Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-21
GETTING TOGETHER.
DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE ToAooPT
APRoGaAMME.
silver and the Tsriff--seutimsns - to
Both-BiHud on the sisuation--A
Caucus Called.
rpv..,.,r,nh 10 the pispatcn.l

WARRINGTON. FEBRUARY <os--A ncio 90
feeling of unessiness on the part OF the
Democratic membersof the House over the
condition of business in the House, and
there Is disposition 10 get together ana
agree upon programme Of business. At
present matters are simply drifting along,
and it is desired to bring order out
of the confusion which prevails. The
srlycr question is tho most disturb
ing element. The tariff bills and
the regular annual appropriation Oils
will soon demand great deal OF
attention, and il is agreed that there must
shortly come time when programme OF
business for some months to come must
be settled upon if anything IS to DC accom-
plished. The absence OF Mr.. Catchings
delayed meeting of the Rules Commit
tee for some days during the past week,
and the health of the Speaker has made 1t
necessary that he should seek q respite
from public affairs while the House Is
temporarily in recess on account OF the
visit of number of members TO chicago.
CAUCUS.
Meanwhile. a call for caucus has been
issued. This call has been presented to
Mr.. Holman, the chairman OF the caucus,
and as it has the requisite mum per OF
names the call will be issued BY Mr.. Hol-
man. That gentleman said to-day that it
was now simply matter as to the date to
be fixed for the caucus He said this date
would be chosen early next week. IL IS
PROBABLE that the whole Democratic policy
will be considered at the caucus, and a
programme OF action outlined SO far as
possible.
The silver men all say that they have no
intention to antagonize the tarif and
other measures. aud that they are as good
tariff reformers az any other members Oh
the House. They say, however, thrt they
will not consent that the tarih and other
measures shall be used to prevent con-
sideration of the silver bill, and that If Gas
they do not believe to be the case) they
should ascertain that this is the policy OF
the promoters of the tariff bills. they Will
insist, IN season and out of season, on
taking up the silver question.
SENTIMENT OF THE SILVER MEN.
Chairman Bland, of the Coinage Com
mittee, voiced the sentiments OF his asso-
GATES to-day. He said: before we take
up the tariff bills and the appropriation
bills there must be an agreement upon
Just what we are going to do. There must
be an understanding from the beginning,
or else silver will be here as long as the
tariff and the appropriations and will be
talked of as much as anything else before
the House. / am IN favor of tariff reform
and OF considering the tariff bills;
but if the programme is to. keep
the tariff here always, and not to do any,
thing on the silver question, then we Will
consider them altogether. There is nc
disposition against taking up the tariff
provided we can have an understanding
that it is not 10 be run as machine to
GnAolr ciluar 4 baVa heard rpnnrfe
that the tariff agitation was to be kept up,
not for the purpose of passing tariff bill,
but to kill silver. / want 1t understood
that do not think there is any such ill.,
tentIon. 1t would be making
cHILD's PLAY
of the tariff to use it as an anti-silvel
club. But, If sucn an intention should be
disclosed. we will take the opportunity tc
force silver to the front and talk silver
on the tariff and every other bill. do not
believe. as have said, all these reports
and rumors about knocking out silver with
the tariff and the Appropriation bulls
but if we find out that that Is the game
we have a way to meet 1t, and the
silver bill will be offered as an amendment
10 every bill which comes up. We do not
intend that q minority snail run over
majority In that way, and We have a ma
iority here in favor of the silver bill. The
silver bill will not be kept down by any
tactics of that kind. Silver will be kept
forward constantly, and by attempting &c
keep it down they would make it the big
gest issue of all. l shall not obstruct the
tariff bills, but we must know what IS to
be done about consideration of the silver
issue.
"They can't paddock mans mouth Oh
stop bringing up the question" SAID Mr.
Bland in conclusion; land | don't think
they will attempt to kill silver with the
tariff