The morning news., 1892-02-21
MIDDLE OF THE HOUSE.
AN ATTEMPT TO BE MADE TO
BRING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS.


Matters Simply Drifting Along at
Present and an Ettempt to Be
Made to Formulate a Definite Pro-
gramme Bland Determined That
Silver shall Have Chance-He VIII
Fight If Necessary.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-There is a feel
ing of uneasiness on the part Of the demo-
cratic members Of the House over the con-
dition Of business in the House and dispo-
sition to get together and agree upon pro-
gramme Of business. At present matters
are simply drifting along and it is desired to
bring order out of the confusion which pre-
walls. The silver question is the most dis
turbing element. The tariff bills and the
regular annual appropriation bills will soon
demand great deal Of attention and it
Is agreed that there must shortly
come a time whel the programme OF busi-
ness for some months to come must be Set~
tied upon if anything is to be accom- plished.
The absence Of Representative Catchings
DELAYED the meeting of the rules committee
for some days during the past week, and
the health Of Speaker Crisp has made it
necessary that he should seek a respite
from public affairs while the House is
temporarily in recess on account of the
visit Of a number Of members to Chicago.
A CAUCUS CALLED.
Meanwhile a call for a caucus has been
Issued. This call has been presented to
Representative Holman, chairman of the
caucus. and as It has the requisite number
of names a call will be issued by Repre-
sentative Holman. That gentleman said
to-day that 1t was now simply matter as
to the date to be fixed for the caucus. He
said this date would be fixed early next
week. It is probable that the whole dem-
ocratic 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 Of
Rntagonizing the tariff and other measures
and that they are as good tariff reformers
as any other members of the House. They
say. however, that they will not apnsent
that the tariff and other measures Nall be
used to prevent the consideration of the
silver bill and that if las they do not believe
60 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.
BLAND's DEMAND.
Chairman Bland of the coinage COM
mittee voiced the sentiments of his asso-
ciates to-day. He said: Before we take
up the tariff bills and 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 appropriations and will be talked of as
much as anything else before the House
am in favor of tariff reform and of COD
sidering the tariff bills, but
If their programme is to keep
the tariff here always and
not to do anything on the silver question,
fhRn wa will consular than all to0afhar
There is no disposition against taking up the
tariff, providing we can have an under
standing that it is not to be run as
machine to knock out silver. l have heard
reports that the tariff was to DO kept here,
not for the purpose Of passing tariff bill,
but to Kill silver. ! want it understood that
don't think that there is any such inten- |
tion. It wsud be making child's play of
the tariff and using it as antt-silver club.
WILL FIGHT IF FORCED.
"But il such an intention should be dis |
closed we will take the opportunity to force
silver to the front and talk silver on the |
tariff and every other bill. / do not be-
lieve, as have said, all these reports and
Fumors about knocking out silver with the
tariff and appropriation bills; but IL we find
out that is the game we have q way to
meet it, and the silver bill will be offered
as an amendment to every bill which comes
up. We do not intend that a minority
shall run over the majority in that way, !
and we have majority here In favor of |
she 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 TO keep it down they would |
make it the biggest issue of all. shall not
obstruct the tariff bills. but we must know
what Is to be done about the consideration Of
the silver issue. They can't paddock mans
mouth or stop the bringing up Of guess
tion," said Mr.. Bland in conclusion, land I
don't think they will attempt TO kill silver
with the tariff"
SILVER TO BE sIDE-TRACKED.
Special Dispatch to the Morning Netos
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. The noise that
the Tree silver men are making and the prot
estations that Representative Bland and
Others are indulging in just now are the
best evidences possible of the temper of the
democrats in the House to put all silver
legislation aside and get together on the
tariff. There are plenty of men in congress
who see the danger that threatens the
Democratic party, and they are not repre-
5ented by Representative Bland and the ex-
tremlsts like him. The programme for be-
ginning the consideration of the tariff bills
at once suits them. The leaders of
the party realize that it is tine
TO get together on the tariff issue. There
are good many people who are withhold
ing tneir support or the Democratic party
Tor the time being until they see what their
big majority in the House is going to do
They want to see the promise that there will
be no backward step in tariff reform real
lied. The signs increase daily OF a willing
ness to put off silver legislation and not al
low it to interrupt the tariff discussion or
get in the pathway of the appropriation
bills.
HELD FOR ASSAULT.
a Negro Makes Serfoi1s Charoa