The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-06

The HOUSE All Agos Over the ContesFs
Probable Outcome.

The HOUSE All Agos Over the Contesrs
Probable Outcome.
WASHINGTON, July 5.-Everybody Tin
poets of the Silver bill. 1t Is clear that
Representatives Culberson, the chairman
of the judiciary committee, has discom-
fted his free silver friends by his state
ment that the Senate bill would destroy
the legal tender character Of the Treasury
notes issued under the terms OF the act
of 1890, which the bill repeals. The re-
suit OF that declaration has been to create
a division among the free silver men.
number OF them, including Mr.. Bland
himself, accept Mr.. Culberson's opinion
and believe that the bill will have to be
amended to cure the defect.
Even so ultra an advocate as Mr..
Pierce takes this view, but he Is very
much put out that Mr.. Bland should
have made the statement In advance OF
the consideration OF the bill in committee
as he thinks IL will tend to strengthen
the opposition. On the other hand
large number, probably majority of the
Democrats and no inconsiderabie num-
ber OF Repu blicans, take issue with Chair
man Culberson's view and hold that the
bill does not in any way affect the legal
tender character Of the Treasury note.
There are many different methods OF
reasoning by which they arrive at this
conclusion, but probably one of the sim
plest and clearest is that stated by dis
tinguished Democratic Senator who says
that Congress can do nothing to impair
a contract already existing, and that as
the notes show on their face, they are
contracts pure and simple. A large num-
Der of Republicans take the position that
the act should not be made retroactive
and that therefore no amendment il
necessary.
These opinions do not satisfy Mr..
Bland, who 10 evidently under the sus-
picion that his political enemies are dig
ging pit for his feet by facilitating the
passage OF bill which the President
might veto without committing himself
upon the merits OF the silver question.
A Democratic member OF the committee
on rules, who takes issue with Mr.. Bland,
said as to this objection that the Presi-
dent would not veto the bill upon any
such indirect ground as possible legal
construction OF one OF its provisions, but
with his usual directness would stamp it
with his disapproval because 1t was free
coinage bill.
The broaching of this legal question
had the effect OF causing some members
to talk OF referring that feature of the
bill to the judiciary committee for exam
lnation and report, but IL Is probable that
this will come to nothing, and that the
coinage committee will be left to deal
with the matter in its own fashion.
Mr.. Bland has called special meeting
OF the committee for tomorrow at 10
o'clock, and he will try to force the fight
ing. The anti-silver Democrats will not
wait to make the fight in committees, but
have already begun to obstruct the bill
by striving to have IL referred to various
committees supposed to be hostile to the
measure. They have not been able as yet
to get any assurances of support from the
Republicans and are extremely anxious
as to the outcome.
With the aid OF the Republicans in
refusal to vote, quorum could probably
be broken and action upon the bill be
indefinitely postponed. But the Republic
cans are notlanti-silver Democrats. There
has been no conference among them but
many of them say today that in the
absence OF any programe they shall vote
against the bill so as to go on record and
will not assist In any obstructive move
ment.
An amendment of the bill by the
House is not likely to be so serious in its
effects upon the final passage OF the
measure as has been generally supposed
II the present program OF the silver men
Is carried out.
They intend to pass the bill and nm
amendment IL the latter Is found to be
necessary, and send it back to the Senate
with a request for a conference. BY 80
doing they say they will avoid the dam
ger OF having the bill smothered In the
finance committee which is constituted
with majority adverse to free silver
coinage.
The Senate has rarely refused to accede
to such request, and the presumption 10
that there would be but one test vote
upon the adoption of the motion to ac-
cede to the request of the House and that
a conference report the bill would be 30
privileged as to be sure Of speedy action.
The committee on rules of the House did
not meet this morning, but will try to
get together tomorrow.
Mr.. Catchings says that so far the ma
jority OF the committee has not had any
conference respecting the treatment Of
the silver bill and he Is not prepared now
to say whether the committee will re-
quire petition signed by the majority
OF the Democrats before they will report
on a special order for :its consideration.
Meantime conferences are In progress in
various parts of the House and the as
pect OF the case is subject to change
every moment.