority that if they sin
cerely believed that they had just cause,
hasty and oppressive methods In forward
ing that cause would be the best argument
that could be used against them and against
their cause.
Mr.. Bartine agreed with Mr.. Williams
that hnsty action would hurt the silver
men.
Mr.. Stone Of Pennsylvaniasopposed the
resolution as being q verdict taken before
any evidence was put In.
Mr.. Epes of Virginia said he was elected
on q free silver platform but did not wish to